NOKIA N73: Shoot, text and call

Making the right choice when it comes to cellphones is never easy. The choices are many but I’ve only two hands, only two ears and yes, one mouth. Most of my weekends are spent visiting cellphone shops (next to my favorite shops, the sports stores) to check out just what new mobile model I might chance upon.

And there it was – the white Nokia N73. It’s light and simple. There is a black version, too, I was told.

Exactly the phone I was looking for. I must admit that there are times when my mood opts for the simple, easy to use yet elegant mobile. At other times, I look for the top-of-the-line, do-everything cell. It is the wide screen of the N73 that first caught my eye. And then, the 3.2-megapixel camera (the better to capture those pet moments for me) and of course, the mini SD expansion slot. I was told that Nokia calls this phone a multimedia computer with excellent photography features and integrated stereo speakers. It includes a 3.2-megapixel auto-focus camera with Carl Zeiss optics. A connected camera for the digital shutterbug.

This beauty is a lightweight at 116 grams and it is only 19 mm wide. It has a 42 MB internal memory and comes with a 128 MB mini SD card (which is expandable to one G). As is standard, the phone is dual mode and has tri-band coverage of up to five continents.

And then there’s more. You can shoot videos up to 175 minutes long, store up to 1,219 photos or add up to 1,092 songs. The choice is yours. But a word of advice, it’s never good to overload any electronic gadget – no matter what the gadget may be – for it causes "hanging" problems.

The bright color display is another plus with the N73 and I just love the edit function where you can further personalize a photo with clip art and other little odds and ends that come with the phone.

But for me, the real attraction of this phone is its camera. The phone shoots just like a camera – yup, it’s better if you turn it on its side for the photo-ops. The extra feature of a slide-up camera lens cover is another plus for OC cell owners like me who hate scratches in any manner or form. But let me just rattle off to you what the camera can do. Here goes…

It’s got a 20x digital zoom, two-stage capture key for autofocus control, 2.4-inch camera viewfinder in landscape orientation, integrated flash, light sensitivity control and all the settings any not too great photog like me needs. Perfect.

The phone gave me endless shoots on Sundays with the dogs. And it’s impressive as an entry to the level of digicams. I really love its fuss- and frills-free design. The N73 is for lovers of minimalism who adore plain and simple lines.

Another plus is the Bluetooth connectivity, which is easy to use and connects amazingly quickly with other Bluetooth-enabled phones. Photo and video files are easily transferred and at great speeds.

The active toolbar interface provides a one-touch selection to send photos via e-mail, Bluetooth connectivity or MMS, print or upload them. Fantastic.

What can I say, the Nokia N73 meets an everyday user’s needs – in one nifty device. The high-performing Nokia N73 not only travels with you, but also has a functionality that is easy to use. Every aspect of the Nokia N73 has been designed to make photography easy. The dedicated controls for capture, zoom and review, together with the active toolbar interface, provide intuitive and fast control of key camera functions.

There is one more thing I just love about this phone – the 3D tunes. I was able to make my ringing tones sound like they were being played inside a cavernous hall or in the middle of the forest. The sound was great and lots of my friends wanted to have tones just like mine.

So what if the N73 does not have Wi-Fi capabilities? After all, what do I really use my phone for – texting, calling, making unique ringtones and taking photos and videos. If I wanted Wi-Fi, I would bring my notebook computer with me – I gotta use that too, right?

Ahhh, Nokia. What will they think of next? I can’t wait.