Notice the little countdown on the right? Apparently it’s a countdown for some big Nokia related event this Thursday. We’re not sure what it is, but judging by the invitations going around, there’s a big chance this could be OVI related. Perhaps the rumored OVI store 2.0, including a new OVI store app? How about the announcement of a new device, like the rumored N87? Or that the Nokia will be opening a new manufacturing plant orbiting around the earth? Ok, the chances of that last one are slim, but it could be anything.

In Nokia’s terms, a countdown means something. We’ll see what it is on Thursday.

What do you think it could be?

One of Nokia’s best kept secrets has been released to the world! The N97 is here! Tensions were high yesterday as everyone wondered what Nokia was going to release this week. With no leaks, some even doubted that they were releasing any new devices at Nokia World. I did have a few thoughts of my own, like for example I remember posting at Howard Forums that it could be a “Flagship Nseries with side slide-out QWERTY.” Guess I was right. Thinking about, Scoble’s post “Nokia’s touchiest week” was kind of a giveaway.

With some capable competitors already on the market, it was indeed a crucial announcement for Nokia. As Vaibhav from the Symbian blog puts it: “this is the week that Nokia either shines or moves to the B list of the cell phone market.” And indeed Nokia delivered, by releasing the N97. I can’t help but get the same impression I got when I first got a glimpse of the N95. This thing has *almost* everything I could ask from a flagship device and should give the Nokia the edge it had when the N95 arrived. I have to say almost, because having a Xenon flash and 8 Megapixel (for bragging rights) would have made it perfect in every way. But by now it’s clear that the real reasons why the N97 doesn’t have a Xenon flash and 8 Megapixels is because that’s what the N82′s successor, possibly the device code named “Corolla” will have.

Looking at the design, I don’t see any traces of that plasticky toy-like look I’ve seen from devices like the N95 or N96. Interestingly it  doesn’t only seems to have taken some design cues from the E71 and E90,but just like it’s Eseries siblings, it gives the impression of being extremely solid. How about that keyboard, doesn’t it look like the one found on a certain Internet Tablet device? Some have even mentioned that the N97 has taken some N79 design elements, which seems especially true with the white version. This also might be the very first time I buy a white device, as it just looks sweet in white.

I remember asking for a N810 with phone features, the N97 is probably the closest thing to that so far. I want one and I want one now!

Will you be getting a N97?

Source: Allaboutsymbian

What happens when you take the ultra successful Nokia E71 and offer it at a lower price level? You get the newly released E63 of course!  The E63 joins the 5800 XpressMusic in being  capable devices offered at a reasonably low MSRP. Could it be that Nokia is starting a trend here? High on features, low price? I certainly hope so. Just like the E71, the E63 sports the S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1. At the low 199 Euros you do give up on some of the features.
The E63 is actually thicker and you do lose that metal body found on the E71. Obviously at this price range a few things had to  taken out, these include: the GPS, infrared, Auto focus and HSDPA. The camera is now 2 megapixel instead of the 3.2 Megapixel found on the E71.  On the other you it’s the first Eseries with a 3.5mm audio jack and the flash light can now be used as a torch. The keyboard has reportedly been redesigned.
The Nokia E63 also includes Files on Ovi, a service where people can get remote access to their PC files even when their computer is offline. Anyone buying the handset will have access to 1GB of online file storage for free.

Via: Allaboutsymbian

Nokia’s wannabe flagship device, the N85, is set to launch tomorrow in the UK (Friday, October the 31st), where it will available on all networks, well, except for  Vodafone.  Vodafone users will have to wait until the 1st December. With a feature set rivalling the flagship N96, in a smaller, refined package and truly impressive battery life, it’s something really worth getting exciting about for UK residents.

The N85 is an impressive device, probably one of the best currently available, too bad that even a lesser equipped device such as the Samsung Pixon which is set to launch soon or even the Sony Ericsson Cybershot series have already entered the 8 Megapixel race.