6 reasons which make the N9 a keeper

Nokia N9 is a special phone in any way. It's modern look and futuristic operation system make it a  unique device in the world of smartphones.

Let's not think about some missing applications or the limited Nokia support - let's think about why the N9 is a "keeper" and why you wouldn't want to exchange it for any other device. What makes the N9 a better phone? There are many reasons, my top 6 are standby screen, battery life, mass-storage mode, multitasking, navigation software and swipe.


1. Standby screen

Standby screen with time and notifications

Time and notifications on standby screen are very helpful. Compared to the typical dead standby screen most other smartphones have, the N9 provides the user with all necessary information without having her/him press any button to quit standby mode. Not only time is shown, but also battery status, sound profile, reminders, new messages, social media news, and even 3rd party application notification like qNeptunea's one. This saves battery and time.

Once you are used to this kind of notification screen, you will probably have a hard time using a phone without that feature.

2. Battery life

If the N9 is set up without too many synchronization services, the lifespan of one recharge is pretty long.  The energy management of MeeGo Harmattan seems to be very good and has been improved a lot with the latest system update (PR 1.2). The integrated Power Saver Mode extends battery life without limiting phone functions to much. Compared to other recent smartphones, the N9 certainly ranks very high.

3. Mass-storage mode and Bluetooth-transfer 

N9 access with Bluetooth

Were you an iPhone or Windows Phone user before you got the N9? Remember how annoying it was to send a random file from or to your phone? Nokia N9 doesn't have this problem. With Mass-storage mode you can put any file onto your phone, whenever you use a file straight on your device or just store it. The phone can be used like an USB memory stick and all that without any additional software like iTunes or Zune. 

With available Bluetooth transfer you don't even need an USB cable. Send and receive any file to or from different devices or simply browse from your computer through folders on the N9.

100% true multitasking

4. Multitasking 

No other phone on the market has such a mature multitasking like the N9. MeeGo's multitasking makes it fast and easy to use various applications at once. 

While Android and iOS (iPhone) multitasking is more complicated to use, Windows Phone doesn't even have a real multitasking. The N9 on the other hand has true multitasking with live preview of running applications.

I often connect the N9 to the car radio while driving and use the inbuilt navigation software. Navigation voice and music don't interfere with each other at all - wonderful!

5. Maps and Navigation software

Nokia Drive provides free navigation software for various Nokia phones. Nokia Drive is fantastic and combined with Maps application it comes close to any expensive TomTom or Garmin GPS navigation systems. Navigation voices are great and features like speed warnings make the N9 a very useful device when traveling with the car. Don't forget about downloadable maps - got lost in a foreign city and can't afford expensive roaming charge? Prepare yourself and download maps of the country you travel to in advance. With the N9 you might forget how Google Maps even looks like...

Nokia N9, your companion on car rides

6. Swipe

Buttons are the past, Swipe the future

The swipe interface is a very unique user experience. A new N9 user might have some transition difficulties - it needs some time to learn how to "swipe". However, once used to it you will have problems to use anything else. Have you ever caught yourself trying to swipe a window away on any other phone or tablet? Probably yes. Other phones feels slow and long winded with all their buttons and static operation systems.





Why couldn't you imagine using another phone? 
What makes the N9 special to you? Please let us know with a comment.