They used an app called Speedy Go! which benchmarks Symbian devices, and which allows the N8 to be tested both with its graphics accelerator turned on and turned off.  Off, the prototype N8 posted a score 54-percent higher than the Samsung Omnia HD and 180-percent greater than the Nokia N97.  Meanwhile the N8 maxed out the FPC Bench 3D graphics testing, ranking 60fps – the highest the app can count – in every category.

According to Finestfones, the improvement in results is because, while some current-generation Symbian devices also have graphics accelerators, the Symbian S60v5 OS isn’t actually coded to take advantage of them fully.  Symbian^3, which will make its commercial debut on the N8, has no such shortcomings.  For more on the N8, check out our hands-on from last week.

Video demo after the cut

Nokia Bots – which is initially available only for the Nokia N97 and N97 mini – consist of four intelligent background apps that track your habits and adjust various elements of the smartphone experience accordingly:

• Profile Bot helps you by automating profile changes during meetings.
• Alarm Bot learns at what time you usually wake up, and suggests alarms and profile changes nightly.
• Shortcut Bot provides quick access to your most frequently used applications. Your preferences are learned in the background, and shortcuts automatically updated.
• Battery Bot lets you know if your battery needs to be charged in the evening before you go to sleep.

Of course, it’s early days and the functionality is still relatively limited.  Still, as smartphones grow more powerful, there’s no reason that they should rely on users to do everything manually; hopefully the autonomous apps will soon be able to take on more complex roles, such as automatically mapping out upcoming appointments or tracking the locations of friends and suggesting mutual gaps in your schedules when you could meet up for coffee.  You can download Nokia Bots here.

[via Nokia Conversations]

Speaking to Mobile Industry Review and All About Symbian, Vanjoki highlighted the sales success of the N97 – both in terms of numbers shipped and profit – but agreed that he’d had “sleepless nights” over the software experience.  The company’s attempts to address each issue piecemeal, Vanjoki explained, led to an “unbelievable cycle of things for us that has taken far too long to repair and mitigate.”

However, he’s also confident in the latest N97 firmware release – which went out earlier this month – which was apparently tested extensively on handset users in Norway.  To be fair, we’ve heard plenty of positive feedback from owners, and it does look like Nokia have managed to turn the page on the N97 saga.

[flv]http://c0590192.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/0080_S19_AnssiN97.flv[/flv]

The N97 has been a relatively slow-burner in terms of media reception (although sales have been strong), with only the latter firmware builds meeting with particular favor from reviewers.  The handset was initially criticized for arriving both later than expected and with a more clumsy interface than rival devices.

N97 owners can download PR 2.1 via the Nokia Software Updater tool, available at nokia.com/softwareupdate.  Let us know how you get on!

You’ll need to be running N97 OS 2.0.x in order to load Ovi Maps, and apparently that means some people are still out of luck.  You can check which version you’re running by tapping in *#0000#; if it’s under 2.0.x, head over to Nokia’s software update page to see if they can help.  Otherwise Nokia say an update is being worked on.

[via Nokia Conversations]

As well as photo uploading – complete with GPS geotagging – there’s video uploading to Facebook too. You can also add a Facebook calendar event to your handset’s calendar with one tap, and there’s no full profile support so you can see other users’ walls and photo galleries, and comment on them.

As for Twitter, there’s full reply, direct message and favorites functionality, together with support for links. New tweets are shown on the homescreen alongside Facebook updates in the desktop widget, though there doesn’t appear to be a way to split out the two streams into separate widgets.

There’s more detail on Nokia’s Beta Labs page including links to download the application itself. Nokia’s standard Facebook client was one of the less impressive elements we found in our Nokia N97 mini review, so we’re hoping the whole UI is a lot quicker to go along with the new functionality.

To understand the N97 mini, you have to put it into context with the original N97 it’s a “miniaturised” version of. The Nokia N97 practically epitomises the difficulty in balancing hype, consumer anticipation, cutting-edge hardware and delivery schedules: when it was first announced in December 2008 it promised a compelling package of the latest in smartphone technology, but by the time it hit reviewers’ hands in June 2009 it proved to fall well short of expectations.

Since then Nokia have pushed out a significant new firmware release that addressed many issues with the original smartphone, and of course they’ve also delivered the N97 mini, a more compact version of the N97 intended to address many of its shortcomings. We pulled no punches in our N97 review, so the N97 mini has plenty of work to do in order to impress us.

Physically, as you might imagine, it’s a smaller phone. The original N97 is 117.2 x 55.3 x 15.9 mm, tipping the scales at 150g, while the N97 mini is 113 x 52.5 x 14.2 mm and 138g. That means there’s less room for the display – which slips from 3.5- to 3.2-inches, though sticks at 640 x 360 resolution – but it also means it’s a far more pocket-friendly handset. Interestingly, there are minimal hardware concessions involved elsewhere: the N97 mini doesn’t have a sliding lens cover, but it does keep the 5-megapixel autofocus camera with Carl Zeiss optics and dual-LED flash, together with a front-facing camera for video calling. The GPS and A-GPS are still present, together with ambient light, orientation and proximity sensors, and connectivity doesn’t fall short either: the N97 mini is packed with quadband WCMDA 850/900/1900/2100 as well as Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, WiFi b/g, a microUSB 2.0 connection and a 3.5mm headphones socket.

Nokia N97 mini unboxing video:

You also still get the unusual form-factor, with a sliding-tilting display that is strongly spring-loaded. That reveals the redesigned keyboard, the biggest change of which is the removal of the D-pad on the left and the introduction of four regular arrow keys. We were scathing in our feedback of the N97′s keyboard, criticising its lack of travel and poor finger-feedback; the N97 mini’s ‘board is better, with buttons that are certainly more responsive than on its bigger sibling, while the missing D-pad means there’s less reaching to be done with the left thumb. Still, it’s not a home-run by any stretch of the imagination and there’s a sluggishness to the response that makes typing feel slower than on other hardware keyboards. Nokia have increased the size of the spacebar – which is still offset, and sits just underneath where your right thumb rests – and the function key is better placed on the far left rather than the far right.

Unfortunately you’re still stuck with the one-position screen angle, which is results in plenty of hand-tilting as you try to thumb-type and see the display at the best angle. The touchscreen itself uses a resistive panel rather than the currently fashionable capacitive, but is reasonably responsive and accurate nonetheless. OS is S60 5th edition, Nokia’s attempt to bring finger-friendliness to Symbian, and it remains a mixed bag. The recent firmware 2.0 update for the N97 also applies to the N97 mini, and addresses many of our original complaints, particularly in terms of the visual appeal and the introduction of “kinetic scrolling”.

It’s still not as attractive as, say, Palm’s webOS or the iPhone, and many of the menus still seem to merely be bigger – i.e. finger-sized – than they were before. Lists continue to respond differently to taps depending on whereabouts in the OS you are: settings, for instance, usually respond to a single tap, whereas lists of items (such as email messages) take one tap to select and another to open. We can partly see the logic in this, but when other platforms use the more intuitive press-and-hold to deliver the same, Nokia’s system begins to look unnecessarily fiddly.

The display aspect is less than ideal too, particularly when you’re dealing with emails. We can’t find any way to show the email list with sender and subject split across two lines, and as such you get both a sharply truncated name and very little of the subject line. It’s difficult to triage your inbox without actually going into the message itself, which adds a few unwanted steps to the process. On the plus side, the N97 mini does have extensive email account support, including the basic POP and IMAP together with Mail for Exchange, and where the E72 dropped the ball in dealing with our Exchange-like Kerio Mail Server, the mini handled it with no problems whatsoever. We did experience a couple of odd connection issues, however, where the smartphone would “forget” by which method it was meant to pull in new emails; we wish Nokia would make things a little more straightforward, using whatever the active connection is (whether WiFi or 3G) without the user needing to be so prescriptive.

Like the E72, the N97 mini’s browser supports full HTML with in-page Flash video, which means no separate app is required to play back YouTube content (among others). Of course there’s still no multitouch zooming, and instead the N97 mini uses double-tap to zoom; unfortunately webpage text doesn’t reflow accordingly, and despite the accelerometer the screen orientation doesn’t flip even if you turn the phone on its side, you have to push out the keyboard in order to get a landscape view. Still, pages render pretty much as you’d expect from a desktop browser.

Firmware 2.0 also brought with it the latest version of Nokia Maps, and as with the E72 it’s been a pleasing experience seeing what the rivals of Google Maps have come up with. The N97 mini includes a digital compass and locks onto a GPS signal quickly, while the app itself does a better job than its rival in presenting that data on-screen. Various map-types are provided, including a traffic overlay, and it’s just as easy to pull up walking directions as it is driving (though once the trial licence of pedestrian directions runs out, you’ll need to pay for the functionality). There are still no spoken guidance prompts, however, unlike the Google Maps Navigation beta for Android in the US.

Nokia have won many admirers over the past year or two with the quality of their cameras, and the N97 mini’s 5-megapixel autofocus shooter is reasonable. Our general dislike of LED flashes – which we find have a very narrow “sweet spot” outside of which they either over-saturate the subject or prove hopelessly lacking in power – is tempered by decent low-light performance with the flash switched off. Give the N97 mini an outdoor shot however and you’ll find acceptable results; we were also particularly impressed by the macro close-ups, with the phone automatically switching into the necessary mode to keep nearby subjects in crisp focus. The onboard 8GB of memory is less than the original N97′s 32GB, but slot in a microSD card and you’ll have up to 24GB to play with. You can find sample shots in the gallery below.

The camera will also shoot 30fps 16:9 aspect video in MPEG4 640 x 360 resolution, which turned out to be smooth and reasonably watchable. You can switch on the LED flash to act as a video light, though autofocus no longer works. Once you’ve shot a clip you can upload it to various media sharing sites, including Flickr and Nokia’s own Ovi gallery.

As for consuming media rather than producing it, the N97 mini has the same audio app as on the E72 only with larger, finger-accomodating icons. The interface is lacking in comparison to something like the iPhone, but it’s serviceable and there’s a link directly to Nokia’s Music Store (though not Comes With Music, which the company don’t offer on this handset) for on-device downloads. As with the N97 there’s an FM radio (which requires a wired headset be plugged in) but no FM transmitter; Nokia say the short-range transmitter – handy for in-car use – couldn’t be squeezed into the N97 mini’s reduced casing. Video playback is in a separate app, and consists of a simple folder-browsing UI for local content together with a Video Feeds browser which allows you to access streaming content.

Access to all of these apps is usually through the main menu, called up no matter where you are in the phone by pressing the single hardware button on the fascia. However, like its sibling, the N97 mini’s homescreen is made up of six rectangular widget panels which can be rearranged and edited. Among the options are standard shortcut bars – each offering room for four icons linking to your commonly-accessed apps – as well as frequent contact shortcuts, an AccuWeather forecast widget, Mail for Exchange widget and a clock with links to the alarm settings and calendar. There’s also a Facebook widget which ties into Nokia’s somewhat sluggish Facebook app. This shows galleries, wall posts and offers one-tap access to the camera and on-device gallery so as to make uploading shots easier, but is tardy in its responsiveness – especially when updating the Facebook wall – compared to similar apps on rival platforms.

Phone performance was strong, with the N97 mini tenacious with a signal. We experienced no dropped calls in all of our testing, and both parties reported clear and crackle-free audio. Battery life has proven slightly better than what you’d expect from a current-gen smartphone, capable of going two days with regular use (and judicious use of the peak/off-peak push email settings). Nokia quote up to 430 minutes of GSM talktime (240 minutes of WCDMA) or up to 320 hours of GSM standby (310 hours of WCDMA).

Build quality is better than the N97, with a sturdy case and touches of metal in the screen fascia and battery cover; we’re also quiet fans of the “cherry black” finish (though you can also get the N97 mini in “garnet”). Less impressive is the flex in the plastic screen surround up above the earpiece, though to be fair that’s our only real point of concern about the N97 mini’s construction.

Overall, then, we feel a whole lot warmer toward the Nokia N97 mini than we did toward the original N97. Its slimmed-down design and improved software have taken much of the sting out of ownership, and the compromises – the absence of an FM transmitter and the smaller onboard storage – are minor in comparison to the far better keyboard and sturdier build. Still, none of what it offers is quite a home-run in the smartphone game right now; the OS is improved but still feels drab and mildly clunky in comparison to rival platforms, and the QWERTY ‘board is a long way off the best we’ve played with in recent months.

Bizarrely, if they’ve beaten anything, Nokia have killed off enthusiasm for the N97; the two handsets will go on sale alongside each other, and the UK store even has the N97 mini at £429 and the original at £449. Having lived with the N97 mini we’re not sure why anybody would plump for the original, frankly. As for the mini itself, we must admit to being more enthusiastic about the Maemo OS and its potential than we are about this current device. Nokia obviously have some good ideas left in them, but the N97 mini feels like what the original N97 should have been, rather than a new product in its own right.

Among the changes for the N97 with firmware 2.0 are “flip scrolling”, similar to the kinetic scroll on the iPhone, the latest Ovi Maps 3.1 with 3D mapping, Nokia Messaging and Ovi Contacts.  There’s also the newest version of the Ovi Store, Nokia’s download center, together with further personalization of the homescreen.  The new firmware can be downloaded via a PC and updated with the Nokia Software Update tool, or directly OTA from the N97 itself.

As for the N97 mini, that has a 3.2-inch resistive touchscreen, full QWERTY keyboard, 3G and WiFi, and will be priced at around €450 ($666).  Anybody tempted?

Nokia N97 mini hands-on:

Press Release:

Nokia N97 gets even better with a new software update
October 28, 2009

Nokia N97 mini now available in stores

Espoo, Finland. – Nokia has released a new Nokia N97 software update 2.0 that adds new user experience elements and functionalities to the device. The standard version of the Nokia N97 software update 2.0 is available immediately through the PC on the Nokia Software Update website (http://www.nokia.com/softwareupdate), and will be followed by a wide range of country and operator versions over the coming weeks as well as possibility to do the update over-the-air.

Also this week, Nokia N97 mini makes its big debut in stores. With its stainless steel cues, the Nokia N97 mini is designed for style-conscious people who are active with social networks. The device features a tilting 3.2″ touch display, QWERTY keyboard and fully customizable homescreen. The Nokia N97 mini features same software with the Nokia N97 and will be in stores with an estimated retail price of EUR 450 before taxes and subsidies.

“In September, 2009, we exceeded 2 million Nokia N97 devices sold, and now introduce the Nokia N97 mini, underscoring the success of the design. We have also listened to consumer feedback about the performance of the device. The Nokia N97 software update 2.0 is a way for us to optimize the device and add new features and functions,” said Jose-Luis Martinez, Vice President, Nokia Nseries. “We are also excited about the early feedback that we have received on the Nokia N97 mini, which carries a very similar feature set to the original Nokia N97 and comes in a pocket-friendly size for those out and about.”

Among the new experiences available with the free 2.0 software update are:
- ‘flip scrolling’ has been added in the entire user interface, making scrolling in all views very smooth
- shortcuts to personalized homescreen
- Ovi Maps 3.1 with 3-D maps
- Nokia e-mail (Nokia Messaging)
- Ovi Contacts
- Ovi Store.

Nokia is constantly updating and enhancing its devices with new features, functions and fixes so people can get even more out of their Nokia device even years after buying it. Nokia owners can automatically check for new software by going to Menu > Applications > SW Update and enable automatic checking, or visit http://www.nokia.com/softwareupdate to download the version that is best for them. Additionally, MyNokia members will also receive an SMS when their local version of the software becomes available. People can register to the service at www.nokia.com/mynokia.

About Nokia
Nokia is a pioneer in mobile telecommunications and the world’s leading maker of mobile devices. Today, we are connecting people in new and different ways – fusing advanced mobile technology with personalized services to enable people to stay close to what matters to them. We also provide comprehensive digital map information through NAVTEQ; and equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.

In fact the keyboard is described as only remaining so as to retain the family resemblance, which is a pretty poor reason in our opinion.  Meanwhile the internal memory takes a dive from 32GB to 8GB, and Eldar’s shot of the N97 Mini next to the N900 leaves us wondering why we should bother being interested in the former considering the similarity in sizes.

What’s more promising is that Murtazen has at least one more touchscreen Nokia device that he has to preview ahead of Nokia World next week, together with the news that the company “is preparing a bunch of other touchscreen-enabled phones”.  Some of these, he suggests, will be real rivals to the N97 Mini; we’re hoping we get to play with them when SlashGear goes to Nokia World next week.

It also keeps the offset space-bar, which is disappointing, while around the back the camera lens-cover has been lost.  Full specifications are unknown, but we’re presuming that the N97 Mini will be a cut-down version of the N97, perhaps dropping WiFi but keeping the widget UI, HSPA connectivity and social network integration.

Still no official word from Nokia themselves, so this could in fact be a well-designed fake or copy.  Alternatively, we could be hearing more about it at Nokia World later on in the year; a representative from Vodafone Ireland has already suggested that the N97 Mini is Nokia’s attempt to “appeal to a wider segment of customers”.

[via Engadget; via blog-N97]

The QWERTY keyboard earns much of the N97 dismay, with poor tactile feedback, shallow travel and a frustrating layout, but S60 5th Edition, despite Nokia’s work to integrate touch-control, must share the blame.  Compared to rival devices, it seems a lazy implementation, while the resistive touchscreen feels like old technology compared to the iPhone 3GS, Palm Pre or BlackBerry Storm.

There are positive points, including strong multimedia performance (though ugly, basic apps), the homescreen widgets and plenty of onboard storage, but the overall feeling is that the N97 simply arrived too late to capitalize on its potential.  For all the details, check out the full PhoneMag review.

Elsewhere, Nokia’s long-awaited N97 finally reached North American customers’ hands, ours included, and you can find our unboxing and first-impressions here.  It’s a decent smartphone, and understandably the flagship of Nokia’s line, but can it hold up in the face of iPhone’s upgraded OS 3.0 software?  We’ll have our full review this coming week.

If it’s a QWERTY keyboard you’re after, but you prefer your phones berry-flavored, then the news that both Verizon and Sprint would be offering the BlackBerry Tour 9630 in the near future will probably come as some relief.  3G, GPS, for all the specs check out the official RIM video.  Finally, Samsung took the wraps off of the Omnia Pro B7610, complete with a glorious OLED touchscreen display and slide out ‘board.

It’s not all been smartphones, though.  SlashGear sat in front of a small screen, in the shape of Fujitsu-Siemen’s Amilo Mini Ui 3520 netbook, and a big screen (albeit a virtual one) with the Q-London 3D 80″ Video Eyewear.  Oh, and in the name of extreme destruction, we watched Lenovo’s ThinkPad T400s go head to head with a 26,000lb DOW truck.  If you want to see whether a slender ultraportable notebook can cope with getting comfortable between rubber and gravel, check out the video.

Finally, Microsoft confirmed that the Zune HD PMP will use NVIDIA’s Tegra chipset, making us even more keen to see what this potential-iPod-killer (yes, we know, a cliché if ever there was one) brings to the table.  And for your high-definition home entertainment, PopcornHour delivered their C200 Blu-ray ready media-streamer.  If you’ve ever looked at your media collection and wished there was a set-top box that could handle it all without breaking a sweat, this is the gadget for you.

No other details regarding the “N97 Mini” have been disclosed, but if authentic it is presumably a simpler version of the N97 which has just launched in the US.  You can see our video unboxing and hands-on gallery of the Nokia N97 here.

The moderator goes on to confirm that Vodafone Ireland will not be be offering the Palm Pre, due to another carrier having exclusivity.  It’s unstated, but previous rumors have tipped rival O2 as clinching the Pre.  Finally, it’s confirmed that the BlackBerry Storm 2 is coming to Vodafone Ireland as well, though there’s no word on exactly when that might happen.

[via MobileBurn]

Unboxing video and hands-on N97 gallery after the cut

Getting early praise are the N97′s homescreen widgets, with the phone coming preloaded with Facebook, weather and Exchange email apps that can all leave an information shortcut on the main display.  There’ll be more to download in the Ovi store, too, which unsurprisingly gets a shortcut on the N97.

Less impressive is the touchscreen, which in the case of the N97 uses resistive rather than capacitive technology.  It’s not as responsive as the iPhone or Palm Pre, and that – coupled with S60 5th Edition’s odd way of requiring two taps (one selects, the other activates) to load apps – can make for a mildly frustrating experience.  The hardware keyboard, hidden under the tilt-and-slide top panel, is shallow with little key-travel, and has a squared-off layout that’s trickier at first than a traditional offset arrangement.

Final judgment will have to wait for the full review, so until then take a look at the unboxing video and gallery below.

Nokia N97 unboxing video:

If Apple isn’t your choice of platform, then we also unboxed HTC’s new flagship Windows Mobile smartphone, the Touch Pro2.  A slide-out QWERTY keyboard, huge touchscreen and more connectivity than you could legitimately ask for, we’ll have the full review this coming week. 

Meanwhile, we also reviewed Amazon’s latest ebook reader, the 9.7-inch Kindle DX.  Aimed at students, newspaper & magazine addicts and businesses, the big question is whether it offers a realistic leap over the Kindle 2 that’s around $100 cheaper.  Finally, we featured our review of Sleek Audio’s CT6 Custom earphones, individually molded to the wearer’s ear-canal and promising tailored audio. 

Elsewhere, we saw the Palm Pre jailbroken and running Doom, heard a glowing review of the Viliv X70 UMPC, and saw leaked details of Intel’s upcoming Atom CPU range.  There were also hands-on videos of Pixel Qi’s incredible 3Qi low-power display, leaked photos of Sony Ericsson’s XPERIA X2, and confirmation that the Nokia N97 and N86 8MP were both arriving in stores across America.  Archos also held their long-awaited press conference, sadly not delivering the Android MID we’d been promised but dropping the Windows 7 Archos 9 UMPC instead.

Pricing for the N86 8MP is yet to be confirmed; it’s not even up for preorder on Nokia’s webstore at time of writing.  As for the N97, that’s listed for $699 unlocked and contract-free.

For hands-on video with the Nokia N86 8MP, check out our demo video here; there’s also a full live gallery here.  As for the Nokia N97, head over to our demo video here.

SIM-free, the N97 is priced at around £500; that will be followed by a June 26th launch on the various carriers in the UK, with no word on pricing but a clear possibility of picking up the N97 free with a sufficiently expensive tariff.  The N97 is already available to preorder in the US, priced at around $455 after discounts.

Your money gets you a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, S60 5th Edition OS, WiFi, GPS, HSPA and of course that 3.5-inch resistive touchscreen.  However we’re also wary of the potentially low-powered CPU Nokia have fitted the N97 with; we’ll have to wait for the final model to see if that undermines the smartphone.

Press Release:

Nokia N97 mobile computer to begin selling worldwide in June

Espoo, Finland – The highly anticipated Nokia N97, Nokia’s flagship mobile computer, will begin selling in June in more than 75 countries. Along with a tilting 3.5″ touch display, QWERTY keyboard and a fully customizable home screen, the Nokia N97 will offer instant access to the full range of Ovi services.

“The Nokia N97 is an important step towards our vision of delivering a highly personalized Internet experience,” said Jonas Geust, Vice President and head of Nokia Nseries. “Fuelled by a multitude of music, maps, games, media and applications via Ovi, the Nokia N97 transforms the Internet into an experience that’s completely tailored to the tastes and interests of its owner.”

The Nokia N97 is Nokia’s first device to feature a personalizable home screen, which can be customized with a range of widgets which bring live information directly to the device. These widgets include key social networking destinations like Facebook and Hi5, news services like the Associated Press, Bloomberg and Reuters, as well as shopping and weather information. The Nokia N97 is the first device to ship with the Ovi Store, which offers easy access to applications, games, videos, podcasts, productivity tools, web and location-based services, and much more. Ovi Store has paid and free content from a range of global and local content providers and developers, including Paramount Pictures, Facebook and Qik, as well as a selection of Twitter applications.

Enjoy your upgrades
The beauty of this Nokia device is that taking it out of the box is just the beginning. As with any computer, people can constantly improve and refresh their Nokia N97 with new features, functions and fixes so they can do even more with the device. An exciting roadmap of new features and functions is planned to roll out in the second half of 2009.

Entertainment ensured
The Nokia N97 also has direct access to the huge catalogue of music in the Nokia Music Store. With multiple high-speed connectivity options and 32GB of storage (up to 48GB using a microSD card) it is possible to directly download and store tens of thousands of songs on the handset. And you can listen to your favourite music on the Nokia Bluetooth Stereo Headset BH-905, which Nokia also launched today. This headset brings crystal clear sound, eliminates background noise, and is the ideal accessory for listening to music and making calls on the Nokia N97, as well as being compatible with a diverse range of other mobile and music devices.

High-quality images and video clips at 30 frames per second (fps) can be captured using the 5 megapixel camera with integrated Carl Zeiss optics. Images can also be geo-tagged to specific locations and shared instantly with friends or uploaded online via Ovi Share, Twitter or Flickr.

About Nokia
Nokia is a pioneer in mobile telecommunications and the world’s leading maker of mobile devices. Today, we are connecting people in new and different ways – fusing advanced mobile technology with personalized services to enable people to stay close to what matters to them. We also provide comprehensive digital map information through NAVTEQ; and equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.

According to the Nokia customer reps, anybody preordering the N97 will see the full cost of the handset debited from their account immediately.  That figure will then be refunded in 1-2 business days – it only being used to check whether the buyer can actually afford the phone – and the actual payment taken out when the N97 is ready for shipment.

We’re waiting to hear whether anybody else has reported the payment being taken; so far it’s a lone voice.  However it does seem to lend weight to the talk that the N97 is almost here in the US.

[via Darla Mack]

That’s almost $250 off the MRSP of $699 for the unlocked US-spec handset.  Nokia also throw in their BH-703 Bluetooth headset, which usually retails for $89.95.  Shipments are expected to being in July 2009.

Nokia recently confirmed the N97′s processor, and the news wasn’t good: the smartphone uses an ARM11 434MHz CPU, which is actually slower than the company’s own XpressMusic 5630, which has a 600MHz processor.  Check out our video hands-on with the N97 here.

[via Engadget]

Now in our hands-on experience with the N97 – running pre-production code, no less – it’s not exactly been sluggish in switching between apps, but neither has it shown the same perkiness as other devices we’ve seen.  You can see a video demo of the N97 in action below, but bear in mind we shot that footage four months ago at CES 2009.

Nokia told us at the event that they’re working on streamlining the OS even further, and we imagine general use won’t exhibit too much slowdown when the smartphone launches.  Anything that demands pure hardware grunt, however, might now show up the N97 as being significantly underpowered compared to not only rival manufacturers’ handsets but cellphones from Nokia’s own range.

[via Symbian-Freak]

There’s plenty of time between now and Toshiba’s “Summer launch” for the handset to be tweaked and polished, at which point I’d wager the hardware is going to be even more tempting.  Trust me, the photos and even the video don’t do the TG01 justice; even the dummy models had me wanting to slip one into my bag and run.

On paper the Toshiba is special: the display quality, the connectivity, the size.  In fact they may have created the first MID that mainstream users are actively drawn to.  And yet I really feel the TG01′s Achilles heel will be its OS.  Although Toshiba announced the TG01 with Windows Mobile 6.1, it’ll inevitably launch with version 6.5 – after Microsoft announce the update at MWC later this month. 

I’m excited about the Palm Pre: webOS promises new, intelligent levels of information management and the ability to learn from usage patterns, plus there’s a basic kinetic appeal about a handset that physically slides open.  For a similar reason – together with how it hints at multitouch devices to come – I’m excited about the Nokia N97.  I’m still excited about the iPhone 3G, because of the promise its GUI still holds, and the way Apple manage to finesse the user-experience.  Thanks to a growing array of augmented reality software on Android, I’m even managing some excitement about the T-Mobile G1, though most of it is saved for future devices running the platform.

When it comes to Windows Mobile 6.5, though, right now we’re being asked to get excited about a new, honeycomb launcher, a new version of Internet Explorer Mobile and a larger ‘close’ button.  Given that Toshiba’s own GUI will cover up the former, and that even I struggle to summon glee over a big ‘X’, that makes the most significant change – by which I mean the change you and I will see the most of – the browser.

Now a browser with full Flash compatibility, running on a 4.1-inch 800 x 480 display with 384k pixels is nothing to be sniffed at.  However it’s also not something you can create too much enthusiasm for a whole platform over.  Windows Mobile does some things very well – its Exchange integration is great, and setting up a new phone with an existing account is a joy compared to doing the same thing on S60 or the BlackBerry OS – but creating an addictive, intuitive user experience isn’t one of them.

Here’s an example: you might remember our review of the HTC Touch HD, probably the best Windows Mobile 6.1 handset I’ve experienced.  HSDPA, WiFi, a gloriously large and high-res touchscreen (indeed the finest resistive display on a smartphone I’ve used) and 5-megapixels of camera goodness; I certainly missed it when HTC called for it back.  Yet despite the fact I could have probably scored a free Touch HD from my current carrier – I’m years overdue an upgrade – in return for 12-24 months new contract, I didn’t even try.

Of course, I fell in love with the iPhone 3G while living in the US last year, but when I came back to the UK I didn’t buy one of those either.  It’s just that Windows Mobile’s strengths – which the TG01 will emphasise, certainly – are tied up in an overall package that doesn’t feel special, that feels old.  Too many taps, too many settings pages to go through; I want a device that, like the iPhone 3G does, like I think the Palm Pre will, makes you pick it up and play with it even when you don’t really need to.  No Windows Mobile device has, in my experience, managed that so far.

I could be wrong about the Toshiba TG01 – in fact, given the industrial design and the spec sheet, I hope I am – and the company could do wonders with their GUI.  If they can manage to hide Windows Mobile then they might be onto something.  At the moment I can see a Start button, and a standard WM6.1 status bar, and it’s turning me off; the OS does a lot, but it does it in an ugly way and, right now, that’s not what consumers want.  I’m a consumer, and half of me loves the TG01.  I just wish they’d put Android on it.

According to the same sources, the manufacturers most likely to benefit from Nokia’s sales splurge are Qualcomm, Texas Instruments and Synaptics.  There’s no word on which devices could use the new technology – particularly multitouch, which is not present on Nokia’s upcoming N97 flagship.

Nokia has previously confirmed that the N97 and 5800 ‘Tube’ XpressMusic are only the first in a range of new touchscreen devices, but other than that the company has been tight-lipped regarding possible developments.  If the rumors of one or more multitouch handsets pan out, the Finnish company could find itself in the midst of the Apple IP argument.

As well as a touchscreen and the latest version of the S60 OS, the N97 has a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and a dual-LED flash, a full QWERTY keyboard, GPS and WiFi.  Since Play.com is a UK site, this particular N97 has Euro-spec 3G, using the 900/1900/2100MHz bands, rather than the North America-specific 850/1900/2100MHz bands.

It’s not unusual for retailers to put up unconfirmed release dates based either on tenuous supplier information or mere guesstimates, however, so we’d take this information with a pinch of salt.  The N97 is available for pre-order elsewhere, such as Expansys, but Play is one of the first retailers to suggest both pricing and availability.

[via Symbian-Guru]

After that, it was CES 2009, and the SlashGear team decamped to Las Vegas to cover the best-known consumer electronics show on the calendar.  The impact of the recession has certainly made its mark on CES, with what looked to be a lower attendee turnout and several booth cancellations.  Headline gadgets were also fewer and further between, though there were still a few notable announcements.

Surprise introduction was the Palm Pre, a new smartphone coupled with a new platform, webOS.  Despite getting thrown out of the press launch during our liveblog, we still managed to bring you the first images of the device on the net.  The QWERTY-equipped capacitive touchscreen slider is set to hit Sprint in the first half of 2009; make sure to check out our hands-on Pre report, Sprint & Palm Q&A, and visit Pre Community for more details.

A long-rumored netbook came to fruition too this week, in the shape of the Sony VAIO P.  Following the company’s usual path of no-compromise design and little accomodation for aching wallets, the VAIO P is an expensive ($899+) and interesting addition to the ultraportable space.  SlashGear is one of a very small number of sites with a VAIO P of our own; check out our first impressions here, and expect plenty more on this Digital Lifestyle PC very soon.  In fact I’m currently writing this Week in Review on the P, with only minimal squinting.

Elsewhere, we caught up with the latest version of Nokia’s N97 smartphone – which we’re looking forward to spending more time with at Mobile World Congress next month – and sat down with Creative to discuss their innovative Zii processor.  iRiver’s curious WAVE HOME reminded us that just when we think we can predict the company, they surprise us, and ASUS pulled a number of interesting devices – including the Eee PC T91 Tablet – out of the bag.

Elsewhere in the touchscreen space, OQO’s new Model 2+ – complete with OLED touchscreen and integrated worldwide 3G support – certainly endeared itself, and we’re looking forward to getting our hands on a review unit.  On an even smaller scale, it’s good to hear that the LG GD910 watch phone is headed for production.

Apple may have not introduced much hardware, but that doesn’t stop them influencing others’ design.  One of the more obviously “MacBook inspired” items at the show has been MSI’s X-Slim X320; make sure to check out our comparison photoshoot with the MacBook Air.

That’s just a small slice of our CES coverage, so if you want to catch up with all the good stuff from the show click on the CES 2009 tag.  We’ll be rounding up any remaining content that we may have missed from our memory cards in the coming days.

Finally, we have a new addition to the SlashGear family in the shape of Shawn Farner, who joined our editorial staff on Monday.  Shawn is a rabid social-media junkie as well as a tech-addict, and we’re hoping you’re finding his content as interesting to read as we are.

Nokia were clear that the device we’ve been seeing is nowhere near finalized.  Not only is the software still to be changed, but the physical design, including plastics colors and other detailing, isn’t as it will be in-store.  One side-effect is that the N97 you see in this demo – and in fact any other video demo – is not running at the final speed, which in the eventual release will be “much faster”; nonetheless, we found the handset to be relatively quick to respond.

A purposefully finalized hardware decision, though, is the touchscreen technology.  While many would have liked to have seen Nokia use a capacitive panel, such as on the iPhone, the company claim the resistive screen was a conscious choice.  That’s primarily for the range of input options resistive allows: gloved use, for instance, or handwriting recognition.  For the end-user, what it means is that you lose the zero-pressure control capacitive offers, but we didn’t find the N97′s touchscreen to be particularly difficult or unresponsive.

One seemingly must-have app on any new smartphone is Facebook access; Nokia couldn’t discuss with us how much input Facebook themselves had made in developing their app, which is expected to be available at launch.  As with other software for the N97, it consists of two aspects: the main app, and a widget that can be embedded into the homescreen and that gives at-a-glance updates.  Nokia’s Victor Brilon, senior manager of N-series technology collaboration, was keen to clarify that the homescreen widgets are not merely “tickers” that take you straight to the main program, but interactive in their own right.  It will take advantage of the always-on network connection to give real-time updates of status, comments and other details.

Multiple programs are expected to be available by the time the N97 launches, together with the ability for users to create their own.  These can range from simple widgets to full apps, although it was unclear exactly how complex the coding environment for that would be.  Nokia will be able to distribute software via their Ovi service; they’re also pushing developers to consider network good-practice, so that battery life doesn’t suffer due to over-use of the data connection.

The N97 is expected to first go on sale as an unlocked device, with Nokia suggesting US pricing in-line with a high-end current N-series handset such as the N96.  They couldn’t discuss any possible carrier partnerships or subsidies. 

Apparently Symbian S60 has a glitch in the way it handles text messages, when a user uses more than 32 characters and includes a small identifier that marks a message as “Internet Electronic Mail” it will trigger this glitch. When triggered the handset will automatically stop receiving SMS messages without letting the user know until you restore the device.

This rare occurrence can easily be carried out and effect any phone running S60 versions 2.6-3.1, which unfortunately consists of a large number of Nokia’s handset line. Tobias Engel and the Chaos Computer club are responsible for finding this bug and reported the details to Nokia a few weeks ago and there still has been no patch to fix the issue. Check below to see if your phone is one of the affected.

S60 3rd Edition, Feature Pack 1 (S60 3.1):
Nokia E90 Communicator
Nokia E71
Nokia E66
Nokia E51
Nokia N95 8GB
Nokia N95
Nokia N82
Nokia N81 8GB
Nokia N81
Nokia N76
Nokia 6290
Nokia 6124 classic
Nokia 6121 classic
Nokia 6120 classic
Nokia 6110 Navigator
Nokia 5700 XpressMusic

S60 3rd Edition, initial release (S60 3.0):
Nokia E70
Nokia E65
Nokia E62
Nokia E61i
Nokia E61
Nokia E60
Nokia E50
Nokia N93i
Nokia N93
Nokia N92
Nokia N91 8GB
Nokia N91
Nokia N80
Nokia N77
Nokia N73
Nokia N71
Nokia 5500
Nokia 3250

S60 2nd Edition, Feature Pack 3 (S60 2.8):
Nokia N90
Nokia N72
Nokia N70

S60 2nd Edition, Feature Pack 2 (S60 2.6):
Nokia 6682
Nokia 6681
Nokia 6680
Nokia 6630

The offset spacebar looks to be a bizarre ergonomic decision, but thankfully the handset doesn’t crawl in use.  That’s down to the lashings of RAM (unconfirmed, but expected to be in excess of 128MB) and 369 MHz ARM11 processor.

Of course, they’re calling this a preview and not a review, and so the conclusions shouldn’t be taken as Gospel until the production handsets emerge.  The overriding impression seems to be that the N97 makes most sense when you consider it as an integrated package of device and services, and for that we’ll need to wait until Nokia finish rolling out their online provisions.

ASUS showed just how they expect the Eee Box to make more of a dent in rivals’ sales, with the announcement of the B204 and B206, each with dedicated graphics and HDMI outputs.  Also tipped is a new, super-bargain Eee Box, with Atom kicked out in favor of a Celeron processor.  Trigem showed off their Lluon Mobbit MID, which is apparently coming in January 2009, and the AMtek T10L 10.2-inch touchscreen slate confused definitions with its UMPC form-factor but netbook-style Atom CPU.

It’s not all good news in the segment, however.  WiBrain’s I1 UMPC is looking conspicuous by its absence, while the Fujitsu Amilo Mini Ui 3520 netbook failed to make a good impression in reviews.

Elsewhere, Sony’s PS3 took the gong in a Blu-ray player shoot-out, while TiVo were forced to deny that an Amazon HD streaming media service was imminent.  In fact its not been a great week for streaming content, with Blockbuster OnDemand being roundly rubbished for its glitchy performance and sluggish GUI.

If you’re hoping for an iPod this holiday season, it might be an idea to buy one sooner rather than later: we’re hearing that shortages may be on the horizon.  Other fruit-themed rumors include a tipped $99 iPhone 3G, packing a mere 4GB, coming to Walmart.  If you’ve already got a PMP, and you fancy some wireless headphones, make sure to check out our review of the Wi-Gear iMuffs.

Finally, SlashGear went to Italy this week, to check out Sony’s latest jaw-dropping commercial.  After exploding paint, bouncing balls and morphing bunny rabbits, the company decided to build a huge zoetrope called the BRAVIA Drome.  Sadly there’s little chance of a Christmas release.

Also included is the text “Direct UI simplifies interaction with standard strokes and gestures”.  The handset itself could be a keyboard-free version of the new Nokia N97, intended to take on the iPhone 3G more directly with a slimmer chassis but the new smartphone’s boosted feature set.

We’re waiting for a comment from our sources at Nokia as to the authenticity of the image, together with any details they might have for us.  Up until then, we’ll just have to cross our fingers that this handset – or one like it – is in Nokia’s future.

Update: Our contacts at Nokia image tell us the image is authentic, but that it’s not an upcoming device.  Instead, it’s intended to show off new UI enhancements.  Our source confirmed that there were no new devices announced at Capital Markets Day.

Instead, the rumors suggest that the N97 will be “as fast or faster” than the Nokia E71, with the ARM11 chip clocked higher than in previous devices.  Although that means it will likely be the quickest Nokia smartphone available, it raises questions about whether the N97 could be considered a MID replacement.

The TI OMAP 3 processor runs at 800MHz but requires just 750mW under load, while in deep sleep mode there’s practically no current draw whatsoever.  That means extra-long standby times and the ability to withstand intensive use on a single charge.  Nokia are quoting up to 430hrs GSM standby (400hrs WCDMA) or 6.6hrs GSM talktime (5.3hrs WCDMA) for the N97.

[via UMPC Portal]

The N97 has a 3.5-inch, 16:9 touchscreen and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard; the unusually designed hinge tilts the display up at a 30-degree angle.  Inside there’s HSPA, WiFi, Bluetooth with support for the A2DP stereo profile, A-GPS, an accelerometer and a digital compass.  Integrated storage is 32GB while there’s also a microSD slot for a further 16GB.  There’s also a 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, autofocus and a dual-LED flash.

What will likely make or break it for the N97 is the software.  Nokia have ramped S60 up to v.5, with even more touch-focused tweaks and functionality than seen in the existing 5800 XpressMusic.  Features include an always-on social networking window integrated into the homescreen, improved Nokia Maps with the ability to share geo-specific media with other uses directly from the N97 itself, and a full web browser with Flash video support.

As you can see from the gallery below, the N97 is thicker than the iPhone 3G; it’s also slightly longer, but narrower.  The extra thickness is from the slide-out keyboard; we’ve seen a similar tilting design on the HTC Kaiser.

According to PhoneScoop, the keyboard is better than that of the T-Mobile G1 and the Pantech Duo 2, with good travel and thumb-feedback.  Meanwhile the display was less successful, with haptics only working half of the time; that’s likely because Nokia only have very early pre-production hardware to demonstrate.  The software is another evolution of S60 to reduce menu presses, while screen quality is “beautiful”.

These N97 demo units are apparently the first time Nokia has combined the N97 hardware and software, and were hand-made.  We’ll have to wait until closer to launch to find out exactly how the real smartphone performs.

Demo video of the Nokia N97 after the cut

There’s also a 5-megapixel autofocus camera with Carl Zeiss optics and an LED flash, A-GPS with Nokia’s Maps 3.0, and 32GB of integrated storage (with support for microSD cards up to 16GB in addition; not 64GB as mentioned in the launch demo).  Connectivity includes WiFi, Bluetooth and HSDPA.  There’s also a digital compass and accelerometer for screen rotation, plus a full internet browser that can play YouTube and other online videos.  The battery is good for up to 1.5 days of continuous audio playback.

Nokia have also included a dynamically-updating map, using data from Navteq, as well as information uploaded from individual users. 

An always-connected social networking window can be placed on the homescreen, giving a permanent view of Facebook, MySpace or another network.  There’s also the ability to follow specific people.  The N97 will go on sale in Europe and Asia first, in the first half of 2009.  It’ll be priced at €550 ($695) unsubsidized.  A US release is planned after that, though no specific dates have been given.  More photos below and here.

Press Release:

Desktop. Laptop. Pocket: The era of the personal Internet dawns with the Nokia N97

Tilting touch display, QWERTY keyboard and personalized home screen – a true mobile computer.

Barcelona, Spain – Nokia today unveiled the Nokia N97, the world’s most advanced mobile computer, which will transform the way people connect to the Internet and to each other. Designed for the needs of Internet- savvy consumers, the Nokia N97 combines a large 3.5” touch display with a full QWERTY keyboard, providing an ‘always open’ window to favorite social networking sites and Internet destinations. Nokia’s flagship Nseries device introduces leading technology – including multiple sensors, memory, processing power and connection speeds – for people to create a personal Internet and share their ‘social location.’

“From the desktop to the laptop and now to your pocket, the Nokia N97 is the most powerful, multi-sensory mobile computer in existence,” said Jonas Geust, Vice President, heading Nokia Nseries. “Together with the Ovi services announced today, the Nokia N97 mobile computer adjusts to the world around us, helping stay connected to the people and things that matter most. With the Nokia N97, Nseries leads the charge in helping to transform the Internet into your Internet”.

The Nokia N97 introduces the concept of ‘social location’. With integrated A-GPS sensors and an electronic compass, the Nokia N97 mobile computer intuitively understands where it is. The Nokia N97 makes it easy to update social networks automatically with real-time information, giving approved friends the ability to update their ‘status’ and share their ‘social location’ as well as related pictures or videos.

The home screen of the Nokia N97 mobile computer features the people, content and media that matter the most. Friends, social networks and news are available by simply touching the home screen. The 16:9 widescreen display can be fully personalized with frequently updated widgets of favorite web services and social networking sites. The Nokia N97 is also perfectly suited for browsing the web, streaming Flash videos or playing games. Both the physical QWERTY and virtual touch input ensure efficiency in blogging, chatting, posting, sending texts or emailing.

The Nokia N97 supports up to 48 GB of storage, including 32 GB of on-board memory, expandable with a 16 GB microSD card for music, media and more. This is complemented by excellent music capabilities, full support for the Nokia Music Store and continuous playback time of up to 1.5 days. The Nokia N97 also has a 5- Megapixel camera with high-quality Carl Zeiss optics, 16:9 and DVD quality video capture, and support for services like Share on Ovi for immediate sharing over HSDPA and WLAN.

The Nokia N97 is expected to begin shipping in the first half of 2009 at an estimated retail price of EUR 550 before taxes or subsidies.

Our editor Budi Putra of SlashPhone is currently on site and covering the event live.    The big news we should expect is Nokia’s new N97 they’re naming the “ideal mobile device.”

Please stay tune for live coverage of Nokia World and for now, enjoy the press images of the N97 released right on Nokia’s website!

Related: Nokia N97 announced