| With the eagerly-awaited Nokia N97 about to hit the | | | | announced the firm would launch a new package that |
| market, what can fans of the Finnish manufacturer | | | | would be fully compatible with the N97, featuring a |
| expect from its latest flagship smartphone? | | | | Bluetooth heart rate monitor built by health experts |
| Unveiled at the company's Nokia World event in | | | | at Polar. Director of Nseries devices Juha Kokkonen |
| Barcelona last December, the phone has promised to | | | | commented users could expect the gadget to be |
| be much more than just any other mobile - instead | | | | useful in keeping you "entertained on those long |
| internet speculation has claimed it offers the kind of | | | | workouts as you get in shape for next summer," |
| technology one would expect from a personal | | | | adding the Polar heart rate belt "lets you know |
| computer. | | | | exactly how you're doing." |
| The firm itself was happy to promote the device in | | | | Reviews at this stage are a little thin on the ground, |
| this way, announcing that it was in fact "the world's | | | | as it seems Nokia has been keeping its cards close to |
| most advanced mobile computer" and was capable of | | | | their chest in terms of supplying the press with |
| transforming the way in which people interact with | | | | advanced access to its secret weapon against big |
| one another, as well as with the internet. | | | | hitters like the Apple iPhone 3G, T Mobile G1 and |
| Although some of these claims may seem grand, it | | | | BlackBerry Storm. However, earlier this month the |
| seems Nokia has furnished the N97 with a number of | | | | NokNok website was given 24 hours with the |
| innovative features to help back up its claims - | | | | handset and concluded that it was indeed "a thing of |
| including a 3.5-inch touchscreen display and full | | | | beauty". |
| QWERTY keyboard, multiple sensors, enhanced | | | | The article said there was only one sample version of |
| memory functions and high-performance processing | | | | the device to be had and added although consumers |
| power. | | | | would not be disappointed when it finally hits the |
| The phone provides a "social location" function that | | | | stores in June, they were bound by a deal struck |
| combines A-GPS technology with an electronic | | | | with the Finnish firm that meant they were unable to |
| compass, allowing the device to "intuitively [know] | | | | give too much away about why this was the case. |
| where it is". Fans of social networking could find this | | | | However, it was noted that having "spent the last 24 |
| service particularly useful, as it will allow their friends | | | | hours in its company", they had been able to get "a |
| and contacts to be aware of where they are as and | | | | real insight into how well-built and sturdy it is". The |
| when the application is activated. | | | | article went on to advise although there was little to |
| "The Nokia N97 makes it easy to update social | | | | be said at this stage, it was something people should |
| networks automatically with real-time information, | | | | be looking forward to. |
| giving approved friends the ability to update their | | | | Further analysis of the handset emerged last month |
| status and share their social location as well as | | | | from gadget news and reviews publication T3, which |
| related pictures or videos," the firm said in a | | | | compared the phone to a "glorious meal" comprised |
| statement. | | | | of "all of your favourite foods" - the result being a |
| Equipped with a 16:9 widescreen display, Nokia also | | | | "scrumptious, feature-packed N97 mobile computer". |
| claims the N97 is ideal for surfing the web, as the | | | | One of the ingredients highlighted was the touch |
| user interface can be personalised to provide | | | | display, similar in many respects to that recently seen |
| desktop links and favourites tailored to the individual | | | | on the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic - the Finnish |
| needs of the user - a feature that shows how the | | | | company's first foray into the full touchscreen |
| mobile phone has come a long way since the | | | | market. In addition, the qwerty keyboard was |
| Xpress-on covers that used to adorn the most | | | | praised for offering a "web-friendly" option that |
| up-to-date Nokia handsets some years ago. | | | | takes its lead from the firm's other E-series devices, |
| In addition, the Nokia N97 is capable of supporting up | | | | as well as a "fabulous camera" and the kind of |
| to 48 GB of music, images, data files and video | | | | multimedia extras that should be expected from an |
| content, using its 32 GB on-board capacity or the 16 | | | | N-series offering. |
| GB expansion which is available through using a | | | | Although the Wi-Fi and HSDPA capabilities of the |
| micro-SD card. This means the DVD-quality playback | | | | phone were noted as "swift", the article explained |
| and multimedia features of the device - which include | | | | that the N97 could be more suited to social |
| a five-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics - can | | | | networking than business users - who may feel more |
| be utilised to the fullest and can be shared using | | | | comfortable with something along the lines of the |
| services such as Share on Ovi. | | | | recently released E75. |
| Jonas Geust, vice-president of Nokia's Nseries | | | | "While still a really great all-round player, the N97 isn't |
| marque, said the N97 is "the most powerful, | | | | quite the sum of its brothers' and sisters' borrowed |
| multi-sensory mobile computer in existence" and one | | | | parts. It's still a case of choosing a phone that does |
| which is likely to appeal to those who wish to stay | | | | everything very well, or a one that does a couple of |
| ahead of the technological curve. "The Nokia N97 | | | | things brilliantly. The N97 is the former, but is |
| mobile computer adjusts to the world around us, | | | | definitely Nokia's most complete handset yet," the |
| helping stay connected to the people and things that | | | | site concluded. |
| matter most." | | | | In any case, the release of the Nokia N97 is likely to |
| Consumers looking to get fit may also be interested | | | | give smartphone manufacturers reason to pay |
| in some of the other options that have since been | | | | attention - even if it is just to see if all the |
| announced by the manufacturer. In January it was | | | | anticipation and speculation has paid off. |