Not got your mitts on a Nokia N97 yet? You’re missing out, and not just because it’s a swanky smartphone with more bells and whistles than a morris dance.
The N97 is a perfect social networking phone. Without it on your side, you’re missing out on the latest from friends across the web. See how the N97 can supercharge your social life in our video masterclass.
Best for Twitter on Nokia N97
The Nokia N97 is the perfect twittering device. A proper keyboard makes bashing out those 140 character updates speedier than ever, while its ability to run 3rd party apps and you’ve got the finest choice of Twitter software around. We recommend an app called Gravity. You can download it from the Gravity homepage, or through the Ovi Store on the N97. It’s slick, fast and cheap, but doesn’t skimp on the features.
What’s more, Gravity makes use of the N97’s touchscreen, letting you scroll smoothly through tweets from buddies in seconds.
Want to send pictures and show the world what’s going on around you? Gravity’s got that nailed too, grabbing photos straight from the five megapixel camera inside the N97 and flinging them online in seconds through a high-speed HSDPA connection.
Best for Facebook on Nokia N97
With an N97 in your pocket you’re never far from a Facebook friendship request. There’s a dedicated app for Facebook pre-installed on the N97, and it’s a world away from the typical Facebook experience on mobile phones. Using brilliantly concise menus, it keeps things neat, simple and speedy.
You’re able to comment on photos, using that flip-out keyboard, write on friends’ walls and update your status wherever you are. But it doesn’t stop there.
The N97 also packs a Facebook widget, putting updates right on the phone’s homescreen and grabbing live updates from the web. It’s quicker than loading the whole app, and gives you a quick heads-up without making you wait. Now that’s social networking done smartly.
Best for video sharing on Nokia N97
Flip the Nokia N97 over and you’ll see its five megapixel camera. It’s able to shoot video in widescreen or 4:3 ratio, and records clips in super-sharp DVD quality. But clips aren’t limited to sitting on the phone. The N97 can send its footage direct to YouTube so your friends can see it straight away.
Clips can be shot and uploaded in minutes, and if your buddies are crowded round your mobile phone you can show them the action without anyone straining to see, thanks to the N97’s ultra-wide 3.5 inch screen.
Personalise your Nokia N97 homescreen
We’ve already touched on the N97’s Facebook widget, but it’s just the tip of a very cool iceberg. As well as hooking up to the world’s largest social network there are widgets to grab weather forecasts, stock prices, MySpace updates and LinkedIn alerts.
Widgets can also provide shortcuts to the functions of the N97 itself. There’s one to tap into the mobile phone’s FM radio, for instance, and another to put favourite contacts at your fingertips.
Put all these pieces together and you’ve got a phone designed to take the best of the web and put it in your pocket. You’ll never miss an update, and you’ll be in constant contact with the people who matter most to you. Sound good? Check out the Nokia N97 in action above.
