Nokia N96 mobile phone Review

In the middle of 2007, Nokia has released the N95 smartphone, which became the most "packed" mobile phone of that time. It has combined high efficiency and powerful multimedia features, for what the manufacturer has named N95 a multimedia computer. After a year, Nokia has presented the successor of the first multimedia computer – the N96 smartphone.

It was expected, that Nokia N96 will lift the smartphones edge of functionality on a new level. But the manufacturer has decided in another way. If N95 was a multipurpose combine or the smartphone-monster, then with N96 is another story, it has a precisely expressed specialization – it is made for video work.

The smartphone’s orientation on a video content is emphasized by several things. First, Nokia N96 has installed a big 2,8 inches screen, displaying 16 million colors. Its maximal resolution – 240х320 pixels. The picture is very bright and juicy. On the sun, even if the screen fades, but the image remains clear.

Besides, the mobile phone is equipped with mobile TV reception module. Also, N96 can search for videoclips in the Network and automatically sort them according to the user’s inquiry.

An addition which emphasizes the smartphone video orientation is the leaning back frame of the digital camera on its back panel. It serves as a support for the phone body, having it transformed in a mini TV.

By the way, the smartphone is delivered with the "Transformers" movie on board (at least, the test sample). It will allow to test Nokia N96 as a mobile TV right after purchase.

For those who do not love small screens, with Nokia N96 there is a cable for connection to the TV included in the content package. Basically, N96 can be used as a pocket videoplayer, especially due to its high memory volume of 16Gb plus the microSD card.

On the Nokia N96 screen it is possible to watch not only downloaded from the web video, but also your own made video rollers. For this purpose, the smartphone is equipped with a 5Mp digital camera and Carl Zeiss optics. It allows to record video in VGA resolution with a 30 fps speed.

Precisely the same digital camera has been used in Nokia N95. But there, it looked more seriously. All the aspect is made by the protective lens cover used for N95. N96 lacks the lens cover.

Instead of the lens cover, N96 has two light-emitting diodes which serve as a flash at bad illumination. Probably, for a top smartphone, a xenon flash would have looked more logically, but the Nokia engineers know better.

One more asset of the mobile phone is the GPS-navigation. Here all is standard: it is possible plan a route, to search for the shortest way, to measure the made distance, speed of movement and the time spent for taking a route.

For navigation, Nokia N96 uses the on-line application – Nokia Maps. It means, that all the maps are loaded from the Internet, therefore it is necessary to be prepared for the traffic charges. Especially it is actual for those who prefer to use satellite pictures, instead of schematical images of the district.