Re: PC Pro gives the N810 3/6
 

There are other things which Nokia/Maemo could better support:

- real PyMaemo bindings, Python works but it doesn't integrate visually and functionally well with the rest of OS. Even Canola works around that by practically creating their own environment

- treat whole Maemo as serious Linux distribution, it means: creating *one* central repository (with mirrors of course ;) ) with major applications + checking of dependencies, security checks, packaging guidelines etc., etc. Maemo Garage repository *isn't* that. It's just... garage, everything put without much order and thinking. For example in App Manager in categories I have Libraries, libraries, library, libs entries. WTF?

- better communication between 3rd party developers and "central". Current developer program isn't bad idea but it requires much, much better realisation. Developers MUST get devices before official release. It doesn't have to be big number. Handpick 10-20 developing most important applications and send them *each* device without whole procedure each time. Maybe some grant system.

Re: PC Pro gives the N810 3/6
 

libgnokii started as Nokia only (actually some specific comm protocol used on some Nokias only), but it now has pluggable drivers to obtain some functionality with other devices (Nokia and others), although typically reduced. I'm using the AT driver with a MOTOPEBL (:mad:at naming), and can dial from my N800, SMS send from my N800, as well as check signal strength, and I'm not sure what all. So if they do this by adding HFP support (and appropriate control app) and contributing to gnokii, it should go a long way with other phones.

Actually, I think HFP and adding some PIM software which can sync contacts through libgnokii is all that's needed to complete your list. libgnokii can get contacts from phones (with some drivers, at least), and HFP covers about everything else you mentioned.

Re: PC Pro gives the N810 3/6
 

Maybe that's what Nokia needs to do.

1) make libgnokii part of the base Maemo, with full support for current Nokia phones provided by Nokia in the base Maemo distribution (3rd party phones would be expandable by the community).

2) add some PIM software to Maemo that can sync to your phone through libgnokii (and then do the sync to desktop/google/etc. through the phone; though sync software directly to desktop/google would be nice too).

3) add the HFP protocol and control app to Maemo (probably as an extension to whatever control app they're going to be using for SIP, so that it all has the same UI).

I'm down with that :-)

Re: PC Pro gives the N810 3/6
 

One of my reasons for not being as interested in libgnokii was that it didn't seem that there's a true way to read an SMS/MMS message through it. You can extract it from the phone's memory, but it's not as seemless as receiving a phone call nor sending an SMS/MMS message. That's definitely something I think is missing from these capabilities.

Ideally, I'd want both sending and receiving an SMS/MMS message to appear on the tablet to have the exact same user interface as Instant Messaging with your contacts. It's just that the underlying transport is SMS/MMS through libgnokii, instead of Jabber/AIM/etc. Receiving it would be just like you were on-line with Jabber and received an IM, for example. You'd get the same throbbing icon that indicates you have a waiting message. And, if you just reply to it, you might not even have to notice/care that you're doing SMS instead of IM.

Re: PC Pro gives the N810 3/6
 

You're right that it's not seamless by itself, and I don't think the extraction bit even works with my phone, but it should work with Nokias, if they include it.

If you have HFP, then you'll get notification when a SMS comes in, and the extraction could then be automatically performed, and the message routed into the IM client. That's what I was thinking of, anyway.

Re: PC Pro gives the N810 3/6
 

Lets sum up this thread:

PIM, Sync, Basic Document Editing. Happy day!

I imagine once the tablets have more resources (read: ARM Cortex) I'm sure more developers will be drawn to the ITs. I think the first MIDs are going to be clunky with Intels first attempt to bring x86 into the market. Lets hope this platform is full steam ahead when Intel's gear shows up.

Re: PC Pro gives the N810 3/6
 

You forgot "tighter integration with companion phones", so that they optionally can be sold together in bundles.

Re: PC Pro gives the N810 3/6
 

Personally, seeing as how it's an Nseries, and thus multimedia-focused (at least by marketing), I'm most interested in seeing something that allows me to sync media across the tablet. I'm talking playlists, that sort of thing, not just USB-drag-and-drop.

I also second the bookmark syncing. I personally find it completely pathetic that this thing is an INTERNET TABLET that's supposed to 'extend' my browsing experience, but I have no way to send bookmarks from my desktop to my tablet, other than setting up a 2nd tablet-only gtalk account and IMing myself.

Of interest, I've noticed that when I plug my N810 in via USB, my Nokia PC Suite pops up and 'alerts' me that the N810 has been connect in an incompatible mode. I personally find this completely fascinating, as if they merely disabled some ability that PC Suite *could* offer.

Re: PC Pro gives the N810 3/6
 

Unlikely, it's much more probable that it sees something Nokia and tries to communicate with it like a Symbian device (and fails).

Re: PC Pro gives the N810 3/6
 

Looks like Nokia IS working on something along these lines. Only for Windows instead of for a real computer:

http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/0...probably-didn/

Hopefully they'll port it to Maemo as well.