Nokia N97
{{short description|Smartphone from Nokia released in 2009}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox Mobile phone
|name =Nokia N97
|image = Nokian97.png
|logo=Nokia N97 wordmark.png
|caption = A Nokia N97 revealing its slide-out landscape keyboard
|manufacturer = Nokia
|carrier =
|available = 9 June 2009
|screen = 640×360 px (16:9 aspect ratio), 3.5 in for original (3.2 in for mini), sliding tilt TFT LCD display, up to 16.7 million colours
|camera = 5.0 megapixels
f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Tessar lens
|operatingsystem = Symbian 9.4 with Nokia S60 Fifth Edition UI. Current firmware 22.0.110 (RM-505) / 22.1.112 (RM-506) / 22.2.110 (RM-507) / 12.0.110 (N97 mini)
|input = QWERTY keyboard, resistive touchscreen, proximity and ambient light sensors, accelerometer, digital compass
|cpu = Single CPU, 434 MHz ARM11
|ringtone = MP3
|storage = 32 GB on-board (about 29.8 GB user available) for original, (8 GB for mini)
|memory = 128 MB SDRAM
|memory_card = microSD 16 GB max (16 GB Max MicroSDHC available in 2009)
|networks = HSDPA (3.5G), Quad band GSM / GPRS / EDGE GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900
|battery = BP-4L (1500 mAh, :Li-polymer) for original, (BL-4D 3.7 V 1200 mAh for mini)
|connectivity = WLAN 802.11b/g, USB 2.0, Bluetooth 2.0, TV-out (PAL/NTSC), FM transmitter only for original
|size = 117.2 × 55.3 × 15.9* mm
*18.25 mm at camera area for original (113 x 52.5 x 14.2 mm for mini)
|form = Tilt slider
|weight = 150 g for original (138 g for mini)
|music = Audio playback: MP3, AAC, eAAC, eAAC+, WMA
Video playback: MPEG-4 SP, RealVideo, Flash Video
|series = Nseries
|predecessor = Nokia N96
Nokia N79 (for N97 Mini)
Nokia 8600 Luna
Nokia E90 Communicator
|successor = Nokia N8
Nokia C6-00 (for N97 Mini)
Nokia N900
Nokia E7-00
Nokia 808 PureView
Nokia Lumia 920/1020
|related = Nokia N86 8MP
Nokia N79
}}
The Nokia N97 is a high-end smartphone introduced on 2 December 2008 by Nokia as part of its Nseries{{cite web|url=http://lumiaconversations.microsoft.com/2008/12/02/nokia-n97-marks-evolutionary-milestone-for-nseries-and-mobilekind-2/|title=Nokia N97 marks evolutionary milestone for Nseries and mobilekind|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=20 April 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427111046/http://lumiaconversations.microsoft.com/2008/12/02/nokia-n97-marks-evolutionary-milestone-for-nseries-and-mobilekind-2/|archive-date=27 April 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://company.nokia.com/en/news/press-releases/2008/12/02/desktop-laptop-pocket-the-era-of-the-personal-internet-dawns-with-the-nokia-n97|title=Desktop. Laptop. Pocket: The era of the personal Internet dawns with the Nokia N97|publisher=Nokia|access-date=20 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427143222/http://company.nokia.com/en/news/press-releases/2008/12/02/desktop-laptop-pocket-the-era-of-the-personal-internet-dawns-with-the-nokia-n97|archive-date=27 April 2015|url-status=dead}} and released in June 2009 as the company's flagship device.{{Cite web |date=July 2009 |title=The Abject Failure of Nokia's Flagship Phone |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1302319/abject-failure-nokias-flagship-phone}} The N97 was Nokia's second S60-based touchscreen phone, after the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic.{{cite web |title=Nokia's N97 Smartphone, a Laptop in Your Pocket |url=http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/dec2008/gb2008122_820144.htm?campaign_id=rss_topEmailedStories |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205101053/http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/dec2008/gb2008122_820144.htm |archive-date=5 December 2008 |access-date=16 March 2009 |work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek}} The device features slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and runs on the Symbian v9.4 (Symbian^1/S60 5th Edition) operating system. Its design takes cues from the Nokia N79. A smaller and lower-cost variant, the Nokia N97 mini, was later released.{{Cite web |title=Nokia officially announce N97 mini and unveil X3 and X6 |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_officially_announce_n97_mini_and_unveil_x3_and_x6-news-1098.php}}
As the successor to the Nokia N96, the Nokia N97 heralded the company's Nseries "multimedia computers" into the touchscreen era. The N97 was highly anticipated and, despite respectable sales, in industry circles the phone was considered a hardware and software "disaster" that contributed to Nokia's decline.{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/nokia-where-it-all-went-wrong-by-the-man-who-made-it-the-worlds-biggest-mobile-company/|title=Nokia: Where it all went wrong, by the man who made it the world's biggest mobile company - ZDNet|first=Olli|last=Sulopuisto|publisher=ZDNet|access-date=8 April 2018}} In 2010, a Nokia executive called the N97 a "regrettable failure".{{cite web|url=https://www.gsmdome.com/nokia-admits-that-the-n97-is-a-failure-promises-not-to-do-it-again|title=Nokia Admits that the N97 is a Failure; Promises not to Do it Again |date=24 February 2010|website=gsmdome.com|access-date=8 April 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.alphr.com/news/355831/nokia-n97-was-a-tremendous-disappointment|title = Nokia: N97 was a "tremendous disappointment"}} The N97 was followed as the Nseries flagship by the Nokia N8 over a year later, while the Nokia E7 released in 2011 was a continuation of the Nokia N97's form factor.{{Cite web |last=Orlowski |first=Andrew |date=14 September 2010 |title=Hands-on with the new Nokias |url=https://www.theregister.com/Print/2010/09/14/nokia_hands_on/ |website=The Register}}
Release
The Nokia N97 was released in US flagship stores on 9 June 2009,{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2009/06/08/nokia-n97-available-tomorrow-at-us-flagship-stores|title=Nokia N97 available tomorrow at US flagship stores|work=Engadget|access-date=8 June 2009}} and worldwide on 26 June 2009. In September 2009, it was reported that some two million N97 handsets had been sold in the three months after its release.{{cite web|url=http://www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk/2009/09/03/n97-defies-critics-with-2m-sales/|title=N97 defies critics with 2m sales|publisher=Mobile News|access-date=20 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328141314/http://www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk/2009/09/03/n97-defies-critics-with-2m-sales/|archive-date=28 March 2016|url-status=dead}}
The N97 shipped with trial versions of Quick Office, Adobe Reader, Boingo, Joikuspot, Ovi Maps, and Ovi store software applications.{{fact|date=July 2021}}
The device's initial software met a mixed reception, prompting the release of new firmware in October 2009. Nokia released the new firmware with kinetic scrolling for the N97 to address drawbacks in the initial firmware release.{{fact|date=July 2021}}
In October 2009, the N97 Mini, a smaller version of the original N97, was introduced. The N97 Mini was regarded as an improvement over the original N97.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnet.com.au/nokia-n97-mini-339301519.htm|title=Nokia N97 mini|publisher=CNet NBews|access-date=15 May 2010|archive-date=7 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100307061448/http://www.cnet.com.au/nokia-n97-mini-339301519.htm|url-status=dead}}[http://www.slashgear.com/nokia-n97-mini-review-2464327/ Nokia N97 mini review] 24 November 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
Operating times
Informal tests found that the N97's battery could hold a charge through nearly two days of the original N97's regular use.{{cite web|title=Nokia N97 Battery Log|url=http://technogra.ph/20090701/sections/reviews/nokia-n97-battery-log/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706072807/http://technogra.ph/20090701/sections/reviews/nokia-n97-battery-log/|archive-date=6 July 2009|access-date=7 July 2009|publisher=Technograph}} Nokia claimed the following operating times:
- Talk time: Up to 6.0 hours (3G), 9.5 hours (GSM)
- Standby time: Up to 17 days (3G), 18 days (GSM)
- Video playback: Up to 4.5 hours (offline mode)
- Video recording: Up to 3.6 hours (offline mode)
- Music playback: Up to 40 hours (offline mode)
Special applications
With the optional DVB-H Nokia Mobile TV receiver, SU-33W it became possible to watch television on the phone. This was compatible with Nokia's N-Gage platform, the only touchscreen with this capability at the time.{{Cite news|url=https://www.twice.com/product/nokia-launches-touchscreen-smartphone-42135|title=Nokia Launches Touchscreen Smartphone|last=Palenchar|first=Joseph|date=2008-12-15|work=Twice|access-date=2017-12-17|language=en-us}}{{Cite web|title=Nokia N-Gage compatible handsets • Download N-gage games|url=http://www.ngage-games.com/phones/phone-overview.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091207073356/http://www.ngage-games.com/phones/phone-overview.htm|archive-date=7 December 2009|access-date=2017-12-17|website=ngage-games.com}}
Reception
Criticism of the original N97 included its relative lack of RAM and available storage. With only 50MB of free RAM after boot, the phone could become sluggish and close applications to conserve memory. Many first-party applications would install only on the root partition and with around 50MB of free space, this was used quickly in competition with the needs of temporary OS files. The N97 Mini resolved this issue, often offering users over 250MB of free space in fixed storage. A memory mapping change from firmware version 20 enabled applications to use less RAM and to better disengage, which eased the strain of less free RAM to the end-user.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090705114103/http://thesymbianblog.com/2009/07/02/how-to-recover-phone-memory-on-your-nokia-n97/ How To Recover Phone Memory On Your Nokia N97 | The Handheld Blog]. Thesymbianblog.com (2 July 2009). Retrieved 9 December 2013.
Anssi Vanjoki, Nokia's EVP of Markets admitted that quality control of the device's software was troublesome, saying "it has been a tremendous disappointment in terms of the experience quality for the consumers", though Vanjoki later claimed that the issue could be repaired by firmware updates.{{cite web|url=http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/news/item/11183_Video_Anssi_Vanjoki_on_the_N97.php|title=Anssi Vanjoki on the N97 and Symbian^3|date=23 February 2010 |publisher=All About Symbian|access-date=25 February 2010}}
Steve Litchfield of "All About Symbian" wrote in a 2011 blog post: "The N97 really was the device that should have ruled the world - it had, almost literally, everything. And yet it became the one device that Nokia had to (literally) apologize for, publicly. The one device that became a millstone around its neck."{{Cite web|url=http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/features/item/13165_Nokia_N97_RIP_the_derailed_fla.php|title = Nokia N97 RIP: The derailed flagship that ended up as a train wreck| date=8 August 2011 }}
Nokia acknowledged that on many units the covers and lenses were mounted too closely, resulting in scratches from dust and debris.{{cite web|title=Nokia acknowledges scratch problems|url=http://www.nokiausers.net/N-Series/Nokia-N97-Main-Camera-Scratch-Issue-An-Official-Advisory.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091016003428/http://www.nokiausers.net/N-Series/Nokia-N97-Main-Camera-Scratch-Issue-An-Official-Advisory.html|archive-date=16 October 2009|access-date=14 October 2009|website=nokiausers.net}} On later units, Nokia reportedly fixed this issue.
Other early adopters of the N97 encountered speed problems with the phone's built-in GPS lock. The phones lost track of their current locations, making Nokia's free turn-by-turn navigation software unusable. Users were offered under-warranty repairs for lens cover and GPS issues at official Nokia service centers.
Although Nokia phones traditionally had provided strong signal reception, the Nokia N97 fell short in this area, demonstrating poor signal strength, even when compared side by side to other phones connected to the same network.
The user interface of the S60 5th edition software platform, built on top of Symbian OS 9.4, was criticized by the TechRadar site as inconsistent, insofar as menu items required two taps to activate.Phil Lattimore, [http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/nokia-n97-mini-658760/review?artc_pg=3 Nokia N97 Mini review] 7 December 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2010. In 2010 Nokia apologized to customers who had experienced shortcomings with the N97 and its software.
Despite generally lukewarm reviews, the phone sold well.{{cite web|url=http://www.n97geeks.com/|title=N97 vs iPhone - Does N97 Sales Volumes Provide Clues on Its Future ?|publisher=N97geeks|access-date=10 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410090212/http://www.n97geeks.com/|archive-date=10 April 2009|url-status=dead}} However its marketing as an "iPhone killer" tarnished Nokia's smartphone reputation at the time.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mobileindustryreview.com/2010/07/nokias-fall-from-grace-the-background-story.html|title = Nokia's fall from grace: The Background Story|date = 22 July 2010}}
Nokia N97 Mini
The N97 Mini was a downsized version of the N97 introduced in October 2009. The N97 Mini reduced some features of the original N97, such as 8 GB of storage memory, {{Convert|3.2|in||adj=on}} touchscreen, and a shorter battery life.{{cite web|url=http://technogra.ph/2009/12/08/the-nokia-n97-mini-review/|title=The Nokia N97 Mini Review|access-date=15 May 2010|archive-date=8 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100508005347/http://technogra.ph/2009/12/08/the-nokia-n97-mini-review|url-status=dead}}[http://www.slashgear.com/nokia-n97-mini-review-2464327/ Nokia N97 mini review]. SlashGear (24 November 2009). Retrieved 9 December 2013. It used the 2.0 Nokia N97 software by default.{{cite web|url=http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/mobilephones/0,39051199,45001638p,00.htm|title=N97 mini|publisher=CNET Asia Review|date=13 November 2009|access-date=14 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091120093915/http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/mobilephones/0,39051199,45001638p,00.htm|archive-date=20 November 2009|url-status=dead}} The keypad was somewhat redesigned. The big D-pad on the left side was replaced by four arrow keys on the right side. There also was more space between each key, and keys were a bit higher, which offered better tactile sense when typing.{{cite web|url=http://www.forum.nokia.com/Devices/Device_specifications/N9|title=Nokia N97|date=2 December 2010|access-date=5 June 2011|archive-date=5 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505154053/http://www.forum.nokia.com/Devices/Device_specifications/N97/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.forum.nokia.com/Devices/Device_specifications/N97_mini/|title=Nokia N97 mini|date=2 September 2009|access-date=5 June 2010|archive-date=11 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611204449/http://www.forum.nokia.com/Devices/Device_specifications/N97_mini/|url-status=dead}}
This table lists significant differences.
| class="wikitable" | ||
| ! Original N97
! N97 mini | ||
|---|---|---|
| Device Size
| {{Convert|117.2x55.3x15.9|mm | abbr=on|disp=br}}
| {{Convert|113x52.5x14.2|mm | abbr=on|disp=br}} |
| Volume
| {{Convert|88|cc | abbr=on}}
| {{Convert|75|cc | abbr=on}} |
| Weight
| {{Convert|150|g | abbr=on}}
| {{Convert|138|g | abbr=on}} |
| LCD size (640×360 px)
| {{Convert|3.5|in |
| {{Convert|3.2|in|}}
|-
| inbuilt mass Storage Memory
| 32 GB
| 8 GB
|-
| 256 MB (approx. 73 MB user available)
| 512 MB (approx. 277 MB user available)
|-
| Available
| Not available
|-
| Battery model
| BP-4L 3.7 V 1500 mAh
| BL-4D 3.7 V 1200 mAh
|-
|GSM Talk Time up to
|9.5 hours
|7.1 hours
|-
|WCDMA Talk Time up to
|6.0 hours
|4.0 hours
|-
|GSM Standby Time up to
|18 days
|13 days
|-
|WCDMA Standby Time up to
|17 days
|13 days
|-
|Web Browser for S60 version after firmware update
|lower than 7.3
|}
A limited edition, the "N97 mini Raoul Limited Edition" was released in collaboration with fashion house FJ Benjamin and the Raoul brand. It also featured a Fashion Asia widget and became available in late October 2009 in Malaysia and Singapore.{{cite web|url=http://asia.cnet.com/crave/nokia-launches-n97-mini-raoul-limited-edition-62108768.htm|title=Nokia launches N97 mini Raoul Limited Edition - Mobile Phones - Crave - CNET Asia|publisher=CNET|date=15 September 2009|access-date=1 January 2010|archive-date=18 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418051755/http://asia.cnet.com/crave/nokia-launches-n97-mini-raoul-limited-edition-62108768.htm|url-status=dead}}
=Reception=
The user interface of the S60 5th edition software platform, built on top of Symbian OS 9.4, was criticized by the TechRadar site as being inconsistent, insofar as menu items required two taps to be activated.
When compared to the original N97, the cheaper N97 mini was regarded in reviews as an improvement, especially its keyboard.
Successor
There are three phones considered as successors to the N97. Firstly is the N8, as it became the new multimedia flagship for 2010. Also is the C6, which had a similar sliding-out QWERTY keyboard - however since the C6 uses the same specifications, the Maemo-powered N900, also featuring the keyboard, yet considerably better specifications have been considered the successor.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category-inline|Nokia N97}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20081204004321/http://www.nokia.com/A41445512 Nokia N97 demonstration video]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140328150954/http://www.nokian97forum.com/ Nokia N97 Discussion Forum]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090824034059/http://events.nokia.com/nokiaworld08/assets/pdf/Data_Sheet_Nokia%20N97.pdf Nokia N97 Data sheet]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140328150954/http://www.nokian97forum.com/ Official Nokia N97 website launched]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20081210113857/http://www.forum.nokia.com/devices/N97 Nokia N97 detailed specifications]
- [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/play/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502915&objectid=10644453 Review: Nokia N97 mini by Chris Targett 12 May 2010] rather positive review of the mini
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20101017084327/http://gadgetstress.com/2010/09/the-stress-test-of-nokia-n97/ The stress test of Nokia N97 (93 points from 100 possible)]
{{Symbian platform}}
{{Nokia phones}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:N-Gage (service) compatible devices
Category:Mobile phones with an integrated hardware keyboard
Category:Mobile phones introduced in 2009