Will the N85 be a worthy contender to the N96?

As we know, the N85 is launching in UK tomorrow. There’s been a lot of discussion in blogs and forums, of whether the new phone is better than the one you have. We’ve even created a poll at the N96 forum to see what members think.

Both phones have the same camera, the N85 has a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and dual LED flash just like the N96, the form factor is the same, but the N85 doesn’t have 16GB internal memory. The N85 has a much better display, even though it is 0.2″ smaller.

The N96’s navi-wheel has been deactivated by Nokia for the meanwhile, but it should work on the N85. The latter has a better processor, ARM 11 369 MHz processor, than the N96, Dual ARM 9 264 MHz CPU, when it comes to speed, but the fact that the N96 has a dual CPU should mean that it will handle graphics intensive applications much better.

The N85 also has an FM transmitter, which the N96 doesn’t have.

The N96 has been getting a lot of complaints at the forum and in the comments section. Nokia hasn’t learned to not release phones with large number of bugs, we just hope it doesn’t do the same with the N85.

We will soon publish a live hands-on comparison between the N85 and N96 at PhoneReport, that we managed to capture at the Symbian Smartphones Show 2008.

Optical zoom on a Nokia N96

An optical zoom module has been finally fabricated for the Nokia N96.

The device enables 6x zoom, but you must turn off flash so that it doesn’t affect the telescope. The design has apparently improved:

The new design to run of rays can effectively avoid the contortion of image, and makes the super wide angle, the larger luminous flux, the higher visual acuteness, good for color reduction, which makes the high quality of photography.

You just have to install a back cover, attach the telescope, and you’re ready to go.

It’s available at 17US$ at Brando.

[via JAMP blog]

Get a free application for just reviewing it

Handango gave us 20 voucher codes that allow us to download and licence 20 applications. The only condition is that we have to review the application.

I’m sure our readers must be keen in getting their hands-on their most-wanted application. All it takes is few paragraphs on your opinion. Feel free to say anything that goes in your heart from A to Z.

Are you interested? What application do you want to review? If you don’t have a N96, what phone do you have? Answer those three questions, and I’ll send you an application your way!

What to do once you buy a Nokia N96? Step-by-step N96 guide!

Forum member kraftman has posted an article on how to set-up your new Nokia N96 to its full potential.

Our member emphasizes that you must update your N96 to the latest version, enable geotagging, change messaging memory to memory card, enable transitions and auto-rotation, and also turn both loudness and stereo widening for music. Here is the article:

1 Get the latest firmware release:

a. Install the nokia apps from the CD, DO NOT UPDATE THEM FROM THE INTERNET - some people have
reported that NSS only works with the older usb drivers, this was true in my case but may not be for others. If you have any problems the older usb drivers are pretty easy to find with a quick google.

b. Download Nokia Service Suite (NSS) from Here, run the installer (click next to all the defaults, unless you want it installed in a different place.)

c. Find a product code for an unlocked phone from the net (there is a thread full of them Here.

d. Plug your phone into the usb, select PC Suite mode.

e. Open up NSS, select ‘Scan for new device > Phone Info > Read’ This will give you your current
product code

f. Insert your new-found product code into the produst code box, and tick enable, then write. It should
only take a few seconds, and then if you click read again it will show your new product code.

g. You can now update any of the nokia software from the internet if you want to, open up Nokia Software Updater, make sure your phone has enough battery, and run through the updating process.

2 Go to menu > tools > settings > general > personalistaion > display > turn auto rotate on

- this basically enables the token iphone feature that everyone seems to love.

3 Go to menu > tools > settings > general > personalistaion > themes > general > options > theme effects and change it to on

-makes the auto rotate transitions much nicer, and the menu a bit snazzier

4. In the music player go to options > audio settings and turn on both loudness and stereo widening.

5. Messages>options>settings> other. most people will want to change the number of saved messages, and possibly the memory used.

6. Camera > options > settings > record location ‘on’ - this is down to preference really but most dont
realise its off by default.

If you have any problems or questions, visit the N96 Known issues thread, and if your problem isn’t there, post it on the N96 forums and we will help you to solve it.

Moderators needed!

The Nokia N96 forum is growing rapidly, and we will need new moderators soon.

Moderators will get mobile phones to review, have special permissions on the forum and blog,  receive event invitations such as launch events and press conferences, have emaill accounts @nokian96.net, as well as ability to post on the Nokia N96 Blog and perhaps even PhoneReport, so it’s a lot of candy.

I was thinking of launching a competition, please tell me what do you guys think, and what kind of competition we should launch.

Refer to this thread for more information, and please post your suggestions and discuss there.

Have fun!