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Software architect working in Symbian/S60 area since 2000 and still being enthusiastic about mobility. Please visit my introduction page on Forum Nokia Champions web page.

My new N95 - comments

tote_b5 | 19 May, 2007 02:44

I have received my new Nokia N95 device as a reward from Nokia for contributing to the launch of their new service, Forum Nokia Wiki. I was among the top 10 Forum Nokia Champion contributors, you know. We have received something else, too, but it's still too early to talk about it. I'm planning to get back about it in a month or so.

Well, I was very excited about this device, because I must admit it was my dream device. THE smartphone that I've always dreamed of. I have read couple of reviews on it by now (e.g. on AllAboutSymbian or Symbian Freak) and I was very convinced that the only issue that these reviews had found in common was the battery. The fact that it gets exhausted very easily, very fast. That's okay, I thought, I believe that's an issue that I can easily handle. I'm sure that Nokia is aware of this problem, too, and they're on it to fix it. Not necessarily with this phone, but with future phones.

However, I think I can tell you/them a few other hints they might want to pay attention to. Or maybe not, but at least I did not keep my comments secret on this great device. :-)
  • Lack of memory card in the package. This is the third device from the N-series that I have got without any multimedia cards. First, an N90, second an N73, now it's an N95. Hey, it's a multimedia phone and I can hardly believe that the built-in storage is sufficient for multimedia purposes. And I can't believe it, either, that Nokia is to save some money on NOT including a memory card in their sales package, because the price of such a piece of hardware is so low. Then why is it not included?
  • Battery. The topic that I have already mentioned. It's just right my second day, but it has already proved to be true that I need to charge the battery once a day. I was already recommended to get used to it, now I'm on that path. :-|
  • GPS. This is the first GPS device of mine, so I don't know too much what to expect from it. I can see, though, that the built-in program is data-hungry and tries to get that data from the internet (without a network connection it doesn't really work, i.e. is not really useful). It's not a good sign for me, because I have decided not to spend too much money on using GPS, but try to keep my spending as low as possible. Perhaps the installation of additional maps will solve the problem, I don't know, I'm just hoping that.
  • Connected to TV. There is an RCA jack included in the package with which we can attach the phone to the television so that you can see it real-time on your telly what you're doing on your phone. It's a pretty nice feature that can be used, among others, for demoing, showing your pictures/video/etc. to your family, browse the web in full screen on your tv, etc. However, for some reason, voice was not audible when I was e.g. playing a game. I'm unsure as to where the problem is - on my phone or with my TV, in any case, it's waiting to be fixed. Just tell me if you have experienced this and managed to get over with it.
  • Localisation. You know, I'm from Hungary, Europe and although I'm pretty much happy with using English I've already got used to using T9 on my phone. It's such a brilliant feature that now I can hardly live without (at least in terms of short messaging:). The problem is that as I have forgotten to indicate my wish to have Hungarian language included on my phone I can't make use of (Hungarian) T9, either. Unless somebody smarter than me enlightens me how to fix this problem with the least pain.

That's it for now! By the way, before I forget: thanks, Ron and Forum Nokia, for this great device. It was really worth the effort of contributing to the Wiki. I wonder if others know that they can win an N95, too. :)

Original from mobile-thoughts.blogspot.com.

Cheers,

Tote

Comments

Re: My new N95 - comments

jack44 | 20/05/2007, 18:45

jack44 To help you in some mentioned areas:

* Battery - probably the best solution would be to buy another battery and change them; you can also consider buying 'Nokia USB Charger CA-100' (you can charge directly from your PC's USB port - I guess that you work with computer all the time, so it shouldn't be a problem).
* GPS - you can install maps, for example for Hungary by using Nokia Map Loader, but you need to buy microSD card for your N95 first ;-) Then you can use maps without internet connection (unless you change your country)
* Localisation - please go to the nearest Nokia Service Point and ask them to change firmware to Eastern Europe (with Hungarian language) - it's the only way of doing it without loosing device's warranty (and free!) so I'll not mention other ways.

Re: My new N95 - comments

tote_b5 | 20/05/2007, 19:37

tote_b5 Jacek,

Thanks for the valuable information! I'm planning to buy a MicroSD card - you can buy one at a very reasonable price if it's not manufactured by Nokia. :)

Hope that others also find these pieces of information useful.

Cheers,

Tote

Re: My new N95 - comments

acdx | 20/05/2007, 22:12

Try turning up the volume on your TV and phone, it's surprisingly low initially.

Re: My new N95 - comments

tote_b5 | 21/05/2007, 01:13

tote_b5 Gosh, can the solution be *that* simple? It can. :)

Thanks Janne,

Tote

Re: My new N95 - comments

mikael_rinnetmaki | 21/05/2007, 15:53

I think it's good not to include the memory card to the package. I have bought phones with 32 Mb or 64 Mb memory cards, which are basically useless. Then I felt I had paid for nothing, and needed to get a bigger card anyway. Also, when getting a new phone, I can just continue using the old mamory card.

And as you mentioned, a 2GB microSD costs something like 30€, so not that much.

Re: My new N95 - comments

tote_b5 | 21/05/2007, 16:07

tote_b5 Then let me ask a tricky question: what about including a 1 (or 2) GB MicroSD card in the package? It wouldn't be useless, imho, and it still costs nothing for Nokia.

Otherwise, I agree with you that it wouldn't make too much sense to include a 64Mb memory card in the package as latest devices and technologies are much more storage space-hungry. However, it still looks strange to me that *no* memory card is included in the package of a *multimedia* mobile device.

Anyway, I'm happy with my N95, just found this issue worth mentioning.

Cheers,

Tote

Re: My new N95 - comments

serkos | 22/05/2007, 08:33

Some comments also:
* GPS - sometimes hangs and I don no that to do to get it in work state(shows previous GPS position, hovewer has all satelities in range).
* Phone interface - It's usual for me to push other buttons then I use joustick, so that is solution is? cut of fingers or block other buttons?
* Phone applications - closes applications without asking(all working), it is annoying(I know about task manager, but it did not see them also, so do not post simple decisions, ps. this connected with previous problem)
* Music player - not refresh play list then I edit my mp3 file headers from other places, I need to remove and add them for phone see changes.
* After phone connecting to PC as usb strorage resets all setting that has links to memory card resources(ringtones, themes)

Re: My new N95 - comments

tote_b5 | 22/05/2007, 15:45

tote_b5 As to GPS I found it strange that I was in an open area and it couldn't find three usable satellites. The list of available satellites kept changing all the time and the signal strength was also verying (none of the rectangles was filled).

Phone interface: it happened to me also, mostly when I was playing a game, that I pressed the Applications button instead of the joystick. It was pretty annoying, but luckily the game suspended itself so that I continue playing after switching back to the application.

Phone application - perhaps out of memory? Typically that's the reason for shutting down running applications.

Re: My new N95 - comments

auusital | 22/05/2007, 15:26

Hi,

About that battery issue... if you don't use internal GPS, try to shut it down. Also wlan scanning, if not needed, could be turned off.

BR,
Ari

Re: My new N95 - comments

tote_b5 | 22/05/2007, 15:42

tote_b5 Yes, that's a working solution, Ari. WLAN scanning is disabled as well GPS by default. I've just checked it out during the weekend with not too much calls and no heavy use that the battery had lasted for a long time: the charge level was six (out of 7) after two days! So there is solution and it's basically careful use.

Tote

Re: My new N95 - comments

bloodredsky | 23/05/2007, 10:34

this may be device-specific, but from my experience turning off the "active standby"-mode can also improve standby-time a lot. You can find this setting in N95 from tools -> settings -> general -> personalization -> standby mode. It means that the shortcut links from the standby mode dissappear, but you can still set a few shortcuts to different directions of the joystick-button... And of course access all the other device features after pressing menu-button as normally.

Re: My new N95 - comments

tote_b5 | 23/05/2007, 11:03

tote_b5 Thanks, Juha, for sharing this piece of information! However, Active Standby is one of my favourite applications and I don't think I will ever switch it off. Finally I would end up in switching off each useful applications and have a feature phone. :)

Tote

Re: My new N95 - comments

celebs | 20/01/2008, 23:54

About that battery issue... if you don't use internal GPS, try to shut it down. Also wlan scanning, if not needed, could be turned off.

GPS

Cialis | 02/02/2008, 22:30

GPS spare in given device.

Re: My new N95 - comments

fishermann | 22/03/2008, 18:42

Tell please, what resolution capability of this GPS device?

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