This post was published 1 year 5 months 12 days ago which may make its actuality or expire date not be valid anymore. This site is not responsible for any misunderstanding.

I received the Nokia N78 the other day and have been playing around with this new entry from Nokia.  I have to tell you, I like it!  The unboxing video below just shows what I saw the day it arrived and I give a quick look at the mapping and music capabilities.  I apologize in advance for the errant sound that occurs in the video when ever the device is actively on the network.  For what ever reason my video camera picks up the sound that is normally unintelligible to the human ear.  In fact there was a sizable portion of the video I deleted because the sound was just too much.

Nokia always gives a first class introduction to their devices as you open the box for the first time.  You always have a to take a second to look before you remove it from the box.

(Unboxing Video and lots of pictures after the break)

So what is really new with this device?  A different keyboard style for one.  Initially reports were that some users did not care for it but I really like it especially when not looking directly at the device when calling.  It is easy to find and dial a number without looking.  The keyboard has four raised “lines” with a slight depression on the “5″ key.  Knowing where the depression is and understanding the layout of the keys allows you to dial a number like a touch typist would enter text on a keyboard.  For me, it has worked very well and I like it … a lot!

My Initial experience has me enamored with the N78.  I like its size, I’m really pleased with the battery life and I love the keyboard.  With the new endeavors I have undertaken over the past few months I find myself on the road a lot.  The ability to listen to music either through earbuds or a Bluetooth device is great but to have the ability to listen to your music via inbuilt stereo speakers is a great experience.  Nokia has again created a device that produces terrific sound no matter how you want to listen to it. But there is a special treat to read about, so after the video read on and find out what makes the sound experience even better. 

This is a super device and I have been having a great experience with it.  I have a little unboxing video below followed by a few pictures so I can share some of my experience with you.

Here are a few pictures of the device as you glance at it for the first time.  I was impressed with it as I took it out of the box the first time and each time I have held it in my hand I like the feel of the raised panels for the keypad.

The D-Pad is rather unique in that you can not only move right, left up, down but it has  a touch sensitive pad so you can easily slide your finger in a circular motion to move to different icons on the display.

The back sports a 3.2 mega-pixel camera with a decent flash.  There is a unique design embedded in the plastic cover that looks very cool.

The right side has from the bottom up a camera button, volume up/down and the right stereo speaker

On the top you have a 3.5 mm input for your headset and the Power On/Off button

The left side has from the bottom up, the left stereo speaker, input for charging, micro-SD slot and a micro USB slot for data transfer.

The bottom has the microphone input.

Here is a look at the device opened

As always, Nokia has a neat way for SIM storage

It is a firm fit and works well.

There is a 3.7 volt 1200 mAh battery that has been more than adequate for a power user.

My preference this past week for listening to music has been solely via the stereo speakers because it has been so good.  But as I drive I have been using an absolutely kick ass feature; FM Radio Transmission.  That’s right, I get in the car, enable FM Transmition on the N78, tune the radio to an FM channel not being used and I can listen to all the great music I have on my device via my car stereo system.  So how is the quality?  Absolutely fabulous!  All those years of trying to find am FM transmitter small enough to attach to my device so I can listen to my tunes and Nokia comes out with a great solution! 

The Mapping program has been wonderful.  The built-in GPS has been extraordinary in finding and maintaining a satellite signal and the maps have been fast to download and accurate.  So far I have been using it in New England and two recent trips to New York and have yet to have had the slightest issue.  I imagine that I will activate the voice guidance but it has not been on my “to do” list.  Although it is available and is free for three months, I generally don’t need it.  I am sure I will try it soon though.

I have installed a few applications such as Google maps (although I’m not sure why I did that one) and a few Astraware games.  Quick, easy installs and they have all worked fine.

I have been engrossed lately with playing Astraware’s Hidden Expedition Titanic as well as Solitaire.

Board games is an Astraware favorite especially when you have just a few minutes to play but if time is of no consequence, trust me, Westward is a neat RPG that totally engrosses you as you as you try to wind your way across the wild west.

(Westward for S60 3rd Edition and UIQ3 phones will be released  by Astraware on 25th June.)

Of course cameras are fast becoming an important option on devices especially if the camera is decent.  Although this camera is not quite as good as other Nokia Devices, the 3.2 mega pixel camera with auto focus has done a decent job.  I do like the ability to take a picture and send it immediately to my Flickr account …. it is a cool feature.

Easy access to Flickr has been a neat experience

Decent pictures on a cloudy day

This a a Hawthorne tree in my yard that has recently flowered.

And here is a close up of one set of flowers from the Hawthorne tree.  I have been happy with the close up feature of the camera as you can see from the following two shots.

This is the end of the flowering season for this perennial but the bees are getting every last bit of pollen.

I’ve been happy with the color reproduction of the camera and expect that the more I use the camera and test its features I will get some very decent pictures.  Will I stop using my “regular camera?  Absolutely not but for those quick shots this camera will do a better job than most.

Email is easy to setup and my access to the net has been fast and flawless.  The Nokia browser is very easy to use and I have grown to appreciate its capabilities.  It is easy to navigate and has a few features  (like easy zooming and screen rotation) that make it a joy to work with.

Portrait or landscape, you’re choice and it is just a touch of a button to change.

So far the N78 has been a hit for me and I still have lots of features to explore.  I have no question that this Nokia entry will be a big hit for those that want a multimedia computer that combines music, navigation and photography with the benefits of being able to Experience Mobility.  What is absolutely outstanding is the technology that has been incorporated like the integrated A-GPS and the bonus of free Nokia Maps to guide you.  I have not yet used the WLAN basically because I have been able to get a good cell signal.  I expect when I head north to my house in Maine I will use it because signal strength is always an issue on the coast.

Features that make this device worth considering are the high-speed HSPDA 3G connectivity and support for microSD memory card (up to an 8 GB) for storage of movies and MP3s. Of course having Carl Zeiss optics with the  3.2 megapixel camera makes it very nice and again I have to say how much I have thoroughly enjoyed having the ability to use an integrated FM transmitter allowing me to play music through my car’s FM radio … it is a VERY COOL feature!

Of course I liked being able to upload pictures to Flickr while on the road and a cool feature I will try is using the A-GPS to geotag a few pictures while on the road so I can view the location on a map either on the device itself, or online when I get home.

There is no question that Nokia has added something special to this phone.  It is almost as if it were alive.  In fact it may well be because when the device is powered on, there is a glow that emanates from the keypad keeping tempo like the beat of a heart … it’s kind of eery yet very cool!

Nokia is definitely “Connecting People” and with devices like the N78, you are staying connected!

Rate Post

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) -

Similar Posts

• An unboxing and first impressions of the Nokia 810
• The Nokia N95 … an unboxing
• Nokia 8600 Luna Unboxing
• Unboxing the Nokia N95 8GB
• Nokia N800 Unboxing and Comparison

Jack Cook (2693 Posts) - Website | Twitter | Facebook