With the hype around today's release of Apple's 2nd generation iPhone, the GPS-packing iPhone 3G, you'd think the game was over for other devices.



You'd think that all other phones might as well place themselves on the scrap crap heap, JSA list or the nearest electronic marketplace. Well based on fact – here at the Cotchin' department of RWD Magazine we like to base our features on fact and not what everyone else is blabbing on about – the iPhone 3G has many flaws. And everyone knows sitting in the penthouse is the bog standard and almost laughable 2MP camera (WHICH STILL CAN'T VIDEO RECORD OR SEND MMS MESSAGES).

We scoured the market to see what rivals this glorified iPod has…

First up Nokia's N96...


Nokia’s iPhone 3G beating features…
Nokia’s N96 is 8 grams lighter (Nokia = 125g vs. Apple 3G = 133g)
Nokia’s N96 is 7.1 mm thinner (Nokia = 55mm vs. Apple = 62.1mm)
Nokia’s N96 has 3MP more in the camera department (Nokia = 5MP vs. Apple = 2MP).
Nokia’s N96 has 8GB more memory (Nokia = 16GB onboard memory – expandable via microSD card vs. Apple = 8GB… based on the 8GB model, there is a 16GB model available in black or white).

Did you know both phones have…
GPS – enabling you to find the local chicken shop, geo tag photos and all that jazz.
An Accelerometer – this is the fancy feature that allows you to turn the phone to the side and the screen will automatically rotate. Good for viewing photos, browsing websites and showing off to mates.
Bluetooth - a phone without Bluetooth is like a supermarket with ice cream.

What we think of the iPhone 3G…
Being fans of the previous iPhone (one member of staff owns an iPhone), the iPod Touch (one member of staff owns an iPod Touch) and the iPod (get your toes out if you want to count the iPod owners on digits) we admire Apple’s domination of the market. The iPhone 3G is great don’t get us wrong; it’s relatively cheap, it contains technology small countries still don’t possess and its one of the most innovative contraptions since the invention of the wheel… but it’s not perfect. We just can’t get over the non-video equipped camera, lack of copy-and-paste, un-replaceable battery and expensive App store.

What we think of the Nokia N96…
Nokia’s improving interface, user friendly programs and downloadable content have impressed us ever since we manhandled the N81 – see issue 72 (December 2007). The N96 is a glorious upgrade to the still impressive N95. With more memory than the previous incarnation and the entry level iPhone 3G. It will hold your music, photos and games with stylish ease. The music interface isn’t exactly iTunes, the widescreen video playback can’t match iPhone 3G’s mammoth 3.5-inch multi-touch display and a proximity sensor is non-existent but it will go the distance against Apple’s latest… but could get ‘knocked the **** out’ in the 12th round.

Nokia N96 RWD stats…
Buyability: High – small, feature-packed and pocket-money worthy.
Longevity: Med – although this a another Nokia beauty, they’ll probably have an N96.5 out next week.
Mugability: High – make sure your bodyguards are paid in advance so you don’t get caught slipping.

Is the Nokia N96 a true iPhone 3G rival?
Hell yes – it has all the features you need to survive the urban jungle, live outside the office and show off to girls. What more do you need in a device? Rumours that Nokia are working on a ‘fridge’ phone are still unconfirmed.*

Stay tuned to RWD’s Cotchin’ Blog as we’ll be putting more phones up against Apple’s glorious iPhone 3G






*Probably cos we just made it up.

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