Published by Rafe Blandford at 23:03 BST, September 25th 

Nokia is announcing today the Nokia N95, its newest S60 3rd Edition multimedia computer, or, as Nokia say, 'it is what computers have become'. The N95 features an innovative double slide design with multimedia controls and a keypad on opposite end of the phones. The N95 is Nokia's first HSDPA (3.5G) device, but also boasts Wi-Fi, WCDMA, quad-band GSM, Bluetooth (including A2DP), IrDA and USB 2.0 connectivity (via  mini USB connector). Other hardware features include a 5 megapixel camera, a built in GPS, TV-Out, 3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio, a MicroSD memory card slot and 150MB of internal memory. At 99mm x 20mm x 53mm (90cc), the N93 packs an impressively amount into a small space. Read on for full details and pictures. 


In the hand the most impressive aspect of the device, given its feature set, is its size. Nokia have managed to add two major technologies to the Nseries line (GPS and HSDPA) while significantly reducing the volume of the device. In length and width dimensions it is larger that the other Nseries slider - the N80, but it is considerably thinner. 

HSPDA is the next generationin cellular connectivity. The N95 is a category 6 HSPDA device which means it is up to 10 times faster that WCDMA (3G). Clearly HSDPA support is required at a network level, but many networks have already begun their testing or roll out periods. The faster connection speeds make downloading media (such as podcasts via the in built Podcast application) more palatable and should also improve latency/round trip times. Wi-Fi, WCDMA (3G) connectivity, together with quad band GSM and EDGE are also supported. Bluetooth 2.0, IrDA and USB make up the local connectivity options. 

The 5.0 megapixel camera uses Carl Zeiss Optics with autofocus and digital zoom with a dedicated 2 stage capture button on the side of the phone. Video capture at near DVD quality is also supported. On the side of the device there are several buttons dedicated to camera usage. This allows the device to be held in a similar way to a traditional camera with the screen, in landscape mode, used as the view finder and the shutter button on bottom right hand side of the device (top right when phone is held horizontally). On the rear of the device, next to the camera is the slide switch, which is used to open the lens aperture and activate camera mode. Although it is difficult to judge the image quality at this stage the evidence we saw suggest that the N95 will be on of the most capable camera phones available.  

    


A GPS is integrated into the device with anticipated accuracy of around 10m (satellite signal permitting). The devices will ship with an application called Maps which has global overview maps built in. More detailed maps (with coverage over more than 100 different countries available) can be downloaded for free from an online server. The detail available varies from country to country, but in many cases it is available down to street level. A point of interest (POI) database is also included. All the maps are available for free, as is basic route planning, but navigation functionality (with voice and on screen prompts) will be available as a pay-for add on. City Guides will also be available for purchase and other services are likely to be made available in the future. The mapping software and services is likely to based on technology from gate5, a company which Nokia recently announced it was acquiring. 

Music playback is also a major focus of the device. The dedicated multimedia keys on the top flip of the device are primarily designed for music playback (although can also be used in other multimedia contexts). Wireless stereo sound output (via the A2DP Bluetooth profile) is also supported, and stereo audio output is also supported by the TV output feature and the on board stereo speakers. The music formats supported include MP3, AAC, AAC+ and WMA. Video playback on the QVGA screen is excellent and supported video formats include 3GP, Real Video and MP4 with support for the latest AVC codec. 

The multimedia key now leads to a revamped application and multimedia shorcut view which now supports both a greater number of shortcuts (applications, multimedia files and bookmarks) and more flexible personalisation. As a result it  is now a more generic shortcut key mechansim and offers an alternative to the standard application launcher. 

The N95 uses S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1 (Symbian 9.3) and as such includes version 2.0 of the open source Nokia web browser (supporting WML, XHTML and HTML in one browser), Flash Lite 2.0, FOTA (firmware over the air updates) and more. 

The N95 uses the same small power port as other S60 3rd Edition devices, but the in-box charger is considerably smaller than the existing models (up to 60% smaller). The N95 has a 950 mAh battery, it is likely that the N95 will require a daily charge with moderate to heavy use, although 3-6 days may be possible with lighter use (dependent on network strength, type and other factors).

The N95 will be available in Q1 2007 and the approximate unsubsidised price is €550. Initially it will be available in the EMEA market. It will not be officially available in the US although gray imports are very likely. 

Check back tomorrow for more updates and information and our first impressions of the device.

Click images for high resolution original images. 




    



Categories: Hardware
Platforms: S60 3rd Edition


News Discussion
nj7
Comment: More or less the same. Not very impressive to me. Only the integrated GPS is a fresh air. Also N81, without photos for now, but with the description from here: http://www.newmobile.nl/eur/en/news.php?news_id=d3f56d, seems an N73 with integrated 10Gb. Better then nothing... Not now, an VGA Screen. Maybe some day:rolleyes:
ajck
Comment: Kudos to AAS for being the first to properly announce details of the N95 (as far as I can see having surfed various mobile websites this evening! - all the rest are rumour at best) - you guys must have some good contacts :)

This is close to being a dream phone as far as I can see. Relieved to see that you don't list a HDD in the phone. This would be a shame in an otherwise near-perfect spec list, and would only make it heavier and more delicate. Better to have 2 card slots than an HDD if you're hell-bent on more storage, tho of course an 8GB microSD would be good.

Speaking of which, buyers of the N95 might be interested in this product - 4GB in your MicroSD slot, with 8GB on the way...
http://www.usmodular.com/MCE/default//product/2290

What will be cool is in a few years when mass market low end consumer models have this power - the point being the apps that it makes possible. Nokia are absolutely right - it is what computers have become. Which is why Microsoft and the PC are already on the road to oblivion, though few realise it yet.

Looking forward to seeing all the details tomorrow, and developing software for this device!

Alex
phonething.com
krisse
Comment: You know, that would be a near-perfect layout for any future gaming phone.

It would have the convenience of a vertical layout for calls and writing texts, and the game-friendliness of a horizontal layout for playing games (and of course horizontal is also better for web browsing, watching videos etc).

The multimedia controls on the left side of the screen would complement the d-pad on the right, and work really well in gaming. They probably just need a few more buttons below the multimedia ones, for more complex games.

Even if this model is a bit too expensive for the average gamer, they could use the same design solution on cheaper models too.
ajck
Comment: NJ7 wrote:
> More or less the same. Not very impressive to me.

Ah. I think you're the man that wants a gold plated mobile with holographic projection, 2 TB storage, and is an interplanetary communicator and teleporter, all for £9.99 ;-)

No, the N95 only blows away every other mobile west of Asia (and a lot within it). That's not impressive at all ;-)
krisse
Comment: Interesting thing on the link NJ7 gave, it seems one of these new Nseries is Nokia's answer to the RAZR (it looks very similar indeed if that's an accurate photo). I'd just been wondering if they'd do one in the 5500 review, as they've clearly managed to get the S60 hardware down to a much smaller size.
viipottaja
Comment: An ABSOLUTELY amazing spec list, in particular for the size of the phone! My pretty much only concern is battery life at this point. :) The slider quality may also be an issue, but I gather Nokia must be getting better with that little by little...
fdxd
Comment: Check out that feature list. Not too long ago this sort of stuff was a thing of jokes. Soon we will be able toast bread(through WiFi) 

Love to have this but i will be able to live with the N80 (hopefully). :tongue:
ajpprc
Comment: Any news yet on whether it supports tri-band UMTS/HSDPA like some of the newer Windows Mobile devices, or if it still only supports the 2100 band? It is quad-band though, so I guess us North Americans got some love :).