MeeGo Q&A with Alberto Torres, Nokia EVP, MeeGo Computers

[JayMontano]

http://mynokiablog.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/20100527_039.jpg?w=600&h=337
On Thursday (Day Two of Open Mobile Summit) Iain, Sergejs and I had the privilege of an unscheduled Q&A with Nokia’s EVP, MeeGo Computers: Alberto Torres who had just finished a Keynote Speech on “Transforming Nokia” and a panel on “Platforms Vs Networks”.

Link contains a vimeo video and transcript (or attempt of, as room wasn't the best for Q&A).

Cheers

CLICKY (http://mynokiablog.com/2010/05/29/video-meego-qa-with-alberto-torres-nokia-evp-meego-computers-at-openmobile/)

[Chrome]

Conclusion:

MeeGo phone being announced this year
MeeGo phone will push the boudaries of processing power
MeeGo phone will be a very high end product
MeeGo is an opportunity to create something well beyond what others are doing
MeeGo phone is step 5 of 5 and intended for mass market
MeeGo phone will be something everyone wants to own
MeeGo phone will try to satisfy all needs into one plate
MeeGo phone will be capacitive, more stylish and more beautiful with simpler UI that average users will find as equally compelling as tech leaders.
MeeGo has potential to be something deeper than typical smartphone
Maemo apps not directly backwards compatible with MeeGo
Nokia N8 will be Nokia’s flagship in a few months
All future flagships will be built on MeeGo
MeeGo phone will be on Nseries (not rumoured Sseries)
MeeGo will have higher experience level than Symbian
Symbian^3 and MeeGo will have certain minimum base level specification to ensure apps created on one device works in another.
N8 is first step in reclaiming momentum at high end.
MeeGo is the next step.

[KapCaveman]

Conclusion:
MeeGo phone will push the boudaries of processing power
Maemo apps not directly backwards compatible with MeeGo


Moorestown?

[GeneralAntilles]

Moorestown?

I really, really hope not.

[bbin]

Moorestown?

Don't really don't think so :D
Why did they want to have arm compatibility for meego then?

[Stonik]

I really, really hope not.

It's still Intel though. It would really be interesting to see some benchmarks and battery tests, Moorestown versus OMAP and Snapdragon for example.

However, I guess it's really difficult to do this kind of testing, as there are no Moorestown products yet, nor the testing software.

[tissot]

It's still Intel though. It would really be interesting to see some benchmarks and battery tests, Moorestown versus OMAP and Snapdragon for example.

However, I guess it's really difficult to do this kind of testing, as there are no Moorestown products yet, nor the testing software.

I would really like to see the Moorestown(that i believe is Z6xx series since the May announcement) inside phone, but it wont happen at least with the first Nokia Harmattan/MeeGo phones.

I have been waiting Harmattan before i joined this community and this doesn't make the wait any easier. ;)

[meizirkki]

I really, really hope not.

Quoted for thruth..

[Odd_gunnic]

[URL="http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1650925/nokia-meego-device-arm-chip"/URL]

First device will be ARM

[sachin007]

trialling a N8.

S. So maybe you won’t be able to talk about N8, but maybe you can talk about what you like and dislike about Nokia N900.

AT: I think that the N900- I’m going to have to go after this one – what I really like about the N900 is so many things. I think the multitasking as an element to the UI is very powerful. I think the browsing experience is excellent. I think the speed that it works is very good. I think there are some things I don’t like so much. The resistive screen, the touch side is not as good as it needs to be. Obviously it will be better in MeeGo. The interface is good but you can get lost occasionally on that. And I think again, it was really developed for technology leaders. We are going to make it (MeeGo) just a touch simpler so your average consumer can find it equally compelling. That has to be the key thing. And then the other bit are two things. Make it more stylish and more beautiful.

Very well said!!!

[GeneralAntilles]

I think there are some things I don’t like so much. The resistive screen, the touch side is not as good as it needs to be.

Bu-Bu-Bu-********!

The N900's touchscreen is one of the best in the industry. Why does Nokia continually insist on abandoning large swaths of their existing customer base every time they do an upgrade. Providing both resistive and capacitive options for their customers is precluded neither by cost, technology, nor software requirements.

It's all marketing, and it's unfortunate that Nokia wants to be a follower rather than a leader.

[slaapliedje]

Bu-Bu-Bu-********!

The N900's touchscreen is one of the best in the industry. Why does Nokia continually insist on abandoning large swaths of their existing customer base every time they do an upgrade. Providing both resistive and capacitive options for their customers is precluded neither by cost, technology, nor software requirements.

It's all marketing, and it's unfortunate that Nokia wants to be a follower rather than a leader.

Agreed! From what I've been reading, just because a screen is resistive vs capacitive doesn't mean that Multi-touch cannot be done. On the other hand, a capacitive screen can't be pressure sensitive?

I know myPaint on the N900 is pressure sensitive, and is AWESOME. I'd hate to lose that when going to a newer device.

slaapliedje

[sachin007]

I agree that resistive has its own advantages. But if meego continues to be resistive it cant compete with apple and android. The general public somehow hates resistive :(

[qgil]

It seems that capacitive screens allow you to use harder materials. Users definitely want to have devices in purses and pockets without caring about scratches.

From my personal point of view (as long term tablet user happy with resistive screens) that is an important benefit to be considered.

[bandora]

It seems that capacitive screens allow you to use harder materials. Users definitely want to have devices in purses and pockets without caring about scratches.

From my personal point of view (as long term tablet user happy with resistive screens) that is an important benefit to be considered.

Ok.. but there are things like screen protectors.. it's really not that hard to obtain them and to apply them... I, ehrm, many people think that having a multitouch resistive screen is a great idea.. there's nothing wrong by having two variants of MeeGo phones.. Capacitive + resistive...

[smoothc]

I will say it: capacitive is better because it is what the iphone has.
Also pinch and zoom is the feature that puts the smart in smartphone.

[nosa101]

I will say it: capacitive is better because it is what the iphone has.
Also pinch and zoom is the feature that puts the smart in smartphone.

http://cdn-hw.liveleak.com/u/thumbs/2009/Mar/17/1878513_208_avatar.jpg

[crisismt]

Capacitive is better because that is what the iphone has: best reason ever

[nosa101]

Capacitive is better because that is what the iphone has: best reason ever
http://www.techspot.com/gallery/data/504/o_rly_by_granty2_original.jpg

[meizirkki]

The general public somehow hates resistive :(

There's a reason for that.. lets take an example called Touch Book. It's screen is horribly inaccurate and cheap.

I bet there is a bunch more more devices with as bad resistive screen .. no wonder why it's hated.

[Crashdamage]

Users definitely want to have devices in purses and pockets without caring about scratches...that is an important benefit to be considered.
OK, a small advantage. Multi-touch is no biggie, I found it to be clumsy in practice.

But a good resistive like the N900 is far more versatile and useful. Coming from a capacitive screen phone to the N900 was a revelation and I'm hoping never to have to go back to a capacitive screen.

So at least be honest about Nokia's reason to switch. Which (mostly) is the public's perception that capacitive is better, which in turn is due almost entirely to the fact that's what the iPhone and Android phones use.

Anyway, since marketing will dictate a capacitive screen, at least be smart about it and include a pull-out stylus like the N900. It would help offset the loss of fingernail input somewhat.

[extendedping]

I just wish I knew one thing...will the meego phone have a real keyboard? If so I would hold out for that, if not I'd just get the darn n900. I'd assume the meego will not have a hardware keyboard as it seems nokia is just copying other smartphones now.

[bandora]

But what I don't understand is that, why do people insist that there's no high response resistive multitouch screens out there!! There are such screens now-a-days you know..

[sjgadsby]

But what I don't understand is that, why do people insist that there's no high response resistive multitouch screens out there!! There are such screens now-a-days you know..

Are they limited run tech demos for expos and "Isn't it cool?" YouTube videos, or are they being mass produced with small failure rates and low cost so a major handset manufacturer can call up and order 100k a month for the next year? Last I looked, it was the former. Has the situation changed?

[tissot]

I got a say as a guy who have owned or still owns resistive devices like 5800 and N900. Capacitive devices like Omnia HD, ipod touch 1G and Zune HD... i would take capacitive over resisitve.

There's bad capacitive, resistive screens and UI's that might fit better to one of those, but i find good capacitive always better in normal everyday use.
There's imo something wrong when you need to buy case or screen protector for your device(ipod touch manages this even with no resistive because of the metal back). I haven't ever warmed to the idea, but most of all i just find capacitive more responsive and better to use.

[sevla]

Can we not turn this into a resistive vs capacitive debate?

It's like beating a dead horse. One side will never agree with the other.

[ysss]

Can we not turn this into a resistive vs capacitive debate?

It's like beating a dead horse. One side will never agree with the other.

Shhh.. it was almost forgotten before you rise it back up :D

[object]

then i guess n900 will be my paint mate for several years from now on :D

[bandora]

Are they limited run tech demos for expos and "Isn't it cool?" YouTube videos, or are they being mass produced with small failure rates and low cost so a major handset manufacturer can call up and order 100k a month for the next year? Last I looked, it was the former. Has the situation changed?

Sorry to bump this thread.. But, I just wanted to grab sjgadsby's attention to this video.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVIKYF7MOzU

That's a multitouch resistive screen that has meego on it.. Now if only Nokia also does the same thing on it's phones.. that would be great! :D

[GeneralAntilles]

Are they limited run tech demos for expos and "Isn't it cool?" YouTube videos, or are they being mass produced with small failure rates and low cost so a major handset manufacturer can call up and order 100k a month for the next year? Last I looked, it was the former. Has the situation changed?

Perhaps not, but Nokia is clearly a company that should be capable of pushing technology moves like that. It might even appeal to marketing given their lack of strong innovation over the past few years. :)

[REMFwhoopitydo]

Moorestown?

Ti Omap4 hopefully.

[pelago]

I thought we already knew that the next device would have an OMAP3, the same as N900?

[TheBootroo]

i would love dual core 1.2ghz snapdragon ARM based device !

[meizirkki]

i would love dual core 1.2ghz snapdragon ARM based device !

naah, OMAP4 or Tegra2 ftw :P

[REMFwhoopitydo]

I thought we already knew that the next device would have an OMAP3, the same as N900?

if it is then it won't be "pushing the limits" or whatever marketing babble Alberto Torres used in the interview!

[pelago]

Yes, that rather confused me.