Zit Seng's Superwall » N82

The N95 8GB, N82 and N96

Zit Seng — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:48:33 +0000

The Nokia N95 8GB, N82 and N96 are all very similar to each other. It’s almost like they are the same phone packed into different shells. So feature-wise how are they different from each other? In my previous post, I mentioned that the main highlight of the N96 is its new DVB-H receiver capabilities and 16GB of internal flash memory.

Before we talk about their differences, let’s review a little on how the N95 8GB, N82 and N96 are mostly the same:

Quadband, HSDPA with data rate up to 3.6Mbps
802.11b/g wireless LAN
Bluetooth
Intergated A-GPS receiver
5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics
30fps VGA video recording
3.5mm plug for stereo headphone, Nokia AV connector and TV out

Here’s a more detailed rundown of the differences between the N95 8GB, N82 and N96.

[TABLE=2]

You can see that the N96 is not an outright clear winner. Its battery life is considerably short, much like the original N95 which drew much criticism. Also, the N96′s dual LED flash seems like a step back from the N82′s xenon flash.

Then, there is no cover for the camera lens again! I wonder what is it with Nokia and their camera lens cover. The N95 had it, the N95 8GB did not; It came back with the N82, but now it’s not with the N96.

The N96 is encased inside a bigger version of the N81′s shell. It’s a 2-way slider and comes with a back stand that props up the phone so that you can comfortably watch videos on it. I suppose with DVB-H, Nokia expects the N96 to be used a lot for watching videos.

Specifications from Nokia’s Nseries website:

Someone has this interesting comparison of N96 vs iPhone.

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The Nokia N96

Zit Seng — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:01:05 +0000

It’s no longer just a rumour. The Nokia N96 has just been officially announced. You can read more about the product specs from the Nseries website. In a nutshell, the Nokia N96 has more of less the same features as the N95 8GB and N82, but in a slightly bigger version of the N81 shell. It’s a 2-way slider, it’s camera is still 5 megapixels, but it has a built-in DVB-H receiver (yes digital broadcast TV), and a massive 16GB of internal memory which is expandable to 32GB with a microSD card. It does look like a worthy successor to the N95 8GB, and it is expected to be available in Q3 2008. I will do a comparison review between the N95 8GB, N82 and the N96 later. Meanwhile, you can read MobileGazette’s review.

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The Nokia N82 Blog, Not

Zit Seng — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 01:19:16 +0000

My blog has quite unexpectedly become a frequently referenced source of Nokia N82 information. There has been a recent fury of traffic hitting my blog, and after checking the access logs, they appear to have been the result of search visitors sent from Yahoo Singapore. How odd, since I don’t have an N82. I have an N95 8GB, but the N95 8GB content doesn’t seem to have attracted any search traffic. I don’t suppose the Internet is lacking N82 information so much that this blog stands out? Anyway for interest of those seeking N82 information, just check out the N82 tags and my N95 page also does lists some N82 resources.

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Nokia N82 Does Not Stand Out

Zit Seng — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:34:33 +0000

No, unfortunately, I don’t think the Nokia N82 stands out after all. Although just simply based on technical specifications the N82 seems like a worthy challenger to Nokia’s premium N95 8GB, it’s a different story once you start comparing usability features. Of course, usability is a subjective matter, so let’s agree to disagree if you disagree with me, alright?

First, the main number keys are too small. They are slightly raised, so it isn’t all that bad, but it is still not good. If you are going to text a lot, these keys do not cut it. Then, the other keys (options, shortcut, exit…), other than the D-pad, are flat and flush with the surface. This makes it rather difficult to distinguish one from another. The D-pad doesn’t lend confidence either. So overall, the keys on the N82 fail miserably.

I’ve summed up previously that the N82 is essentially the N95 in a N73 form factor. Although I meant that as a compliment, unfortunately, it cuts the other way too: There is nothing remarkable about the N82′s appearance. It will get attention of those around you only because it is a “new phone”, not because it is a lovely outstanding new phone. Oh, and silver is so not “in” anymore.

The 2.4″ display? I’ll tell you, once you’ve got a 2.8″ display, the 2.4″ is too small. If you’re going to do lots of web browsing, 2.4″ is too small. If you’ve got lots of photos to show off, videos to entertain you, 2.4″ is not enough. Actually, the display itself is rather dull too.

Finally, if you ever need to have the camera stand on its own to shoot photos or videos, you’re out of luck. The N82 will not stand on its own. It’s smooth rounded edges ensures the phone will fall flat.

So my conclusions: No N82 for me. (Of course if you want to give me a Xmas present, I would be glad to oblige!)

See also: Nokia N82 vs N95 8GB (my original comparison)

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N-Gage Still Waiting

Zit Seng — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 14:36:58 +0000

Nokia is reviving their N-Gage gaming platform. This time, the N-Gage takes the form of a software application that is installed in compatible Nseries phones. Recent phones such as the Nokia N81 8GB, N82, and N95 8GB already come with a preview N-Gage application pre-installed. The actual release was originally promised in November, but was later postponed to December.

The two earlier incarnations of the N-Gage were, to say the least, not very successful. Hopefully this time around the third try N-Gage will emerge with better results. The N-Gage is now not a specific piece of hardware, but rather a gaming application installed in a compatible phone, and surrounded by online services for downloading, trying and buying (they hope) games, as well as an online community.

Since the N-Gage will run on several different types of phones, it may be possible that the gaming experience may differ depending on actually which phone you use. For example, the top-of-the-line premium Nseries such as the N95 8GB supports portrait/landscape gaming modes, 3D engine, TV out, etc. The N73 for example, doesn’t have any of these features. The N82 won’t do landscape mode, and although I expected that the N82 does include a 3D engine, apparently this isn’t listed at the N-Gage Nokia N82 writeup.

Anyway, it won’t be long before we get to experience the new N-Gage. Actually I’m just waiting to try it out… it’s already December now but we’ve not heard any updates. Ok fine, so December isn’t over yet.

Update (31Dec2008): Nokia has postponed the launch of N-Gage again, and is now targeting early 2008. Check out reports from TrustedReviews, Softpedia and the blog posting on the N-Gage site.

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N82 In The Stores Now

Zit Seng — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 00:57:06 +0000

The Nokia N82 is in the stores in Singapore now! Just started to see advertisements in the papers yesterday. A quick check at singtelshop.com shows that the N82 retails at $698 (2 year contract), just slightly more than the N95 8GB at $688 (2 year contract). Given that the launch price is usually a premium, we should expect that the N82 price will drop somewhat in a few weeks. The N95 8GB launched at $798 a month ago has dropped over $100. The non-contract prices for N95 8GB and N82 are $1168 and $998 respectively. It seems like the N82 is not exactly positioned as “higher end” than the N95 8GB.

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Nokia N82 vs N95 8GB

Zit Seng — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 08:14:05 +0000

How does the N82 compare with the N95 8GB? Both are fantastic phones. The N95 8GB is basically an improved version of the original N95. The N82, on the other hand, is rather interesting: It takes the functions of the N95 (including some of the improvements in the N95 8GB) and put them into the form factor of the N73 candy bar phone.

Both phones were released recently, the N82 came closely after the N95 8GB. I was actually eyeing the N82, but ended up with the N95 8GB in part because I thought the N82 wouldn’t arrive so soon (I think it still hasn’t hit the stores in Singapore yet).

However, even though the N82 is nice and compact, the main reason that I was attracted to it, it isn’t necessary an outright winner over the N95 8GB.

Remember that the N95 had a number of problems: The chief of which was its short battery life. The N95 8GB corrected this by making some changes to accommodate a higher capacity battery. It has more built-in RAM, great for multi-tasking many applications (which is important, because otherwise what is the point of having a “multimedia computer”). So many of the main complaints with the original N95 had been corrected by the N95 8GB.

Why would you want the N82?

It is nice and compact. About the same form factor as the N73 candy bar phone.
It is lighter than the N95 8GB. 114g vs 128g.
It has all the functions of the N95: 3.5G, WLAN, GPS, 5MP Carl Zeiss camera, and still has the lens cover (the N95 8GB dropped the lens cover).
If you need removable memory card, the N82 has it, the N95 8GB dropped it.
Integrated Xenon flash. Definitely a bonus if taking pictures in dark conditions.

Why would you want the N95 8GB?

It is only 6cc bigger than the N82, really. Does the 6.6% bigger volume really matter? Probably it is the shape, so it depends on individual preference.
The keys are bigger and more comfortable to type on. This is an important usability issue for me.
Important: Longer battery life. 1200mAh vs 1050 mAh, 280 hrs vs 210 hrs standby, 210 mins vs 190 mins talk time.
Bigger screen. 2.8″ vs 2.4″. Same resolution though.

Other comparisons on the Internet:

The Nokia N96 It’s no longer just a rumour. The Nokia N96 has...
Upcoming Nokia N97 I’ve been a Nokia Nseries smartphone user for some years,...
The Nokia N82 is Out Now I have heard about the rumoured N82 some time ago...

The Nokia N82 is Out Now

Zit Seng — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 00:13:30 +0000

I have heard about the rumoured N82 some time ago from various sources. The speculation was that it would be available next year. Well, it seems Nokia is in the season to push out tons of new Nseries models lately. First the N81 8GB, the N95 8GB, and now we have the N82.

I was originally eyeing the N82. Why? Because I wanted everything in the N95, and the N82 has everything the N95 has, except that it had an N73 form factor. Cool. Everything you’d want in a compact candy bar phone.

You can check out the N82 at www.nseries.com, a review from gsmarena, and some high resolution images from Nokia.

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