Well if I am going to live in the cloud, I can’t really use my favorite publishing tool Windows Live Writer can I?  So, in keeping with my “cloud initiative” I am looking to potentially use Zoho Writer to directly post to this blog.  Additionally, this is a nice test for Zoho Writer’s capabilities. 

Well, the first issue I had was setting up my blog, I was missing the xml.rpc piece to the blog url… Didn’t know it needed to be there, but this was easily corrected by looking at the FAQ’s for writer… My second issue was trying to get the picture you see above and to the left into this post.  Although the image dialogue box says that you can enter a url for an online photo… the dialogue would NOT let me type or copy and paste the url… when clicking in the filename/url box it would open my My Pictures folder… for me more interestingly, when I put the url in my WIndows File dialogue (like I was going to upload a fiel from my hard drive, Vistas nicely found the file in my temp browser folder, and I was able to select it that way. Hopefully it will upload.  We’ll see in a minute.

Physical Characteristics

Overall, the N95 is a pretty big/thick phone.  It is about the size of a thick digital camera (about 3/4″) about twice the thickness of my Motorola Q Global… not all that terrible, but it will make quite a big bulge in a pocket.  Weight isn’t too bad, but it is NOT a light phone.  The sliders (there are two ways the screen slides) are smooth and still working well after all the abuse the phone has taken to get to me.  There are buttons on the on one of the edges for camera (taking pictures), volume (which doesn’t work well – but it could be the demo), and play/pause for the media.  There are also two largesque (is that a word) speakers, one on each side, that put out a pretty good sound quality. 

On the face there are a number of buttons that control a variety of functions, but they are not very intuitive.  The strongest evidence for me on that issue was the fact that I actually had to read the manual to figure out how to turn it on… Ok, I am not always the brightest bulb, but I really couldn’t figure out how to turn it on…  (There is a little button up on the top… you don’t use the send or cancel button like… oh… every other mobile phone I have ever owned.) Overall, the most glaring physical deficiency that is apparent is the lack of a full qwerty keyboard… Didn’t know how much of an issue that really was at first, but …

Here are some pictures:

Software

The default software package on the N95 is really quite good.  There are a number of default applications like Nokia Maps ™ (currently free, but I think that is because of the trial) and other GPS utilities including a positioning system that would be great for geocaching… however, it also provides a level of confidence for how accurate the satillite signal is… at times it was as close as 9M (little over 27′) other times when stationary it read 35M (a bit over 108′) that will make a big difference when hunting for something as small as a pill container.  The N95 really seems to be geared (almost exclusively) toward being a multimedia device. There are numerous applications for audio and video everything from playing to recording.  Additionally, there are the standard office type applications, text/multimedia/email apps.  The N95 is built on Nokia’s Symbian platform so 3rd party java applications can be installed and run relatively easily.

Niceties and the Outrageous

As I mentioned the N95 is really a multimedia device.  There is a nice 5MP digital camera built in as well as a 1.3MP webesque cam built into the face of the phone to allow video calls. There is even a cable to allow the N95 to be connected to the component RCA connections on your TV to play pictures and video…

I need to spend more time using the various capabilities and applications on the N95, but my first impression of the N95 is that it appears to be a very good media device and player.  However, as a phone it leaves a bit to be desired.  The call quality is very quiet and tinny.  But, I finally figured out how to turn up the volume during a call, so the volume issue may be moot.  However, let me add this in reference to using the N95 8GB North American Edition as a phone.  In briefly looking at the user manual the first time “making a call” is reference is page 83!

More in a few days…

~Scott

DHL WORLDWIDE EXPRESS
SHIPMENT ADVISORY

Subject:Your Nokia N95 8GB is on its way. Please let us know when it arrives. Thanks.

The following piece has been sent by Carly Milton from
WOM World via DHL WorldWide Express on 18.07.2008 (AWB# ***********).
If you wish to track this shipment please contact your local
DHL Customer Service office or visit the DHL website at
http://www.dhl.co.uk/

If you have a web-enabled mail reader, click the link below to view
shipment tracking details:
http://www.dhl.com/cgi-bin/tracking.pl?AWB=************

or just forward this E-mail to sendung@dhl.com and you will receive feedback
within minutes.

SEND TO: Scott Weidig
FAO    : Scott Weidig

Hope to have it in the next few days!  If anyone has ideas on thing you would like me to check out, let me know.

~Scott

Hi Scott,

As a quick introduction I’m from the WOM World / Nokia, a  Nokia-sponsored platform that covers what’s being said online about  Nokia devices and services.

In addition to the blog, we also run a trial program in which we send  but Nokia devices for test and review. The N95 8GB North American  version is one of the latest releases and we’re seeing social media  users like you would be interested in having the device for three  weeks to put it through its paces.

It has the same spec as the regular N95 8GB, so; 5MP Carl Zeiss lens  camera with auto-focus, full GPS, MP3 player with integrated player  keys, dual sliding action, WIFI, etc. But this version comes with  updated software and full US 3G network support. In addition to being  on Symbian, which means it?s open to literally thousands of  applications, everything from Google maps to Twitter.

If you?re interested in a three week trial let us know. We cover all 
courier costs back and forth and are available for you to contact 
should you have any questions or queries during your trial period.

You can have a look at the WOM World / Nokia at: http://www.womworld.com/nokia

Please get in touch and let us know if this is of interest to you.

Many thanks

Colin and the WOM World / Nokia team

Since that time, Colin and I have been exchanging email on setting up the trial and getting general information out of the way etc.  I am excited about testing out the N95.  For years, I was a “Nokia” guy, but due to size and features, I moved over to the Motorola line with the Razors, and now, I absolutely love my Motorola Q Global from AT&T.

Let me give you some idea of what I use my “phone” for:

• Browsing the internet, I have 3 browsers on it depending on site compatibility.  Opera 8.65 (Full version standard and default browser), Pocket IE (as a backup, also standard on the MQG), and SkyFire (Currently in their closed beta, but it is nice and wil be a separate blog post).
• Twitter – Via TinyTwitter for Windows Mobile 6 (Java version too) great little app.
• NewsGator Go! – my RSS reader of choice… hey did you know that you can now RSS you NewsGator’s article clippings… This is SWEET! Blog post coming on this shortly…
• PHOTOS!  I take about 200+ pictures and videos (like the one below)each month with my phone… it is a 2 MP (the best I could buy last November).  I send the photos to flickr, and about 8 family members very often.

• GPS – I LOVE that the MQG is fully GPS enabled.  I use Microsoft’s Live Search Mobile, and occasionally Google Mobile Maps, Live is SO much better on the phone… for everything from turn by turn directions, to looking up stores, movies, gas prices, names, businesses, contacts to geocaching.  It’s awesome.  No secondary device needed.
• Reading ebooks… I love to read, and my preference for personal and professional literature is digital.  No need to worry about light, no need to worry about carrying something extra, no need to worry about finishing your book and not having another one to read… it is all there in the palm of your hand.  annotation, searching, enjoyment in a neat little bundle.
• Text messaging and instant messaging – this is a huge use of mine.  Wether it is sending pictures and video to family, finding out where everyone is, or just checking in, I send about 800 texts a month.  Recently, I was buying a new printer and wanted to consult with my wife about color laser jet or just B/W I knew she was working on her laptop so I started an IM session with her.  It saved us about $300 (the difference between the color LJ and a wireless print router, and the B/W I bought that had wireless networking built right in).
• Watching satellite TV via my slingbox… While I have only used my phone this way about 8 times, I have the ability to connect to my Direct TV dish from anywhere I can get a cell signal… It has been great when Joshua (4yoa) and I were waiting for Mommy to finish a marathon shopping session and he was REALLY bored and squirley… a bit of Scooby Doo and he was all good again.
• Portable digital notebook.  On the rare occassion that I do not actually have my laptop with me, I take notes, messages, tips, information right onto my phone.  OneNote Mobile syncs my Microsoft One Note 2007 from my laptop right to my phone.  I can push information both ways when I sync… pretty cool.  Recently, I have been playing with Evernote (which just came out of closed beta)… while not nearly as robust as OneNote Mobile, it has the capability to push information right to the web and pull it back.  Additionally, Evernote, syncs with just about every application on my laptop so I have access to my notes at just about any time I have an Internet connection… which with an unlimited data plan and the capability to tether my phone to my laptop is well… just about always…
• Laptop tethering for Internet use… I started tethering about 6 months ago when I was in a conference and could not get a reliable wireless signal.  While I do not do this often, when I do it still amazes me how well the 3G network handles data networking.
• MP3 – Podcast – I use my MQG to listen to music, both satellite radio and music from Rhapsody sync’d to my data card.  Additionally, I have begun podcasting into the internal voice notes application.  I have also used it to record my son’s voices… I have a great recording of Noah laughing
• Oh yeah… and for phone calls…

 I am looking forward to seeing what the N95 capabilities are.  I really like the fact that there is a 5MP camera with Zeiss lens… I can guarantee that I will stress this unit when I get it even if I can only have it for the 3 weeks.  I will keep you aware of how the trial goes once I receive the … ahem… “phone”.

~Scott