Nokia's N70 is an all-round mobile masterpiece
 Oct 19th, 2005
(Oct 26th, 2005)
Advantages:
Amazing imaging suite, 2 megapixel camera, full range of features .
Disadvantages:
Battery talk time average .
Recommendable:
Yes
Detailed rating:
Look & Feel
Durability & Robustness
Battery standby time
Value for money
Range of features
more
  cwb1
About me:
I joined Ciao cos I like writing. I use lots of phones and know lots about them, but I like other th...
Member since:14.10.2005
Reviews:19
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Review rated by 51 Ciao members on average: very helpful 
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Introduction The N70 is going to be very big indeed - even though it is Nokia's smallest smartphone to date. Put simply, Nokia has extended its Series 60 range with a really superb mobile. The manufacturer has paid attention to maintaining the highest quality in every aspect of this handset, from the display, to the simple operating system and the variety of communication channels this phone can handle.
One of the first things you will notice when you prise your gleaming new N70 from its box is that its charger socket is much smaller than most Nokias - this will better prevent foreign objects getting stuck inside. You'll still be able to charge it with all your old Nokia chargers though, because included is a handy adaptor. Also included in the box is the PC software CD, various manuals, a PC USB data cable, a 32Mb memory card, some top-of-the-range Nokia headphones and a wrist-strap.
Getting Started
There is a little button on the top to turn the phone on, and the port on the bottom of the phone is the standard Nokia one. The control panel is also a standard Nokia compilation, with responsive buttons and a four-way directional pad in the
center which are, if anything, a little on the small side. Once the phone is switched on, you'll hear the familiar Nokia jingle and then you're in. The display shows five options - contacts, messaging, calendar, gallery and image print - and there is a clock and online/offline indicator at the top. The latter is very useful because one of the phone's key strengths is its great internet-compatibility.
The tutorial is recommended - it explains all the main functions of the phone (excellent if you need a reminder of how to do something while on the move, or just don't want to go into as much depth as with the manual), and it gives a small taster of the visual capabilities of the N70.
Visual & Image Features
The 2 megapixel camera on this Nokia is one of the best you'll find on a handset. Crystal-clear photos with 20x digital zoom, flash and timer capability make this an amateur photographer's dream. There is a shutter button on the side so that after you have slid across the lens cover to activate the viewer, you can hold the phone as you would a normal digital camera - so no excuses for blurred snaps! The video function works in much the same way, and again there is incredibly little blurring as you move the camera around. Both the camera and video have multiple quality settings, which are defined by the resolution of the images - up to 1600x1200 pixels with the camera and 352x288 with the video recorder, plus you can record up to an hour of film. All footage and camera stills are automatically saved to the gallery, where you can fully edit, cut and add effects at your leisure before playing them back on the pre-installed Real Player application, or via a slide show. Finally, you can print out photos or images via the PC and USB cable or a bluetooth-compatible printer.
Audio Features
Nokia have made sure you'll be aurally entertained by including an FM radio with the N70, and the free headphones are of a good quality. The other musical features include programmable ringtones for different contacts - very handy for advance warning of an unwanted call - and a music player, where you can store and playback all your favourite .mp3s. With web access through your network provider, you'll be able to download all manner of music files, as well as games, news and other content.
Web-Related Features
The N70 is XHTML and HTML compatible - which, if you're not a techie means that you can access the internet 24 hours a day, wherever you are in the world as long as you can get a network signal! Once you've made the connection, helped by the easy step-by-step guide on the handset or in the manual, you can not only access email and air your multimedia content online, but you can bookmark your favourite pages and download and purchase stuff like the latest ringtones, games and video clips.
As more network providers extend their range of websites accessible from your mobile, you'll also be able to search, buy from online shops and carry out all the other activities you would usually have to do sitting at your laptop or PC. By connecting to the net, you will also be able to access Instant Messenger - giving you all the freedom of your favourite chat-room to meet and talk to fellow IM users.
Messaging Features
The N70 can do pretty much anything you can think of with texts, mms, emails and data massages. Message-writing is easy with the T9 predictive text function, and you can share all your multimedia creations such as photos with other phones and email accounts by just attaching them to the message. You can connect via the internet to an email account so you can pick up and send emails on the move. Again, the manual gives clear instructions on how to create your remote mailbox, connect to it, retrieve new mail and disconnect in just a few minutes.
Other Features
In no particular order, here is a list of the bells and whistles you'll find on the N70:
-Lifeblog - turns the N70 into a multimedia diary, compiling all your video clips, photos and picture messages for you automatically.
-Volume and loudspeaker control - essential for resting the ears on those long calls.
-Application downloading - the N70 N-Series 60 system allows you to download an assortment of applications for fun and business.
-Personalisation - set your ring, message and keypad tones for added effect, and set the background picture on the main screen.
-Video calling - this uses the VGA 2x digital zoom camera on the front of the phone.
-Kodak Mobile Service for imaging needs and Symantec Mobile Security for protecting your mobile phone against web-borne threats.
-Office-style applications including Quickword, Quicksheet and Quickpoint - these are transferable to PC and compatible with MS Office.
-Adobe Reader (for viewing .pdf files) and Real Player applications pre-installed.
-Synchronisation with Nokia PC Suite - keep all your personal information and content backed-up on your desktop.
-Battery talk time - 210 mins, so if you talk lots you'll have to recharge every day.
-Battery standby time - 10 days (estimated at 1.5 days after 35 minutes of video calls, 25 photos, 1 hour of general use and with Bluetooth turned on).
-Dimensions - 108.8 x 53 x 17.5mm
-Weight - 126g
-For an exhaustive list of the N70's technical capabilities and for some great pics, go to the Nokia web pages where you will find a link to a dedicated N-Series site.
Conclusion
The N70 sets a whole new standard for Nokia smartphones, and develops the 6680 model extremely well. Apart from a slightly lower-than average battery talk-time (hey, that's what chargers were made for), this phone has pretty much everything, from the beautifully engineered imaging suite to the innovative Lifeblog multimedia diary. Virtually no mobile phone feature or application for everyday work and personal use has been omitted, and if you are the sort of person who likes to have it all and wants to use it, then the N70 is probably for you. To buy it, try www.mobilephonewarehouse.mobiles4everyone.com
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10.03.2007 18:40
A really good review. This phone sounds amazing!
05.02.2007 18:08
Hi, your mobile review on the Nokia N70 is very good. But dont you think its battery backup is not so good. Like, when i use my phone for listening music or radio, battery life slows down.
10.09.2006 22:15
very good review, thanks!