Hours ago (hey I was at the shops and missed the countdown) Nokia just unveiled the latest addition to the N series family, a true competitor to the Apple iPhone. The N97 as it’s named comes jam packed with 32GB of storage (+16GB via memory card), 5MP camera (disappointing considering my 6220C has the exact same camera) and the usual inclusions of A-GPS (6220c has) and WiFi (the old Nokia E61 has WiFi). To say I’m underwhelmed is being kind, especially considering that some phones from Sony Ericsson have an 8MP camera these days. This is the best Nokia can do?! It seems like overkill for going against something with a basic 2MP camera. I remember when the N series was something special, the first to feature high quality 2MP cameras in 2005 and every feature available on the specialised lesser phones of the time as standard. Touchscreens are 2007 tech, I feel like this is just catch up to the iPhone - and god only knows how unstable that Symbian based OS will be until it gets some heavy updates.

Contactless charging? USB 3 support? 802.11N WiFi? FM Transmitter for car stereos? Projector? I don’t think it’s going to feature any of these, but the full QWERTY keyboard - oh you know I’m loving that, and despite sounding like I can’t stand the N97 I’d have this over an iPhone in an instant (hell I’d still have an E90 Communicator if I could, can’t get enough of Nokia :D). I suppose I’m not so much disappointed at Nokia as I am at the advancement in technology, it’s getting better but still more of the same.

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I got myself a new handset last Monday because I killed my Nokia N73, but to use the word new is a bit misleading in two respects; the handset was released a while ago now, and it’s actually in used condition, but it’s new to me. The handset is a Nokia E61 (not the E61i) and I have to say I love it. I went from a Nokia N73, and although this handset is missing some features from the N73 like any form of a camera and stereo bluetooth (it’s a bit hard adjusting) the features it has which weren’t available on the N73 kind of make up for it. The screen is the same resolution although bigger and in my preferred orientation of landscape. The reason the screen is landscape is obvious when you take a look at the thing, the QWERTY keyboard (the best feature) takes up half of the phones surface.

Other features I like are the more advanced active standby which shows the message inbox (though without plug-ins), 802.11G WiFi and a notification light which actives with a new message (and maybe missed calls) though this is useless to me since mine came with a book style case.

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