It sometimes takes me a while to get round to things (more so lately it seems) but having posed the question If not an iPhone ….. sometime ago I eventually got round to picking up a Nokia N95 8GB in Dubai. To be honest like the idiot that I am I actually only got round to picking it up on the last day so I didn’t get to use it, but by then I was so fed up with the iPhone that I couldn’t hold off any longer!
My main gripes with the iPhone remain:
- Crap battery life – I mean really crap.
- No 3G – never knew how much I would use it to be honest!
- No syncing with To Do and Notes
- Next to useless IM capabilities
Sure web browsing is great, as are the photo and video options, but they are not exactly crucual business applications (well not for me anyway). I maintain what I said right at the beginning when I first got the iPhone – great consumer gadget, terrible business gadget and the form factor didn’t really grow on me either as far as a phone went.
So first impression of the Nokia N95 8GB ? Welcome back a recognisable phone!!! It was so nice to actually hold in my hand and use what I instinctively recognise and feel at home with as a form factor.
Second impressions? Wow!!! GPS, 3G, Wireless, easy syncing with the Mac (including iPhoto and iTunes), exceptional battery life (hmmm where is my charger by the way), excellent camera quality, great Mobile Modem fort when traveling, superb speakers, easy to download ringtones ………..
I had justified the purchase on the basis that I thought it would be a good ‘utility device’ i.e. 3G when necessary, an adequate camera just in case, and a useful mobile modem for when needed. I have not been disappointed at all. Sure the form factor isn’t as sexy as the iPhone, but sex you can get at home, functionality is what when you are on the road, and to that end the Nokia N95 8GB knocks the pants off the iPhone.
I am sure there are a feast of features I have yet to explore and all kind of add ons and applications, but so far I am happy with what i have found, which includes a pretty impressive Qik alpha which streams video from the Nokia N95 8GB direct to my blog (check out the Almerimar Life blog for some testing that I am doing on that).
So what now for the iPhone? Well mine is currently existing as an iPod Touch, albeit with a Dubai SIM Card in. The rumours have the 3G iPhone announced on the 9th June, possibly even unlocked, but I am remain unexcited. I will take a look for sure and if it beats the Nokia N95 8GB for functionality (that is relevant to my requirements) I may be tempted, but I am certainly not in a hurry and am more than happy with the Nokia N95 8GB.
I have been an unhappy iPhone user, which is rather annoying for the amount of money I had to spend on it. I too use it as an iPod Touch at the moment.
I switched back to my Blackberry Curve, which feels so much better than the iPhone in terms of functionality I want from a phone. I am tempted to move too an N95 though Chris, it fits my business way of life even better than the Blackberry.
Thanks for the review…
Jonathan
You are welcome. I don’t think you would regret it!!! Especially now that they have launched Skype – yep, installed Skype on the N95 today – it is great!!!!!
It’s good to know I’m not alone in not lusting after an iPhone
[quote comment=””]It’s good to know I’m not alone in not lusting after an iPhone[/quote]
Ah but I did lust and lived to ‘regret’ it -(
Not exactly true as I thought this would be the outcome.
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Funny isn’t it, I used a Nokia N95 8GB as my only phone for 6 weeks, sure it was lovely, but I would NEVER give up my iPhone for the N95 8GB.
I can only assume that our usage must differ. I would break down my phone usage like this…
40% Music and video playback
20% Web browsing
20% Photo and video capture
10% Texting
5% Voice
5% Organizer functions
For me the iPhone has those two most important usages complete covered, with the other 30% not so well catered for. With the N95 it’s the other way around.
If you were not so interested in video/music playback or web browsing then the N95 would probably be a better option.
Totally agree/understand James.
I hardly ever listen to the music or watch videos. It isn’t something I do much on the Mac either to be honest (just don’t have time) but I accept that for when I do want to watch a video (or show someone something) then the iPhone rocks (but so would an iTouch)
I don’t really do much web browsing either. I work from home, spend 12+ hours a day on the Macs so when I am out and about I don’t really have a need or a desire to browse the web.
Video capture I do more of – well I do now I have the N95 (not an option on the iPhone) and the Qik alpha. Also one huge reason for moving away from the iPhone was that the camera was just so crap.
Texting – I do more of (I much prefer IM and text to actual voice conversations) and the iPhone was great for that!
I do a LOT of organiser stuff – well diary and To Do in particular and the iPhone has no To Do syncing at all.
I think you support what I have said since day 1. The iPhone is a great consumer gadget, but a very poor business device.
I know that it will change in the future, and I am sure that I will be tempted to try again, but the N95 is a great all round flexible device with tons of functionality.
I just have to say:
Congratulations!
[quote comment=””]I just have to say:
Congratulations![/quote]
Cheers 🙂 Do you happen to know how to sync notes from Apple Mail with the N95?
is it true that it is not possible to transfer files via bluetooth from the iPhone to another phone?
[quote comment=””]is it true that it is not possible to transfer files via bluetooth from the iPhone to another phone?[/quote]
As I understand it yes. Somewhere in the murky depths of my memory I remember bluetooth on the iPhone being very limited, but possibly not on the next version as the SDK seemed to have more bluetooth functionality.
Back on N95 topic – anyone know how to send emails on it? I have mine set up with my ISP server details and the receive but don’t send. Do I need to send everything through the network provider or something stupid!!!
[quote comment=”54937″]You are welcome. I don’t think you would regret it!!! Especially now that they have launched Skype – yep, installed Skype on the N95 today – it is great!!!!![/quote]
Where did you download Skype from? I would love to install it as I use it extensively at home.
Not sure exactly to be honest. It came through in my feed reader some time ago. iSkoot have a download option though.
Let me know if it works for you!
Hey Chris,
I’m in process of deciding on a new phone – N95 8Gb or 3G iphone. My old sony has given up. Since you have both you might be able to answer this.
– Which one has the better organizer/calender?
– I love the iphone “remote†app, that remotely controls itunes through wifi. Is there an equivalent app for the nokia n95?
– Battery life? n95 seems to be much better – seems like the 3g iphone is actually worse than the previous generation.
Thanks for the informative site.
Well I did have a N95, but I lost it last week and am still kicking myself!!!!
The calendar is way better on the iPhone, primarily because of the screen size and the easy with which it Syncs with a Mac.
I haven’t come across a ‘remote’ equivalent nor would expect to as the N95 isn’t at all iTunes friendly
N95 battery life is much better, although the new iPhone seems to have a better battery life.
Let me know if you have any questions, and what you decide.
Chris,
Still no decision yet, but I’ve had more time to do some research…
N95 “Remote” clone
Salling clicker – http://www.salling.com/Clicker/mac/
The jury seems to be out on Battery life. There’s an excellent article at Anandtech about all this. Seems the new iphone draws MORE power due to the 3G components.
http://www.anandtech.com/gadgets/showdoc.aspx?i=3353
You know I forgot all about Salling Clickr!!!
You may want to look at this regards the iPhone battery life
I was considering a new unlocked ph. so I don’t have to look at at&t advertisements in every sec. Iphone never been an option without removable memory card, with a pathetic 2mp no auto focus camera, (i had 3yrs old phones w/2mp autofocus and apple comes out w/a new phone worse than that??)
So I got an N95 8GB (N95-4). I think this was the biggest mistakes I have ever done. Battery barely does 1 day with 1 hour talk. (no other use)
I actually have to recharge 2x a day if I want to watch a full movie and talk on it 30 min. (no wifi or other use) No other program runs in the back, I have the newest fw, and the unit is BRAND NEW. NOkia cust. service is a joke.
Display: the US version (n95-4) according to NOKIAUSA cust.serv. has no auto rotate function, so unless you install a 3rd party prog. your 500USD smart phone can’t do what a cheap SE for example. Double slider is a useless pointless, extra, vs they should have put effort into designing a lens cover, what this one does not have. Fingerprints all over all the time, the black plastic is nice but it is a fingerprint magnet, not once I could use the wlan, it couldn’t show a page. says connect and start loading a page but it takes ages with strong signal. You need a usb cable in your pocket to move your stuff from it bc this has no removable card either. It is bulky like a soap dish, you cannot just carry in your shirt pocket or back pocket comfortable… that’s after a couple week usage… the worst phone/price I ever had. I am selling this overpriced calculator.
Wow, chalk n cheese views my friend!!!! The battery on my N95 is brilliant, way better than the iPhone!
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