Dreaming of an iPhone, think Nokia N96

The Nokia N96 is the phone of the moment and it's here and now. Nokia's Multimedia Computer is by our reckoning the most powerful phone in this here world. This convergence colossus packs a feature line-up that puts others technology standpoint to shame: HSDPA capabilities, 5 mega-pixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens, auto-focus and flash, build-in GPS and Wi-Fi, dual-sliding action, integrated music player, 16GB internal memory and expandable memory – the list goes on. The Nokia N96 even comes with a integrated DVB-H receiver which offers live broadcast TV with an automatically updating program guide.

What's more, Nokia has done a bang-up job fitting all this weaponry into such a compact frame. Okay, it's hardly pocketable but it's no mammoth either; think a lighter but wider Nokia N80. For some, the built-in GPS is the top draw, but if you're expecting a slick sat-navigation system you'll be a bit disappointed. It gets you from A to B and the downloadable street-level maps are free, but it's not as convincing as a Bluetooth smartphone solution or dedicated system.
Still, everything else is on the money, making the Nokia N96 both on early-adopter's wet dream and a superb example of a successful convergence device. O I almost forget, for you buddies who like to shot video clips the Nokia N96 allows DVD-like quality video capture at 30 frames per second.

What are the downsides of having so much integrated into a phone? You ask how does the Nokia N96's battery cope with all those power-hungry features? Unsurprisingly, they drain it like a vampire at a blood bank. Frequent feature use means an everyday charge, at least.