[amnesia]

So I've been using the N96 for around 5 days now (bought it in Doha, Qatar)

I have to admit it's really a love hate thing.

I'm not going to be reviewing it in full here but I'll release a review in the review section later on.

Hate:
- Cheap plastic
- Micro USB instead of standard mini USB (mini is easy to find anywhere)
- Two speakers on the right (although I know they want it in landscape, could they have just put in three for any orientation?
- Removal of softgrip backing
- Camera has no lense cover and is not recessed. In fact! It's actually so flat that I'm going to have trouble keeping it from getting scratched
- [s]They put NOKIA NSERIES on the plastic on the screen FORCING you to remove it [/s]
- Finger print magnet
- The 1,2,3 buttons are a bit too high
- Keypad has no special surface to feel different place.
- Backlight on keypad looks dirty (offwhite)
- Makes a bit too much clicky sound when pushing (annoying in meetings)
- They've reduced the font size on most screens (to make the screen look bigger)
- No case or soft cloth for such an expensive phone
- No backlight on side buttons (camera, volume) **bleep**?!
- New layout of main buttons more figiting
- Volume button on the other side now which is against the norm
- Totally new way navigating through menu which seems more difficult.
- Slide is TOO hard. You ahve to put your thumb on the screen.
- The 'menu' button is in the wrong place. You have to slide up if you want to push it with ease.
- Those stop play buttons (make it too overly complicated)

LOVE:

- Fast UI (but then again all fresh phones feel fast)
- Included video ringtones (hate that it takes 3 seconds for the ringtone to start AFTER someone's called you)
- Sharper camera (but colours didn't seem as rich as the N95 8GB
- Deeper colour screen
- New player buttons
- Breathing d-pad (glows)
- kickstand (see? It's the simple things)
- Double flash
- Steel speakers
- Updated UI (shows time on all menus, seems more thought out, more on the screen, includes series 40 features that series 60 didn't have)
- Screen protector installed. (Nokia logo printed on with silver scratch paint which you can just rub off, I thought that was smart)


Missing from what they told us

- No scrolling navi wheel.... **bleep**? Is there a setting I'm not seeing?
- Didn't they say the media buttons would only light up when needed? They're always on...


Major wishes:

- Touch scroll
- Rubber back
- Lense cover
- Higher quality materials
- Case

Note: I've gone from the N95, to N95 8GB, to N96 so I know the comparisons

With the N95 to N95 8GB I was disappointed that they didn't provide more colours, removed the lense shutter, and gave it a less of a soft rubberry feel. However the large screen and double ram compensated. I don't know if the N96 has enough to compensate the loss from the previous gen.


My wishlist for next firmware update:
-Fix the low volume for mp3 ringtones and message tones
-Fix the issue that prohibits applications from working
-Make the N96 faster! It takes ages to open anything and that includes the 'ringtone selection menu!'
-Bring back the larger digital clock in landscape mode
-Bring back the track pad
-Option to have media buttons ON only when media is being played back

Slide show set 1

http://www.widgx.org/public/slideshow/586

Slide show set 2

http://www.widgx.org/public/slideshow/587

Slide show set 3

http://www.widgx.org/public/slideshow/588

[cjlim]

Very informative review, but what is your overall conclusion?

[reaz33]

Memory full message shows when multi tasking. After fresh boot up it has only 40mb+ memory free for use. For normal user its ok, but for heavy users especially who coverted from n95 8gb/n82 is painfull. Music players customized equalizer has bug, some times auto changed to default. Music gets hissing noise if u browsing, but if u only listen music then its ok. Life time shows 3 to 5 time more talk time. Themes menu view has bug. But u can d load anything even phone cant support. This is my 3rd n96 has same probs

Moderator's note:
Bad language removed.

Message Edited by gcpropulser on 24-Sep-2008 09:02 PM

[amnesia]

@cjilim, my conclusion is that I want to love this phone but I'm suffering until they release an updated. 7 of my colleagues who have also purchased the N96 have the same issues.

I'm tired of low bass and high treble. Music on these speakers sound worse than on the N95-8GB

I also don't like the fact that the music list doesn't refresh and that the phone seems very sluggish. (I transferred images, vids and music.) Games also suffer form the lag and have a poor frame rate.


I also agree with the hissing sound from the speakers. The sound is not clear at all.

The camera takes pictures faster (processing) but the actual focus takes much longer.

I've gone through two n96's myself thinking the first one might have an issue.


My verdict is simple. Either Nokia release an update fast or people are going to pass on this one.

I kind of regret buying this phone...
PLEASE FIX THIS NOKIA

[spoon25my]

nice review on the phone. honestly i face the same problem as you are now. from n95 8g to n96 is really painfull. i am using both phones 8g and the lousy 16g.yet i put 8g sd card somemore, so stupid and dissapointed of me.

[amnesia]

today when i clicked 'reply' to a message, it took 35 seconds before it opened up the menu *sighs*

[cjlim]

What firmware version are you guys on?

[psychomania]

A new firmware version is available on the NSU now for some product codes.

V11.018

I do not know if it's available as an OTA update yet.

[amnesia]

thanks for the heads up! I'll get on it asap!

[cjlim]

Don't forget to come back and tell us how you get on.

[psychomania]

The update is supposed to support UDP so you won't lose any information or programs. Obviously it's still a good idea back up just in case anything goes wrong.

[amnesia]

the firmware update didn't delete any of my settings, programs or files, hmm, that's new.

I'll let you all know how I get on.

[psychomania]

It's a great feature called User Data Preservation (UDP).

All S60v3FP2 phones have that feature along with a few FP1 phones like the N82. It makes updating a very quick and easy task.

[miamicx4]

From what I hear, this phone doesn't live up to my expectations...

[el_loco]

I loaded 11.018 and it seems to work faster.

But it's too early to tell what other improvements there are.

[amnesia]

it's done nothing at all.

The volume is the same, in fact, now the signal is WORSE and never clear, I hear a bit of a crackle sometimes.

The battery doesn't even last a whole day for me (from 8am to 11pm) and I don't talk on the phone that much!

Also after the update if I receive a message and click reply, it STILL takes around 15-30 seconds for the reply screen to pop up.

I confirmed this on TWO phones.

[sir_lagalot]

what did they do with the volume ?! i had the emtube application with saved flv clips on my n95 8gb..and at 80% volume everybody could make out the speech from the clips in a room.. now they cant even tell at 100% with the same clips !!..and the mp3s have increased trebble, less bass..i am so incredibly disappointed in this phone. two of my friends didnt buy it after witnessing the problems associated with mine.

i thought i was the only one with the low mp3 volume. i've upgraded the firmware but it doesnt seem to have done much. also would you please confirm if you have any problems with the in-phone speaker? the one on the front, at the top which you use whilst communicating. i upgraded from an n85 8gb..or rather DOWNgrade because all my friends voices sound way too deep and heavy with the n96.. at times i can barely make out what they're saying.

Message Edited by sir_lagalot on 25-Sep-2008 09:50 PM

[amnesia]

yes, you're right. I can hardly hear them on the reciever. the volume is too low.

The loudspeaker mode is great though.

Playing mp3's and mp3 ringtones suck.

Maybe if we get enough responses, some Nokia rep will notice this thread.

[reaz33]

Ram is super suck. Memory full messages show often. Restart is regular item. Test on 3pcs of n96 are same

[reaz33]

Volume from buit in speaker is very very low. After experiment 7months of n96 they deliver us too much buggy handset.