N97 vs. iPhone: Can We Really Call Them Multimedia Computers?

Both Have Got Pros. And Cons.

Hi everyone,

Today, I want to delve into the ongoing debate between the Nokia N97 and the iPhone. Ever since the iPhone made its debut, it ushered in a new era for smartphones.

While touch-screen phones existed before the iPhone, none achieved the same level of success. So, what made the iPhone stand out? The iPhone’s success can be attributed to its APIs and sleek design. It features a large screen that fits well within its frame, and its operating system is exceptionally powerful, especially when it comes to music. This is why the iPhone is often considered a music-centric device.

But the iPhone is more than just a music player. It boasts a wide range of apps designed for creating and mixing music. Its music capabilities are further enhanced by its multi-touch screen, which allows developers to create highly interactive apps, including realistic music instruments.

What about the Symbian side of things?

Yes, it’s true that Symbian has produced many phones with robust music-playing capabilities, including equalizers and stereo sound. However, there’s a noticeable lack of apps for creating or mixing music. After researching this issue, I found that there are almost no apps on the Symbian platform for music creation or mixing. Even on Nokia’s developer website, there’s little to no discussion about music mixing apps or APIs, which suggests that Symbian might not be as powerful in the music domain as the iPhone.

The upcoming Symbian phone, the N97, features a non-multi-touch screen, which limits its potential for interactive music apps. This made me wonder why Nokia hasn’t embraced multi-touch technology. After posting a few topics on Symbian forums, I discovered that multi-touch phones have both advantages and disadvantages.

For instance, multi-touch phones don’t work well with a stylus, which means that drawing apps might not be feasible on these devices. Additionally, when browsing the web, you often need to zoom in to tap the correct link, as it’s easy to accidentally tap tiny hyperlinks on a multi-touch screen. On the other hand, non-multi-touch phones can be operated with just one finger, which might be more convenient for some users.

In conclusion, both phones have their strengths and weaknesses. We might have to wait until a phone is developed that combines the best of both worlds—supporting both stylus input and multi-touch technology in one device.

As for me, I’ve decided not to buy another smartphone. The cost of these devices has become higher than that of a notebook, and even netbooks are now cheaper than smartphones. Next time, I’ll opt for a touch-screen netbook instead of a new smartphone.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *