Nokia’s gotta-have-it phones: N90 and N70

When it comes to cell phones, I haven’t exactly been on the cutting edge. I’ve long carried around an Ericksson mobile that doesn’t do much more than voice (how old-fashioned!).

Before jumping on the moblogging mobwagon, I’ve been holding out for technology to catch up with my needs. Specifically, a 2- or 3-megapixel camera/video/text-capable phone that doesn’t weigh me down with more excess baggage than I’ve already got.

A few weeks back, Nokia sent me two of its new models to try out. Both made a strong impression. So I’m happy to report that I’m now a full-fledged member of the mobile media brigade.

The Nokia N90 comes with smokin’ specs: 2 megapixel (1600 x 1200 pixels) camera with Carl Zeiss Optics and autofocus, high-quality video capture, hi-res display, integrated flash, macro mode for sharp close-ups, etc. It retails for about $600-$700.

The N90’s form factor is without peer: It’s elegant, stylish and drop-dead gorgeous, with a handset that beckons you to do so much more than make calls; a generous 2.1-inch vertical screen; and a remarkable “twist and shoot” design that turns the phone into a camcorder. On top, a swiveling camera lens lets you frame your subject with the help of a joystick and a second screen on the phone’s front side.

Mine came with a wafer-thin 256MB memory card, big enough to store scores of short videos and hundreds of photos. Settings let you adjust brightness, white balance, color tones and shutter speeds, among other options. Video is captured in MPEG-4, for easy transfer to a PC via cables that come with the package or through Bluetooth.

I took the N90 out for a stroll in San Francisco last week and captured these photos: the Transamerica building; eastern view of SF; SF looking southeast; and a friend.

Also used the N90 for these snaps at the Computer History Museum in Silicon Valley: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Most of my shots at Macworld, by comparison, came out blurry. You really need sufficient light and the discipline to hold your hand steady while taking a shot — propped against your body or set on a hard surface.

Shooting video was a breeze as well. Talking with friends was a pleasure — no neck strain, no gymnastics required to lower the device from ear to mouth and back.

Two minor downsides to the N90:

• Size. A bit bulky and heavy (at 6.1 ounches), it’s small enough to fit into your pocket but big enough to make you think whether you need to bring along the hardware when you’re heading out the door.

• Software. It took me a while to figure out how to navigate swiftly between camera and video modes. You’d think they could add a small button — flick left for photos, right for video — but, no, you have to navigate through a number of “options” menus to get to the setting you want.

There’s also no vibrate mode, apparently, which is a disappointment. Here is what other bloggers have said about the Nokia N-90, including a recent review by BoingBoing’s Mark Frauenfelder. I’d give it a higher grade than Mark would; in fact, now that I’ve baptized the N90, I’ll likely use it as my regular mobile phone.

The Nokia N70, just out, is also a sweet and sexy smartphone. Retailing for around $500-$550, the N70 is in many ways a more practical alternative to the N90. It has all the same functionalities, but is lighter (4.44 ounces), slimmer and trimmer: nothing that folds out, no parts that swivel, twist, turn or shout.

The N70 package comes with the same basic accessories as the N90: 64MB multimedia card, stereo headset, travel charger, connectivity cable to attach to your PC, Bluetooth wireless, the ability to send and receive images, video clips, graphics and business cards, two-way video call capability, WAP browsing, email support, text and multimedia messaging — it’s basically a PC in your sweaty little palm. Details here.

I have a video iPod so don’t need a second portable music player, but others will like the fact that the N70 (unlike the N90) comes equipped with a digital music player and FM radio with support for Visual Radio.

The N70’s video and photo capture features are easy to use, with a compact slide-and-shoot design. I found the button for taking photos a bit clunky, however — several times I missed capturing that perfect Kodak moment, and instead inadvertently snapped a photo and had to wait long seconds before I could take another.

Capturing video was an easier task. Check out this video (typical for a camera phone) taken of Dave Toole in a restaurant last week, which I uploaded with VideoEgg. A better experience was capturing the San Francisco Bay Bridge and surrounding landscape.

I haven’t had time to inspect every facet of these phones; for instance, both use Nokia’s Lifeblog application, which looks well worth checking out.

These phones aren’t for everyone — being a gadget freak (like me) would certainly help. As millions more people pick up media-capable phones like the N90 or N70 and begin to participate in the personal media revolution, we’ll be seeing an explosion of social media (sharing interesting personal experiences with a global audience), darknets (sharing private experiences with trusted friends) and citizen journalism (eyewitnesses capturing newsworthy events).

Earlier this week, Wired reported that Samsung is introducing an 8-megapixel camera phone, which just blows my mind. Naturally, it’ll debut in South Korea. Meantime, I’ll be content to merrily lug my Nokia 90 around, playing citizen journalist. Smile for the Web!

JD Lasica, founder of Inside Social Media, is also a fiction author and the co-founder of the cruise discovery engine Cruiseable. See his About page, contact JD or follow him on Twitter.