So, the iPhone thinks it can stay on top just by adding a measly 8 GB, eh? Anybody can do that! Case in point, the Nokia N96 just dropped in Barcelona, essentially bumping the N95 up to an iPhone-comparable 16 GB of internal memory. And they threw in a few extras into their top-end dual slider while they were at it.
Like, for example, a DVB-H receiver to pick up digital TV signals and a kickstand to prop it up on your desk for easy viewing. That'll get us more excited when American TV goes fully digital in 2009, but the all-new adaptable backlit touch controls are far more interesting to us. Sure, the LG Venus and Samsung Soul already do that for music playback, but the N96's multimedia functions are squeezing more use out of adaptable touch controls; for one thing, it supports fully emulated N-Gage video games, and the control pads can change according to the game's needs. A haptic feedback system might've been a nice addition here, but you can't expect everything.
Although it also hit the interwebs today that Apple's filing patents on new gaming hardware (the iGame?), and if it's touchscreenable, you can bet they'll haptic it up.
Naturally, all this coolness comes at a price. Specifically, $800 is the number we're hearing. That's a lot of dough for something you can easily drop on the cement ten times a day, so best consider getting a SquareTrade cell phone warranty, and then add Accidental Damage to your coverage. You could go with cell phone insurance and pay a lot more for a lot less, but that assumes your carrier offers it on smart phones, which is not an assumption you should make.
The N96 is targeted to ship in Q3 2008.
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