Editor's Review of the N79
Sophisticated yet highly functional, the Nokia N79 is a solid bar 3G Smartphone that joins Nokia's N-series handset models which include Nokia N96, Nokia N85, Nokia N82 and Nokia N78.
Available in either canvas white or grey casing, the Nokia N79 comes with changeable colour covers of blue, green and brown, white and red. It weighs 97 grams and measures 110 x 49 x 15 millimetres and displays a 60.96-millimetre QVGA screen with light sensor. The wide screen showcases 16 million colours over a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. Users will be able to adjust the screen's colour and brightness using the handset's control options.
The Nokia N79 is powered by the Symbian operating system on S60 Software. The mobile phone supports Xpress On smart covers to allow automatic change of themes according to its user's preference. Similarly, the user can choose from Nokia N79's selection of AAC, MP3, polyphonic and video ringtones.
The Nokia N79 is a quadband handset that works over GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800 and GSM 1900 as well as WCDMA. This is why it is an efficient device for worldwide roaming, but depending on the network provider of the mobile phone's user. It allows access to the Internet with its internal HTML, XHTML and WML browser. It is powered by Wi-Fi technology, which offers users Internet connection at local WLAN and in nearby hotspots. To share and transfer data and files with compatible devices, the handset's wireless Bluetooth and USB support can be utilised.
The Nokia N79 offers the customary SMS or text messaging that works on Predictive Text method, as well as multimedia messaging or MMS. The handset offers wireless email support service with attachments and filtering in SMTP, IMAP and POP servers. The technologically advanced Nokia N79 also works on Text-To-Speech Message Reader.
The Nokia N79 is an efficient business assistant with its organiser features that include a phonebook with support for images, clock, calendar, calculator, flight mode, vibrating alert as well as a document viewer that supports popular document formats. Taking and making calls with the Nokia N79 is a breeze with the mobile phone's support for 6-member conference calls, VoIP Internet Calls and a Push-To-Talk option. With hands free speaker phone and speed dialing features, the Nokia N79 makes a convenient communication gadget. Also, the handset is integrated with AGPS and Nokia Maps applications to serve as users' guide in directions to various locations.
Capturing picture-perfect moments is convenient with the Nokia N79's integrated 5-Megapixel camera that works on Carl Zeiss Optics Tessar lens and has a CMOS sensor. The camera calls for superb photo quality with its 20x digital zoom, flash mode and red eye reduction features. The versatile camera also offers still, sequence, video and self-timer modes, while allowing control of scenes with manual, auto, portrait, close-up, landscape, sport, night and night portrait modes. Moreover, Nokia N79 users can tweak their photos to perfection using the photo editor and create slide shows complete with sound out of them.
The Nokia N79 camera also allows video recording, streaming and playback in 3GP, MPEG4, H263 and H264 formats. For more precise videos, the camera is equipped with a video stabiliser and video light features. Similar to the photos, videos can be captured in auto and night modes, or adjusted to perfection using the video settings. The Nokia N79 also supports video calling.
Users can listen to their favourite music with the portable music player that is integrated with the Nokia N79. The music player supports the popular formats of MP3, AAC, eAAC+, WMA, eAAC+ and eAAC. Its added features include album art display, music selection, playlist creation and an equaliser for a better listening experience on its 3D stereo speakers. Users may also opt to listen to tracks over the built-in FM radio with RDS support. Additionally, the Nokia N79 supports Internet radio.
The Nokia N79 goes on to entertain its users with an array of embedded games in Java format. It also allows downloading of Java games from the Internet.
The Nokia N79 has an internal memory of 50 Megabytes and a 4-Gigabyte MicroSD memory card which can be expanded to up to 8 Gigabytes. The handset offers 5.5 hours of talk time for WCDMA, and can last to a maximum of 406 hours in the equivalent. It also offers standby time of 372 hours for GSM and 172 hours for WLAN.
Compared with less advanced handsets, the Nokia N79's camera tends to be less powerful, according to some observers. Nevertheless, with its range of top-of-the-line features, the Nokia N79 is a valuable handset to both professionals and entertainment-loving users.