My Nokia Blog

We know that the successor of the Nokia N900 will have both capacitive screen and multitouch; finally getting somewhat closer to the iPhone in terms of slick screen interaction.

Well the N900′s successor maybe more iPhone-like that we would have guessed. Well if we believe rumours that is…

Check out below of what looks like a cross between an iPhone but slapped with a Nokia 770/N800′s screen (running the old OS 2007). I reckon if you could blow up the stories they’d be rss links to something way back in 07.

VIA IMOBILE365. Not real, though I'd be happy to be wrong.

If Nokia did make a slim, powerful, keyboard-less, capacitive Maemo 6 phone with 4.13 screen (and possibly improved imaging) they maybe onto a big winner.

It would have been great if this was an ACTUAL spy pic as claimed. China clones, though sometimes botching things up to look nothing like the original, must (at times) have a starting point somewhere, right?

Like the now known 7705 – this was cloned in china as the E81 way before the 7705 twist’s release. Whilst the 7705 were in factory production, someone stole one and copied it.

N800 with OS 07 – ( ah memories! From a really old review of mine on mobileburnforums!)

VIA "First Impressions of Nokia's Latest Internet Tablet"

Finally – here’s my post on the “N920″. That post was meant to be about a keyboard configuration, that’s all. The N920 name was just something to refer to it.

"n920" and N97

Here are a couple of videos of some Nokia N97 fakes and dummies.

The first is a fake working version of a clone of the N97 that we saw on Sunday. It’s the one with the glaring neon blue backlight on the keypapd. It actually looks pretty good considering the price.

The second is a real non working dummy version of the Nokia N97. It seems doesn’t have the feel of a real N97, which you would sort of expect even from a dummy as that is what consumers will look at first in the shops.  Maybe it’s a replica dummy version?:P

For those extremely anxious to get their mitts on the Nokia N97, both are actually available for purchase.

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Update: Here’s another video of a working N97 clone. I think it’s a different clone, not because this one’s black but the media player UI looks different. Even has an accelerometer like the other clone and real N97.

Changing housing used to be something top Nokia models did in their prime (3310, 7210, 7610) with ease. They were intended to be easily user replaceable with the pay off that you tend to lose some build quality due to the removable parts.

Nseries focused slightly more towards build quality thus dropped the exchangeble fascia scheme. Since they didn’t focus on build quality too much, inevitabley your phone gets scuffed, scratched or worse but unlike the 3310 and the like, you can’t just whip on a fresh new cover.

With the N95 however, it was surprisingly easy, albeit with a tool for the front cover, as the back came off with ease as if it was intended for it. On eBay, you can find a selection of colours from the original available to non standard, such as blue and gold.

You can also find N82 covers on eBay which could lead you (it did me) to think that it’s similar to the N95 in what is essentially a simple shell of a cover.

NO it isn’t.

To replace the N82 cover yourself, you must prepare yourself for some major surgery. Disassembling is not recommended unless you have done it before as it is very complicated and can easily lead to an N82 looking paper weight.

Here’s a video showing you step by step of dissasembling the N82

A couple of weeks ago I purchased a black N82 housing set just to see if they’re up to scratch (non OEM from eBay). It arrived this morning. Unless I become significantly bored (and brave), I’m not going to replace the cover myself. But here’s some thoughts and pictures of it.

Tools

Crystal casing

Actual Black N82:

Whilst not as sleek as the completely black N82, it’s a pretty good imitation, not bad for under £10 with P&P. The tools required are provided, with additional extras of the crystal case and an LCD “filter”. Micro SD card door is black as well as the opposing side keys, with just the silver shutter button.

The cover itself feels robust. The finish looking surprisingly good, matte at the sides, glossy at the front, with slightly darker brushed metal effect on the camera. The only error I can detect at the moment (apart from the obviously mismatching front keypad) is the printing of the numbers/letters as they have shifted of a couple of milimetres. The spring assisted lens cover also feels very similar but as with the whole package, only time will tell if it is fit enough for every day and prolonged use.

Please note that changing the cover yourself will void your warranty. Should you be so eager or even require a change in cover, consult a Nokia repair centre who would also provide OEM covers (at a price).

If anyone has changed the housing of their N82, I’d love to see how you got on.

P.S. If like mine,  the front is scratched, this can be relatively easily removed and exchanged without touching the internals of the phones. Again, unless you’ve done this kind of thing before, DO NOT ATTEMPT CHANGING THE WHOLE COVER.

Also, the weakest thing in this package is the fake SS-93 tool. As I’ve just found out, the tip breaks easily. Do not use this as you will break your N82.

Nokia clones are very much the common thing now. Just becareful you don’t get sold some bull about how it’s a special “Asian” edition or similar stories as to why it’s PHYSICALLY different.

This one though is closer to the real thing than most.

Pretty good, no? I hope that shiny mirror finish is tougher than the original.

If you’re interested in seeing a bunch of original N93i pics for comparision, click for the Shiny Shiny Nokia N93i thread, pictures taken at CES 2007

- JUSTAMP