Nokia N79
The Nokia N79 is the recent addition to Nokia’s N-series range of smartphones. Even though this device looks similar to Nokia’s earlier N-series smartphones like the N78 or N73, Nokia has added a number of new features to N79. The one feature which sets the N79 apart from other high end smartphones is that it is a multimedia powerhouse with full range of multimedia offerings like music player, FM radio with transmitter, high-speed data access, good web browser, preloaded Java games and a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics. This new addition to Nokia’s N-series enables Nokia to consolidate its position in the smartphone space. The price of this fully-loaded multimedia computer is just Rs. 13, 355.
The N79 has lot of connectivity options like GPRS, EDGE, 3G (HSDPA 900 / 2100), Bluetooth, and micro USB. It has a 5 MP rear camera with Carl Zeiss optics. The camera can take pictures with a resolution of 2592 x 1944 pixels. The additional features of the camera are auto-focus, LED flash for night imaging, and digital zoom. The camera can capture videos at 30 frames per second (fps) making it a good alternative to a compact camcorder.There is a secondary VGA camera mounted above the phone’s screen for making video calls. The phone has a standard Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 1200 mAh. The battery of the phone gives a talk time of up to 5 hours 30 min (2G)/5 hours 30 min (3G) and a standby time of up to 372 hours (2G)/305 hours (3G). The phone has good audio and video players which support multiple formats. But, the display size is a big limitation for watching lengthy videos using the phone’s video player.
The N79 has the Symbian S60 as its OS. Being one of most popular mobile OS in the world, lot of apps and games are available for the users of Symbian OS. Apps and games can be downloaded for the N79 from Nokia’s Ovi online store.
The device is powered by the 369 MHz (ARM 11) processor which is pretty fast and can handle all the multimedia features available on the phone with ease. The processor is complemented by 128 MB SDRAM for smoother operation. N79 has an internal memory of 50 MB sufficient for storing all the contacts and calendar entries. The memory of the phone can be extended up to 8 GB using a microSD card for storing photos, and other multimedia files (a 4 GB microSD card comes bundled with the phone).
It has messaging features like SMS, MMS, e-mail, and instant messaging. The WAP 2.0/xHTML browser facilitates accessing mobile sites. Full websites can also be browsed on the phone using the Nokia Browser which comes packed with all the Symbian devices.
It has an inbuilt radio with an FM transmitter just like the N78. With the FM transmitter, the phone can play FM radio without the need for connecting any headphones.
The phone has support for Java which is now becoming a standard feature in N-series phones.
The new N79 is available in canvas white, seal grey, petrol black colors. It is also possible to customize the Nokia N79 using Xpress-on covers. These covers are available in five great colors – Espresso brown, light sea blue, olive green, coral, and red white.
N79 has a candy bar design with dimensions: 110 x 49 x 15 mm. The phone is also very light weight just 97 grams. N79 has a 2.4 inches TFT LCD display which can support up to 16 million colors. The display has a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels which translates into a density of 167 ppi (pixel per inch). The display is good enough to see even in low light conditions. The contrast of the phone is also good enough to see under direct sunlight.The phone has accelerometer which switches between the portrait and landscape modes of the screen automatically. The alphanumeric keypad of N79 is 100 percent flat and a very good improvement over previous N-series phones. Thought not having a touch screen, the N79 has touch-sensitive navi wheel just below the screen for easier navigation. The select button in the middle of the navi wheel has a light beneath it which blinks every few seconds when the phone enters power saving mode showing that the phone is on.
The N79 is a good phone with more pros than cons. Even though the design of the phone is not great. It is possible to change the theme of the phone using the Xpress-on covers. Good multimedia capabilities, lot of connectivity options, and good browser for accessing the internet make this phone a winner. The battery life is good even when working on power hungry 3G networks. But, lack of a bigger screen remains a serious limitation. Overall, this is a good phone for those who are still comfortable with the Symbian OS.