vB Easy Archive - Help! Can't Decide, N95-3 or Jailbroken iPhone

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Help! Can't Decide, N95-3 or Jailbroken iPhone
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Posted by: rjneese

I've been going over this for weeks and I'm buying a new phone on Wednesday and can not decide which to get!

Posted by: Kolt Seavers

I would go with the N95-3. You don't have to worry about jailbreaking the iPhone every time an update is released. Just my opinion..l

Posted by: JonnyBruha

Even if you jailbreak an iPhone, it doesn't give you GPS, 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, video recording, or 3G. The only reason you should get the iPhone is if you're replacing your RAZR and won't be needing those higher end features.

Posted by: Kichigai

Nokia N95-3
Pros:

HSDPA @ 1900 MHz (~3.6 MbPS)
A-GPS
Existing library of applications (including free ones)
WiFi
Bluetooth (with A2DP)
Physical keypad
Wide spectrum of compatible audio and video codecs
Expandable capacity via microSD
VoIP
Robust web browser based on WebKit
5 Megapixel Carl Zeiss-lens'd digital camera
Records video
Supports MMS
You can connect a Bluetooth Keyboard (or Wiimote) to it
Can view some YouTube videos with Flash Lite 3
Available Unlocked (will work on any GSM network, worldwide)

Cons:

No touch screen
Low battery life
Maximum internal capacity of 4GB (or 8GB)
3G will not work overseas

iPhone
Pros:

Synchronizes with iTunes (good for podcasting)
Robust web browser based on WebKit
High quality touch screen
WiFi
EDGE
Bluetooth
Video out
Maximum capacity of 16 GB
Built-in YouTube client

Cons:

No A2DP
Not available unlocked in the US
No 3G
Lower quality camera
No video recording
No MMS
Storage not expandable

To me, the N95-3 is a better choice. But it all depends on what features are important to you. And remember: they both have web browsers based on the same code, and will deliver similar experiences on teh tubez.

Posted by: JonnyBruha

I don't mean to be rude by correcting your list, but the N95 supports TV out as well, but it also comes with the cable inside the box.

Posted by: bachviet

N95 (except the 8GB versions) will support up to 32GB microSDHC card. Only 8GB card is available at this moment but 12GB and 16GB cards should be available soon.

Posted by: Kichigai

Ahh, my bad. I don't actually own an N95 (wish I did), so I didn't know. Thanks!

Posted by: break-r

N95-3 hands down
I wouldnt even consider getting an iphone
Only if all other manufacturers magically disappeared and the iphone was the only other option.

THEN MAYBE

Posted by: rjneese

Have any of you N95 owners owned an iphone?

Also, a specific question: I'm a huge user of Google Reader and I know it translates really well over to the iPhone, are there any N95 users who use google reader and have any input on the experience on the N95? If I had to I could switch to another RSS reader that has a good mobile version, but Google Reader is just really convienent for me.

I'm leaning towards the N95-3, its just hard to resist that OSX UI and the full qwerty, even if it is touch screen only. But overall, I think the N95-3 would be a much more productive device, even if its not as much fun to use, plus tethering it with my laptop via bluetooth would be awesome.

Posted by: TechnoCat

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjneese

I've been going over this for weeks and I'm buying a new phone on Wednesday and can not decide which to get!

Just a little bit more data would be helpful. I bought my wife an iPhone a few months ago. No high-end Nokias in the house right now, but here are some comparisons.

The iPhone has pretty good music sound quality. Much better than any Nokia I've ever heard
The iPhone has more music accessories - e.g. FM transmitters.
The iPhone essentially accepts normal headphones and can therefore be used with computer speakers and hotel docks too. (I say "essentially" because the port is a bit pickier than on our other several iPods.)
The iPhone works with the iTunes store, which is a huge advantage for podcasts, music, etc. (Though Amazon is shrinking this gap.)
The Nokia can run several J2ME apps at once. As far as I can tell, we can't run any on the iPhone.
No high-speed data transfer on the iPhone.
No hard-buttons (except for "up") on the iPhone, which I personally find very annoying.
The iPhone syncs with the Mac extremely well. The Nokia may, but my V3xx sure doesn't.

I'm looking at upgrading from my V3xx (which I've been pretty happy with), and the iPhone isn't even in contention due to the lack of keys and the slower speed.

Posted by: jules

I had both and ended up selling the N95-3 because I use the iPod and browser/email features most.
The Nokia N95-3 is a great phone, highly recommended but for me it was the iPhone...I love the interface, all the features are rock solid...and I still have my E61i if I get nostalgic for Symbian S60.

I don't use sms or mms much at all, I don't need GPS...if you DO you would prefer the Nokia I'm sure.

Posted by: phuviano

I'd go for the N95-3 hands down. Overall its a way better phone than the iphone. The iphone is neat, and different because of its touch screen, and its from apple of course. My brother owns an iphone, and I can't even transfer files over bluetooth with my Macbook Pro. It only supports headset profiles. The iphone is an decent phone, but by no means is it up to par with an N95.

Btw, I only buy and use apple laptops, so I'm not anti-apple. I actually love apple products, and have plenty of them. However, one of them will never be an iphone.

For me to even consider the iphone. Apple would have to add GPS, Bluetooth (that works with file transfers), A2DP, and a better camera. I'm not sure what features you are looking for in a phone, but get the phone which has the features that appeal to you. It may be the iphone, or it may not. As a phone, the N95-3 is the better phone.

Posted by: break-r

^Very good point
The inability to transfer files via bluetooth is a big factor

Posted by: rjneese

i should mention that i would not be using my phone for music, as i already have an 80gb ipod classic. 8 gigs is definitely not enough music storage for me anyways. but yeah, sounds like the n95-3 is probably gonna be the winner.

Posted by: break-r

Guaranteed you will not be disappointed.
If you are, you can kick jonnybruha in the nutsos

Posted by: JonnyBruha

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechnoCat

The iPhone has pretty good music sound quality. Much better than any Nokia I've ever heard
The iPhone has more music accessories - e.g. FM transmitters.
The iPhone essentially accepts normal headphones and can therefore be used with computer speakers and hotel docks too. (I say "essentially" because the port is a bit pickier than on our other several iPods.)
The iPhone works with the iTunes store, which is a huge advantage for podcasts, music, etc. (Though Amazon is shrinking this gap.)
The Nokia can run several J2ME apps at once. As far as I can tell, we can't run any on the iPhone.
No high-speed data transfer on the iPhone.
No hard-buttons (except for "up") on the iPhone, which I personally find very annoying.
The iPhone syncs with the Mac extremely well. The Nokia may, but my V3xx sure doesn't.

Let me add a couple things to go along with your list. I have used both extensively, I've just never given Apply any of my money for one.

-I agree that the iPhone has better sound quality through the headphone jack, which is most important. The speaker on the other hand (for either calls or music) leaves something to be desired.

-The iPhone will of course always have more accessories. I can't walk into a gas station without finding jackets for various iPods in general. A generic FM transmitter will work with any phone with a 3.5mm headphone jack too (such as any of the newer Nseries).

-On the contrary, the iPhone does NOT use a normal 3.5mm headphone jack out of the box. It requires an adapter because the port is recessed, which will run you anywhere between $5-15 depending on where you get it. All of the N95's have standard 3.5mm headphone jacks and I haven't had a 3.5mm plug didn't work yet.

-My comment about the music store is hit or miss depending on which side of the fence you're on about downloading music. iTunes integration is awesome, but there's an app for S60 called Symella that will do the same thing...except it doesn't charge you $0.99/song. As for podcasts, Nokia has their own app for that as well which I've heard (never used myself) works exceptionally well.

If you really start breaking down the feature list between the two devices (aside from all of the larger features like the camera, GPS, etc.,), the N95-3 has a countless number of other advantages. They're all little things that you'd have to start to use to really notice, but when they're not there, you definitely notice that they're gone. That's the main reason I've never bought one for myself. For some people, the iPhone better fits their lifestyle, and I certainly wouldn't call it overpriced for what it does now, but it shouldn't be compared with high-end feature phones. The iPhone was never meant to be an all-in-one like the N95 is.

Posted by: JonnyBruha

Quote:

Originally Posted by break-r

Guaranteed you will not be disappointed.
If you are, you can kick jonnybruha in the nutsos

...No he can't!

Posted by: Kichigai

I've just parsed this down to the points I can speak on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechnoCat

The iPhone works with the iTunes store, which is a huge advantage for podcasts, music, etc. (Though Amazon is shrinking this gap.)

Amazon has more DRM-free music than iTunes, and all their songs are 256 KbPS VBR, as opposed to iTunes' 128 KbPS CBR AAC. Also, iTunes has NOTHING to do directly with podcasts. Apple does not distribute them, they have no monopoly, all they do is store an index of podcasts and download them. There's a lot of other ways to get your podcasts and to find them. Believe it or not, Nokia actually has a "podcatcher" for S60. The iPhone only has the iTunes Store (no podcasts) and I believe it only functions over WiFi, not EDGE (having used AT&T EDGE, you wouldn't want to).
(Disclaimer: I do run an iBook, I love my iPod, I can't imagine using anything else for podcasts and music playback, but there are some big misconceptions).

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechnoCat

The iPhone syncs with the Mac extremely well. The Nokia may, but my V3xx sure doesn't.

The Nokia N95 apparently plays well, according to Leo Laporte, with Mac OS X. Nokia even has a Multimedia Transfer app for OS X. They're very Mac friendly these days. All S60 devices ought to work with iSync.

Posted by: TechnoCat

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonnyBruha

Let me add a couple things to go along with your list. I have used both extensively, I've just never given Apply any of my money for one.

-On the contrary, the iPhone does NOT use a normal 3.5mm headphone jack out of the box. It requires an adapter because the port is recessed, which will run you anywhere between $5-15 depending on where you get it. All of the N95's have standard 3.5mm headphone jacks and I haven't had a 3.5mm plug didn't work yet.

I did mention that the port is a bit pickier. I was ready to write that it's not that bad - since it works with most of what we throw at it - but I decided to do a random test. Grabbed the first two 3.5mm's in sight - a Radio Shack gold-series connector to my computer speaker system, and a mid-range ($75) Sony headphone. Neither one worked. So I guess we've just been lucky; that recessed headphone jack could be a real pain. Just hasn't been for us.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kichigai

Amazon has more DRM-free music than iTunes, and all their songs are 256 KbPS VBR, as opposed to iTunes' 128 KbPS CBR AAC.

Enthusiasts (like you and I) easily get out of touch with what actual flesh-and-blood humans do. I'm pretty hard-core tech and largely agree with your sentiments, but I also support my parents and sisters' efforts to use technology without worshipping it. Most people care more about the convenience and the fact that the music automatically goes where it should when they use iTunes than they do about DRM. I did mention the Amazon alternative, but in the real world the fact that iTunes is friendly and puts the music where it should go (in their mind) is what matters. (Amazon does this decently, but not quite as well.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kichigai

Also, iTunes has NOTHING to do directly with podcasts.

Real-world clue-bat time.

iTunes is far and away the most popular RSS aggregator. People don't care where the podcasts come from. At all. And believe it or not, other sources like Podcast Alley (which I quite like) has essentially no market share or penetration compared to iTunes. iTunes is just very easy to use. Even though I've played with many and had many media players before my first iPod, I prefer iTunes over all of them.

So whether the Nokia can do it isn't as much the point as is the goal of the phone. If he wants it to be an iPod, an iPod might be the better unit. (And even if not, it might be; it is for my wife. On the other hand, I have zero interest in using an iPhone even compared to my V3xx.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kichigai

That's very good news, since Jonny put the upcoming N95 8MB NA on my very short list and I use Mac and PC approximately equally. (This is being typed on a quad-core 2.6GHz dual-monitor NVidia GEForce 8800 Ultra system, while my elbow is against my 45-day old MacBook (with Parallels running XP Pro) and my wife's iMac 24" in the background prepares to render ("compress") our latest Final Cut Pro output for a podcast.) Multi-platform is good.

Posted by: RogerPodacter

just a few comments. the n95 has a standard headphone jack which works with any headphone or 3.5mm jack out there. i believe the iphone needs an adapter. and i listen to podcasts daily, downloaded over 3G, on the n95.

so obvioulsy i vote for the n95-3 all the way. its more of a workhorse power user phone. it can do pretty much anything a computer can do, literally, with the hundreds of apps available for it. if you want your phone to do a certain function, there is an app that will do it. but the iphone is an awesome device for browsing the web with safari and its huge screen. n95's browser is good too, and actually has more features like saving files from a website, images, etc but the iphone just looks great and safari is quick. now with EDGE only it might be slow. i'm not a fan of all-touch-screen phones as i need the physical feedback of buttons to use the phone one-handed while driving and holding a beer in the other hand. plus i have garmin running on my n95 which works great. plus the camera, etc. so anyway, iphone is less features with great browser. n95 has any feature you could want, but not as pretty and smaller screen.

oh about the RSS, i love google RSS. i mostly use the n95 built in browser RSS and its good too.

Posted by: rjneese

just to clarify the headphone issue with the iphone. you dont have to use the crappy ones apple supplies or necessarily get an adapter. v-moda's vibes (which i already have) will work with the iphone jack with no adapter.

but anyways, ive made my decision to go with the n95 and will probably pick up an iphone when the 3G version comes out hopefully this june/july.

Posted by: jyng

If you are looking for a feature laden phone, then for sure get the n95. I have recently joined the nseries family with an n82, and I have been blown away. However if you are looking for a phone that just covers a few bases but performs those functions well (ie music) then go for the iphone.

I have never owned an iphone, so take my opinion for what it is.

Posted by: rjneese

k, so I'm ordering my N95-3 today but I was looking for some input on the best place to buy it from. Right now, I'm thinking TigerDirect, but I was also considering Dell and Amazon. But I don't really trust Amazon because some people have reportedly gotten the N95-1 instead. Any recommendations on which store to buy from?

Posted by: JonnyBruha

Buy.com has the best price right now for the real deal.
http://www.buy.com/prod/nokia-n95-u.../205814244.html

Posted by: rjneese

ordered the N95-3 and a crucial 2GB microsd card from buy.com. like 548.00 total with next day shipping. not bad at all. also ordered an invisible shield because i'm not big on carrying my phones in a case. thanks for the help deciding guys. you'll probably see me soon in the s60 forums asking for a list of the best apps.

Posted by: JonnyBruha

No need to ask. There's a sticky and a quick search will yield the results of S60 newbs who have already done the same.

I don't remember if it came up in this thread, but did you know the N95-3 supports memory cards larger than 2gb? You could put a 6 or 8gb in it now, and eventually a 32gb when it comes out.

Posted by: bigb252

So, what did you get?

Posted by: bachviet

He stated that he got a N95-3 with a 2GB microSD card.

Posted by: rjneese

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonnyBruha

No need to ask. There's a sticky and a quick search will yield the results of S60 newbs who have already done the same.

I don't remember if it came up in this thread, but did you know the N95-3 supports memory cards larger than 2gb? You could put a 6 or 8gb in it now, and eventually a 32gb when it comes out.

I did know that, but I don't need more storage than 2GB.

Posted by: DukeL

iPhone all day! Way larger screen, better quality screen, 600 mhz processor, better mac compatibilty, much more visually appealing User Interface & hardware, virtual qwerty vs. n95's numeric keypad, touchscreen, 16GB built in etc. The n95 is a old boring phone and it is thick as hell.

Posted by: JonnyBruha

All that coming from the guy who never used one...

Posted by: Topy

Quote:

Originally Posted by DukeL

iPhone all day! Way larger screen, better quality screen, 600 mhz processor, better mac compatibilty, much more visually appealing User Interface & hardware, virtual qwerty vs. n95's numeric keypad, touchscreen, 16GB built in etc. The n95 is a old boring phone and it is thick as hell.

That's just bashing it with out even owning one.

Really deciding over iphone or N95 is so easy. Key features with N95 are 5mpx camera, GPS, 3G and S60 if you dont need them go for iphone.

Posted by: dimsum05

Since when is not having a touchscreen a con?

Coming from someone who's using an N95-3 as his main phone and is on his 6th iPhone, I would personally still go with the Nokia. It can do so much, and at such high speeds, it's amazing that I'm not touching my PC anymore. It's the true pinnacle of convergence! You could literally go into a store, buy it, pop in your SIM, and be ready to go, no PC required, just download all of you stuff over the air. That's the true meaning of a "multimedia computer" and I know why Nokia call it that, because that is exactly what it is!

The iPhone is more of a supplement to your computer... and that's what Apple wants it to be, so they can sell you more of their MacBooks. Collect the whole set!!!

If you want a phone with some cool features added on, for value purposes, go for the iPhone.

If you want a true convergence device, and don't need to be "wow"ed by fancy Core Animations, go Nokia.

I haven't even used the USB cable that came in my N95's box. I had everything at the palm of my hand the moment I opened the box, Bourne style!!! The S60 interface could use some cleaning up, but at least you can customize it, and it doesn't take college degree to use it (56% of the smartphone owners in the world seemed to do ok).

Posted by: Kichigai

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechnoCat

Believe me, I completely understand the importance of staying in touch with "actual flesh-and-blood humans). I end up giving advice to a large number of non-techies, including everyone in my family. However, people just get frustrated if they can't move the music from one source to another, so I always point out Amazon to people as a warning.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechnoCat

Real-world clue-bat time.

I'm aware that iTunes is the most popular podcatcher, and I agree it's very good at it, incredibly convinient, but I hate how people get the impression that it's the ONLY one out there. Again, point out that if podcasts are your thing, this isn't the only choice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechnoCat

So whether the Nokia can do it isn't as much the point as is the goal of the phone. If he wants it to be an iPod, an iPod might be the better unit.

Actually, the Nokia Media Manager is working to rectify that. The Nokia Media Manager is supposed to sync playlists for you. Granted, it's not as nice as syncing with the iPod, but it's still an option. It's all about presenting options. Depending on what you want, one option might not be as nice as another, but at least you know it's there, which is what I'm all about.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechnoCat

Indeed. Nice thing is that apparently Nokia uses SyncML, so theoretically, if you analyzed the syncing profiles for s60, and had a SyncML client, you could make the whole deal work in Linux, BeOS, whatever. Gotta love that.

Posted by: jaustin

I'd say go with the n95, but I*do own one and love it.

also you can get a great deal on the igo keyboard right now and thats a must have with the n95

Posted by: TechnoCat

Quote:

Originally Posted by DukeL

iPhone all day! Way larger screen, better quality screen, <snip>...virtual qwerty vs. n95's numeric keypad, touchscreen

I'm much faster using predictive T9 on hardkeys than my wife is with the auto-correcting virtual qwerty on the iPhone. The screen is nice, very nice, but for me hard keys are worth half that screen.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dimsum05

The iPhone is more of a supplement to your computer... and that's what Apple wants it to be, so they can sell you more of their MacBooks. Collect the whole set!!!

That's not really true. The iPhone syncs to the Mac extremely well, but so do most phones. My RAZR V3xx syncs to the Mac more easily than to the PC using the software that came with the phone and the operating systems. And more easily than Mobile Phone Tools. But my wife really seldom connects to the Mac; just for our iCal transfers, as we have several home calendars running on one of our servers. The iPhone has become her primary web browsing, email and game machine despite her 24" iMac.

Windows Calendar is so dreadful that even though my primary system is a quad-core PC with XP and Vista on it, I use a MacBook and iCalendar for my schedule management. Mozilla Thunderbird can sync to the iCal calendars also (read, not publish) as can my cellphone. Can't do that with Windows itself.

Sometimes the same company builds two great products. MacOS and the iPhone are both great products. I'm about to order an N95-4, not an iPhone, for me, but the main reason the iPhone works so well with a Mac is that many phones do.

Posted by: TechnoCat

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaustin

also you can get a great deal on the igo keyboard right now and thats a must have with the n95

The iGo website claims their keyboard has been "tested and found to be incompatible with " the N95. Do you have one working?

Posted by: RogerPodacter

the reason the iphone is a supplement to a computer is because you cannot, for example, delete a song without re-syncing back to the computer. that is insanity. you are FORCED to connect to a computer periodically to use an iphone in general. even activating it lol.

Posted by: DukeL

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechnoCat

I'm much faster using predictive T9 on hardkeys than my wife is with the auto-correcting virtual qwerty on the iPhone. The screen is nice, very nice, but for me hard keys are worth half that screen.

That's not really true. The iPhone syncs to the Mac extremely well, but so do most phones. My RAZR V3xx syncs to the Mac more easily than to the PC using the software that came with the phone and the operating systems. And more easily than Mobile Phone Tools. But my wife really seldom connects to the Mac; just for our iCal transfers, as we have several home calendars running on one of our servers. The iPhone has become her primary web browsing, email and game machine despite her 24" iMac.

Windows Calendar is so dreadful that even though my primary system is a quad-core PC with XP and Vista on it, I use a MacBook and iCalendar for my schedule management. Mozilla Thunderbird can sync to the iCal calendars also (read, not publish) as can my cellphone. Can't do that with Windows itself.

Sometimes the same company builds two great products. MacOS and the iPhone are both great products. I'm about to order an N95-4, not an iPhone, for me, but the main reason the iPhone works so well with a Mac is that many phones do.

I have found the opposite. I have ended up bootcamping my macs and running windows just so I can sync my phones. How were you able to sync the v3xx with a mac, iSync? The Phone tools software that comes with it is not mac compatible.

Posted by: dimsum05

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechnoCat

It doesn't matter where the iPhone can sync to, the whole problem with it is that you need a computer in the first place to even do anything. If it could be used straight OTB, since most people only need email, web, and media, they would be able to you this portable device as their only computing device, which would interfere with their desktop/notebook lineup, since most consumers don't really need all the power the average modern notebook provides. Nokia, on the other hand, is only a handset manufacturer, so it gives them the ability to go crazy and let a device be up and running without the user having to even own a PC!

Posted by: TechnoCat

Quote:

Originally Posted by DukeL

My MacBook running Leopard simply recognized it when connected by USB and brought up iSync, which handled the rest. This is on a MacBook (purchased in January with Leopard); I haven't tried our Tiger-running iMac yet, which is what my wife uses with her iPhone. I also use BVP's MPT (Mobile Phone Tools) on XP and Vista, but since I don't use Outlook those don't in-turn sync to anything useful, and MPT gripes when it can't find the phone on USB, where as the Mac does it the other way around and it just works.

My V3xx (Cingular-labelled) didn't come with any P.C. software, including no Phone Tools. So mine is the full retail package, upgraded over the years from my first RAZR the week the original RAZR V3 hit Cingular. (It was serendipity of when my Siemens broke, and not planning or eagerness, that caused that timing, plus luck that it was in stock.)