Nokia N900 first impressions

I’ve been using the Nokia N900 since unboxing it 5 days ago, and I’m still blown away!

I wrote “the N900 is brilliant”, and it’s true – I have not been this excited about a Nokia device since the N95, and that was pre iPhone.

For better or for worse, the iPhone changed people’s expectations. Suddenly, having the best hardware was secondary to having the best software, services, and user experience…

Podcast: Talking with Matt #14

It’s time for another podcast (25 min) with Matthew Bennett:
- Audio version
- Video version

This week (episode 15 14) we discussed the Nokia N900, the Nokia N97 (which I accidentally drop), and the Nokia 6790 (Surge)!

Other topics include Matt’s clever hack, the Toshiba NB205, and a few other things, all while sitting outside of Farley’s

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Podcast: Talking with Matt #13

It’s time for another podcast (35 min) with Matthew Bennett:
- Audio version
- Video version

This week we discussed the Nokia N97, the Samsung i8910 (Omnia HD), and the Nokia E75!

Other topics include Matt’s adventures on the N97 24/7 Tour, plus a few other things, all while sitting outside of Cafe Flore…

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Samsung T929 (Memoir) camera

It’s been almost 6 months since I picked up the Samsung T929 (Memoir), the first subsidized 8 megapixel cameraphone in the US, and I’m overdue for a review :)

Over the years, I have tested a plethora of 5 megapixel devices – the i-mobile 902, the Nokia N95/N95-3/N95-4, the Sony Ericsson K850i, the Nokia N82, the Motorola ZN5 (ZINE), the Nokia N96, the Nokia N85, the Nokia N79, and more recently the Nokia N97…

There are now several 8 megapixel cameraphones available from Samsung (Pixon, Memoir, INNOV8, Omnia HD), LG (Renoir, Viewty Smart), Sony Ericsson (C905, W995), and Nokia (N86 8MP) – not to mention upcoming 12 megapixel units.

I’m getting a Nokia N86 8MP review unit soon, but so far I’ve only played with the Samsung i8510 (INNOV8), the Samsung i8910 (Omnia HD), and of course the Memoir.

For over 4 months I used it as my primary imaging device, and 1000+ pictures later, I have to say that the Memoir features the best camera I have ever enjoyed on any phone – and by a wide margin!

Podcast: Talking with Matt #12

It’s time for another podcast (30 min) with Matthew Bennett:
- Audio version
- Video version

This week we discussed the June tsunami – the Palm Pre, the Samsung i8910 (Omnia HD), the Nokia N97, the HTC Magic, and the Apple iPhone 3GS, plus a few other things, while sitting outside of Duboce Park Cafe on Pride weekend :)

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Podcast: Talking with Matt #11

It’s time for another podcast (16 min) with Matthew Bennett:
- Audio version
- Video version

So between the gay high holiday month and the June tsunami things have been a wee bit crazy around here lately :)

The bad news is that I’m just over 2 weeks behind with posting this podcast, the good news is that after all this time, it’s still interesting. I’ve edited out the Palm Pre unboxing, since it’s a lot more compelling on video…

In this episode we discussed the Sharp/T-Mobile Sidekick LX, the Palm Pre, the Samsung i8910 (Omnia HD), the Nokia N97, the HTC Magic, and the Apple iPhone 3GS!

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Nokia N97 vs. Samsung i8910 camera, revisited

To followup on my first impressions, I’ve taken full sets of pictures and made additional videos with both the Nokia N97 and the Samsung i8910 (Omnia HD)…

N97 sample pictures (slide show):

i8910 sample pictures (slide show):

My takeaway? Both cameras are great!

The Nokia N97 is here

When it rains, it pours… Hot on the heels of yesterday’s Samsung i8910 (Omnia HD), I now also have a Nokia N97 to play with for a few days (thanks [redacted])!

It’s a pre-production/prototype device – no box, manuals, or accessories here. Regardless, it’s been rock solid so far – in fact it’s more stable than the i8910 or the production N96 I reviewed in January.

For those of you who are just joining the party and somehow missed my past coverage of this sexy über phone, here’s the lowdown:

- Symbian S60v5 touch with widgets
- 3.5″ 640×360 TFT resistive touchscreen
- 5 megapixel Zeiss camera with auto-focus, macro, dual LED flash, geo-tagging, and VGA video recording at 30 fps
- 3G (tri-band HSDPA), 2G (quad-band EDGE), WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0, GPS, compass
- 32GB (!) on-board flash storage, micro-SDHC card slot, standard micro-USB connector, standard 3.5 mm audio connector
- Thin, with hardware keyboard

I think Nokia has a winner with the N97 – it’s definitely looking like a worthy flagship :) Bonus pictures after the break.

The Samsung i8910 (Omnia HD) is here

Forget my Palm Pre, forget the iPhone 3G S… I have something better to put my dirty little hands on. I have a Samsung i8910 (Omnia HD) to play with for a few days (thanks Ewan)!

It’s the Orange UK branded/locked version, so I have to be reasonable with my voice, SMS, and data activity since the phone is roaming on AT&T (3G, even) – thank goodness for WiFi :)

In case you’ve been living under a rock and have somehow missed my past coverage of this tasty powerhouse of a device, let me refresh your memory:

- Symbian S60v5 touch
- 3.7″ 640×360 OLED capacitive touchscreen
- 8 megapixel camera with auto-focus, macro, single LED flash, geo-tagging, and 720p HD video recording at 24 fps
- 3G (2100/1900/900 HSUPA), 2G (quad-band EDGE), WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0, GPS, compass
- 8GB on-board flash storage, micro-SDHC card slot, standard micro-USB connector, standard 3.5 mm audio connector
- Ultra thin, no hardware keyboard

Are you drooling yet? Bonus pictures and video after the break.

Nokia N97 vs. Samsung i8910 camera

Tonight I attended the “Drinks with Nokia” event here in San Francisco, together with [name dropping] Ewan MacLeod (MIR, MDTV), Matthew Bennett (Nseries US, UMI), Dennis Bournique (Wap review), Kevin Neely (Rubbernecking), and the lovely crew from Ubergizmo, amongst others [/name dropping]…

Once again I was able to play with the Nokia N97 and the Samsung i8910 (Omnia HD) – better yet, I was able to take pictures and make videos with each. The N97, although a prototype, was running the latest firmware, and was rock solid. The i8910 was running the Orange production firmware, but was less stable. Both devices are great, and I can’t wait to get my hands on them!

Here are my pictures and videos, including cameos by my Palm Pre and the HTC Magic (a phone I can’t take a clear picture of, apparently).

Update: Full sets of pictures and additional videos here.