Nokia E90

The E90 is Nokia’s new top end enterprise-focussed device. However, as with the multimedia-focussed N95, Nokia have packed in an impressive number of features. The connectivity options include quad band EGSM, 3G connectivity (WCDMA and HSDPA), WiFi (802.11g), Bluetooth (including stereo audio support), infrared and USB (2.0 full-speed). There is also a 2.5mm audio jack for headsets, a FM Radio, a 3.2 megapixel camera with auto-focus and DVD-quality recording, and an integrated GPS chipset. All this in the standard Communicator clamshell form factor, which this time boasts an external QVGA screen with number keypad and a wide (800×352 pixels) internal screen with full QWERTY keyboard.

The E90 is effectively two phones in one, but with a common data store and computer between them. With the clamshell closed, the E90 is an a fairly standard, if rather large, S60 smartphone. There are the usual control keys and number keypad, and 16 million colour QVGA screen. The external keypad is perfectly usable, although it doesn’t measure up to that found on the N93. The usual S60 applications are present and it is possible to carry out every function of the phone in this mode, from writing emails and watching films to making phone calls. However, opening up the device reveals a decent sized QWERTY keyboard and a gorgeous 800 x 352 pixel screen. The inside also runs S60, albeit with the UI appropriately reconfigured for the screen size. The impressive part is that the phone will switch seamlessly between the two screens and maintain application state. This means you can, for example, beginning to compose a message in closed mode, but decide to continue it using the full keyboard without the need for any user interface intervention. The switch generally takes about a second, although I would expect this to get better nearer the release date.

This dual S60 functionality sounds simple, but it makes a big difference to the user experience and is one of the best features of the device. Traditionally, using a QWERTY keyboard form factor device meant sacrificing some of the speed and ease of use that comes with number keypads. With the E90 you can use whichever form factor is most appropriate. If you are sitting on a train then the clamshell open mode is going to work best, but if you’re walking along the street the closed mode will be easier to use. The clamshell form factor allows for a bigger keyboard although in the case of the E90 I’m not sure whether this is used to its full potential.

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