Nokia N97
Encyclopedia
Nokia N97 is a touch screen mobile phone in the Nseries
of smartphone
s by Nokia
, with a slide-out QWERTY
keyboard (an AZERTY
one is available in France
). Announced on 2 December 2008, the N97 is Nokia's second touchscreen
phone (after the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic) based on the Symbian OS S60 5th edition platform.
The N97 shipped with trial versions of Quick Office, Adobe reader, Boingo and JoikuSpot Premium as well as Nokia's own Ovi Maps and Ovi store.
The initial software had mixed reception, prompting the release of new firmware in October 2009. Nokia released the new firmware with kinetic scrolling for the N97 to address the major issues present in the firmware the device launched with.
Since October 2009 the N97 Mini is available which is a downsized version of the original N97. The N97 Mini was generally seen as an improvement over the original N97.
Nokia Mobile TV Receiver, SU-33W
it is possible to watch television on the phone.
The device can run Skype
with an application from the Ovi store
. It is compatible with Nokia's N-Gage
games.
Anssi Vanjoki, EVP of Markets at Nokia, admitted that quality control in software has been an issue for this device, saying "it has been a tremendous disappointment in terms of the experience quality for the consumers", though, according to Vanjoki, later repaired by firmware
updates.
Others with the original N97 have suffered problems with the built in GPS being slow to lock and easily losing track of the phone's location, making the free turn by turn navigation software provided by Nokia unusable in a moving vehicle. User can have both the lens cover and GPS issues fixed under warranty at an official Nokia retailer.
The user interface
of the S60 5th edition software platform
, built on top of Symbian OS 9.4, has been criticized by the site TechRadar as inconsistent because menu items require two taps to be activated.
In spite of the generally lukewarm reviews the phone sold well.
A limited edition called the N97 mini Raoul Limited Edition has been released in relation with fashion house FJ Benjamin and the Raoul brand. It also features the new Fashion Asia widget and went on sale in late October 2009 in Malaysia and Singapore.This phone did not do much on market
of the S60 5th edition software platform
, built on top of Symbian OS 9.4, has been criticized by the site TechRadar as inconsistent because menu items require two taps to be activated.
When compared to the original N97, the cheaper N97 mini was reviewed as an improvement, especially its keyboard.
In spite of the generally lukewarm reviews the phone sold well.
Nokia Nseries
Nokia Nseries is a multimedia smartphone product family which is engineered and marketed by the Nokia Corporation.The Nseries devices are known to commonly support multiple high-speed wireless technologies, such as 3G, or Wireless LAN....
of smartphone
Smartphone
A smartphone is a high-end mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary feature phone. The first smartphones were devices that mainly combined the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone or camera...
s by Nokia
Nokia
Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
, with a slide-out QWERTY
QWERTY
QWERTY is the most common modern-day keyboard layout. The name comes from the first six letters appearing in the topleft letter row of the keyboard, read left to right: Q-W-E-R-T-Y. The QWERTY design is based on a layout created for the Sholes and Glidden typewriter and sold to Remington in the...
keyboard (an AZERTY
AZERTY
AZERTY is a specific layout for the characters of the Latin alphabet on typewriter keys and computer keyboards. The layout takes its name from the first six letters to appear on the first row of alphabetical keys...
one is available in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
). Announced on 2 December 2008, the N97 is Nokia's second touchscreen
Touchscreen
A touchscreen is an electronic visual display that can detect the presence and location of a touch within the display area. The term generally refers to touching the display of the device with a finger or hand. Touchscreens can also sense other passive objects, such as a stylus...
phone (after the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic) based on the Symbian OS S60 5th edition platform.
Release
The Nokia N97 was released in US flagship stores on 9 June 2009, and on 26 June 2009 was released worldwide. In September 2009 it was reported that two million N97 handsets had been sold in three months following its release.The N97 shipped with trial versions of Quick Office, Adobe reader, Boingo and JoikuSpot Premium as well as Nokia's own Ovi Maps and Ovi store.
The initial software had mixed reception, prompting the release of new firmware in October 2009. Nokia released the new firmware with kinetic scrolling for the N97 to address the major issues present in the firmware the device launched with.
Since October 2009 the N97 Mini is available which is a downsized version of the original N97. The N97 Mini was generally seen as an improvement over the original N97.
Operating times
Informal tests have shown that the battery can last nearly two days with regular use of the phone's various features for the original N97. Nokia quote the following claimed operating times- Talk time: Up to 6.0 hours (3G), 9.5 hours (GSM)
- Standby time: Up to 17 days (3G), 18 days (GSM)
- Video playback: Up to 4.5 hours (offline mode)
- Video recording: Up to 3.6 hours (offline mode)
- Music playback: Up to 40 hours (offline mode)
Applications and options
With the optional DVB-HDVB-H
DVB-H is one of three prevalent mobile TV formats. It is a technical specification for bringing broadcast services to mobile handsets. DVB-H was formally adopted as ETSI standard EN 302 304 in November 2004. The DVB-H specification can be downloaded from the official DVB-H website...
Nokia Mobile TV Receiver, SU-33W
Nokia SU-33W
Nokia SU-33W is a Nokia's Mobile TV Receiver. With this optional DVB-H it is possible to watch television on the screen of the phone...
it is possible to watch television on the phone.
The device can run Skype
Skype
Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chat over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system...
with an application from the Ovi store
Ovi (Nokia)
Ovi by Nokia is the brand for Nokia's Internet services. The Ovi services can be used from a mobile device, computer or via the web. Nokia focuses on five key service areas: Games, Maps, Media, Messaging and Music. Nokia's aim with Ovi is to include third party developers, such as operators and...
. It is compatible with Nokia's N-Gage
N-Gage (service)
The N-Gage service was Nokia's mobile gaming platform that is available for several Nokia S60 smartphones. It is a follow-up to the N-Gage handheld game console. N-Gage is a part of Nokia's Ovi initiative....
games.
Older firmware issues
Common criticisms of the original N97 were the relative lack of RAM and free disk space on the C: drive. With only around 50 MB of free RAM available after boot, the phone can become sluggish and close programs in order to conserve memory. Many first party applications also will only install on C: and with around 50 MB of free space, this is used quickly as it is also where temporary OS files are placed. This issue was resolved in the N97 mini as the user often has over 250 MB of free space on C: drive. A memory mapping alteration from firmware version 20 allowed applications to use less RAM and free it up better, helping to ease the strain of a lower amount of free RAM to the end-user.Anssi Vanjoki, EVP of Markets at Nokia, admitted that quality control in software has been an issue for this device, saying "it has been a tremendous disappointment in terms of the experience quality for the consumers", though, according to Vanjoki, later repaired by firmware
Firmware
In electronic systems and computing, firmware is a term often used to denote the fixed, usually rather small, programs and/or data structures that internally control various electronic devices...
updates.
Other criticisms
On occasion, the camera lens cover of the original N97 can cause scratches on the lens. Nokia has acknowledged that on many devices the cover is mounted too closely to the lens so that dust and debris can cause scratches. On later models however, this issue seems to have been resolved. The N97 mini does not have a lens cover.Others with the original N97 have suffered problems with the built in GPS being slow to lock and easily losing track of the phone's location, making the free turn by turn navigation software provided by Nokia unusable in a moving vehicle. User can have both the lens cover and GPS issues fixed under warranty at an official Nokia retailer.
The user interface
User interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
of the S60 5th edition software platform
S60 (software platform)
The S60 Platform is a software platform for mobile phones that runs on Symbian OS. It was created by Nokia, who made the platform open source and contributed it to the Symbian Foundation. S60 has been used by mobile device manufacturers including Siemens mobile, Lenovo, LG Electronics, Panasonic...
, built on top of Symbian OS 9.4, has been criticized by the site TechRadar as inconsistent because menu items require two taps to be activated.
In spite of the generally lukewarm reviews the phone sold well.
Nokia N97 Mini
The N97 Mini is a downsized version of the N97 and has been available since October 2009. The N97 Mini downsized some features of the original N97, such as 8 GB of storage memory, 3.2 inch touchscreen, removal of FM transmitter, and a shorter battery life. It includes however a bigger internal (phone) memory and an improved keyboard. It uses the 2.0 Nokia N97 software by default. There has also been some redesign in the keypad. First, the big D-pad on the left side has been replaced by four arrow keys on the right side. Also there is more space between each keys and the keys are a little bit higher giving you a much better feel when typing. Here under are some major changes listed in a table.| original N97 | N97 mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Device Size | 117.2 x 55.3 x 15.9 mm | 113 x 52.5 x 14.2 mm |
| Volume | 88 cc | 75 cc |
| Weight | 150 g | 138 g |
| LCD size (640×360 px) | 3.5 inch | 3.2 inch |
| Built in mass Storage Memory | 32 GB | 8 GB |
| NAND Memory | 256 MB (approx. 73 MB user available) | 512 MB (approx. 277 MB user available) |
| FM transmitter FM transmitter (personal device) An FM transmitter is a portable device that plugs into the headphone jack or proprietary output port of a portable audio or video device, such as a portable media player, CD player, or satellite radio system. The sound is then broadcast through the transmitter, and plays through an FM broadcast... |
Available | Not available |
| Battery model | BP-4L 3.7 V 1500 mAh | BL-4D 3.7 V 1200 mAh |
| GSM Talk Time up to | 9.5 hours | 7.1 hours |
| WCDMA Talk Time up to | 6.0 hours | 4.0 hours |
| GSM Standby Time up to | 18 days | 13 days |
| WCDMA Standby Time up to | 17 days | 13 days |
| Web Browser for S60 Web Browser for S60 Web Browser for S60 or the S60 OSS Browser, is the default web browser for the S60 mobile phone platform. It is the default browser for many old phones running on the Symbian mobile operating system and all new phones running on Symbian. It was developed by Nokia... version after firmware update |
lower than 7.3 | 7.3 |
A limited edition called the N97 mini Raoul Limited Edition has been released in relation with fashion house FJ Benjamin and the Raoul brand. It also features the new Fashion Asia widget and went on sale in late October 2009 in Malaysia and Singapore.This phone did not do much on market
Reception of the Nokia N97 mini
The user interfaceUser interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
of the S60 5th edition software platform
S60 (software platform)
The S60 Platform is a software platform for mobile phones that runs on Symbian OS. It was created by Nokia, who made the platform open source and contributed it to the Symbian Foundation. S60 has been used by mobile device manufacturers including Siemens mobile, Lenovo, LG Electronics, Panasonic...
, built on top of Symbian OS 9.4, has been criticized by the site TechRadar as inconsistent because menu items require two taps to be activated.
When compared to the original N97, the cheaper N97 mini was reviewed as an improvement, especially its keyboard.
In spite of the generally lukewarm reviews the phone sold well.