Nokia N97 carrying over old processor?
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Dec 7th 2008 5:11PM
posted Dec 7th 2008 5:11PM
You'd think that a phone promising to becoming Nokia's 2009 flagship would want some serious computational power under its shell, but the word on the street is that the N97 is actually going to carry over the same ARM 11 core used by its forebears. That might be a disappointment for anyone hoping that they'll be able to replace a MID, netbook, or eight-core Hollywood CGI workstation with an unsuspecting handset -- but if it's any consolation, other rumors suggest (thankfully, may we add) that the ARM 11 will be clocked higher than the E71, which comes in at 369MHz. For all we know, the processor specs haven't been finalized since they haven't shown up on Nokia's N97 site yet, so maybe we'll end up with 1GHz and seven minutes of battery life. Would be a productive seven minutes, wouldn't it?[Via Slashgear and UMPCPortal]
This of course, is a bloody shame :/
I'm still very much looking forward to the n97, more than any other phone though :)
Knowledge of the processor and placing the OS and other programs around it are much more important. I really hate bringing up the iPhone here but it is a device that shows that the fastest processor is not always the one best suited for the job and that developer skill can make hardware go a long way.
It still would be nice to move the technology forward and have even *that* much more better than the iPhone.
as long as it's speedy in the UI I'm ok, though it's a shame not having higher clocker processors for emulators, nor 3d accelerators for quake. :/
Same old phone with new cover? :)
Sounds like engadget getting lazy / slow as we are near x-mass session , this is one of the most disappointment known fact since 2nd of dec ;)
Check this site where N97's product manager (Nokia Tomoharu) giving details about it
http://www.tangler.com/forum/nokia-world-qa/topic/54312
Nope, engadget is right on!
@Hammer couldn't you at lest bother yourself and get to see what Nokia staff cleared about N97's features (Which was on 2nd of dec)
Anther though , i want to clear that i am disappointed about Nokia not Engadget (I expressed it wrong) and who can get disappointed about Engadget
The video on phonescoop you get a look at it's browser and it definitely loads faster than my N95 so if it is clocked higher it must be a fairly large clock difference. I'm still excited though wish it was a cortex cpu like in the acrhos.
One other thing. Symbian is already designed for the omap3 cpu's so maybe if enough people piss and moan about it they will be able to throw one in. Here's to wishing.
doesn't matter if it can just run as fast as I expect.
But it was still a little s60-slow in the video.
Even after all the specs are said n done this phone will blow. iPhone was introduced in jan of 07 , this nokia scheduled for release June of 09. Guaranteed will be another failed attempt to dethrone the iPhone , sad thing is apple only has 2 phones out compared to nokia been making cells for years. Just think about it as long as the masses continue to gobble iPod touch for $300-400, iPhone 3g will be top dawg."iPhone-killer" is nowhere in sight every major cell manufacturer has failed.Sony samsung motorola lg htc blackberry etc n now nokia.. We are seeing history
This article didn't state that this phone was going to be an "iPhone killer". Nokia isn't trying to dethrone the iPhone, I don't understand what people don't get about this... Apple made one hell of a product, not necessarily the best, but if you notice, alot of the new phones look like the iPhone. Why? Because it was a big hit and almost EVERYONE knows what an iPhone is.
Again, Nokia isn't trying to make this compete with the iPhone. Apple has one nice, big thing going for them... Everyone knows the name "Apple". Hell, alot of people don't even know who Nokia is and can't even pronounce the name right anyway.
Am I mistaken or are you trying to compare this phone and the iPhone 2G ?
LoL
you Apple fanboys are really funny sometimes....
Mac fanboys get off of the Iphone bandwagon already! Its as about as cool as still owning a Moto Razr. Iphone is not the best device in the world, it maybe for you and what you use it for, but not everyone agrees. I will still get the n97. Its 5th Edition so should run fast on the same type of processor. I love my e71 but this looks like I might have to switch devices.I cant wait for it.
I am hoping that this phone is awesome, i am getting tired of my iphone i need a new phone and refuse to get raped by AT&T for a monthly plan with the iphone 3G. The G1 is so fugly i cant stand looking at it. The G1 could have been so much more, I'm on the market for a new phone and im hoping that this will hit the stateside with 1700Mhz radio built in.
I just don't get it. A phone that sits in your bag, pocket or purse 80% of the time, like people are really going to notice the looks of the device.
I assume you got a iMac just for looks, considering a Dell for 1/2 the price runs the same apps (a browser, MS Office, Flash, games) faster and is easier to upgrade...
Look at the G1, 7201 multi-core processor, 256MB, upto 16GB SD *swappable* storage. Google Android--which is improving every day and already has more features than any phone, multi-tasking apps, hi-res screen, design that balances heavy usage vs. looks. No doubt it's a compelling device that says "try me, you won't be disappointed!" And the funny thing is if you do have T-mo's 3G coverage (in pretty much any major city), it's 7.2mbits download vs. AT&T's 3.2mbits! Look it up!
Unless the N97 has battery life that's measured in the DAYS, it will fail like the Sony X1 (heavy as* device, low batt life).
And if it's just looks and bling, save your money and get a watch. Or get a frost white G1.
I am not sure where Engadget got its information, but you need to have someone that understands phone design review it before posting. Basically your information is useless.
The OS and the apps are run on the Application Processor. In the N95 Nokia used the TI OMAP2 (an ARM9 device). In the N96 Nokia used the ST STN8815 (an ARM9 device). There isn't a competitive Application Processor that uses ARM11 on the market. So either Nokia completely changed to a new supplier, or this phone will use an Cortex-ARM8 or Cortex-ARM9 device.
It they use TI it will be the OMAP3 with an Cortex-ARM8. If they use ST it will be the next gen Apps Proc with an Cortex-ARM9. Best bet is the OMAP3 since ST's chip is still over a year away.
And quoting the GHz number is misleading, the ARM Cortex devices use a new instruction set (THUMB2) which is much more efficient. It is also a new architecture making the parts much lower power.
If there is an ARM11 in the N97 it is the Baseband. While very important, it is not the part of this device that will handle the multimedia applications or make this a potential netbook replacement.
Completely agree with JS Winston.
Also let me say that previous experience made by Nokia with ST instead of TI wasn't so encouraging.
Take a look to any comparison between N96 and N85 in terms of performances.
It's not a surprise to me that N97 will run on a TI chipset.
S.
- take a look @ http://meedabyte.wordpress.com/
Perhaps you should take your own advice. I don't know what you are smoking, but all the TI OMAP 2xxx series are ARM11 based. Not sure about the N96, but the N95 uses an OMAP 2420 application processor based around an ARM11 core.
http://focus.ti.com/general/docs/wtbu/wtbuproductcontent.tsp?contentId=4671&navigationId=11990&templateId=6123
Similarly, the iPhone's Samsung Chip also is an ARM11, as are the chips in the majority of Smartphones.
If this article is correct, it's sad to hear that the N97 won't be getting a new OMAP3 Cortex-A8 chip. And contrary to Engadget's (understandably exaggerated) suggestion, a higher clocked 600-1000mhz Cortex doesn't use much more power than a 400mhz ARM11.
Yes, loosely_coupled is correct the OMAP2 is ARM11. The N96 is, actually, a dual-CPU ARM9, though.
Also, it's Cortex A8 and Cortex A9. Cortex A9 is completely out of the picture here, as it wont ship until well into 2010.