And away we go.

Front View (Slide Closed):

As you can see, both the C6 and N97 Mini are more or less the same size.

Both devices have a 3.2? TFT resistive touchscreen, at 360 x 640 pixels resolution. Both have hardware menu keys at the bottom, and a proximity sensor and ambient light sensor at the top, along with a front-facing QVGA camera.

The N97 Mini though, has touch sensitive calling keys compared to the hardware keys on the C6.

Front View (Slide Open):

Both devices slide out to reveal a full-QWERTY keyboard. The difference though, is that the N97 Mini slides out at a certain angle and props the screen up.

The C6 keyboard has a Dpad along with it, while the N97 Mini relies on direction keys.

But apart from that, the keyboard arrangement is also a bit different, with the spacebar being more right-oriented on the N97 Mini.

Back View :

The N97 Mini has a 5 Megapixel Carl Zeiss lens Camera with a Dual LED Flash. The C6 though, only has a standard lens 5 Megapixel camera, with a single led flash.

Left View :

The C6 only has it’s microSD port here, while the N97 Mini has it’s microUSB port and sliding screen-lock key.

Top View :

Both devices have a 3.5mm standard Audio jack at the top, while the N97 Mini has a power button and the C6 has it’s microUSB port situated here.

Right View :

Both devices have their dedicated camera keys and volume increase/decrease keys here. The C6 also has it’s sliding screen-lock key here.

Bottom View:

While the N97 Mini keeps it minimal, the C6 has it’s standard Nokia charging port here.

==================

Were you considering a Nokia C6 or N97 Mini? Have any questions about the differences between either device ? Let us know in the comments y’all!

Nokia C6 vs Nokia N97 Mini Review: Size Comparison Pictures is a post from: UnleashThePhones.com

So without further ado, here’s a couple size comparison pictures of the Nokia X6 vs the Nokia N97 Mini.

Front View (Slide Closed):

Both devices have their menu buttons and calling keys at the lower front. The N97 Mini has a 3.2″ resistive touchscreen while the X6 has a capacitive screen on the same size.

Both devices have an ambient light sensor and proximity sensor at the top (more cleverly hidden on the X6) and a front facing VGA camera.

Front View (Slide Open):

The N97 Mini slides out to reveal a hardware full Qwerty keyboard. The X6 though, only has it’s virtual on-screen keyboard.

Back View :

Both devices have a 5 Megapixel Carl Zeiss lens at the back. The N97 Mini has a stainless steel back panel while the X6 has a sort-of -flimsy plastic back panel.

Top View :

Both devices have their power button and 3.5mm Standard Audio port (with TV-out) here. The X6 also has it’s microUSB port and charging port here.

Left View :

The Nokia X6 only has it’s sim-card slot here, covered with a plastic hinge. The N97 Mini has it’s sliding screen-lock key and microUSB port here that’s also used to charge the device (unlike in the case of the X6).

Bottom View :

Neither devices have any ports here. Keeping it clean and minimal y’all.

Right View :

Both devices have their dedicated camera buttons and volume/zoom keys here. The X6 also has it’s sliding screen-lock key here.

========================

Were you thinking of getting a Nokia X6 or a Nokia N97 Mini? Have any questions about the differences between either device? Something we missed? Let us know in the comments y’all!

Nokia X6 vs Nokia N97 Mini: Size Comparison Pictures is a post from: UnleashThePhones.com

And with that, we figured we’d take a deeper look into what the difference between Capacitive and Resistive Touchscreens really are. Atleast, from a user experience on Symbian, perspective.

For the technical details, there’s the Wikipedia articles on Resistive and Capacitive touchscreen technology.

But technical jargon aside, I tried to use the Nokia X6 exclusively for a couple days, before heading back to the Nokia N97 Mini and it’s resistive touchscreen. That reunion lasted a couple minutes, because quite honestly, I had gotten so much more comfortable with the capacitive touchscreen, it isnt even funny. I’ve used an iPhone quite a number of times before. But I always figured it was an unfair comparison to be made, versus Nokia’s touch devices, because not only was the screen technology different, but so was the operating system. But with the X6, I was quite confident in my findings, since like the Nokia N97 Mini, it also runs Symbian^1 (aka S60v5), but unlike the latter, has a capacitive touchscreen.

While both screen technology usually have good/great visibility indoors, the visibility in direct sunlight is definitely in favour of the glass capacitive screen of the X6. The extra layer of the resistive touchscreen on the N97 Mini, seems to reflect too much ambient light back, which results in pretty poor visibility in this scenario.

And then there’s sensitivity. On a capacitive touchscreen, the slightest contact between your finger (having electrons and all) and the screen’s glass is enough to activate the capacitive sensing system. This however, does not work with random inanimate objects. Things like a stylus (atleast not a usual one), your fingernails, or fingers with gloves on, wont work with a capacitive screen very well. As a result, Handwriting recognition is a bit tough on Capacitive, which is why the X6 simply does not feature that, while the N97 Mini does.

With resistive, a certain amount of pressure is needed to make the contact within the screen’s layers. You have to get used to “pressing” the display not touching it. It does give slightly better feedback, as the resistive layer moves down a bit, much better than tapping a hard glass surface. You will always have to apply some pressure for a resistive screen to take note. But this can be used with inanimate objects too, like a stylus, fingers with gloves on, yada yada. Hence, this screen is better suited for handwriting recognition, which I’ve heard (but never really confirmed) is important in Asian markets.

Sensitivity leads on to accuracy,where a Capacitive touchscreen is usually very accurate to within a few pixels. However, it is also limited by the physical size of your fingertips. This makes it hard to select anything on the screen thats even the tiniest bit smaller than a centimeter or two.

That being said, Accuracy is something I’ve heard associated more with resistive touchscreens. Yes, Capacitive screens can be inaccurate, and I had that problem to begin with on the X6. However, over time, accuracy does improve substantially. I use the X6 now without too much hassle. Practice and experience is the name of the game here.

Toughness is a grey area here, as in the case of a Capacitive screen, Glass is usually used as the outer layer. While glass is not really invulnerable, it is more resistant to casual scratches and blemishes. It is also, however, more prone to shattering on a major impact.

The top layer of a resistive screen is usually soft plastic. Hence, such a screen is vulnerable to scratches. However, the advantage is that a plastic screen does mean that the device is a bit more robust and unlikely to be too badly damaged on a major impact.

A resistive screen is also less prone to gathering too many fingerprints and grease, since a stylus or finger nail can be used. But on a capacitive screen, you need a full finger touch on the glass screen, which means you will get a certain amount of smudges. But it’s also worth noting that a glass screen is also usually quicker and easier to clean.

To be quite honest, the only positive I’ve heard about resistive touchscreens, is that it is a screen tech which works with gloved hands and a stylus. But personally, I’ve found that using even a resistive screen with outdoor Winter gloved hands is just about impossible. I feel capacitive is a lot more responsive on average and I quite prefer how the screen needs to only be touched, not pressed. I also like that capacitive uses glass which is much more durable and scratch-resistant.

But that’s just our opinion. Have you tried a Capacitive and Resistive Touchscreen? Which one do you prefer? Do let us know in the comments below!

Capacitive vs Resistive; What’s the Difference really? is a post from: UnleashThePhones.com

Just because we could.

Front View (Slide Closed):

As you can see the White N97 Mini has a silver lining to it (no Pun intended) while the Black N97 Mini has a darkish brown lining.

Otherwise they’re identical, front facing camera, proximity sensor, earpiece, 3.2″ resistive Touchscreen, slanted menu key and all. Both have red and green calling keys.

Front View (Slide Open):

Both have a full Qwerty Keyboard that slides out and props the screen to an angle.

Dont be fooled by the black text on the White N97 Mini’s keyboard though, it’s actually just clear. The keyboard has white backlight which means at night the keyboard alphabets are white-on-white which can be really hard to see in some situations.

Something you might want to note when thinking of which color to pick.

Back View :

Both have the same 5 Megapixel Carl Zeiss Optics Camera at the back, with a Dual LED Flash. The White N97 Mini has a silver Steel backcover though, while the Black N97 Mini has a darkish brown Steel backcover to match its lining.

Top View :

Left View :

Bottom View :

Right View :

========================

So that’s basically it.

You’ve seen both the Black and White versions of the Nokia N97 Mini. Which color do you like ? Do let us know in the comments section below y’all !

Remember, if you’re interested, we have more pictures on our Nokia N97 Mini White Edition Album on Flickr.

Nokia N97 Mini: Black vs White Color Comparison Pictures is a post from: UnleashThePhones.com

Right now the Nokia N97 Mini comes with a Car Charger and an In-Car Holder free, while the Nokia 5230 (in addition to a 2GB microSD)comes with just the In-Car Holder. I’ve also heard that the Nokia 5233 Comes with two Color panels in-box now, if anyone would…uhh… find that bit of info useful.

All this, at the same price. Looks like a pretty good deal, eh ?

Nokia India: N97 Mini and 5230 Now Come with In-Car Holders is a post from: UnleashThePhones.com

Here we go !

Front View (Slide Closed):

As you can see, the N97 Mini is quite a bit smaller than the N900. Both have front facing cameras, a earpiece and a light sensor at the top. Both also have a proximity sensor here to shut off the Resistive Touchscreen as you place it near your ear.

The N900 has a huge 3.5? screen. The N97 Mini has a 3.2″ screen though.

At the bottom, The N97 Mini has its Green and Red calling keys, and the new Nseries Slanted Menu button. While the N900’s front consists mainly of it’s Touchscreen.

Front View (Slide Open):

The N97 Mini slides open to reveal a full Qwerty Keyboard, which also props up the 3.2″ Touchscreen to a roughly 30 degree angle for better viewing.

The N900 also slides open (but not at any angle).

Worth noting is that the N97 Mini and N900 share the same key arrangement on their keyboards.

Back View :

Both the N97 Mini and the N900 have a 5 Megapixel Carl Zeiss lens at the back, with Dual LED Flash. The N900 though, also has a sliding lens protector.

Left View :

The N900 keeps it minimal with ports on this side. It has a stylus hidden in the extreme right side though.

The N97 Mini has it’s stereo Loudspeakers at either end, it’s MicroUSB port (which is also used to charge the device) and it’s sliding screenlock switch.

Top View :

The N97 Mini has it’s power button, and 3.5mm Audio Jack here. The N900 has it’s MicroUSB port (which is also used to charge the device), and one of it’s Stereo Speakers.

Right View :

Both devices have their dedicated camera button here, along with their zoom in/out (doubles as volume increase/decrease) keys. The N900 also has it’s power button here, along with it’s Infra-Red port.

Bottom View:

The N97 Mini keeps it simple with no ports here. Just a tiny slot for it’s microphone.

The N900 has it’s 3.5mm Standard Audio Jack here, along with it’s sliding screenlock switch and the other Stereo Loudspeaker.

==================

Were you considering an N900 or N97 Mini ? Have any questions about the differences between either device ? Let us know in the comments y’all !

Nokia N900 vs Nokia N97 Mini : Size Comparison Pictures is a post from: UnleashThePhones.com

The N97 Mini does have UDP (User Data Preservation), so while its always a good idea to backup all your data before the firmware update, none of your programs or data should be affected with the update.

Remember you can update using the N97 Mini’s OTA (Over-The-Air) feature, or if you prefer you can download Nokia’s Software Updater application to update your N97 Mini on your windows PC. Right now the Update seems to be only available via NSU.

(Note: The Firmware update is only available via NSU right now (not Ovi Suite) and will take a couple days before it gets OTA)

If there’s no new firmware detected for your device yet, it might be because it hasnt reached your region product code yet, or maybe your device is carrier branded. It should roll out to all product codes eventually though.

We’re still in the process of updating ours. Update complete. No new features seem to be in this new firmware. We’ve noticed more free Ram at startup (around 5Mb more). Things are also quite a bit faster now. But other than that, we’re guessing just a couple under the hood bug fixes.

No Official Changelog yet. We’ll update this post when we find one.

Have you updated your N97 Mini yet ? Notice anything new with the firmware update that we might have missed ? Do let us know in the comments y’all !

The Nokia N97 Mini gets a Firmware Update to v11.0.045 is a post from: UnleashThePhones.com

With that in mind, here’s a couple comparison pictures of the two.

Front View (Slide Closed):

As you can see, the N86 is quite a bit smaller than the N97 Mini. Both have front facing cameras, a earpiece and a light sensor at the top. The N97 Mini also has a proximity sensor here to shut off the 3.2″ Resistive Touchscreen as you place it near your ear.

At the bottom, both have Green and Red calling keys, and the new Nseries Slanted Menu button. The N86 has it’s Dpad, “C” delete key, and its left and right selection keys under it’s 2.6″ AMOLED screen.

Front View (Numeric Slider Open):

The N86 slides open to reveal an Alphanumeric Keypad.

Front View (Dual Slider Open):

The N86 has a Dual-Slider Mechanism, which slides open to reveal it’s Media Keys at the top.

Front View (Slide Open):

The N97 Mini slides open to reveal a full Qwerty Keyboard, which also props up the 3.2″ Touchscreen to a roughly 30 degree angle for better viewing.

Back View :

The N86 has an 8Megapixel Wide Angle Variable Aperture Carl Zeiss lens, with a sliding lens protector at it’s back. The N97 Mini has a stainless steel back panel, next to it’s 5 Megapixel Carl Zeiss lens. Both have a Dual LED Flash.

Note: Unfortunately the Camera started misbehaving after this, which means all the below pictures are out of focus. Apologies !
Left View :

Both devices have their sliding-keypad/screen-lock-switch on the left side. The N97 Mini also has it’s microUSB port here which is also used to charge the device.

Top View :

Both devices have their power buttons, and 3.5mm Audio Jack here. The N86 has it’s microUSB port here, which is also used to charge it.

Right View :

Both devices have their dedicated camera button here, along with their zoom in/out (doubles as volume increase/decrease) keys.

Bottom View:

Both devices keep it minimal with no ports at the bottom.

==================

Were you considering an N86 or N97 Mini ? Have any questions about the differences between either device ? Let us know in the comments y’all !

Nokia N86 vs Nokia N97 Mini : Size Comparison Pictures is a post from: UnleashThePhones.com

But awkward Titles aside, we’ve had the Nokia N97 Mini for about a month now here at ZCJ.

Is it worth it ? Is it better than the Original N97 ? Why bother buying it ?

Read on for our review.

When the Nokia N97 Mini was announced, admittedly the first reaction we had was general confusion. Why would anyone need ANOTHER N97 variant ? Wasnt the Original N97 buggy enough ? Blah blah blah negativity.

Sadly for the N97 Mini, that’s the atmosphere it was released in. People thought the Original N97 was buggy, suffered low ram and low phone memory problems, and anything associated with it would be just as bad.

But the N97 Mini can honestly be considered a totally different phone, that just happens to look similar to the Original N97. The Build Quality is much better, the Phone Memory’s now at 250Mb, and the Resistive touchscreen has been tweaked to be more responsive. Not to mention it actually shipped with decent, stable firmware. Plus the keyboard’s slightly different too.

To read more on the differences between both devices, do check out our Nokia N97 vs Nokia N97 Mini Comparison Post.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, lets check out a couple specs of the Nokia N97 Mini, shall we ?

Here are a couple of the features that the N97 Mini boasts :

• ARM 11 434 MHz processor
• Symbian OS v9.4 (S60 V5)
• 3.2 inches TFT resistive touchscreen, 16M colors at 360 x 640 pixels
• Sensors such as a Proximity sensor and built-in Accelerometer
• Slide-out Full QWERTY keyboard, Touch Input also possible, including Handwriting recognition
• 8 GB storage onboard with 128 MB RAM and space for a MicroSD card too
• 5 Megapixel Autofocus camera with Carl Zeiss optics, Dual LED Flash, VGA/wVGA Video Recording at 30fps
• Wifi and A-GPS built in, built in Compass
• Micro USB v2.0, (Charging via USB supported)
• FM and Bluetooth with A2DP support
• Standard 3.5mm Audio Jack with Tv-Out (cable not included)

Phew. That’s not bad is it ? And that’s just a few. You can read the full list of features on the Nokia N97 Mini Product Page.

The N97 Mini lives up to it’s name by measuring 113 x 52.5 x 14.2 mm and weighs about 138 g. We’ve compared it to the Nokia E72 and Nokia E75 and it’s still a pretty decent size.

That means it’s pretty much a decent size, fits into your pocket easily, and feels great in your hand.

Even in Keyboard-slide-out mode, the N97 Mini feels comfortable, although you’ll have to use both hands to use it properly in this mode.

The Build Quality on the N97 Mini is WAY better than the Original N97. I’d even say, it makes the Original N97 feel a bit cheap. There’s a lot more metal used in the N97 Mini, which is the reason it feels more premium and more solid.

Firmware:

It’s worth nothing, the N97 Mini in this review, is on firmware version 10.0.020 which was the latest at the time of this post. Features might be added or improved in later versions.

First Impressions :

We’d also like to recommend reading our First Impressions of the Nokia N97 Mini, so that you know how or if our opinions changed from then to now.

On with the pictures !

Front View :

Slider Closed :

The Front view is where you can notice the subtle design changes between the N97 Mini and the Original N97.

The Touchscreen is pretty responsive (for a resistive touch device). Its way more sensitive than the Nokia 5800 and Original N97 but still nowhere as good as a capacitive touch device.

The screen is nice and bright. But admittedly, not so great in direct sunlight.

On top of the screen you have “NOKIA” written in bold, and to the left of it “N97“. We also have the sensors and Earpiece.

On the left side, we have the proximity sensor, which shuts off the touch screen when you place the N97 Mini near your ear during a call, so that your ear doesnt try to make any calls of its own.

In the center we have the Earpiece. The Earpiece volume is fine and we’ve had no problems with it at all. Same for Network reception.

On the right side we have the Front Facing VGA camera for Video Calls, etc. You also have a light sensor here, which dims or brightens the keyboard lights, etc to keep it eligible. Both work pretty well, no complaints here.

While at the bottom you have the new slanted menu button (now common with Nseries devices) and the Red and Green Call keys. Worth noting, is that the Calling keys are also touch sensitive.

The Menu button also pulsates in a very not-distracting manner.

The N97 Mini’s Menu button is permeable (unlike the Original N97), so it has light passing through it.

As you can see you can change the “Breathing and Notification Light” options if you wish.

An occasional Pulse just to show that the device is switched on, two pulses every minute for a new Text Message, Email, Missed call, etc. You can set this option up in the Settings Menu.

You can also select which events to be notified for.

We found the notification light to be pretty useful in letting us know the device was switched on (since the screen turns off when not in use), and alerting us to new messages and emails, so we wouldnt suggest turning it off. But hey if it bugs you, you have the option.

Slider Open :

With the Original N97, people were so impressed with the touchscreen, that they were totally blown away when they found out that it slided out to show a full Qwerty keyboard. Same with the Mini.

The N97 Mini also has the “Long Press button to get Symbol” feature that was initially missing on the Original N97.

We found the N97 Mini’s keyboard to be pretty good. No complaints really. Keys are well spaced out and have good feedback to them. Maybe they could have been a little raised at their tips, but nothing really bad about the keyboard.

Now we know what you’re thinking. “But the Spacebar is on the right side of the keyboard!“. Admittedly, using the N97’s keyboard does take some getting used to. Especially if you’re used to another Qwerty device like the E71 or E75 before.

But after a month of using the N97 Mini I can confirm, you’ll definitely get used to the keyboard, and be typing out letters as fast as …well..as fast as you could on a phone’s Qwerty keyboard. You’ll find that the spacebar is actually placed at a very smart location. I cant speak for lefties, but if you’re right handed, your right thumb occupies the space over the spacebar button naturally, and you’ll find yourself getting used to it, really fast.

You can read more about this and Messaging on the N97 Mini, on our Typing on the Nokia N97 Mini post.

It’s also worth mentioning that once you slide out the keyboard, the entire screen of the N97 Mini changes to landscape to suit the orientation of the device.

The Back of the N97 Mini in Slider-open mode has “Nokia N97 Mini” and “Designed in Finland” proudly shown off on the hinge.

As you might have already noticed, in slider open mode, the N97 Mini’s screen also gets nicely propped up at a roughly 30 degree angle for optimal viewing.

Thanks to Nokia’s new formfactor thats used on the device, and the strong alloy hinge that holds the screen up. Other than the hinge, the only real thing connecting the top touchscreen with the Lower keyboard part of the N97 Mini, is the Flexi-cable hidden deep inside.

As you can see in the video above, the “Slider” is very snappy. No wobbles or gaps at all when closed or open.

Unlike the E75, the N97 Mini doesnt allow you to automatically open an application or play a tone when you open or close the Slider.

Back View :

The Back of the N97 Mini contains a Steel Back Panel that locks in sturdy with the back. It’s a bit of a fingerprint magnet, but nothing too bad.

The N97 Mini also has it’s 5 Megapixel Carl Zeiss Camera here with a Dual LED Flash. No camera protector unfortch.

The camera is your standard Nseries spec today (which is a good thing), and we’ve gotten some pretty good results out of it.

The Carl Zeiss lens really helps, and 5 Megapixels will be more than enough for many people. The Dual LED Flash isnt great (though not as good as the one on the N86) and we would have liked to see a Xenon Flash, but it’s not too bad.

For more on this, do check out our Nokia N97 Mini Camera Samples (Images and Video) post.

Underneath the Back Panel, the N97 Mini has a slot for a MicroSD card. Mind you, its not under the battery, so you wont need to switch your device off to use it, and with 8GB of memory onboard, you might not need more. But it’s there anyway, and its in an awkward location.

Also under the back panel, is the 1200 mAh BL-4D Battery. Battery life is pretty okay on the N97 Mini. It wont blow you away, but it will get you through the day. We’ve managed to keep it going just barely about a day with Heavy usage (Screen on Full Brightness, Constant Wifi, GPS, etc), and also seen it stretch to about 28 hours on very light usage. Not too bad, and a bit better than the Original N97. We’d still advice charging it every night though.

Top View :

The top of the device is pretty minimalistic, housing the standard 3.5mm Audio Jack and the Power button.

The 3.5mm jack works with all standard headphones and line in cables, as expected. The N97 Mini also supports Tv-Out via the 3.5mm audio jack, but does not ship with the required cable, unlike Nseries devices before it (and like the N86 and Original N97). Nokia’s idea of lowering costs perhaps.

Bottom View :

Nothing to see here. Shoo !

Left View :

The Left side of the N97 Mini has its stereo speakers at either end. The speakers themselves are pretty loud. They’re a notch below the 5800 and N96 in loudness but definitely louder than the N95, N82 or any Eseries device. About the same as the Original N97.

At the center is the (very appreciated) Sliding Keylock switch, which turns the whole screen of the N97 Mini off to prevent any accidental keypresses, say if the N97 Mini is in your pocket, etc etc.

Towards the left side, there’s the MicroUSB port. This port is used to charge the N97 Mini, as well as to transfer Data to it using the supplied Nokia USB connectivity cable.

Its worth noting that Charging via USB connected to a Computer takes much longer than Charging via the supplied USB Charger that comes with the N97 Mini.

There’s also a nice little tiny white charging light next to the microUSB port. It lights up while the device is charging, and turns off once its completely charged.

Right View :

From left to right, we have the dedicated Camera button, and the Volume increase and decrease keys (which double as Zoom in and out keys in camera mode).

The Camera button has good feedback and we had no problems with it at all. Same for the volume keys.

The Box :

Just like the Original N97, the Nokia N97 Mini box has a completely new design scheme to it, compared to Nokia Devices in the past.

For a more detailed look at what the retail package ships with, please check out our Nokia N97 Mini Unboxing post.

The S60 V5 Touch UI, Menu and HomeScreen :

The N97 Mini uses the S60 V5 OS (also called Symbian^1) that’s seen on newer Nokia Touch devices like the Original N97, 5800, 5530, etc. The Symbian OS is pretty mature (but admittedly looks dated) and has a bunch of standard features like Multitasking, Copy-Paste, etc. However this is an Nseries Iteration of the OS, so there are some extras that you wont see on non-Nseries Touch devices.

One of them is the new Widget-ised Homescreen on Nseries Touch devices.

This is what you’ll probably see when you first boot up your N97 Mini. You can basically turn that^ into this :

For more on this, do check out our post on The Nokia N97 Mini and it’s Widgetised Homescreen.

The N97 Mini uses the new Nokia Ovi Icons, which are pretty nice I guess.

Of course, just like in the E75 (which also uses Ovi Icons), there are instances here where an Icon is actually a folder, and you’d have no idea when you first use the phone. Eventually you do get used to it, but the first couple of times, you might not even know that a particular icon was actually a folder full of other icons. I’m pretty used to it now, having been though a couple devices using the Ovi Icons.

S60 V5 on touch devices, admitted does look a bit dated compared to the other Touch OS’s around. The N97 Mini is a particular case since it has no Theme Effects at all (off by default) save for one effect when you swipe the Homescreen.

Otherwise operations around the Menu are pretty fast. It might take a while to load a folder full of stuff though. For example, the Applications folder, which comes filled with apps, might take a whole second or two to load.

Thankfully, the N97 Mini has Kinetic scrolling so scrolling though that list of applications, or anything, isnt an annoying operation. Just touch and slide to see it move.

Of course there’s still a scrollbar there, incase you want to move to the bottom of the list faster..

But S60 V5 is still a solid OS and has a number of advantages to it, which is why I still prefer it to other Touch Operating systems.

The N97 Mini also has a “Software update” app that alerts you to new updates for apps or software features on your device (if you start the app up and let it check for updates).

Definitely useful.

This is similar to the Firmware-over-the-air (FOTA) feature of the N97 Mini, that allows you to update its firmware to a newer version if present, wireless using WiFi.

Memory :

Ah this is one thing the N97 Mini handles pretty well. Memory. The Original N97 might have had 32Gb of memory and all that, but egads it had virtually no phone memory. Which was a problem.

Thankfully the N97 Mini has about 250Mb of Internal memory to play around with. Lots of legroom, so you dont have to worry about running low on phone memory.

That being said, the N97 Mini has about the same Ram as the Original N97 (about 40mb at startup) which means you cant really have too many applications open at the same time. Not too much Multitasking on this one.

Ovi Store :

The N97 Mini ships with an Ovi Store Client built in, so that you can start using it to download app right from the start.

The Ovi Store works like you’d expect it to. Nothing really new here.

There’s a ton of free and paid content for the N97 Mini, with new content being added almost every week or so. There’s useful apps like the Nokia Photo Browser and Shazaam, to completely useless “fun” random apps like the Spin-the-bottle app or the Duck-call app.

Internet Browsing :

The N97 Mini uses the latest S60 Browser which has several improvements under the hood, is faster, and has an automatic Fullscreen mode that works pretty well.

It isnt mind-blowing but it gets the job done. For more on this, do check out our Web Browsing on the Nokia N97 Mini post.

Contacts :

Contacts on the N97 Mini are pretty much your standard affair. Nothing new here really. Here’s a video to show you more about it :

Calender :

The N97 Mini’s S60 v5 OS uses a version of the Eseries Calendar app thats been optimised for touch. All the usual bells and whistles that you’re used to in the Calendar app in S60v3 are in there.

And of course you can change the default Calendar month view to by week, etc :

Make new entries for Meetings, ToDo lists, etc.

And change the main Calendar options.

Like I said, all the usual Bells and Whistles.

Music :

The Music Player application on the N97 Mini is your standard Nokia S60 affair. Nothing new in the software aspect. There’s even an FM radio, Podcasting Client and Sound Recorder if anyone was wondering. No FM Transmitter or Internet radio though, unfortunately.

For more about this, do check out our post on Music on the Nokia N97 Mini.

The Gallery :

The N97 Mini has a separate Image Gallery called “Photos” and a separate video gallery called “Videos and TV”. About freakkin time ?

The Image Gallery sorts your pictures by Captured (by the N97 Mini’s camera), by Months, Albums, Tags, Downloads and Share Online. Curiously absent is an “All” section. Any Images you transfer to the N97 Mini, or get from other friends via Bluetooth, etc are stored in the “Downloads” section.

The Image Gallery though is pretty much the same as the one on the Original N97 and 5800. Images are shown by their thumbnails, in a grid pattern.

This is okay if you have a few images. But anything over 30 Images can be a headache to scroll through. Also, for some weird reason, videos are also shown in the Photo Gallery, in different sections.

So much for that distinction eh ?

The Videos and Tv app contains exclusively your Videos.

You can see your last viewed Video, or play any videos right from where you left off. Pretty neat.

Email :

The N97 Mini comes with Nokia Messaging pre-installed which is SO much better than the old default S60 Client.

For more on this, do check out our Email on the Nokia N97 Mini post.

Office :

The N97 Mini has a bunch of Office-related applications on board. These are pretty much good enough solutions for a person on the move.

The QuickOffice application onboard is only a Trial though, but lets you view various Office files like Word Documents, PPTS, Excel SpreadSheets, etc.

GPS & Compass :

Like most of Nokia’s latest Nseries, the N97 Mini also has built in GPS, and ships with the Ovi Maps Application to use it.

For more on this, do check out our GPS and Compass on the Nokia N97 Mini post.

Worth mentioning though, is that after that post was made, Nokia made Navigation completely free on Ovi Maps, which is the Navigation App that the N97 Mini uses.

Accelerometer and Sensors :

The N97 Mini has a built in accelerometer, and hence has a couple apps that make use of this feature. One such app is built in, under the settings menu, under “Sensor settings”.

Here you can choose whether to auto-rotate the display from portrait to landscape and vice-versa depending on the phone’s orientation.

You can also choose to flip your phone over to silence an incoming call or alarm.

Profiles :

The N97 Mini has the same basic Profiles app as S60 devices before it, like  the N97 and 5800. Thankfully though, the N97 Mini has Timed Profiles too.

Personalizing your Profile and editing it, is basically the same as the 5800.

All sorts of settings and options for Tones and the Haptic feedback vibration levels, etc.

There’s one important little “improvement” in the N97 Mini’s (and on the Original N97) profile list though that I’d like to point out.

Usually when you’d go into profiles and try to select a ringtone, you’d have to wander through waves of songs and ringtones, as the S60 OS would natively list all the music files on your device in a list, instead of separating your ringtones, videotones and Music files.

With that thought in mind, I thought “Gosh navigating through 8 GB of Music and Video files in the profile settings. Darn that would be insane!”.

Luckily though, thats the improvement on the N97 Mini. When you try to select a ringtone from the profiles menu, it takes you to neatly organised folders, through which you can look around for the ringtone or videotone that you wanted.

Much better than searching through a giant list. I hope all S60 V5 and V3 devices get this little “Improvement” in the future.

Conclusion :

[rating:4.5]

Okay so here’s the thing. The N97 Mini is everything the Original N97 should have been, at launch. Barring it’s low-ish ram, it’s really a great piece of hardware.

If you’re wondering which Symbian Touchscreen-with-hardware-Qwerty device to get, we’d definitely recommend the N97 Mini. Dont even think about the Original N97 anymore.

Build quality is pretty great and the device feels premium. The slider’s nice and snappy, the camera’s pretty good too. The touchscreen is good (for a resistive) and the Full Qwerty keyboard’s great to have. Software wise everything’s about what you’d expect from a Symbian S60^5 device. There arnt any flashy transitions, but everything works well and more importantly, is stable. Phone memory isnt a problem now, at about 250Mb. Battery life isnt too bad either.

So what isnt great about the N97 Mini ? Well, there’s still not much ram to play around with. With just 40Mb-ish at launch, you cant really keep too many apps open in the background. It’s definitely not for a “Power User”. Otherwise it’s hard to find much wrong with the N97 Mini really. It’s just a nice little device to have.

So, worth the price ? Definitely. If you’re considering this phone, we wont stop you.

Here’s a video of our Final Verdict on the Nokia N97 Mini :

Remember if you’d like we also have a Full Nokia N97 Mini Review Playlist on our YouTube Channel, and various pictures from our Review on our Flickr Album.

Ye Giant Nokia N97 Mini Review is a post from: UnleashThePhones.com

Here’s a comparison of two such devices. The Nokia N97 Mini and the Nokia E75.

Front View (Slide Closed):

As you can see the N97 Mini and E75 are almost the same size, with the N97 Mini being just a tiny bit larger and wider.

The front view is where you see how different the two devices are. Both devices have a nice Metal lining around the exterior of the form factor.

The E75 run S60 v3 FP2 while the N97 Mini runs S60 V5. They both have their Red and Green calling keys on the front. The E75 has left & right selection keys, and the Dpad on the front along with its shortcut keys, in addition to its Alphanumeric keypad. The N97 Mini has the new slanted Menu button on the front, and is a touch-oriented device, and hence has minimal keys on the front.

Front View (Slider Open) :

Both the E75 and N97 Mini slides out to reveal a Qwerty Keyboard. The Key Orientation is a bit different on both. The N97 Mini however, has its screen propped up at an angle for a better viewing and user experience.

Back View :

While the E75 has a 3.2 Mp standard Nokia Lens at the back with a Single LED Flash, the N97 Mini has a 5MP camera with Carl Zeiss Lens with a Dual LED Flash.

Left View :

The E75 has it’s MicroUSB and MicroSD slots here, both covered with a rubber flap. Thankfully, you can also use the MicroUSB port to charge the E75 via a compatible cable connected to your PC.

The N97 Mini has it’s MicroUSB slot here, and its sliding keypad lock switch. It’s MicroSD slot is under the battery compartment though. The N97 Mini charges via microUSB only.

Top View :

Both the N97 Mini and the E75 have a standard 3.5mm Audio Jack at the top.

The N97 Mini also has it’s power key here.

Right View :

Both devices have their dedicated Camera Buttons here, along with a Zoom in/out (aka Volume Increase/Decrease) Key.

The E75 also has a mute key between the zoom in/out keys.

Bottom View :

The Nokia E75 has it’s charging port and mic port here. It’s worth mentioning that you can also charge via the USB port, using the compatible cable provided in the retail box.

The N97 Mini keeps it tidy, with no ports here at all.

Were you considering an E75 or N97 ? Have any questions about the differences between either device ? Let us know in the comments y’all !

Nokia N97 Mini vs Nokia E75 : Size Comparison Pictures is a post from: UnleashThePhones.com