Nokia N97 testing notes.

Day 1.

Nokia N97 arrived, enclosed in a nice black box suggesting this is the finished deal. First impressions are very positive: it looks good, is reassuringly weighty but not too heavy, and has a satisfying solidity to the hinge that transforms it from iPhone-style touchscreen phone to QWERTY-toting micro-laptop. Keyboard lacks numbers, which is a little annoying, but otherwise reminds me of the new Apple keyboards – not a lot of travel, but very easy to use.

I’m a big Nokia fan, but of late I’ve been overcome by a sense of disappointment that their handsets are still not matching up to the iPhone. But I’m glad to report this sense of ennui doesn’t strike with the N97. Like previous Nokias, it has iPhone-busting features – such as a 5MP camera, turn-by-turn sat nav and a built-in keyboard. But the N97 also feels right, in a way its forebears simply didn’t. It’s responsive and fun to use. Within 15 minutes of opening the box I’d already set up not personal email and corporate Exchange account. Without even plugging it into a computer, I have my diary, contacts and email ready to go. So no worrying about the lack of Mac software in the box.

The first small disappointment is the web browser. Despite being based on the same webkit foundations as Apple’s Safari, it doesn’t make a very good job of rendering the Stuff.tv site. In fact, it’s all-round ugly. I quickly install Opera Mini, which is faster but even less fun to use. So I give Nokia’s browser a second chance, and reluctantly admit that it’s not so bad. But it lacks the iPhone’s pizzazz.

Second disappointment is Ovi, Nokia’s iTunes App Store rival. As has been widely reported, Ovi has been struggling since last week’s launch – but I’m surprised it’s still not working when I try to download a free Star Trek ringtone (it was top of the list! Honest!). Eventually I give up and wait til I get home from the office. Late at night, it works fine – but there’s a severe paucity of apps available right now (most of the ones that are available are already pre-installed). And BBC iPlayer, which was pre-installed on the N96, is nowhere to be seen. So I hunt it out over at bbc.co.uk, but the N96 version refuses to install. Perhaps I’m jumping the gun – after all , the N97 isn’t due out until June 19.

On my way home from work I strap the N97 to my handlebars and use Nokia Maps to track my route. Unlike the iPhone (at least until next week), the N97 allows you to use 3D maps with turn-by-turn navigation – but I don’t try this, instead trying (and failing) just to get a 3D position that alters itself depending on my orientation. I’ll give this another try tomorrow. Frutstratingly, Nokia Maps offers car and foot directions, but no bike directions. Hardlly surprising, I guess, but it’d be nice if Nokia matched the cute ‘unplug your charger’  eco message with some pro-cycling appaganda.

Despite a few reservations, the overall first-day impressions of the Nokia N97 are very positive. I like the design, even if it’s a tad thicker than most rivals. Messaging and facebook work well, and I’ve only scratched the surface of the features. Plus the reception is better than the iPhone. Worried about battery life, though.

Tomorrow, some proper head-to-head testing with the undisputed king of smratphones, Apple’s iPhone 3G.

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