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By Damian Koh
Dec 13, 2007

The Nokia N95 (8GB) is to the N95 what the HTC TyTN II is to the Dopod 838 Pro. We're not making a direct comparison here, but the similarity lies in the fact that both successors have big boots to fill. There is no need for us to pore through every detail of the N95 (8GB) since our review of the N95 has covered most of the features. So we'll just highlight some of the important changes that could help you decide if this new iteration is worth buying over the original N95.

What has changed?

First up is the omission of an expansion card slot. This is notably the biggest and most significant change on the 8GB model, and for some people it could be a make or break feature. Although the N95 now comes with 8GB of onboard flash memory, the convenience of swapping memory cards is no longer available. To this end, we feel it is a matter of personal choice that only the user will know best.

The slightly heavier (by 8g) 8GB N95 feels relatively more solid and well-built than its predecessor. The two plates of this slider are less prone to shifting, which was one of the annoying aspects of the earlier N95.

Size-wise, the 8GB version is marginally thinner than the original N95 though most users wouldn't notice it. The reason for this is the missing mechanical lens cover on the upgraded model. So for that insignificant trimming, we have a lens element that's exposed to dust, dirt, possible scratches when the phone is in the pocket with other items and, most irritating of all, fingerprint smudges. On the bright side, this newer model is capable of sitting on its side without any support, so you can place it on firm ground, and use the timer on the camera to minimize camera-shake during long exposures.

Besides the piano black finish on the front fascia and the larger 2.8-inch QVGA LCD, which is now more flush with the surface, the softkeys also underwent some retrofitting. The buttons are slightly smaller, though we don't find them any more difficult to use. One of the more unique features of the original N95 is its two-way sliding mechanism which hides the media playback keys when not in use. The company did some improvements there as well. Instead of a flat column, the buttons are now raised, providing more tactile feedback.

Nokia has also removed the shortcut carousel (though, not totally) that comes up every time we slide the phone to access the multimedia keys. The screen changes to landscape orientation when we do that, but doesn't switch back automatically when the phone is closed, and that's annoying. The carousel now exists in the form of cascading tiles. These double as shortcuts to Music, Videos, Gallery, Games, Contacts, Internet and Maps, and some of these can be customized to display frequently accessed items.

In terms of software, the N-Gage platform and music download service are preinstalled on the smart phone, although the latter is still not available outside of UK, yet. The N-Gage application is still also in the preview stage, so there are only two game demos (FIFA 07 and Asphalt 3) available on our review set. Until these services are rolled out in our region, these programs remain limited in their capabilities.

The fourth version of the Mobile Search program has also improved significantly. Suggested results are shown once you start typing. What's disappointing, however, is that the Ouickoffice application on our set is a read-only copy; to use the full version, we would need to pay extra.

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