Event Coverage

Mobile World Congress 2009 - Showcase Nokia (Updated with Video!)

By Seow Tein Hee - 23 Feb 2009

Ovi Store, and the 8-Megapixel Nokia N86

Shopping, Ovi Style

First, we had the Apple App Store. So, it's of no surprise that we were greeted with Nokia's answer to that, aptly named Ovi Store. The new Ovi Store will be available in the first half of 2009. Now, the important thing about Ovi Store is how it intelligently remembers and recommends the user's preferences. Though product recognition and recommendation features have been around, it should still prove to be very interesting. During a one-on-one media session with the Nokia spokesperson, it was stated that this is the first step in creating a unified approach within the Ovi platform. Essentially, with that one single Ovi account or passport, Nokia will be able to create a unique and simplified experience. In doing so, this will allow the Finnish manufacturer to improve upon its services with an intimate knowledge of the consumers' needs, wants and demands.

In terms of content, we expect to see a high participation rate from interested developers who can submit their content via https://publish.ovi.com/ easily. During Showcase Nokia, it was revealed that the Nokia N97, announced at Nokia World 2008, will be the first Nokia device that comes preloaded with the Ovi Store application.

Say, what's that? Yes, it's the Nokia N97, the first N-series device that'll come with the latest Symbian S60 V5.0 OS. And, it'll also be the first Nokia device that comes preloaded with the Ovi Store application.

Welcome, the 8th Image

The mystery is finally solved. With a wide range of devices from its E-series, to its Navigator and Classic series revealed at Showcase Nokia, some might be wondering upon the absence of the popular N-series in this year's Showcase Nokia. The truth is, there was one announced. With an estimated Q2 launch in 2009, you'll be able to check out the first 8-megapixel camera phone from Nokia, the Nokia N86.

Granted, the 8-megapixel race has been ongoing for quite a well, and there has been announcements of a 12.1-megapixel camera phone over at Barcelona, but hey, better late than never. What makes the Nokia N86 interesting is its 2.6-inch OLED screen that is touted as a power-saving feature. In fact, the utilization of OLED displays is becoming wide-spread, such as what we've seen on the Samsung UltraTOUCH too.

Besides that, the N86 will come with a dual LED flash (once again, it's all about battery stamina) and will sport a dual slide form factor akin to its Nokia N96 and N85 siblings. The secondary keys are now targeted at the imaging function of the device. As you can see below, there are now two dedicated keys that will be utilized for image zooming functions. Being an N-series device, the N86 will also be fully packed with connectivity features such as Wi-Fi, HSDPA and Bluetooth 2.0. More importantly, it'll also come with 8GB of onboard memory, and has microSD expandability of up to another 16GB.

Come on, you think Nokia would miss out on the N-series? Think again. The new Nokia N86 will be the Finnish outfit's first 8-megapixel camera phone, and will sport Nokia's unique dual slider form factor, with dedicated keys for image zooming and viewing.

The Nokia N86 will also come with a dual LED flash accompanying its Carl Zeiss Tessar lens. But more importantly, it comes with an 8GB onboard memory and will sport a 2.6-inch OLED screen that should serve to be a power-saver for the device in the long run.

And this is just an inkling of what's to come (for now at least). Of course, this isn't the extent of the exciting things happening on the mobile phone front this year and you can expect more announcements and updates during CommunicAsia 2009 which is held in Singapore during mid-June. Amidst all the doom and gloom as projected for the economy in 2009, there's still room for development and growth to drive away the blues. So keep yourself tuned to www.hardwarezone.com® as we bring you more news and updates on the cellular front.

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