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The Nokia N96: Face the Task

Started by Ewan · 8 months ago

If you buy a Nokia N96 you only have yourself to blame.


Before we go on, please note – if you are new to this site – understand that Nokias are my thing.
Resident expert if you will.
This is my opinion and I give it freely to you, the lovely readers of Mobile Ind ... Continue reading »

65 comments

  • Mike42

    8 months ago

    Wow.

    Will this be seen as Nokia's nadir? Will this be the 'low high point', where never before has such a capable device been wrapped up so poorly?

    Will James be appointed Nokia's new Director of Common Sense and VP in charge of Fixing The Bloody Obvious?

    Time will tell...
    reply
  • MartinSFP

    8 months ago

    I knew something was up when I saw a Vodafone branded N96 for sale 'nearly new' in CEX in the same week the handset came out. I've never understood when phones with such obvious flaws are released. Give it six months and it'll probably be worth buying - firmware fixes and all that.
    reply
  • James Whatley

    8 months ago

    Firmware fixes won't solve the glaring hardware design faults..
    reply
  • MartinSFP

    8 months ago

    True! I can imagine that either it'll get forgotten quickly (like the N80) or there'l be an N95-2 (or whatever) pretty son!
    reply
  • South77

    8 months ago

    pull no punches. good one.

    since you give free advice...

    I have N95 8GB as my main phone, but i need to get back to a qwerty. I tried BB Bold... lots to like, but ultimately not for me. How do you rate E71?
    reply
  • James Whatley

    8 months ago

    Thanks South77

    Re the E71 - Sexiest phone Nokia have ever released. Have a re-read, I big it up a fair bit.

    Gorgeous thing it is.
    reply
  • MartinSFP

    8 months ago

    This isn't your N96 is it, James? :)
    http://twinkle.tapulous.com/index.php?hash=5b9c...
    reply
  • Mac Morrison

    8 months ago

    i would get an E71 in 5 minutes if it had a decent camera.
    :( it is a tactile delight.
    reply
  • Ben Smith

    8 months ago

    "EIGHT MONTHS is also the gestation period of a deer"

    Brilliiant! Fact-a-licious.

    Actually, wait... back off... that's my thing ;-)

    Cue Dan: 'Fascinating'
    reply
  • James Burland

    8 months ago

    At the weekend, I too took the 96 in one hand and the 95 8GB in the other, compared the two and came the roughly the same conslusions as you. The true Nokia Ninja, the 95 8GG, is much better device.

    I'll just chime in with a couple of other observations;

    The screen now looks low-res, 240 x 320 has been stretched too far this time.
    The speakers produce a horrible sound, yes there is stereo separation, but honestly, I get better audio quality out of the iPhone 3G!

    Did Nokia 'Jump the Shark' with the 96? Quite possibly.
    reply
  • Mac Morrison

    8 months ago

    whist i roughly agree with it all - im not so damming - i love the design - but agree it feels like a delicate flower (the screen scratched after 2 days of total loving care) compared to the N95 which is effectively bomb proof. and the sixteen - count em - buttons on the front panel is overkill.

    I lasted 2 weeks with mine - the main reason for return was the fact that it refused to update. It was a sim free device and its product code seems to be off the radar for updates so was stuck on constant crashing v10.

    yes i could of changed the product code with nss and updated - but this was a brand new 549 flagship! so it went back to finland via regents street.

    ive just checked it and theres still no update over a month later....


    Latest available software for Nokia N96, product code 0573063
    Version: 10.065

    Compare numbers
    If this version is greater than your current software version, update now to get the latest features, applications and improvements. Go to Nokia Software Updater download

    I did like the keypad ALOT.
    I didn't like the covered in finger prints so produced soft focus coverless camera lens
    is that a problem with the N95 8gb? that has a recess on the lens plastic though to help?

    I find it hard to recommend the N85 over it though. i think were in a period of waiting for the next big thing with nokia - its sad that my most wanted nokias are an E series (71) and a normob music phone (5800).

    mac
    reply
  • Mac Morrison

    8 months ago

    i also thought the 'face the task' thing from WOM was degrading to the reviewers
    making them put on silly costumes and do lame challenges set by marketing managers
    with the wit of jim davidson
    reply
  • ilicco

    8 months ago

    Whatley duuuude - dont sit on the fence, tell us what you really think, i hate it when you skirt around issues.

    At least with the poor battery life you wont be able to twitter in meetings when you are meant to be taking notice of people in the meeting xx
    reply
  • James Whatley

    8 months ago

    Thanks for your comments man (and I would've replied sooner - but I was in a meeting)

    :P
    reply
  • worldofnokia

    8 months ago

    sorry James i didnt manage to work out.... dont you like the N96 then? LOL!!!. I knew you were not a fan when we spoke a little while back so i guess this post you made only backs that up with the fact you hate it even more now.

    I agree the phone had 8 months of testing and updates internally and it still has bugs on it. I got 1 as my upgrade from work but sold it on ready to buy a 5800..... shame it got delayed cause i was going to get one November but will be Q1 now.

    Next on my list will be the BB Storm to use and pair with the 5800 when it comes with music :)
    reply
  • ocifant

    8 months ago

    Thanks for the clarity and honesty WD. Currently considering an upgrade from n95-1. Looks like N95 8gb or a wait for the N85 then for me?
    reply
  • Mac Morrison

    8 months ago

    N85 is out now - sim free - or with contract form non-operators.
    im not sure how many operators will pick up the N85 - i feel it will get short changed alike all the other N8x series. operators dont know how to push two high end phones from the same company - esp as the N95 a solid seller is still for sale.
    reply
  • James Whatley

    8 months ago

    I um'd an ah'd about an N95 8GB for *AGES* and only really made the jump when I broke my original and VF UK only had the 8GBs as a replacement... I've never looked back.

    Take a serious look at the E71 if you want to upgrade now, or else...
    ...it's the waiting game for you Sir.

    (Note: Mac makes a good point on the E71 camera - it does suck)
    reply
  • Benjamin

    8 months ago

    Sounds like an Oops on the N96! I'm very happy with my N95 8GB. Would be nicer if it was a bit thinner and a bit faster, but it doesn't sound like the N96 even starts to make the N95 look old and tired.
    reply
  • Mac Morrison

    8 months ago

    n96 is alot slimer than the N95 8gb. but its firmware bugs is main bad.
    reply
  • James Whatley

    8 months ago

    "A lot slimmer"

    Dude, there's like a couple millimetres in it.. Really, it's negligible.
    The N96 actually has a larger footprint, taking up more room in my pocket than the N95 8GB.
    reply
  • Mac Morrison

    8 months ago

    3mm - which is 14% thintastic to be all applesque. every mill counts in the slim challenge.
    Of course its foot print is bigger how else could the get 500 buttons on the facia. ;)
    reply
  • James Whatley

    8 months ago

    "Really, it's negligible...."
    reply
  • James Whatley

    8 months ago

    What firmware are you currently running on your N95 8GB Ben?
    reply
  • Mac Morrison

    8 months ago

    http://data.tumblr.com/m1pXgoTTRd6o7gga7uAhL29b...
    ?

    i think iPlayer and a very very large marketing budget will keep it alive.
    but its kind of baffling.
    reply
  • rafeblandford

    8 months ago

    I agree with a lot of what James talks about, but I don't think there's another side to this story.

    The N96 is a better looking design in my opinion. Seems a bit irrelevant to geeks, but a lot of people buy based on looks. Mainly agree on button placement, but you get use to it - the numeric keypad is much better on the N96 so it goes both ways.

    FOTA - agree needs to be push, it will be in future devices. We're getting there slowly... Also will update apps individually. Shame it takes a while for such things to role out.

    The battery issue is over hyped. If you use the handset for video then the battery life is excellent. Given the processor tech in the phone (step down etc.) then its not as bad as the capacity gap would suggest. But yes I'd have included a bigger battery.

    Audio quality is better on the N96 (how much so depends on your ears I guess) thanks to a superior / sand alone DSP.

    iPlayer can download stuff for later playback - a real killer feature in my opinion for plane journeys / train commuting etc. I also think you can't under estimate the effect of having it out of the box (looks up at v10 N95 comment - non WRT too). Generally the N96 offers a better out of the box experience. Saavy users can get most of the functionality on the N95 8GB, no question, but what percentage know how to do that?

    I wouldn't recommends the N96 as an upgrade to the N95 8GB (N95 maybe), and yes there other handsets to consider.. Nokia's strategy of multiple handset may seem a bit strange, but it covers more ground and gets a better fit than a one-for-all approach. (e.g. cost grounds for N79 / N85 / N96). But for someone coming in the first time - there's a lot to like about the N96 IMHO...

    But I do get the feeling its not for James (and might extend that to well informed tech leaders more generally). I still reckon there's a market for it though.
    reply
  • Mike42

    8 months ago

    "Mainly agree on button placement, but you get use to it - the numeric keypad is much better on the N96 so it goes both ways."

    *splutter* I thought the keypad was simply ***awful***. They are all completely flush! There is next to zero tactile feedback that your fingers are in the right place. The N95 keys are brilliant. No redesign was needed at all.

    In this day and age, consumers should not have to "get used to it" - it's not new, cool functionality they are being asked to get used to - it's a designer's inability to step the fluck away from the drawing board. If this exemplifies Nokia's strategy, then they are - as Hamish and Dougal put it - doomed.

    /m
    reply
  • rafeblandford

    8 months ago

    When I say get used to it I mean the same as getting use any new keyboard e.g. the d-pad on the N95 8GB for me. I do like having the music keys though... But yeah, on the N96, the c key is badly positioned (not as annoying as the end key on N78 imho).

    I don't think I'm the only one who likes the keypad - I think Mac commented on this above.
    reply
  • Mac Morrison

    8 months ago

    yep i totally (heart) the flat shiny keypad - your finger slide across it like an Olympic ice skater heading for a round of 10s.
    you shouldn't need to look - and you can easily tell where your fingers are. c'mon its not rocket science theres only 3 keys per row. and theres the little ridge between rows.
    reply
  • Mike42

    8 months ago

    I'm talking about the numeric keys under the slide - you know, the ones that get used the most ;-)

    This was what you said was 'much better'.

    100% of people who played with my N96 hated them. You gotta be on some serious Nokia Kool-Aid to think otherwise IMHO.

    /m
    reply
  • jamesbody

    8 months ago

    One of your most endearing feature Rafe is that you can an nearly alway do find something good in even the most horrible handsets!

    Whay amazes me is that the major networks are managing to sell reasonably large numbers of these (based largely on the superlative reputation of the N95)!
    reply
  • rafeblandford

    8 months ago

    james - I do try my best :)

    Joking aside I still think there's a place for this, but, as you say, then I say that about all phones. The trick of a good phone is making that appeal as broad as possible.

    It does seem to be selling quite well. If you do believe its horrible, this rather suggests how good a handset is (from a technical point of view) is only one factor in the selling equation. I guess you could hold up the RAZR as the ultimate example this (especially in the latter part of its lifecycle). I also think that's the point of Nokia's whole ultra-segmentation strategy.
    reply
  • James Whatley

    8 months ago

    Balanced POV there dude and I know we've discussed this in the past.

    The only thing I'll mention is/pull you/Nokia up on (which I blatantly should've said in the original post) is the name of the damn thing...

    "The N96" -

    I mean - *How many* consumers/normobs will inadvertently assume that this is the next logical step up from the N95? The phone itself, IMO, lends itself more to the N81 - maybe even the N85... so an N8X number would've been more suitable.

    I can't help but think that ultimately, it will be your every day mobile phone user who will get burnt the most by this handset... by which time, with such determined and attractive competitors already on the scene, Nokia will genuinely lose a chunk of its loyal fan-base and more worryingly, consumer brand advocacy.

    Just a complete lack of joined-up thinking.

    Or, and I really *really* hope that this isn't the case, Nokia knew they had a white elephant on it's hands and just slapped the 'N95+1' label on it hoping it would sell...

    But you'd have to be quite the cynic to place any weight in that... right?
    reply
  • Mac Morrison

    8 months ago

    opps
    http://hellon96.tumblr.com/post/56918656/opps-i...
    whatley on wednesday causes N96 price crash.

    i promise ill stop posting now.
    mac
    reply
  • TerenceEden

    8 months ago

    Just had another play with one. Found a very annoying bug. You can't set a video to be a ringtone. Well - the UI says that you have, but when someone rings - it doesn't play.

    Perhaps this could be the target of our daily hate - rather than Russell Brand?
    reply
  • James Whatley

    8 months ago

    An annoying bug? What? In the N96?!

    Gerrof!
    reply
  • charlie

    8 months ago

    Thanks for having the discussion around the N96. I think together, you and Rafe and the others here have created a well-balanced discussion.

    I was thinking of commenting, but both the post and Rafe's comment were wide enough that best leave you all to discuss it than for a corporate monkey like me to but in (I work for Nokia).

    I think, James, your issues are valid, and I think Rafe countered with a good point of the N96 really not necessarily being a big diff from the N95 (though in video and storage it does), but big for those who are not Nseries users.
    reply
  • James Whatley

    8 months ago

    Means a lot that you dropped by man, thanks for commenting and yeah, you're right - Rafe counters well..

    :)
    reply
  • glenn

    8 months ago

    WOW dude... amazing commentary.. I'm just glad I wasnt in your shoes;0)

    Gotta go unbox my trial N82 that just showed up 5 minutes ago - wish me luck.

    PS: long live the N95 8GB my device of choice - although the E71 is indeed the dream phone.. I'm still saad I had to retun mine to WomWorld ;0(

    Glenn - blog.gisuser.com
    reply
  • edgar1013

    8 months ago

    i am currently awaiting for the N85 to come to the americas with the adequate 3G bands.
    however, i keep hearing about hardware flaws on reviews and blogs i frequent.
    the flash is broken, the slider wobbles, to name a couple. what i'm i to do if these high end devices do not meet the expectation of someone spending 500+ usd for them?
    i am renewing my plan with at&t with the nokia 6650, i think i may have to keep this device until something really worthy of dropping big money on from Nokia comes out.
    i don't want to go back in time and get a huge N95 as stable and well built they may be. i want to go forward with Nokia. not be stuck in the limbo of uncertainty.
    like Mac said in his post, i would get an E series in a NY minute, if the camera was worth using for social media, but it is not.
    anyways, lets see what the 5800 will offer and see if this is going to be the new N73.
    reply
  • msjen

    8 months ago

    With all due respect to Rafe and Charlie, I have to say that from the perspective of a North American who never sees any of the Nseries in the stores and only sees it out and about in the hands of early adopters who order unlocked Nseries online in various places (sorry, AT&T is not even carrying the N75 anymore), it seems to me that Nokia has lost its focus for the Nseries.

    Yes, I said it. Early on, it seemed the the N7x line was candybars for music, and the N8x was sliders or candybars for cameras & internet, and the N9x was experimental all around kick-bootay machines for camera/video/internet creation wow.

    The N96 does not hit any of the above. It is not experimental, it is not an evolution of camera/video/internet or creative wow. It may be an iteration of form factor (wetf that means) and video viewing, but the N9x have in the past been powerhouses of creation not consumption and viewing.

    The N96 as is does not present itself as even a conservative iteration, but possibly a consumerist devolution from the N95. Given the lack of focus and evolution, why not give it another name and stop teasing those of us who really do want to see the Nseries be evolutionary.

    Then there is that bit about North America... Please give us kick-bootay evolutionary machines to be proud of in the continent of apple fantois and crackberry addicts...
    reply
  • James Whatley

    8 months ago

    Awesome. Comment.
    reply
  • markwebster

    8 months ago

    Don't look to the N85 for saving grace, out of the 5 guys i know who have them, 4 are unsaleable, dodgy sliders and rebooting problems, N96 is OK, just not such a big deal after the N95/8gb as Whatley rightly states.
    reply
  • Richard Hyndman aka GeekYouUp

    8 months ago

    I completely agree Mr Whatley, it's a step backwards, Nokia have focused on the wrong things with the N96 and worst of all it makes a mockery of their numbering system - higher numbers aren't better anymore. Flagship indeed.
    reply
  • Becky McMichael

    8 months ago

    I am laughing and crying at this post. As a Nokia fan who also ran out and paid for the N96 immediately, I too am gutted. If I had wanted to be a beta customer, I would have liked to know first....big big FAIL from Nokia.
    reply
  • James Whatley

    8 months ago

    Hey Becky, I saw your tweet earlier - who did you get your N96 with?

    Is it returnable? Maybe print this post and take it along for evidence... ;)
    reply
  • Mac Morrison

    8 months ago

    i took mine back after 14 days - nokia store had a 28 day policy
    im sure they would extend by a few days - considering the issues
    reply
  • babernath

    8 months ago

    Great. And THIS is the model that Nokia makes available in the U.S.A. http://www.mobileburn.com/news.jsp?Id=5611
    reply
  • Micky

    8 months ago

    Enjoyed reading that, i now know Im safe in the knowledge that Im not going crazy with this N96 i too have from WOM, it too came with V10, and was buggy as hell, I was impressed by the speed of the OTA update however, so too with the quality of the dual slider, and a few other things, which I will mention in my blog.

    I do agree with you James on many of your valid points regarding the hardware flaws in the N96, and cannot help thinking that the N96 was probably ready for launch back when the N95-2 was launched, and Nokia had no choice than to flog a dead horse because it was too late to go back.

    Do you have any contact details for the designers of the N96? I remember watching a couple of videos of the people responsible for the design, and build of it, there was a woman involved in the design if Im not mistaken too, not that it matters of course that a woman is designing a phone, but I would like to get some questions answered regarding all the flaws the N96 is crippled with.

    I don't hate the N96, don't get me wrong, and when you read my review (its ongoing/unpublished just yet), you will see that Im getting on with it quite well since upgrading its firmware, however, Im not a power user such as yourself, so battery life hasn't been an issue for me so far.
    reply
  • phoneboy

    8 months ago

    Here's my $0.02 on the N96 from someone who works at Nokia, albeit at a division the mothership is selling off (Security Appliance division): it reminds me of the N95-1 when it was first released. Same basic firmware quality issues and same type of battery issues. After a couple of iterations of the firmware, though, the N95-1 is a pretty nice handset. They can't fix the hardware limitations--mostly memory--but I can certainly make use of the handset. I suspect we'll be saying the same thing about the N96.

    For me, there are three key things the N96 has over the N95 8GB: S60 3.2, 16 gigs internal memory + MicroSD slot, and USB 2.0 transfer speeds. Wish I had a NAM version of the N96, like I do the N95 8GB, but I've seen what 3G does to the battery life!
    reply
  • phoneboy

    8 months ago

    Of course it should be obvious the above is not Nokia's official opinion, but rather my own thoughts.
    reply
  • stedavies

    8 months ago

    I quite like my N96 now. Yes it definitely needs a firmware update (my goodness and I've complained) but for someone like me who came from an N73 to the N96 it's a good improvement.

    I do wish Nokia would improve the browser though - I've noticed no difference in the N96 from the two year old N73 - except for that crap browser map thing which got quickly turned off after discovering how frickin' annoying and pointless it is.
    reply
  • Mac Morrison

    8 months ago

    From an N73 to an N96 (is a NXX or an NXX? an sounds better but I'm sure is wrong - anyway) is a quantum leap (though they don't always succeed - see sinclair QL).

    I think the big issue is that the N96 is a rehash of the n95 8 gig and really has little to offer over that phone.
    and with its immature firmware is considered a step back - it's hardware video and audio chips do boost its power handling and quality.
    reply
  • stedavies

    8 months ago

    No you're right - it's a N96 not an N96. I write how I speak sometimes.

    In eight months time{!) when the firmware's been updated and mine stops crashing I'll be a happy man I reckon.
    reply
  • Mac Morrison

    8 months ago

    also nokia have to bring out new products - they can't keep shifting N95s for ever - motorola tried that with the razr! :)

    mind you i do think at times they try to release too many handsets. 125 current models on sale at nokia.co.uk!!

    also innovation has been redirected to the upcoming 5th edition phones. So basically expect more soon.
    reply
  • Jedb

    8 months ago

    James,
    I rarely post comments. I'm either too 'busy with the day job/don't care enough' most of the time.;-). However, you helped me decide on a new phone this summer and I got an E71 (rather than N95 etc), and you were fair and rational in the advice. Right now the E71 is just about the most fit for purpose tool I have ever had (barring the obvious!). SO glad I didn't wait for the N96 to arrive! Rock on!!
    reply
  • Mike42

    8 months ago

    "However, there has still been a genuine whiff of anticipation surrounding the N96 and, now that it is in our paws, there’s an element of relief that it justifies the hype."

    So says 3G.co.uk

    How could two august mobile sites disagree so dramatically?

    Cat/pigeons ratio adjusted.

    /m
    reply
  • Ben Smith

    8 months ago

    I don't know 3G.co.uk very well, but am sure they are fine, upstanding bloggers who smell fresh, kiss babies and help large numbers of old ladies across roads. However, James doesn't so it gave him more time to actually use the device and formulate a considered view.
    reply
  • Mac Morrison

    8 months ago

    I reckon Russel Brand has probably done them.
    reply
  • Kip Hakes

    8 months ago

    Despite all of the above... I still want one. No idea why, hopefully will get the chance to play with Whatley's one this afternoon. Hopefully by the time my contract is up - the software bugs will be ironed out and it will be more like the phone the N95 is now. We'll see.
    reply
  • Mike42

    8 months ago

    The truly bizzare thing is, the N96 costs the carrier roughly the same as an iPhone 3G. Around $500.

    We know the iPhone drives a heroic amount of usage and commensurate data add-on revenue.

    You can get an N96 free on a cheap tariff, whereas the iPhone costs a fortune.

    Once iPhone exclusivity ends, just what do you think the other MNO's will want to offer?

    Screwed up industry. Go figure.

    /m
    reply
  • Ziggy

    8 months ago

    You sure you had an N96? I've found it to be infinitely more responsive than my old n95 and especially n95 8gb, everything just works... Much faster, too.
    reply
  • James Whatley

    8 months ago

    *runs off to check*

    ...Err... Yep.

    (what firmware are you running on your N95/8GB?)
    reply
  • Mac Morrison

    8 months ago

    yes the latest N95 firmware runs rings around the N96 in terms of interface speed
    and general responsiveness.

    trouble with N95 is updating it is a latent and complex process
    often delayed massively by operator nonsence
    and requiring 'advance' user skills and pc suite

    being someone that only has mac's its i have to install pc suite and borrow
    a pc to update mine.
    reply
  • Richard

    7 months ago

    I've got an N96 on Three.

    They released the updated the firmware last week (through the Nokia Software Updater). Battery life has improved from bad to not great. (It's gone from 1 day to 2 (maybe 3) days.

    It's still quite slow. I'll see if it looks like Three will release updates in the future that would help. If not, I'll consider debranding.

    I don't mind the 1-9 keys. I'm sorry, I just don't. (I can easily believe they could be better, but I *certainly* don't hate them.) I don't ever remember accidentally hitting the delete (C) button.

    One gripe I have is that when in NGage mode, I think the phone is upside down.
    reply

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