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The Nokia N95 has been out for a few weeks in France and already the sales take off despite a somewhat affordable price. We're here and bought a few impressions after a week of intensive use.

Technical specifications of Nokia N95:

The most striking is of course the integrated GPS chip (we shall return), Wi-Fi integrated a digital camera of 5 megapixel with Carl Zeiss optics and autofocus, flash (red-eye), a mode "Dual-slider" to quickly switch functions for multimedia telephony functions, ...

The list of high-end features is quite impressive but true what does it give?

Multimedia:

1. Photo:
A really surprising given for a smartphone, though far from disastrous view of my Sony Ericsson P910i. The flash is also very effective (even if we regret it is not xenon).
The photos are very beautiful and people have difficulty believing they came from a mobile on this point, Nokia is better than any other camera phones market and also better than many manufacturers of digital camera (the Pictures are often more successful with my Nokia N95 with a camera Sony Cybershot 6 million pixels).

2. The video:
Also bluffing for a smartphone. The Nokia behaves like a digital camcorder midrange (a Micro SD memory card of 1 GB can do more than 30 minutes of video).
A cable media is provided in the box the Nokia N95 to connect it directly to a TV or VCR with 3 RCA plugs (Stereo: red, white and video: yellow). Even large-screen LCD (82 cm) rendering images and video and very convenient.

3. Music:
The Nokia N95 can also serve as MP3 player (note he recognizes the Windows WMA format), the sound is correct with two stereo speakers on either side of the phone that can also simulate surround sound.
A remote control is provided (the connection is necessary to listen to FM radio as it uses antenna) which can connect any headphones.
Regarding the helmet, we expected better from Nokia for a mobile that price (the headset comes with my P910i was much more elegant and efficient) but compatible with any other headphones (jack 3.5 format) can fill this gap.

Format:

Opening the box the Nokia N95 is surprising because the mobile is very compact but remains full of technology (Nokia has really worked hard on miniaturization and it shows).

On the following photos we better reflects the difference between gauge my Sony Ericsson and Nokia.

Autonomy:
This is the point where Nokia was expected with the N95. The least we can say is that the results are mixed.
Given my heavy use of mobile since I received it, refills were relatively frequent (four times in one week). But for a more moderate we can expect 6 hours of talk time and about 3 days standby (which is after all in the average).
I was not used to recharge so often with the P910i but it must be said that Sony Ericsson smartphones are truly exemplary in terms of autonomy.
Regarding the batteries, fitted to the N95 and the Nokia 950 mAh BL-5F, which are the most powerful Nokia (to my knowledge). At Sony Ericsson, it has a more powerful battery (Li-Po 1000 mAh).

Connectivity:
The least we can say is that connectedness is complete on the Nokia N95, because the device has Bluetooth 2.0, infrared, the trio GPRS/EDGE/3G but also and especially that WI-FI is very simple to configure (even for hotspots as a secure home or workplace).
A no-fault on this point in my opinion.

GPS:
Here the novelty of the N95. Indeed, at present, only 2 or 3 phones are equipped with an integrated GPS chip but other models with this feature are far from equaling the performance of N95 in the field of multimedia (particularly in terms of quality camera) and its "all in one."
Most current smartphones are capable of running software GPS module connected to a Bluetooth antenna, but the whole point is to now do without this additional equipment.
I have done extensive testing of GPS navigation with the N95 and the least we can say is that I once fooled.
The downside of the GPS chip is at the level of FIX (the fix is the time it takes for the camera to capture its first satellite) that can take 30 seconds (correct) at 5 minutes (rather long).
However, once the fix is made, it is very rare that the location "wins". Everything then depends on the software used for navigation because some are more successful than others. I tested four GPS navigation software and here are some impressions:

1. The software with subscription:

- The software "card" built into the N95 is very well designed but requires a subscription to receive the voice navigation. That is, if one has good geolocation in real time and guidance during a trip, you must pay extra to "hear" this navigation. Rather unpleasant and risky when driving to always have to look at his GPS. Nokia has planned several subscription for the occasion. For a mobile that price, it is still sad to see that Nokia still benefits to pay extra despite the costs of moving, it was hoped better ...

- The program "Navigation" Orange is preinstalled on the mobile when you get the terminal through Orange (you can also download it Orange.fr). It is a derivative of software Smart2Go.
Navigation is intuitive and well thought out but as for "maps" of Nokia if you want to use it beyond the first 30 days provided, must bring the hands to the portfolio.
In the case of "navigation" must buy an additional option on your package Orange (GPS option for 10 € / month) for the benefit of unlimited GPS. Both say that because of this software it loses much of its appeal (he also was quickly uninstalled from my terminal to make room for other more useful applications ...).

2. The separate solutions:

- TOMTOM Mobile 6.02: my favorite, it works really well, lots of tuning options, easy addition of speed cameras. Big failure, however, the software does not recognize the GPS chip integrated N95 (an update TOMTOM certainly fill this gap in the coming weeks) as it is obliged to carry a Bluetooth GPS module further damage ... .

- Route 66 Mobile 7: my final choice yet because the latest versions of software that allow recognition of the chip integrated N95 (there are many tutorials on the Net to do this and I will not dwell here above) .
The big advantage of Route 66 is the speed with which it calculates your routes and most importantly, you have direct access to contacts stored in your phone's interface software (no need to search address, it indicates a contact and is planning direct route to his address.
Another good point is the time of FIX (see above), which seemed much faster than other software solutions.
Its flaw is its severe lack of options (including the creation of new POI) that do not allow the set cleverly in my opinion.

Here were my impressions after a week of using the Nokia N95. I did not push further details (menu navigation, ...) as many other tests of the Nokia N95 do much better than me on the Net (see the articles proposed in the "Links" below ).

Useful links:
- Pages dedicated to the N95 on Nokia site
- Presentation on the N95 Clubic.com
- Testing the Nokia N95 on belgiquemobile.be
- A beautiful gallery of photos of the Nokia N95

If you have any questions about the Nokia N95, thank you to pose in "Mobile phones" in our forum.

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