IT’S expected to be one of Nokia’s hottest product releases of the year. Last week, the company began shipping the much-anticipated Nokia N96 multimedia computer. The Nokia N96 boasts live TV, a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, turn-by-turn voice navigation, 16GB of internal memory that can be increased to 24GB with an optional microSD card, superior sound and music, N-Gage gaming and a stunning 2.8” display. The N96 retails for about 550 euros.
This multimedia device is based on S60 and Symbian OS v9.3, the latest shipped version of the Symbian OS. Symbian OS v9.3 is optimized for convergence with performance and feature enhancements, which bring the highest level of power efficiency and platform security to a mobile phone.
Supporting live TV as it happens using DVB-H technology, the Nokia N96 delivers advanced television viewing across a number of channels. It is even possible to record favorite programs to watch later. The N96 has the ability to store up to 40 hours of video content transferred from a PC via a hi-speed USB 2.0 connection or found online with WLAN and HSDPA support. The Nokia Video Center offers access to a variety of content ranging from movie trailers and comedy to news. The device supports the most common video formats including MPEG-4, Windows Media Video and Flash Video.
But why just watch the content created by others? Capture clear, bright, high quality video clips at 30 frames per second as well as sharp, defined photos with the N96’s 5 megapixel camera and dual LED Flash. Images can be geotagged instantly to record the location and directly uploaded to online communities such as Share on Ovi and Flickr.
The Nokia N96 offers an enhanced navigation experience that includes rich, easy-to-use maps with urban detail as well as satellite views. Voice guided turn-by-turn navigation — for walking or driving — along with the new City Guides are a great way to explore undiscovered places. It is even possible to upload and share personalized journeys, favorite places and great new finds online.
In addition to video, the Nokia N96 boasts an advanced music offering. Users can create personal music play lists by downloading tracks from the Nokia Music Store and other online sites or synchronize PC and mobile libraries via hi-speed USB connectivity. Alternatively, the Nokia N96 offers RDS radio or a wide selection of stations via the Internet.
And then make the mobile experience even more personal. The Nokia Download! Application provides a broad range of tailored content — including a selection of branded entertainment as well as personalized content — to ensure each Nokia N96 s as unique as its owner.
Early reviews of the N96 are very positive, finding it an even better device than the popular N95, which it is designed to replace. People will probably be delighted with the multiple functionalities of the handset because it can operate as a camera, GPS, and video camera as well as a phone. Add to that the device’s capabilities at browsing the Internet and mobile social networking and it’s easy to see that Nokia has created a winner in the N96.
