Re: N900 specs revealed
 

So now can we start a new song thread ? Just like the previous Haiku thread - where we can express opinions and which side we are on thru song lyrics ... that would be better than flat out hurtful and dismissive comments :p

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

How about if I leave my billions in my General Motors stock and just show up at their front door, mute, and hand them ... an iPod touch?

Contrary to your argument, the market for an uncoverged tablet has been proved, and the Touch is the proof. Apparently Apple has succeeded despite being 7 years behind the times. :)

Apple makes a single phone and a single tablet (not counting memory variation). Nokia makes a zillion phones. So Apple at least has concluded that the non-phone mobile market is large enough that it is worth more investment than multiplying their phone offerings.

Here's the marketing experiment I'd like to see:

Per one of the Nokia people on this thread, the screen can't be as large as the device's face because of all the antennas. So if you drop GSM, GPS, and anything else other than bluetooth and wifi, you could have a smaller device with the current N810 screen. I'd also drop the camera (people can have it in their phones).

Then you would have a device similar to, but a little larger than, the touch. Maybe with, maybe without a keyboard. (I vote for stylus, no keyboard, which also helps in the direct comparison below. And for this direct comparison, I remove the stereo speakers in favor of one like the Touch but I keep the d-Pad.) I would guess you could build a unit about 115mm x 72mm x 12mm, which makes for a slightly larger face than the rumored N900 (59.7mmx111mmx18.2mm) but considerably less depth and overall less bulk.

Then you can do a marketing study:

Would you buy

(A) this Apple Touch with a 3.5" 480x320 capacitive screen, Apple OS, multitouch, an accelerometer, and this very small form factor,

or would you buy

(B) this "Nokia Touch" with a 4.12" 800x480 resistive screen, removable memory, removable battery, an open maemo OS, the ability to sketch and to mark up documents, and bluetooth in the event you want to connect to a GPS or keyboard or datastream, in this slightly larger but clearly pocketable form factor?

Apart from the consumer's justifiable (although hated on this forum) love for the intuitive Apple interface and Apple's robust ecosystem, I think a lot of people would opt for the slightly larger, more flexible device.

Maybe I'm wrong on the precise specs for my "Nokia Touch" -- they aren't quite my ideal but I think they hit a large market and help on pocketability and cost -- but the Touch has proved that there is a big market for non-converged devices. Maybe a majority of testers would say, I'd buy it but only if it had a keyboard even if that increased the bulk and cost; or a majority would say the speakers are worth it to them; but, in any event, the market for a non-converged tablet is there.

Constantly comparing the Tablet only to a smartphone, and telling us to give up on Tablets since there is a market only for unified devices, is a mistake, in light of the success of the touch. It's just a matter of figuring out the particulars of what to produce to compete with the iPod touch ... and producing it.

[qgil! Peter@MaemoMarketing!! ragnar!!! Don't you want to click the Thanks! button on this post?? You can do it! C'mon! ]

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right

You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We're doing what we can
But when you want money
for people with minds that hate
All I can tell is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right
Ah

ah, ah, ah, ah, ah...

You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free you mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right
all right, all right, all right
all right, all right, all right

:D:D

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

Hello, my first post here!

There had been rumors about a Maemo phone already before this leak and the oFono project seemed to fit the picture perfectly. Then I came to this forum to see what people thought about it.

And boy, was I surprised to see everyone crying foul about the two exact things that had _kept me from buying_ a tablet before: device size(screen size) and phone functionality! Heck, someone people even stated that anyone who ever wanted phone functionality in these devices doesn't belong here and should leave this forum immediately. Talk about feeling welcome. :)

The two deal breakers for me were that none of the tablets were small enough and that they didn't have cellular data or voice. I want ONE pocketable device with big enough screen that has everything I need whenever I leave my desktop computer. It doesn't have to be the best device for everything. DSLR takes better pictures, dedicated ebook readers are more comfortable and so on. But, if it does everything well enough then I'm sold.

Some of you might ask me why I haven't bought an iPhone or an Android device?

I'm not liking the iPhone walled garden approach. The app store is probably nice, but I certainly don't want Apple to decide what I can and cannot run on my own device. And don't get me started about AT&T:s influence. Most european carriers let customers tether their laptops freely without any additional charges, after all, they have paid for the data already! Who cares what's using it? And forcing all these artificial restrictions on software. My carrier lets me use skype over 3g if i want, but somebody over at AT&T decided it's not allowed so no go for me either.

I don't know so much about Android but it seems that it's not as open as I would have liked. And the G1 is butt ugly.

My brain has been overheating when I've been trying to connect the dots between all that Nokia's been doing lately. Rumors about a Maemo phone, oFono, open sourcing Symbian, Trolltech acquisition and so on. And now the news about a whole Maemo devices division.

I think we are living some interesting times.. first the Qt stuff. I don't know if any of you have been reading the Symbian Foundation blog, but it seems Symbian might getting a serious UI overhaul in version ^4. The all Qt "Orbit" UI widget library and "Direct UI" are proposed to replace the old Avkon UI I see in my E71 today. The new libraries are said to be optimised for touch based interaction.

And when you look at Qt Software(ex trolltech) roadmap http://www.qtsoftware.com/developer/qt-roadmap it screams mobile UI. All the Kinetic stuff, multitouch, gestures, new APIs for mobile development etc.

In the light of this http://events.nokia.com/developersum...n_Rytkonen.pdf I wouldn't be surprised at all even if that Orbit widget set would find its way to Maemo. You could use the same software in both Symbian and Maemo devices (and WinMo probably?). This could bring in a lot of developers and speed up Maemo adoption to make it even better a platform.

And the phone functionality is another factor that's going to bring more people in. I'm sure there are a lot of people like me who don't want to carry around multiple devices but still want the flexibility Maemo can offer.

The platform is still young and needs more users and developers. And I hope Nokia really pushes hard to make it *gasp* mainstream. Because as it is now, it's a niche no matter how you look at it. It even further proves my point that people here are arguing about having to using d-pad in xterm.

I understand all of you may not like this. After all it's different from what you have come to like in these devices. But it's a move in the right direction for many other people. You shouldn't lose hope either. I think people were so angry at Peter@Maemo marketing that his words didn't really sink in. Well, here it is again:

"I'm done for today. Spent already plenty of time on discussing about Maemo 5. I spent especially too much time here considering that we haven't even said what which Maemo device will be. Hopefully I could clarify a little bit for the community what we have said publicly about Maemo 5 and the purpose of Maemo in the future."

"If we want to take Maemo and open source to more consumers (and therefore ensure the future of Maemo), then we need to find the sweet spot for the intended product concepts supported by Maemo. When you have seen the Maemo 5 lead device, experienced the UI in WVGA, seen the hardware-accelerated graphics on a processor that delivers 3 times more performance at 20% less battery consumption (according to TI), then a judgment is justified. Currently, we are all looking at some rumours on the internet."

I have high hopes for Maemo in the future. The full linux underneath the hood is what could make it a killer platform. Ultimately the device could even be my desktop computer at the same time. It runs linux, has usb and didn't they just release linux drivers for displaylink. Or it could just have decent video out. It can have external hard disks plugged in, it can have a mouse and keyboard plugged in. It can be my webcam at the same time. The screen could be a touchpad if I don't have a mouse nearby. It could have a normal Maemo UI when not connected to an external display and a different desktop computer mode where it would run a full blown Linux on the external display. And it's still a _phone_. I'm getting a bit carried away here, not all of this is realistic yet with these relatively slow processors and little ram. But I sure hope this is the convergence Nokia is talking about eventually.

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

jsa, welcome aboard! And even though I'm in the camp that wants a new, non-converged bigger-screened device, I agree with everything you said.

(The rumored N900 is closer to the sweet spot. But there's a relatively-sweet spot, too, which Nokia has more-or-less been in, though in a not consumer-friendly enough way, that many of us also want filled.)

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
Lights Camera Revolution (1990)
You can't bring me down!


What the hell's going on around here?
First off-let's take it from the start
Straight out-can't change what's in my heart
No one-can tear my beliefs apart, you can't bring me
You aint-never seen no one like me
Prevail-regardless what the cost might be
Power-flows inside of me, you can't bring me
Never-fall as long as I try
Refuse-to be part of your lie
Even-if it means I die, you can't bring me

You can't bring me down!
Who the hell you calling crazy?
You wouldn't know what crazy was if Charles Manson
...was eating Fruit Loops on your front porch

Time out-let's get something clear
I speak-more truth than you want to hear
Scapegoat-to cover up your fear, you can't bring me
You aint-never seen so much might
Fight for-what I know is right
What up-you got yourself a fight, you can't bring me
Stand up-we'll all sing along
Together-aint nothin' as strong
Won't quit-we aint in the wrong, you can't bring me

You can't bring me down!

Bring me down - you can't bring me down!
Bring me down - you can't bring me down, no!
Bring me down - you can't bring me down!
Bring me down - you can't bring me down, you can't bring me
down!

Tell them what's up rock!
You can't bring me down!

Bring me down - you can't bring me down!
Bring me down - you can't bring me down, no!
Bring me down - you can't bring me down!
Bring me down - you can't bring me down, you can't bring me
down!

So why you trying to bring me
So why you trying to bring
Well you can't bring me down

Just cause you don't understand what's going on
...don't mean it don't make no sense
And just cause you don't like it,...don't mean it aint no good

And let me tell you something

Before you go taking a walk in my world,
...you better take a look at the real world
Cause this aint no Mr. Rogers Neighborhood
Can you say "feel like sh1t?"
Yea maybe sometimes I do feel like sh1t
I aint happy about it, but I'd rather feel like sh1t
...than be full of sh1t!
And if I offended you, Oh I'm sorry
But, maybe you needed to be offended
But here's my apology and one more thing...F-ck you!
Cause you can't bring me down

Bring me down - you can't bring me down!
Bring me down - you can't bring me down, no!
Bring me down - you can't bring me down!
Bring me down - you can't bring me down, you can't bring me
down!

You can't bring me down!

Suicidal!!!

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

I was explaining a user case where automatic screen rotation indeed doesn't work well, and should be put off.

This is someone who is laying on his side. Now imagine under him a pillow, and he holding in his hands a mobile device with accelerometer and auto rotation.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/uima...pillow%209.jpg

Another example would be when you're switching between that 45 angle turning point a lot. But again, you should be able to put the accelerometer off. I can put HDAPS off too...

In case by case it can allow more (ore place more efficient) text on screen because the amount of pixels from left to right increases a lot (increases with about 100%).

Really! Wow. If you'd combine this with the magic insight that the N97 is very much like the N900 maybe we should all simply buy a Nokia 5800 right now!

Fortunately, one of the nice areas Nokia N900 shines is that it has a OMAP3; much more powerful than either a Nokia 5800 or Nokia N97.

There are many more differences no matter what marketing guru naysayers would want to make you think.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_N97
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_5800_XpressMusic

...

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUEpCt5EN4c

:D

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

I wish that it was so. While open linux cellphones may be better than closed cellphones, the main and persistent problem is that the cellular industry is still closed/lacking competition (at least in North America).

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

@jsa:
Hiya! Just a reply rant. My apologies in advance. :)

The problem with the phone is that making it have a phone radio embedded (and likely locked, and very, very likely not compatible with the service I prefer or already have, and farther more likely to make the unit needlessly more expensive if I decide not to use said radio) ...which makes it a smartphone--not the type of tablet device that we all bought and loved with the freedoms we want in such a very portable computing device.

It would be better if, as was suggested earlier, there were another version of the unit sold without the radio at a much reduced price and without the incredible barriers to openness to do whatever you want with the device you rightfully purchased and now own, in the same way as a laptop or desktop PC.

Best still, provide an empty cavity for a radio module and let people buy a module for whatever carrier they wanted and make the interface to that proprietary hardware module remain open as a network device or a PPP connection (like a lot of EVDO USB devices often do).

True.. it's all rumors so far, but we're mulling over the idea of what has been leaked. The idea of branding this, what can only truly be called a SMART PHONE, an Internet Tablet successor to the 770/N800/N810 line just because it runs maemo seems ludicrous to me. If the radio is so important to you as a selling point, wouldn't it be just as valuable as a separate module? Compared to the previous Nokia Internet Tablets, this rumored unit strikes me as a crippled device on price and possibly architecture. Assuming the leaked information is all true, I'm strongly reconsidering the Pandora since it precisely aims at all the functionality I need and want, a much better form factor and a significantly better price with an aim to make things more open, not less.

I understand that this rumors satisfy your sweet spot, but we're not all in agreement. That's natural. But, given the near-laptop freedom the previous Internet Tablets gave us--this appears to me like a major step backwards for the community built around a Linux tablet and to the idea of using any software or carrier that we want to use on our small device.


And!...for those folks that kept bringing up the Volkswagen stuff...
MINE! I already licked it! ---> http://pleco.org/vw/RedBug.jpg

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

Welcome! :)


It's nice for you that now you're happy (and others with you). - Still, that doesn't help those of us who're not. I don't quite understand how somebody else telling me how this device will be what he always wanted should make me feel better about it.

My main trouble is: It's too big to be my phone. Too big and to heavy. Way too big and too heavy. I'd never, ever consider taking it with me all the time. (And those of you who are prepared to say something like "Why don't you wait and try": I know that my current 125g-phone is too heavy for me. I don't need to try 180g before I know I'm not gonna like it.)

So whatever this device is meant to be, for me it's not a phone. I'll keep my current phone or get a new, smaller one. Where would this leave me? With a small phone, 2.6" or so most likely, and the need for something that's bigger and more powerful as a all-purpose-computer, but still a little smaller than a netbook. Something that easily fits in one hand. I do not think I'll invest money to get from 2.6" to 3.5". That wouldn't be worth it. 4" is the lower limit.

I can perfectly understand things look much different if you're prepared to carry a 180g brick with you as a phone. Then this device is really, really cool. But if not used as a phone? What is it good for?

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

"All I wanted was a Pepsi. Just one Pepsi."

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

The Art of Rebellion FTW! :)

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

I'd just like to comment briefly about the statement that it's surprising that so many early adopters oppose change.

This one of the dumbest statements I've ever seen here, and that's saying something.

Anyone who has a consistently pro- or anti- view of "change" should be committed to a mental institution. If you are pro change, that means you would support flooding the freeways with ping-pong balls? Of course you would, because it would be a change!

No one believes that (that I know of), and so much for the myth that anyone who is an early adapter should support any change.

This particular change seems bad to many people. All sane people oppose bad change, as they perceive it. It is dumb to accuse them of opposing "change," as if change is something everyone should always support.

Swine flu is a big change, who wants it?

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

I will acquese to the fact that I clearly do think and act differently than many I know (online and off). Heck, I run my personal website from a server located on my "phone." Clearly, I think differently. however, I don't let different keep me from seeing what works now, and what is changing to what's later.

Dylan had the right idea(s). Sure, he had some questionable methods (as do I, see my site Mobile Ministry Magazine). But the validity in vision is never made in the present time, its made when the future looks back to the past and catches an "ah ha."

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

GM ignored the writing on the wall in the 70s when Japanese companies showed how to not only innovate, but be profitable. They also took out their own legs with the years upon years of union concessions (financial and philosophical).

Apple was only ahead because they simplified *everything.* For some reason, that is a hard concept to get thru to people *here.* You don't increase your ability to be a focal point by increasing the complexity of a device on the first go. You make things simple, and then thru marketing/kool-aid/DRM/etc make your product more "advanced" while at the same time snatching the market and mindshare from those that see the "flaws" but aren't disciplined enough to go simple to solving it.

Palm went "simple" in developing the webOS, and is the first real threat to the entire Apple platform. Google is doing the same to Microsoft. Publishing houses have been doing it to one another for centuries. And religions are adept as all get out in this. The lessons are simple, really.

By the way, Apple is an electronic media services provider which makes specalized devices that enrich their idea of those service experiences. Nokia is doing the exact same thing with Ovi, and Maemo is part of the puzzle.

Maybe I should see if Nokia/Maemo are looking for futurists/evangelists, seems that is all I do here these days ;)

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

But you gotta agree with my main point: the iPod touch proves that there is a large market for a non-converged (i.e., non-phone) portable wifi-enabled device (i.e., tablet, with a small "t").

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

Which "we all" is that? the mere 25% of the community that are against a Maemo Tablet having 3G data? The mere 12% that are against it having non-VOIP phone service?

As far as I can tell from the tablet survey, the "definitely yes 3G!" and "definitely no 3G!" camps, _combined_, are less than half of the community. (and on being a voice phone, the combined "definitely yes" and "definitely no" camps are less than 20% of the respondents).

While the sample space is still small, it leads me to believe that "we all", as an entire community, do not agree with what you just said. As a community, "we all" don't seem to care, one way nor the other, about it being a smartphone vs a non-phone. The people who DO care about it being a non-phone (you) or a smartphone (me), are the minority. When it comes to this issue, neither you, nor I, represent "we all".

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

Sorry, but you are not making any sense. No matter how you rotate the screen, it will still have the same area, same number of pixels, so the amount of text will be the same.

In fact, I would suggest just that. Unless you really want real keyboard or Linux, go for 5800 now.

A gadget is only as powerful as its applications are. So, I would not get particularly ecstatic over that OMAP3. Not until you see how it is used.

Thanks for helpful Wikipedia links, but in reality it is just this simple: both phones have roughly the same hardware, same screens, and same software. The only differences are the keyboard, the fake silvery coating (vs plain black plastic), and the price.

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

Yes, and I absolutely want you to have the device you want and that's why I quoted Peter. I'm not sure if it's my non-native English or why isn't everyone else getting it? I thought he clearly implied there will be multiple devices and that's why I said you still shouldn't lose hope.

"...considering that we haven't even said what which Maemo device will be." and the talk about a lead device to me seems that there are more than one.

Of course, it might just be me imagining stuff between the lines.

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

You could also look at it the other way: there's also a WILDLY huge market for a tablet+phone in one device -- with the advent of the iPod Touch, the iPhone sales did not suddenly dry up ... nor even level off.

Both options are sound and valid. Hopefully Nokia sees that as well: the right path is not to do JUST one exclusively, but to do BOTH a phone based Maemo platform and a non-phone based Maemo platform.

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

My take on it is that the Maemo Unit hopes there will be multiple devices, but they are starting with the smartphone. If it succeeds, then we'll see more devices, maybe including a bigger-screen non-phone tablet. I suspect there is no such tablet planned or scheduled yet.

So we may have a good delay, after launch of the N900 phone, before it comes out, if ever. I think that's a shame since they already have a community based on a tablet and I believe there's a larger market that would want such a tablet (but not want the N900 phone) if it were marketed properly. (I especially think it's a shame since it's what I want!)

So I haven't lost hope! I just don't like to see Hope Delayed. Thanks.

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

Well since nothing is confirmed, this is what we are all doing. Some just have more trust, while others feel screwed over, and some are happy with the leaked information.

I personally would be happy with a 3g modem, but its not a have to have. And I certainly would not want it, if it means shrinking the screen. They have done a good job with DUN so far, so shrinking the screen to provide functionality I already had is not optimal for me.

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

Exactly!


message not too short now1

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

Actually even though I want me Tablet and need to have my phone too on it - I still will be part of this very same community - since I still consider the N900 with a 3.5" screen as a tablet - albeit a smaller one - as I still have Maemo on it, can still run all the apps as I do now on my N810 and enjoy the benefits of Maemo 5 as well. The only difference - pluses for me - is I get a better camera too and a voice phone too.

So don't exclude all us guys who want the N900 (provided we can afford it) from the "community". And when you get your version of the tablet - a 4" screened one without voice - we will still be a part of the same community - maemo.

BTW, when you said there will be a larger market for the tablets - if you are talking outside of the community - then I think the larget market is always for the phone device rather than tablet only - as tablet only audience is always a limited niche market.

I do feel for you - in that your anticipation of a new tablet is now being delayed.

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

Hey, I think all you young, good-eyesighted, phone-loving, money-splurging guys and gals should be in the community too! :)

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

I blame apple. If they would have made the iphone/touch with a 4" screen, we wouldn't be having this conversation :)

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

Yes. And it isn't just because you can't lug your home TV around in your pocket. My daughter has, on several occasions, asked to watch a movie on the tablet rather than the 50" screen in the living room.

I just want to point out that nothing in the Fremantle SDK nor the oFono documents indicates that anything will be more "locked down" or that we'll be losing any freedom. The open source O/S is exactly what makes this device so disruptive! Yes, this will have a smartphone form factor, but it really isn't a smartphone. For instance, it will run OpenOffice much more quickly than our current tablets. Yes, I said OpenOffice. Do you know any smartphones that can run full desktop versions of popular office suites?

If the leaked docs are true, this will be a handheld laptop that is also a phone.

Having said all that, I agree that the new radio will drive the price up somewhat, and I probably won't really use it since data is so expensive in Canada. Oh well.

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

If that was the only difference with the iPhone/iPT, I still wouldn't have bought it.

For me to buy it, I'd want:

* a physical keyboard
* access to the Unix layer
* a SIGNIFICANTLY more open application ecosystem

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

Most of the articles centering around open-source phones have pointed out the issue of carriers REFUSING to permit an open stack to touch the radio at all. I sincerely doubt that an omission of the intent to close the radio off from applications is the same as stating an intent to have it open. The idea that it can run an office application is cold comfort for those whom do not wish to switch carriers just to have a newer, more modern pocket sized tablet computer in the footsteps of the 770 and N8x0 family. Not to mention that most Palm devices (including the T5, TX and the Treos for examples) have been able to comfortably run DataViz Office To Go for at least the last 5 years (an MS Office compatible suite which allows you to view, create and edit MS Office compatible word processor, spreadsheet and presentation files). I'm not particularly impressed by that example.

I'm still very disappointed that it didn't go the route of a module so you can pick the type of radio/carrier you want to use--or not use any at all and leave the interface and space open for some hackery or other upgrades you could buy. My MAJOR complaint against carriers is the same as yours, precisely, on price.

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

I don't doubt it. I just meant that we'd have 10 million plus users out there with a 4" low resolution touch screen phone (a proven market). That being the case, the new Nokia phone would have a 4" screen instead of a 3.5" screen. Then for the most part we'd be arguing only about the phone part, not all this other stuff (niches, screen size, use cases, etc).

On the whole probably 90% of the community would be happy (or grudgingly so) instead of the current condition.

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

I can have a full linux experience right on my 810 right now, it works GREAT. I can print, I can burn CD's. The best thing about maemo's interface was that it was open to be easily replaced.

As far as your spoiled children remarks, again, I was not upset by it, I was confused by it. If you only buy Ford F250 trucks, then when you go to another truck and the only Ford truck is available is a Ford Ranger.

You may be mad
You may say I will buy a Chevy or GMC
You may go WOW, thats a sweet little truck (if your a girl :D )

So these all seem like valid expected responses to the change. Calling people children for being upset about changing something they have been using for years doesn't make sense to me. It just seems your stooping to the exact behavior you point out.

But then again you did say we



I am just saying no need to act surprised or shocked by people being passionate. I can understand people who may want this. I am just not one of those people.

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

Nokia has never been the manufacturer before. We'll see how this plays out :)

Oh, if only Nokia sold unlocked devices with no tie-in to carriers! ;)

You're right. Palm's Office To Go is exactly like the full OpenOffice suite. ;)

If my example was too weak, go browse here or here for some other apps that you'll be able to run on your "locked down smartphone" (at 3x the speed of the current tablets!).

Oh and did you notice that these new devices have video out? How sweet will that be for doing PowerPoint from your handheld?

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

My reading of the point of oFono is that it's designed to exactly meet that requirement. The closed-source, binary blobs talk to the radio, but then use an open standard API, via dbus, to be controlled from open source code sitting on top (and, of course, closed source "differentiating" apps on top of that open source code!)

Nokia making Maemo a closed, locked down platform would be almost suicidal (for Maemo, not Nokia ;-)).

If for no other reason than Fremantle's primary differentiators are its openness. Harmattan's UI may be as polished as the very best examples in the mobile space and so they can try and differentiate there, but the expectations on Fremantle#s UI have been carefully managed (although it should be an order or two of magnitude better than Diablo).

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

But isn't this exactly the status quo we enjoy today with tethering thru BT DUN? I tether everyday at work, and I place my cell phone at an extreme corner of my desk with the best reception while my tablet roams, no 'roves', around my cubicle and the surrounding area as I see fit. In situations like this, a tablet separated from the gsm radio makes a lot of sense. Having time to ponder recent developments I am leaning towards getting something like a MIFI and hoping that Mer unlocks untapped talent within my N800...

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

I agree, I also believe there will be other Maemo 5 devices. Welcome a board. http://www.clicksmilies.com/auswahl/ernaehrung004.gif

If you don't mind me asking. How much are you willing to pay for a 3.5", phone device and how long do you expect it to be relevant?
That is, for how many months would you expect it to be your primary communication device before needing to upgrade or otherwise change handsets?

Oh and please don't mind the many pages of ruminations over things that we have no control over and will eventually not really matter much anyway... It's what we do. :D

You come at a good time and may very well be one of our first phone centric members. Stick around, your help may be needed as many more join this forum and our community grows. :)

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

...how this plays out with... T-Mobile? I'm not switching carriers for this drama to play out with my money. :P

Are any of those running Linux? Can I use a radio that my current carrier supports? I'd be fine if it didn't have a radio at all. The only thing that meets the IT criteria that isn't going to be locked to a carrier is the older tablets unless I want to pay for the radio I'll probably never use on the new device.

This seems irrelevant to the conversation, though I can't help saying that watching dripping tar drip three times faster is still only three times faster than slow and not necessarily fluid enough to be called fast.

I'll take all the speed I can get on a small tablet, mind you. It's still not exactly a selling point for this particular unit if other systems are coming out that will also use the same or newer OMAP and are likely to be able to run a Linux kernel as well.

That's ALMOST a convincing selling point--except that almost everything coming out lately has this 'me too!' feature. (Not a complaint.. just saying that it doesn't convince me to buy this unit versus a Pandora or anything else that already has a video-out as well, without forcing the cell carrier's hardware on my purchase).

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

Wow! What a post! Thanks for your thoughtful and detail response. It's interesting getting to know information about individuals rather than just hearing their personal dogmas.

I can understand your perspective. I too have a netbook and a desktop that I use in addition to my tablet. I will probably ditch the netbook and get a proper notebook very soon (the dell studio 14z looks perfect for me).

And yes, I agree that the N900 (despite the idea of convergence) isn't to replace all of these devices! But it can still do the job of the tablets before it, a mobile phone, and a point-and-shoot camera.

But as before, I still believe that many here will come to love the new device for its augmentation of capabilities. Of course, this is only a personal guess, and should be taken as such.

.. oh, and yes, I think it's safe to say that Nokia is pushing it's own interests: its bottom line! :D But then again, aren't we all?


YARR!
}:^)~
CosmoCorrupt

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

Ahh.. that makes me feel at least a LITTLE bit better about the openness. Seems more like the firmware blobs architecture that Linux uses in open-source driver modules. It still doesn't resolve my issues with buying a piece of hardware tied to a particular carrier, though.

Unless Nokia sees a reduction in sales or a competitor benefitting because of said lock-down.

Re: N900 specs revealed
 

800x480 is not the same as 480x800.

That, and more. OMAP3, for example. X, for example. Full UNIX stack, for example (as good as it gets with all the embedded versions).

What do you mean? What applications do you fear will be missing on Maemo 5 which Nokia 5800 provides? I'd rather compare it with Nokia N97, iPhoneOS, and Android.

As long as you have e.g. RDP/VNC/NX and WWAN you can even run such applications remotely saving you local resources. But these applications, running local or remote, are not optimized for the screen size...

On S60 read-only of MS Office/OO.o is free with Quickoffice.