Editor's Corner: Nokia N90 Cameraphone

The Nokia N90 is a cameraphone that takes the "camera" part of its name very seriously. The N90 takes beautiful pictures, records pretty decent video, and has an almost overwhelming number of features. As for the size and weight of this phone? Well, let's just say you're not likely to forget about it in your pocket. The phone's complex flip/pivot/swivel design takes some getting used to, but it works well and feels a bit like a Sony DV cam when the screen is flipped out and pivoted.

Nokia N90Nokia is quick to point out that the N90 is the only cameraphone to with Carl Zeiss optics, a well-known brand among photo pros. I don't know much about optics, but the N90 does take crisp, bright, colorful two Megapixel pictures. The video is well above average too.

Bizarrely, and despite it's complex, feature-filled interface, the N90 does not have a vibrate alert. I can only guess that the vibration didn't play well with the N90's sensitive optics. But still, this may be a deal breaker for some people. The phone has 32MB of built-in memory and an RS-MMC card slot. It features an incredibly bright, high-resolution 352x416 display. Like most high-end phones, the N90 also has decent music playback support and also includes an FM radio.

This phone may be of interest to photography buffs (did I mention it has a flash, too?), but I can't really see it catching on in the mass market. The price doesn't help much either; it will set you back at least $600 for an unlocked version.

If you want to learn more about the N90, check out this detailed review or try Nokia's N90 blog. The company has made a special effort to generate buzz about this phone by reaching out to the blogger community. - Eli