maemo.org - Talk - First N900 Review

there's one use case apple has patented, and if palm uses that, they got the patent just the same way apple got nokia's patents for cellular technology: they licensed it.

patents are there to make money from inventions, not to prevent others using them.

allnameswereout

2009-08-22 10:10

Re: First N900 Review

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gorgon (Post 314316)

Multi-touch is over rated. Quick, one-handed navigation is my requirement for my device. I spent some time with the Palm Pre and navigation was super easy with one hand with quick thumb gestures to do what I needed to do. I was thoroughly impressed until I opened Google Maps and it required multi touch to zoom. I was actually irritated that I had to use two hands to zoom. I'd rather have faded + and - buttons on the screen for zooming.

2 hands? 2 fingers you mean. I find it goes faster than pressing + and - buttons.

attila77

2009-08-22 10:11

Re: First N900 Review

Quote:

Originally Posted by Architengi (Post 314313)

Nokia would put multi-touch but they can't.
Because it is a patent of Apple. I don't know how Palm Pre got it...

A patent does not mean 'do it and die'. It means 'you have to ask/pay me if you want to do it'. That's probably how the Pre got it, and, as many Nokians pointed out, Nokia also has a number od patents which are used by Apple, so never say never.

How easy would it be to implement that functionality into Symbian or Maemo apps is a different matter (think Hildonization is a fuss ? Wait till you see multitouch !)

Architengi

2009-08-22 10:11

Re: First N900 Review

Quote:

Originally Posted by benny1967 (Post 314317)

urban legend.

there's one use case apple has patented, and if palm uses that, they got the patent just the same way apple got nokia's patents for cellular technology: they licensed it.

patents are there to make money from inventions, not to prevent others using them.

So there is no way Apple says NO to Nokia on selling a license on that patent? If they sell the licence with 10$/device to Palm, maybe they can ask from Nokia 99$ and this is another way of saying NO. :(

vkv.raju

2009-08-22 10:37

Re: First N900 Review

Well, I can't say if multi-touch is over-rated or not. But, if there is a user base asking for it, then why can't Nokia provide it. Hardware specs may be good for geeks but features are what sells well with end consumers. When we are providing the best of features, why stop short of one silly feature. Just my opinion.

I am not sure, if multi-touch is a patent of apple. I guess not. Recently announced Zii (from Creative) too offers it (10 fingers at a time!).

Btw, I am guessing that N900 has some kind of trick for multi-touch which isn't announced/leaked yet!

Bundyo

2009-08-22 10:45

Re: First N900 Review

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gorgon (Post 314316)

Multi-touch is over rated. Quick, one-handed navigation is my requirement for my device. I spent some time with the Palm Pre and navigation was super easy with one hand with quick thumb gestures to do what I needed to do. I was thoroughly impressed until I opened Google Maps and it required multi touch to zoom. I was actually irritated that I had to use two hands to zoom. I'd rather have faded + and - buttons on the screen for zooming.

Yes, multi-touch only for zooming sucks, but there is one area that can benefit - game controls (when you don't have buttons, multi-touch does help).

benny1967

2009-08-22 10:50

Re: First N900 Review

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bundyo (Post 314324)

(when you don't have buttons, multi-touch does help).

so can we have the buttons then, please? ;)

peterjb31

2009-08-22 10:57

Re: First N900 Review

Quote:

Originally Posted by vkv.raju (Post 314322)

Btw, I am guessing that N900 has some kind of trick for multi-touch which isn't announced/leaked yet!

Unlikely as for real multitouch you really need a capacitive screen and the N900 specs states it has a resistive touch screen. Personally I don't like capacitive touch screens, they use considerably more power than resistive and can't measure pressure very easily which I think is a really useful feature.

vkv.raju

2009-08-22 11:14

Re: First N900 Review

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterjb31 (Post 314329)

Looks like, multi-touch is now available for resistive screens too.

http://www.umpcportal.com/2009/02/mu...e-touchscreens