Nokia N95 8 GB

The N95 has a rubber finish, which in itself isn’t of very high quality. However, the plastics used for the rest of the body are and the N95 8 GB lasts through a fair bit of abuse. It’s a decent looking phone and the matte finish gives it a serious, suave air, a lot different from the flashy 6-Series phones Nokia currently makes. It’s a thick, clunky phone dominated by a wonderfully rich and crisp display that at 2.8-inches supports 24-bit colour depth. Below the screen is a very PDA-like chrome ring of buttons. The menu and call buttons are cleverly placed on this ring and while everything looks a little intimidating a couple of hours of use and one learns to appreciate the thought behind the layout. The joypad is well laid out and all the keys on the front facia offer good feedback. The backlight used is superb and very visible. The phone’s slider mechanism, while slick at first, does develop some play as mechanics cause looseness with time. The revealed number keypad is well laid out and the keys are beveled with just the right amount of travel and feedback. Backlighting is superb and so is the functionality of the light sensor. The multimedia keys are revealed beneath the other side of the slider (its two-way). The phone is fast and has 8 GB of in-built storage — additional memory expansion is not supported. It’s got all the features that today’s cellphones support — Nokia packed this to the gills and about the only thing missing is a QWERTY keypad.

The N95 8 GB has a superb antenna and calls are crystal clear with great reception wherever you go. It trounced even the N96 in zone 1 and the earpiece volume and handsfree clarity is top notch. The headset is also suitable for music and MP3s sound great on this phone and in conjunction with the eight gigabytes of storage built in, the N95 8GB can double as an MP3 player.

With a 1200 mAh battery the N95 8GB will go for at least five and a half hours while talking on GSM networks. Its five megapixel camera is no slouch and with a few tweaked settings, the N95 8 GB can really hold its own except with the newer, more advanced Samsung cameras. It’s an older phone now, but still offers all the goods, now at a lower price. For Rs. 28,389 the N95 8 GB is nearly Rs. 10,000 cheaper than the N96 which is not always a better phone but offers a couple of extra features and greater storage. With prices as low as Rs. 24,000 on the street, now may be the right time to grab this handset; if you can live with its mediocre finish and its chunky looks.

Nokia N95 8 GB Unlocked Cell Phone with 5 MP Camera, 3G, GPS, Media Player

Brand: Nokia
Color: Black
Part Number: 002D994
Manufacturer: Nokia
Model: 002D991
Features:

• Unlocked quad-band GSM cell phone compatible with 850/900/1800/1900 frequencies and US 3G compatibility via 850/1900 UMTS/HSDPA plus EDGE capabilities
• 5-megapixel digital camera with Carl Zeiss Optics, autofocus, digital zoom and Flickr support; DVD-quality video capture (640 x 480 pixels at 30 fps)
• GPS mapping and direction; Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g); Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity for both handsfree communication and stereo music streaming
• 8 GB of internal memory (not expandable); digital audio player; FM radio; access to personal email
• Up to 5 hours of GSM talk time (3.5 hours using 3G), up to 280 hours (11.7 days) of standby time; backed by third party 1-year warranty

Boasting up to eight gigabytes of built-in memory, the Nokia N95 8GB has all the key features of its predecessor, including a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, built-in A-GPS, WLAN, HSDPA and an innovative 2-way slide. The sleek black N95 8GB also boasts a luminous 2.8" QVGA display, so watching videos, browsing the Internet or viewing maps is a real pleasure. With its expanded memory, the N95 8GB offers up to 20 hours of video or up to 6000 songs.Entertaining yourself has taken on a whole new meaning with this multimedia computer, optimized for enjoying videos, playing games, or even locating your favorite destinations with A-GPS.

Combining a cell phone, GPS receiver, digital camera/camcorder, digital audio player, and PDA into an all-in-one multimedia computer/phone, the stylish Nokia N95 features a unique 2-way slide design for easy switching between telephony, entertainment, and Web browsing. The quad-band Nokia N95 GSM/EDGE phone is also ready to run on 3G networks here in the US (850/1900 MHz UMTS/HSDPA), enabling fast downloads and streaming multimedia while on the go. It also includes integrated Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11b/g) for accessing open networks at work, at home, and on the road from a variety of wireless hotspots.

It's based on S60 software operating on the Symbian OS, enabling you to personalize the N95 by choosing from a wide choice of compatible applications that can be downloaded--including games, navigation, entertainment, and productivity titles. This version of the Nokia N95 (model N95-4) has an internal 8 GB memory, and it doesn't include a MicroSD expansion slot.

This unlocked cell phone can be used with a GSM network service provider and it provides quad-band connectivity (850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz). It does not come with a SIM card, and it requires that you provide a SIM card for usage with your selected service provider.

Phone Features
The innovative 2-way slide concept makes it easy to switch between different modes, going from reading maps to watching a video with a simple slide. A numeric keypad slides out from one end of the device while dedicated media keys slide out from the opposite direction, converting the display into full screen landscape mode.

With the Carl Zeiss optics on the 5-megapixel camera, you can capture print quality photos and DVD-like quality video clips. Carl Zeiss, a world leader in high quality camera lenses, brings an award-winning legacy to the Nokia N95 with state-of-the-art optics for mobile photography and mobile video. The Zeiss name has been associated with cameras from Hasselblad, Rollei, Yashica, Sony, and Nikon.

The N95 slides two ways to reveal a phone keypad (top) and media controls (bottom).

The Nokia N95 actually has two cameras, a high resolution camera on the back of the device (the main camera in landscape mode) and a lower resolution camera on the front (CIF resolution, 352 x 288). The main camera on the back of the N95 supports an image capture resolution of 2592 x 1944 pixels. (Note that the low-resolution camera on the front can provide two-way video calling; however, at this time no U.S. carrier offers this service.) You can use both cameras to take still pictures and record videos. Images are saved as JPEG files while videos are recorded in the MPEG-4 file format with the .mp4 file extension, or in the 3GPP file format with the .3gp file extension (sharing quality). Photos and video clips can be enjoyed on a compatible television thanks to the device's TV out feature and support for Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) technology.

With instant access to the Internet, sharing life experiences with the world by uploading pictures and videos directly to popular picture sharing and blogging sites is quick and easy. The N95 includes software for uploading images directly to the Flickr.com website, one of the world's most popular photo communities, which allows you to share pics with friends and family, send photos directly to your blog, or simply organize and store.

Aspiring photographers and film makers don't have to stop at just capturing stunning images and DVD-like quality video (640 x 480 pixels at 30 fps) with the Nokia N95. An integrated photo and video editor allows for music and tags to be added before sending images to friends or uploading them to the web.

The Nokia N95 also offers a large 2.8-inch QVGA 16 million color display, impressive 3D graphics, built-in stereo speakers offering a 3D stereo effect, standard 3.5 mm audio jack, and mini USB for convenient data transfer. Other highlights include 802.11b/g Wi-Fi with WPA2/WPA security, Bluetooth v2.0 connectivity, and 8 GB of internal memory, as well as the following features.

Lifeblog
Designed with mobile photographers and bloggers in mind, the Nokia N95's Lifeblog feature lets you view, search, edit, and share your personal digital content with ease. Lifeblog's synchronizing software automatically pulls your media together into an easy-to-browse, searchable multimedia diary: SMS, MMS, images, videos, sounds, and text notes stay organized between the N95 and your PC.

GPS Mapping
Plan your route, find your way home, and get to know places you've never visited with the integrated GPS mapping capability. The Maps application includes maps for more than 100 countries, enabling you to explore the world, find specific routes or locate services such as restaurants and hotels and covering more than 15 million points of interest. You can also purchase additional features, such as city guides and voice guided navigation.

Nokia Web Browser with Mini Map
View web pages as they were originally intended with the integrated Nokia Web Browser, which enables you to zoom out to a full screen view of the entire page using the Mini Map feature. Find the section you want and then zoom in to the content you need. The text instantly adjusts to the size of your screen. The browser also keeps a history of your browsing so you can quickly get back to where you started.

Universal Plug and Play (UPnP)
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) technology means that the Nokia N95 will discover, interact with, and control other compatible home electronic devices. This includes PCs, media centers, home entertainment systems, new smart appliances, home automation systems, networked peripherals, and Web-based services. With compatible equipment, you can stream video from your Nokia device directly to your TV, or hear music tracks stored on your PC through your living room's sound system.

RealPlayer Multimedia Playback
Take your media with you when you're out on the go. With the built-in RealPlayer software, you can stream and download your favorite content onto the N95, giving you access to the latest news, sports, and entertainment updates. Or sync up with your PC and play the music and movies stored on your hard drive.

Vital Statistics
The Nokia N95 (8 GB, N95-4) weighs 4.55 ounces and measures 3.9 x 2.1 x 0.83 inches. Its 1200 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5 hours of GSM talk time (3.5 hours when using the 3G network), and up to 280 hours of standby time. This quad-band phone runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies, as well as the 850/1900 MHz UMTS/HSDPA 3G frequencies (for use in the United States