Aussies love a good stoush, and from the response to our previous Apple/Nokia face-off, the battle for Australian mobile supremacy is far from decided.
Apple recently announced that the 4GB and 8GB versions of the iPhone, released in the US and Europe, would be superseded by 8GB and 16GB models. Not to be outdone, Nokia hits back with 16GB of storage in the N96, and MicroSD expansion that will support up to 8GB. If Apple put a 3G chipset in the iPhone before releasing it in Australia we'll have a real fight on our hands.
That's not to say the N96 is a clear front-runner, and it's not just a matter of style over substance. The iPhone's 620MHz processing speed is significantly faster than most smartphones on the market to date, and is nearly twice as fast as the N95's 330Mhz. Also, the N95 had terrible battery life, and while we're hoping this improves in the newer model, we won't be holding our breath.
The details for both phones, particularly their prices, may change before we see them in stores.
We'd love to say that we're doing this comparison because Apple have announced a date to release the iPhone in Australia, but as you probably know, Apple is playing its cards very close to its chest. Thankfully, Nokia have been a little more forthcoming, and we're still expecting a release of the N96 in Q3 of this year.
We'd like to hear your thoughts on the iPhone versus the competition. Leave your comments below or jump on the forums and let us know what you think.
If the Touch is the player that you want, that you really, really want, you've probably got one already. Fence-sitters should stay there until next year when third-party apps or version 2.0 comes out.
DVB-H isn't expected in Australia for years. There is no spectrum allocated, no licences have been issued, there isn't even a regulatory framework for it yet. Why give an extra tick to the iphone?
You gave itunes a tick and Nokia Media the thumb down but the n95/6 can play MP3, WMA, RealAudio, SP-MIDI, AAC+, eAAC+, MIDI, AMR, M4A and True Tones whereas iphone can only support MP3, AIFF, WAV, MPEG-4, AAC. Windows itunes can convert wma but not the drm protected type you get from Bigpond's music library. Plus with third party support there are many free codecs you can get so I'd say Nokia is the winner on this.
The iphone lacks Microsoft Exchange server synchronisation. Office email attachments anyone? Who uses yahoo mail anyway? Most emails read well in text, it's generally spam and annoying borders that use HTML. I'd say the Nokia wins on emails.
Proximity sensor is only necessary when you have a touch screen so your face doesn't hang up on the call. I wouldn't say it's a feature that you can compare and award a point.
Do people use really use flickr?
I don't think the iphone will be locked to a carrier in Australia because of our competition laws.
You didn't compare SIZE. I've spoken to some people who have held the iphone and they said it's too big for their pockets. I would probably carry it or put it in a bag but it's still a valid comparison point, the thing is huge.
It seems when an Apple Product is compared its always in the best of light as with others its clinical in the result. Easily the Nokia kicks the iPhone in alot of area's. So why not state it!
There's no comparison, they are two different classes of phone (seen in the price difference). N96 is a much better device to have in your pocket than the iPhone.
Combine these two phones with the best features and you got a winner. For me the I phone lack of things like stereo bluetooth for headphones, 2mp camera, DRM restriction with music type files just isnt good enough and frankly overated. Sure it looks great, the browser is awesome but after a week who cares! The N96 is the superior product here.
In my opinion the iPhone is the better phone here. Personally I expected better from Nokia when it comes to battery power, 2.5 hours of call time is frankly not enough from a phone manufacturer that has been in the business for so long and is aware of the consumers needs. I can accept that the iPhone is a letdown when it comes to its camera. The 2 megapixels and no flash are no match for the nokia’s 5 megapixels. It is obviously beaten by the nokia here. Overall however the iPhone is definitely the winner for me, longer battery life, both call time and music playback make it more suitable for long days out.
Well, for me and for the all out there iPhone stands nowhere if it even comes to mess with n-series! listen people, iPhone - who wants a phone that only has a touchscreen and not even enabled for video recording with the 2MP camera with in itself! No need of comparing N96 and that piece of plastic so-called iPhone! Go for Nokia if you want to get all the features that ease of use for our daily routine! Go for NOKIA!!
Well, for me and for the all out there iPhone stands nowhere if it even comes to mess with n-series! listen people, iPhone - who wants a phone that only has a touchscreen and not even enabled for video recording with the 2MP camera with in itself! No need of comparing N96 and that piece of plastic so-called iPhone! Go for Nokia if you want to get all the features that ease of use for our daily routine! Go for NOKIA!!
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james c
04/03/2008 09:34 AM
The iPhone can actually output video to TV, FYI. The cable to do it is an extra accessory you have to buy, though.
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Person
05/03/2008 01:57 PM
DVB-H isn't expected in Australia for years. There is no spectrum allocated, no licences have been issued, there isn't even a regulatory framework for it yet. Why give an extra tick to the iphone? You gave itunes a tick and Nokia Media the thumb down but the n95/6 can play MP3, WMA, RealAudio, SP-MIDI, AAC+, eAAC+, MIDI, AMR, M4A and True Tones whereas iphone can only support MP3, AIFF, WAV, MPEG-4, AAC. Windows itunes can convert wma but not the drm protected type you get from Bigpond's music library. Plus with third party support there are many free codecs you can get so I'd say Nokia is the winner on this. The iphone lacks Microsoft Exchange server synchronisation. Office email attachments anyone? Who uses yahoo mail anyway? Most emails read well in text, it's generally spam and annoying borders that use HTML. I'd say the Nokia wins on emails. Proximity sensor is only necessary when you have a touch screen so your face doesn't hang up on the call. I wouldn't say it's a feature that you can compare and award a point. Do people use really use flickr? I don't think the iphone will be locked to a carrier in Australia because of our competition laws. You didn't compare SIZE. I've spoken to some people who have held the iphone and they said it's too big for their pockets. I would probably carry it or put it in a bag but it's still a valid comparison point, the thing is huge.
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kelly n
06/03/2008 02:06 PM
It seems when an Apple Product is compared its always in the best of light as with others its clinical in the result. Easily the Nokia kicks the iPhone in alot of area's. So why not state it!
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themanis
10/03/2008 04:57 PM
Another Nokia bites the Dust!! iPhone is still young!!
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Smithy
12/03/2008 11:34 PM
Mac OS and iTunes are counted as benefits on the iphone? lol! I'm not too sure Youtube or similar sites would be pleasant at dial-like speeds.
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sunil baravkar
16/03/2008 10:40 PM
n96 is better than the iphone
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John
18/03/2008 10:53 AM
There's no comparison, they are two different classes of phone (seen in the price difference). N96 is a much better device to have in your pocket than the iPhone.
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Ein
29/03/2008 02:51 PM
i-phone sux ........the n96 is defnitely a better gadget
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BrockLanders
23/04/2008 07:25 PM
Combine these two phones with the best features and you got a winner. For me the I phone lack of things like stereo bluetooth for headphones, 2mp camera, DRM restriction with music type files just isnt good enough and frankly overated. Sure it looks great, the browser is awesome but after a week who cares! The N96 is the superior product here.
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Antonios Fiala
26/04/2008 06:15 AM
In my opinion the iPhone is the better phone here. Personally I expected better from Nokia when it comes to battery power, 2.5 hours of call time is frankly not enough from a phone manufacturer that has been in the business for so long and is aware of the consumers needs. I can accept that the iPhone is a letdown when it comes to its camera. The 2 megapixels and no flash are no match for the nokia’s 5 megapixels. It is obviously beaten by the nokia here. Overall however the iPhone is definitely the winner for me, longer battery life, both call time and music playback make it more suitable for long days out.
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George Nike
01/05/2008 04:51 AM
iphone is the best
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Pavlos Nicolaou
02/05/2008 06:09 PM
iphone is flat and is easy to move it in your pocket! the battery is better than n96. so the i phone is the best!!!!!!
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NOKIA
13/05/2008 10:56 AM
Well, for me and for the all out there iPhone stands nowhere if it even comes to mess with n-series! listen people, iPhone - who wants a phone that only has a touchscreen and not even enabled for video recording with the 2MP camera with in itself! No need of comparing N96 and that piece of plastic so-called iPhone! Go for Nokia if you want to get all the features that ease of use for our daily routine! Go for NOKIA!!
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NOKIA
13/05/2008 10:58 AM
Well, for me and for the all out there iPhone stands nowhere if it even comes to mess with n-series! listen people, iPhone - who wants a phone that only has a touchscreen and not even enabled for video recording with the 2MP camera with in itself! No need of comparing N96 and that piece of plastic so-called iPhone! Go for Nokia if you want to get all the features that ease of use for our daily routine! Go for NOKIA!!
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