3G phones, such as the Nokia N97 and other Nokia Nseries devices, primarily use 3G HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) for data. The “packet data” setting that you mention in your post doesn’t affect 3G, but only GPRS, and it’s there just to help the user to conserve battery power. See, if the setting for GPRS is set to “When available”, the device tries to periodically connect to a GPRS network even if you aren’t currently using it. That consumes more batter power.

If you’re on a 3G HSDPA network, you need not to be concerned about the setting.

All this information, Zach, you could’ve of course found in the Nokia user guide. Some might even say that this should be common knowledge for anyone who writes about mobile devices. But hey, Zach, who does research before they write about stuff? Not you. Not in the USA.

It really looks like on this site anything goes.

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How is the camera? How speedy is the device? What is the transfer rate of data to the 32GB? Does the device suffer without having an OMAP chip? How is the video recording quality? Sound quality? Video playback? Codec support? Did I miss those things in the review? For a $600+ phone, that is what matters.

BG, is it because most of the phones that you use or review cannot do the things that S60 does with ease? Is that why they were not mentioned?

What am I getting for $600? Does the shift key being to the right matter more than what I am able to DO with the phone? Last time I checked, S60 is able to do more, and do things better and freely (easy installable hacks too) than most OSes and phones.

The OS (Operating System) is supposed to be about how the system operates. The UI is how the user interacts with the OS. There really isn’t much to complain about the S60 OS, and if you don’t like the UI, then fine, I wish it was a little more advanced looking too. But I would expect you treat the other phones that you view with the same judgement. Even touchwiz doesn’t get the BG beatdown and it isn’t a great OS (on non-smartphones), just a fancy UI. I could complain all day about why I can’t scale down to the level of hardware found in the Iphone or why the lack of VGA 30fps in any device is a deal breaker for me. But I don’t bash those devices. Maybe a buyer doesn’t care about Xenon like I do but it is important to mention its presence or lack thereof for those that are shelling out the Car note on a device.

I have been “stuck” with my N82 because I can’t find a better equipped phone in the US market that meets my technological needs. No, a fancy touch UI does not equal a technological powerhouse or an advanced phone. I constantly see readers get excited over phones with poor cameras, poor mono speakers, no 3D hardware acceleration, no copy and pase, lacking MMS, poor 2003-era video recording, missing either wifi or 3G and BG takes a neutral or POSITIVE “news reporter style” approach to those devices.

YET, as soon as a device even sounds like it’s a Nokia or S60, BG throws neutrality out of the window hits the invisible caps lock key and OVERLOOKS all of the hardware and software features that are CLEARLY better than the majority of the phones that grace BGs bandwith and completely bashes Nokia around the world and back.

Where is the tunnle vision coming from? Is it an internal goal to help dethrone Nokia from #1? Why? I am happy for all the people who are happy with their company of choice.

Truth is, Nokia makes better hardware components (different than build quality) that really push the device into the Multimedia Computer category as they call it and their software, while not the flashiest, is mature, open, and easy to use.

Just for FYI, my family OSes are made up of Nokia S40, S60, WinMo Touch and varius Samsung OSes. I have spent QT with the Iphone, the G1 and the likes of the Memior and everytime, I am forced to come back to my N82 because no other company has matched all of it’s features and high level components (OMAP, Zeiss, Xenon, wifi, VGA 30FPS, Multitask, Great browser, easy to install apps, logical OS, customizable UI, pre-unlocked GPS…) in one device and I refuse to accept a downgrade. And even knowing all that, I STILL don’t bash other manufacturers or carriers or other readers opinions or needs.

I come here for news and another opinion, I like your site but sometimes it is as if you forget that there are people who count on what you say when they make decisions with their money. Please educate people on the products so that they don’t become sheep without a justifiable cause. It almost seems like you are spewing hate to only further your agenda rather than reviewing a viable product.

My N82 looks like a burnt brick, but it is still one of the best phones in the world based on what it can DO. Isn’t that why we buy gadgets?

I am NOT buying the N97 because it is not a techonological step UP from my N82. Where is my OMAP, where is my Xenon, where is a >5mp camera? I desperately want a touchscreen phone but what I have learned from a full review of the phone at other sites(even in previews) is that the phone, while providing a vastly different UE (User Experience) it is Not a hardware upgrade and is a disappointment considering it is supposed to be a flagship phone.

What I am saying is, if I read your review only, I wouldn’t know enough about the phone to make an educated decision because the review was one sided.

In a perfect world, all I would need is BG and SF, but somehow, those hopes keep getting dashed with every one-sided post that I read.

BG is a good site, please don’t ruin it by alienating your viewer segment and letting personal bias bog down the “report” part of BGR.

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i visit SF daily, great website and great reviews on there. keep up the good work.

@agent smith
no wifi? huh? all my nokia’s have wifi

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Look, the iphone is great for what it is, but its not right for everybody and its by far the perfect phone.

I’ve had an iphone for 6 months and got rid of it for a e71; soon to be n97

The Iphone is more of a toy, if you ask me, but Im not gonna dog on it because I personally dont like it.

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Good luck getting your e-mail to check automatically on the most available fastest connection of the moment. e-mail either prompts you to choose, or you have to stick to one connection type, which probably means the cell data network for maximum coverage unless you want to constantly be changing settings.

Same with the VoIP portion (which is annoying as it works best tied to one WiFi SSID, which means you have to be changing every time you go to a new WiFi network (the home screen wifi picker does help a bit, but why should I have to futz with it constantly?)

Web browser is the same, since it is more of an on-demand application I just leave it ask me which net to use every time I launch it – but again, why should I have to choose?

I’ve tried (and unfortunately purchased) one of those “magic” data choosing apps – psiloc connect I think it was, it works ok, but doesn’t work right with the VoIP client, and sucks the battery like there is no tomorrow. (And when I set the VoIP client to use it, it will try to set up a VoIP connection over the 3G network which will further drain the battery.)

Short of running everything over the cell network always, there’s no seamless way for the Nokia to JUST WORK like BlackBerry, Palm, iPhone, and even Windows Mobile does.

That is a deal killer for users of Symbian that want to use it for data when every other major platform does the switch for the user automagically.

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I’m always critical of anything I read, and I read this site daily. No matter what I say, I’m here, so the info must be valueable to me. And that bastard is right. BGR’s writers have a certain character and style, which I think is a plus. I don’t have to like them, and they allow comments and an open forum to discuss anything they say, so the accountability is there. Its obviously working, because readership has been rising lately, according to Alexa.

And I find it highly disrespectful that you call SF’s young readership “drivel”. Most of the young men and women on SF are content creators and developers of award winning applications. I won’t prejudge you, but I’ve yet to hear about you doing anything significant to further the mobile industry. I’ll keep my ear out for el bastardo, but won’t be holding my breath. We’re a multinational, young, talented, ubergeek social site focused on Symbian, so yeah, we’re fanboys to an extent. Not all our readers speak English as a primary language, and some not at all, but your command for the language leaves much to be desired as well. Nothing wrong with loving the top selling, most capable, superbly hackable mobile platform on earth. If not for us, the mobilescape wouldn’t be what it is today. We’re nearly as popular as BGR, even though we only focus on one mobile OS versus multiple carriers, manufacturers, and OSes.

If you’re a guy, Karri, I hope I didn’t offend you. I’m a straight male, but have nothing against homosexuals either. If you love smartphones and the mobile industry, you’re cool with me. If you can make a point without sounding like your brain fits on one, even better.

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Thanks Karri and Chris!

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Thanks for your extremely sober, well-written reply. Great points and I agree with all of them. Your reply also acted as a very good reminder that I need to take some time to chill too before I write.

I’m completely fine with writing that goes with a pinch of salt – but the thing that really bothered me about Zach’s original article was that it seemed to include pretty strong assumptions about things that aren’t exactly so.

Anyways, time for me to take a break now.

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BGR talks shit. BGR voices opinions. BGR fucks around. That’s what the site is all about. If you want exclusive shit and a fun take on tech news from people who don’t give a fuck, welcome. If you want boring recycled garbage, read the NY Times tech section. If you want unintelligible fanboy drivel written by 14-year-old ESL students… Well… Go to Symbian Freak.

As for Karri… Once cristexaport is done flirting with you despite the fact you’re a dude, good riddance. You clearly have no idea what this site is all about and me and the rest of the readers will be better off without you.

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I’m well aware of the penetration rates in the various global markets. I just wasn’t concise enough in explaining my stance. I wasn’t trying to imply American mobile penetration was well saturated, just trying to reason with the comment made that the US had so many mobile users. America is a good market now because it has one of the few markets experiencing growth that has a relatively vibrant economy. While its stagnant now in comparison to previous years, its that way most places in the world, and yet still economically better than most. So there’s evidently still room for growth, especially in the smartphone sector, where they’ve just begun to gain traction in the last couple years, as you also mentioned. India is emerging, as is China, but the economics of the demographics in those markets aren’t as attractive as in the US.

Sticking up for Zach, he always has a certain attitude in his writing, but he’s not as simple as he seems. I think he puts on a show for his readers, predominately iPhone and Blackberry users. I agree it makes it less attractive to those looking at the site for proper perspective, but he’s written some pretty good stuff nonetheless. I suggest you write some stuff here or on SF yourself, because you’re eloquent, informed, and a good debate opponent. I bet anyone would invite you as a guest columnist with open arms. These guys need more Symbian knowledgeable writers like you and me, and you already have David’s support…

I look forward to more of your comments here and other forums online. Welcome. And stick around, become a catalyst for change, and don’t abandon this well intended site. You belong.

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are you serious? this isnt an issue, its an excelent feature with the setting located in the obvious and logical place. Thank you nokia for allowing me to control my phone and prioritize whats important to me.

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I’ve got a couple more questions – of which the first ones I’ve already asked before – for you, and then I don’t care if I ever come back to this “genius” site again.

Why didn’t you write the original article in the same, slightly better, tone that you now wrote your comment in? If this was really supposed to be just a “helpful” tip that came out of a conversation with a Nokia rep, then why the childish image of a Nokia N97 with the speech bubble next to it, and all the false assumptions about wireless data plans outside the US? Clearly, you had something else in mind in addition to just being “helpful”.

Second, what would really make you think that I wouldn’t “know” where Nokia sells its phones and how data plans vary in different countries – when that was my very own point! G-sus.

Zach, with all due respect, if you want to make yourself sound like a journalist, next time check your facts first, or then just leave your own personal assumptions out of the article. It will make a much more readable, helpful, better article that way.

And still – if you yourself agree that your article is not entirely clear and that it includes false info, then post an update to it.

Thanks, BGR – now I know where not to come again.

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you too really need to check your facts about cell phone usage in the US vs. everywhere else. Cell phone penetration in the US is currently around 82%, whereas in Finland, the UK, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Norway, etc it has been between 102% – 118% (i.e. people have several active phones) for a decade now. The US is simply still catching on to that – which is great, and yes there is a lot of opportunity in the US, but so there is in China and India as well, where the population is 3 times as large as in the US.

Again, here are the numbers – mobile phone penetration across the world in a few countries:
Finland – 108%
UK – 112%
Italy – 118%
The Philippines – 92%
Sweden – 109%
USA – 82%

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by the sound of your comment, it sounds like you definitely DID NOT GET the N97. If you did, or even if you didn’t but knew the tiniest bit about Nokia devices, you’d know of Nokia’s Mail for Exchange, RoadSync app, Google Sync with Symbian, etc – all of which can easily help you to sync your Outlook and Google with your S60 device.

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Get some stake in the US Market already. First make a better looking GUI, then you’ll be golden.
Ovi store looks neat.

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SUBSCRIBERS

Verizon- 83 million
at&t- 74 million
Sprint- 55 million
TMobileUSA- 38 million
MetroPCS- 6 million

That’s 256 million subscribers right there, all without even counting Cellular South, Boost Mobile, Amp’d Mobile, Virgin Mobile, and other smaller but popular networks.

This is why all the manufacturers consider the US a golden egg of a market. American’s love the cellphones, almost depending on them as lifelines. There’s money to be made in the US, and right now, Apple and RIM run the show. Nokia could kick itself, and is wisely pressuring carriers to partner with them, because America is one of the only places where almost everyone has a mobile phone, even kids like my 5 year old niece! Its viral here…

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CTIA puts the figure at 270.3 million as of December 2008. Most firms agree that the number stands somewhere around 275 million as of May 2009.

Thanks.

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If you have problems with your device, feel free to register at my site’s forums, http://www.symbian-freak.com, and get free 24 hr. support for any issue you have as well as learn how to hack, modify, and get the most out of the N97 and all other Symbian models. Our technical expertise with the platform is unsurpassed, and I pride myself in finding solutions. In fact, email me at christexaport@sbcglobal.net with any questions as well as a follow up to how the sync situation works for you.

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A quick note of clarification: this post was brought about by a conversation with a Nokia rep.

When asked why S60 does not maintain a live data connection as other platforms do, the rep suggested that S60 is built this way to accommodate users abroad (and even users in the US) who do not have unlimited data plans. As the commenter above points out, data can be VERY expensive in many regions and an always-on data connection could have major consequences. The areas cited by Karri are great, but they do not represent the entirety of Nokia’s markets. Data is VERY expensive in MANY regions and Nokia sells millions of phones around the world.

The rep then went on to explain that “you can set any s60 device to have a constant data [connection],” and he detailed the solution noted above. We thought Nokia’s suggested solution would be nice to share with users who might not know it is available. As suggested by one or two commenters and several emails, it was indeed helpful.

Thanks again.

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FYI I live “abroad” and yes, data is unbelievably expensive where I’m from. Karri, chrisexport, etc – maybe you guys aren’t aware of this but Nokia sells to alot of markets, not just Europe and Asia. I leave my packet data on when needed because if it was always on I would be broke.

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Having the choice is always better. And if I understand correctly comptetitors to S60 platforms that do not have the option to turn data packets connection off (though I doubt RIM products don’t have the same type of setting).
Remember the story of that guy who was one of the earlier G1 user and went abroad for a couple weeks with his phone, not even using it, only to find out once he receives is phone bills tha data roaming had been activated all the time, couldn’t be turned off and cost him thousands of $ because of that.

So in my book : setting your data roaming form when needed to when available = win!

Anyhow this emphasises the fact that BGR seems pretty biased when it comes to S60 devices and Nokia ones in particular.
I’m ok with the fact that most S60 GUI (especially Nokia’s) are not as nice as they iPhone’s or Android’s. But seriously as far as functionnality and, most important for me who previously owned a WinMo device, stability go, it’s unmatched!

I’m no S60 fanboy (if such a thing exists) but seriously you have to give props to a very efficient yet unsexy mobile phone OS.

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Unfortunately, you’ve made a wrong assumption as to what happens when you toggle the “Packet Data Connection” option which leads you to a wrong conclusion. I therefore respectfully beg to differ.

The name of the option “Packet Data Connection” is quite misleading. It is not used to configure what happens to an Internet connection but only controls the registration state of the mobile with the packet switched part of the network. I’ve summarized the details here: http://tinyurl.com/amcpzd

Hope this helps to clear things up.

Kind regards,
Martin

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