Mobile Phones Guide

Compare This

Nokia N9

22 Jun 2011

Incorporating a design where the home key is replaced by a simple swipe, the Nokia N9 features a 3.9-inch AMOLED screen, an 8 megapixel Carl Zeiss autofocus sensor and allows for capturing of HD quality videos.

Tags: nokia, smartphone, nfc, n9

Filter by Manufacturers

HWZ's Overall Rating: 7.5

Design:

8.5

Features:

7.5

User-Friendliness:

Performance:

7.5

Value:

Wonderful unibody design

Intuitive MeeGo user interface

Impressive screen clarity

Long battery mileage

Sluggish user interface

Lack of apps

Support for MeeGo until 2015

<div id="reviews-list">
		<h2>More articles (3)</h2>
		<ul>
					<li class="current">
			<a href="/review-nokia-n9-swan-song-meego" alt="/product-nokia-n9/review?review=224745">Nokia N9 - A Swan Song for Meego</a>			</li>
					<li >
			<a href="/feature-nokia-officially-launches-n9-singapore" alt="/product-nokia-n9/review?review=212420">Nokia Officially Launches the N9 in Singapore </a>			</li>
					<li >
			<a href="/feature-communicasia-2011-nokia" alt="/product-nokia-n9/review?review=186084">CommunicAsia 2011 - Nokia </a>			</li>
				</ul>
	</div>
	
	<div id="product-review" class="article">
			<h2 class="header-green">Nokia N9 - A Swan Song for Meego</h2>
		<span class="byline">Reviewed by Seow Tein Hee on Sunday, 23 Oct 2011</span>
		<div class="share">
	<div
		id="addthis_div_519f23c4a9a7f" 
		class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style"
		addthis:url="http://www.hardwarezone.com/review-nokia-n9-swan-song-meego"		addthis:title="Nokia N9 - A Swan Song for Meego"	>
		<a class="addthis_button_google_plusone" g:plusone:count="false"></a>
		<a class="addthis_button_facebook"></a>
		<a class="addthis_button_twitter"></a>
		
		<a class="addthis_button_email"></a>
	</div>
</div>
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
	window.addEvent ('domready', function ()
	{
 		//AddThis thing
		addthis_share = window.addthis_share || {};
		addthis_share.url_transforms = {
			add: {
				utm_source: 'addthis',
				utm_medium: 'referral',
				utm_campaign: 'addthis',
				utm_content: 'Nokia%2BN9%2B-%2BA%2BSwan%2BSong%2Bfor%2BMeego'
			}
		}
		
		addthis_config = window.addthis_config || {};
		addthis_config.data_track_clickback = true;
		addthis_config.data_ga_property = 'UA-166763-1';
		//window.addthis && addthis.toolbox (".addthis_toolbox");
		 
	});
//]]>
</script>		<div class="content resizeable">
						<div id="page-1" class="page">
		 		<h2 class="page-title">Overview, Design &amp; Features</h2>
		 		<h3 class="page_title">Elegant Presentation</h3>
<p>When MeeGo, born from a partnership between Intel and Maemo, was first introduced to the world in 2009, it was to be adopted by Nokia's high-end N-series devices. Hopes were running high for an OS to provide an alternative for a market dominated by Apple's iOS&nbsp;and Google's Android over the past few years.</p>
<p>Alas, that was not to be. With Nokia taking a sudden shift in direction and <a href="/feature-nokia-microsoft-alliance-what-does-it-mean-you" target="_blank">turning to Microsoft's Windows Phone 7</a> as its OS of choice for its smartphone portfolio, MeeGo, and by association, the N9, was effectively cast aside. Nonetheless, the Finnish company managed to deliver upon its promise of at least one MeeGo device in 2011, with the <a href="/feature-nokia-officially-launches-n9-singapore" target="_blank">Nokia N9 launched in selected countries such as Singapore.</a></p>
<p>There is so much to be said about the first and only MeeGo device from Nokia, so we&rsquo;ll start right off with its design. First impressions do count, and once we unboxed the N9, we were taken aback at the level of sophistication associated with its unibody design. The noticeably rounded side profile is a nice fit within our hands. This makes it that much easier to handle the edge-to-edge 3.9-inch AMOLED display. Though the N9 weighs in at a reasonable 135g, the overall feel leans towards a densely packed device, giving it a solid build quality.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" title="An edge-to-edge design means the 3.9-inch AMOLED display gets more real estate space on the N9. The noticeable items missing on the front, are hardware buttons to navigate through the user interface." src="http://images.hardwarezone.com/upload/files/2011/10/163df9efd4.jpg" /></p>
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" title="Think only glossy surfaces are a fingerprint magnet? Think again, because the N9 was smeared with not just our prints, but also oil smudges on its matte surface." src="http://images.hardwarezone.com/upload/files/2011/10/5d64eb7e2f.jpg" /></p>
<p>However, first impressions can be deceiving. With its non-glossy plastic materials, we weren&rsquo;t expecting fingerprint smudges across its chassis. We were proven wrong, and you would do well to avoid oil smudges on the N9. The top profile is occupied by a hinged plastic cover protecting its microUSB port, and a micro SIM card holder beside it. We have doubts on the durability of the hinged plastic cover, which came off when we applied excessive pressure to unlock it. Removing the micro SIM card holder requires the hinged cover to be unlocked before you can slide and unlock the holder from a spring mechanism. And that proved to be a problem when we were unplugging our microUSB cable from the N9. During the process of unplugging the USB&nbsp;cable, our fingers would slip and slide the micro SIM card holder, thus releasing and cutting off the cellular connection.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" title="The micro SIM (yes, you read it right, a micro SIM) card holder and microUSB ports are well-hidden, but the hinged cover and easily sprung holder won't make life any easier." src="http://images.hardwarezone.com/upload/files/2011/10/337294543b.jpg" /></p>
<p>Hardware buttons are minimal, with only the volume and power button located side-by-side on the right profile. Shortcut keys, such as home and back, that are usually seen on other smartphones, are visibly absent on the N9. This is easily explained when we take a closer look at MeeGo and its swipe concept to navigate within the user interface.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" title="Hardware buttons are minimal on the N9, with only the volume and power buttons located on the right profile of the MeeGo device." src="http://images.hardwarezone.com/upload/files/2011/10/60df462ad2.jpg" /></p>
<h3 class="page_title">A-go-go with MeeGo</h3>
<p>At first glance, MeeGo&rsquo;s simple and no-frills user interface won us over. While most other UIs go for more advanced widgets and multiple home pages, MeeGo takes on a more subdued approach with just three home screens. Similar to <a href="http://www.hardwarezone.com.sg/review-htc-sensation-sensational-android/features-84" target="_blank">HTC&rsquo;s Sense 3.0</a> user interface, you can swipe continuously across all three pages. Considering how there are only three pages to go through, we have to say it is so much easier to land on the right page.</p>
<p>The Applications page is self-explanatory, with a listing of your apps loaded within the page. A lot of thought has been put into the design of the icons, including the spacing, typography and even its colors. However, one of the most basic functionality of the menu is absent from MeeGo &ndash; alphabetical or category sorting. To be fair, this is not an issue unique to MeeGo &ndash; think how Apple&rsquo;s iOS handles its app listing. You are able to rearrange your most frequently used apps to the top through manual arrangement. But once your apps inventory grows, it&rsquo;ll get harder to allocate prime space for it. Iconic apps such as Facebook and Twitter are easy to spot at a glance, but the same can&rsquo;t be said for those that we aren&rsquo;t familiar with.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><img src="http://images.hardwarezone.com/upload/files/2011/10/57a6cccd09.jpg" title="With only three pages to swipe through, the MeeGo user interface didn't take us too long to get used to. The Applications page is self-explanatory, with a vertical listing of the preloaded and downloaded apps on the N9." alt="" /></p>
<p class="rtecenter"><img src="http://images.hardwarezone.com/upload/files/2011/10/918951457d.jpg" title="Besides the three main pages, you can pull down a menu from the top, allowing you to switch your phone profile and accessing connectivity options such as Bluetooth and internet settings." alt="" /></p>
<p>Switching home pages requires a swipe from the edge of the display, bringing you to either the Open Applications or Events page. Incidentally, this is also how you can get out of an app, given that there&rsquo;s no physical home button to bring you back to the Applications menu. A downward swipe from the top edge of the screen will close the app, but first, you&rsquo;ll have toggle it on within the settings. The Open Applications page acts like a multi-tasker, giving you a detailed overview of apps that are currently in operation. More importantly, you can truly close and kill apps by holding onto a thumbnail and clicking on the X button on the top right corner. Or, just simply click Close All to clear the apps cluttering up the N9.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><img src="http://images.hardwarezone.com/upload/files/2011/10/dfffd1602a.jpg" title="Applications that are running in the background are listed accordingly in a thumbnail view, with the most recent app placed on the top left. More importantly, you can kill apps by simply holding and clicking the &quot;X&quot; button once it appears." alt="" /></p>
<p class="rtecenter"><img src="http://images.hardwarezone.com/upload/files/2011/10/2b9852e64b.jpg" title="To close apps with a downward swipe, do note that you'll have to toggle the option within the settings." alt="" /></p>
<p>Nokia's wide range of services are also made available on the N9, one of which is Nokia Maps. Amongst its services, the mapping feature counts as one of its strongest feature in its suite. Depending on where the N9 is purchased, maps that are specific to the region will be preloaded onto the N9. Maps were quick to load on the N9, and its navigation services were a boon to our weekend travel to areas that we are unfamiliar with.</p>
<p>But that's about as far as its strength goes for the MeeGo OS. When we took a quick look at the Nokia Store and noticed its limited apps ecosystem, the MeeGo OS shows its biggest weakness. Even with preloaded games such as Galaxy on Fire 2, Need for Speed Shift, Real Golf 2011 and good old Angry Birds, there&rsquo;s not much to go around within the Nokia Store. Fortunately, basic communication apps such as Facebook and Twitter are available, but you&rsquo;ll have to stick to traditional text message services instead of instant messaging apps such as Whatsapp.</p>			</div>
		</div>
			<div class="pagination" >
		<span class="desc">Page 1 of 2</span>
		<ul>
			<li class="prevnext prev"><a href="/review-nokia-n9-swan-song-meego" class="disabled">&lsaquo; Prev</a></li>
			<li class="skip">
				<form id="PageAddForm" method="post" action="/go"><fieldset style="display:none;"><input type="hidden" name="_method" value="POST" /></fieldset>					<select name="data[Page][url]" class="page-selector" id="PageUrl">
<option value="/review-nokia-n9-swan-song-meego" selected="selected">Overview, Design &amp; Features</option>
<option value="/review-nokia-n9-swan-song-meego/performance-and-conclusion-2">Performance and Conclusion</option>
</select>					<input type="submit" class="submit" value="Go" />				</form>			</li>
			<li class="prevnext next"><a href="/review-nokia-n9-swan-song-meego/performance-and-conclusion-2" class="">Next &rsaquo;</a></li>
		</ul>
	</div>
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
	window.addEvent ('domready', function ()
	{
 
		var container = document.getElement ('#product-review'),
			content = container && container.getElement ('.content'),
			pagination = container && container.getElement ('.pagination'),
			form = pagination && pagination.getElement ('form'),
			menu = form && form.getElement ('.page-selector'),
			links = {
				prev: pagination && pagination.getElement ('.prev a'),
				next: pagination && pagination.getElement ('.next a')
			},
			page = -1,
			desc = 'Page {curPage} of {lastPage}'
		;

// Tag as Javascript-enabled
		pagination.addClass ('js');

menu.addEvent ('change', function (e)
		{
			var curPage = this.selectedIndex + 1,
				lastPage = this.length,
				url = this.get ('value'),
				pageContent = container && container.getElement ('.page')
			;

// Disable controls
			menu.set ('disabled', 'disabled').blur ();
			if (pageContent) pageContent.setStyle ('opacity', .5);

new Request.HTML ({
				'url': url,
				'method': 'get',
				'link': 'cancel',
				'update': content,
				'onSuccess': function ()
				{
					// Update controls
					menu.erase ('disabled');
					links.prev
						.set ('href', menu.getChildren ('option')[(curPage > 1)? curPage - 2: curPage - 1].get ('value'))
						[(curPage > 1)? 'removeClass': 'addClass'] ('disabled')
					;
					links.next
						.set ('href', menu.getChildren ('option')[(curPage < lastPage)? curPage: curPage - 1].get ('value'))
						[(curPage < lastPage)? 'removeClass': 'addClass'] ('disabled')
					;
					pagination.getElement ('.desc').set ('text', desc.substitute ({ curPage: curPage, lastPage: lastPage}));

captureIntraLinks ();
					new Fx.Scroll (window).toElement (container);
				},
				'onFailure': function ()
				{
					// Restore controls
					menu.erase ('disabled');
					if (pageContent) pageContent.setStyle ('opacity', 1);
				}
			}).send ();
		});
		$$([links.prev, links.next]).addEvent ('click', function (e)
		{
			e.stop (); this.blur ();
			if (!this.hasClass ('disabled'))
				menu.set ('value', this.get ('href')).fireEvent ('change');
		});
		form.addEvent ('submit', function (e)
		{
			e.stop (); this.blur ();
			menu.fireEvent ('change');
		})

// Capture all intra-page links and hook to js
		function captureIntraLinks ()
		{
			content.getElements ('a[href^="#"]').flatten().each (function (link)
			{
				var target = link.get ('href').substr (6).trim ();
				if (target && target.match (/^\d+$/) && target <= menu.length)
					link.addEvent ('click', function (e)
					{
						e.stop (); this.blur ();
						menu.selectedIndex = target - 1;
						menu.fireEvent ('change');
					});
			});
		}
		captureIntraLinks ();

// Trigger initial pagination state
		var target = location.hash && location.hash.substr (6).trim ();
		if (target && target.match (/^\d+$/) && target <= menu.length && target != page)
		{
			menu.selectedIndex = target - 1;
			menu.fireEvent ('change');
		}
 
	});
//]]>
</script>
				<div class="footer">
		
<div class="tags" style="">
	<span class="label" style="">Tags:</span> <a href="/product-guide/all/reviews/tagged/103-nokia">nokia</a>, <a href="/product-guide/all/reviews/tagged/110-smartphone">smartphone</a>, <a href="/product-guide/all/reviews/tagged/1303-meego">meego</a>, <a href="/product-guide/all/reviews/tagged/1854-mobile-phone">mobile phone</a></div>
		</div>
				</div>

<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
	window.addEvent ('domready', function ()
	{
 
		var section = $('tab-product-content-review'),
			dropdown = section.getElement ('#reviews-list'),
			tId = 0
		;

if (section && dropdown)
		{
			var list = dropdown.getElement ('ul'),
				links = list.getElements ('li a')
			;

dropdown.addClass ('js');
			list.set ('morph', { 'link': 'cancel' });

$$(dropdown, list).addEvents ({
				'mousemove': function ()
				{
					$clear (tId);
				},
				'mouseenter': function ()
				{
					list.set ('morph', {'duration': 'short'}).morph ({ 'opacity': 1 });
				},
				'mouseleave': function ()
				{
					tId = function () { list.set ('morph', {'duration': 'short'}).morph ({ 'opacity': 0}); }.delay (1000);
				}
			}).fireEvent ('mouseleave');

links.addEvent ('click', function (e)
			{
				e.stop ();
				//unescape the 'alt' prooperty
				var o = new Element('i', { 'html': this.get ('alt')});
				new Request.HTML ({
					'url': o.get('text') + '&as=ajax',
					'method': 'get',
					'link': 'cancel',
					'update': section.empty().grab(new Element('div')
						.addClass ('waiter')
						.grab (new Element ('span', {
							text: 'Please wait while we load your article ...'
						}))
					)
				}).send ();
			})

section.getElements ('.footer .comments a').addEvent ('click', function (e)
			{
				e.stop ();
				new Fx.Scroll (window).toElement ($('tab-product-details'));

var href = this.get ('href').match (/#.+$/), target = href && href[0];
				if (target)
					(function () { new Fx.Scroll (window).toElement ($(target.substr (1))); })
						.delay (3000);

$('tab-product-comments').getChildren ('a')[0].fireEvent ('click');
			})
		}
		if( $$('.image-caption-container').length < 1 )
		{	
			$$('.article .content img[title]').each (function (img)
			{
				// skip if title is empty
				if (!img.get ('title')) return;
			
				new Element ('span', {'class': 'image-caption-container'})
					.addClass (['left', 'right'].contains (img.get ('align'))? img.get ('align'): '')
					.set ('width', img.get ('width'))
					.replaces (img)
					.grab (img)
					.grab (new Element ('div', {
						'class': 'image-caption',
						'html': img.get ('title').trim ()
					}))
				;
				img.erase ('align');
			
				var link = img.getParents ('a');
				if (link) link.addClass ('captioned');
			});
		}
 
	});
//]]>
</script>

Mobile Phones Guide

Nokia N9

Filter by Manufacturers

You may also be interested in...