Just swipe it: Nokia launches its biggest challenge yet

Company says N9 will redefine the way we interact with a cell phone.

DUBAI:

Nokia has finally come out with the much-awaited N9, and even more so, with the Meego OS which is Nokia’s first major move away from Symbian.

The latest smartphone offering to hit the market, and Nokia’s first device without any buttons was revealed at a glamorous party in Downtown Dubai. In Nokia’s own words, the N9 promises to re-define the way smartphones are used.

Nokia is battling with other smarphone makers on many fronts. Gone are the days when a device had to be functional to be successful. Now it has to be stylish, and fashionable. Above all, it has to be cool. And based on first impressions, the N9 seems to be all of the above.

Alessandro Lamanna, Nokia’s Vice President of Sales, Middle East and Africa said, “The Nokia N9 is perfectly suited for style conscious consumers who demand best-in-class products.”

One swipe and you’re home

Nokia Global Head of Design, Marko Ahtisaari said that while the iPhone had set an industry standard it was now outdated and constrained.

He said, “Innovation is at the heart of our strategy and with the N9, we wanted to design a better way to use a phone so we reinvented the home key with a simple gesture: a swipe from the edge of the screen.

Hand in hand to design is the look and feel, and we are certain the Nokia N9 will both surprise and enthrall style conscious users.”

The Nokia N9 introduces an innovative new design where the home key is replaced by a simple gesture: a swipe. Whenever you’re in an application, swiping from the edge of the display takes you home.

The three home views of the user interface are designed to give fast access to the most important things people do with a phone: using apps, staying up to date with notifications and social networks, and switching between activities.

Innovative features

With no need for a home key, the all-screen Nokia N9 makes more room for apps to shine. The 3.9-inch AMOLED screen is made from scratch-resistant curved glass. Not just this but the screen size allows the user to watch videos in true 16:9 widescreen format.

Fitted with the latest in wireless technology, Near Field Communication (NFC), the Nokia N9 allows you to easily share images and videos between devices by touching them together. Pair it with Bluetooth accessories like wireless speakers as well, with just a tap.

Fitted with the latest in wireless technology, Near Field Communication (NFC), the Nokia N9 allows the user to easily share images and videos between devices by touching them together and can be paired with cool Bluetooth accessories. In addition, the N9 packs the latest camera with a powerful 8 megapixel Carl Zeiss autofocus sensor, wide angle lens, HD quality video capture and large lens aperture to enable optimal capture of precious, fleeting moments. The camera epitomises Ahtisaari’s philosophy that it is the modern alternative to note-taking and is no longer a luxury
but an essential.

The phone will be available in three colors - black, cyan, and magenta and is scheduled to be in stores in early October. There has been speculation that the launch of the phone was delayed. But Ahtisaari, when asked about this said, “I wanted to launch the phone when it's perfect!”

While the phone itself is sleek and has great hardware, Nokia itself is more excited about the phone and is not going overboard in selling the new OS, Meego. Perhaps the reason for this is that Nokia is hard at work on the launch of Windows mobile which does lead some tech analysts to believe that the N9 may be the first, and also the last Meego phone.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th,  2011.