15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

The N900 is a great phone, but it is (as Nokia themselves have more or less said) a work in progress. I’ll say it again, it’s step 4 of 5 to Maemo glory. Software evolution to one side (see firmware update wishlist for N900), understandably, this early adopter product isn’t physically “perfect” for mass market.


I.E. No point wasting resources on features not necessary to attract your target audience.


So what would the N900 have needed or at least what would the N900’s successor need to be physically irresistible on the hardware front?


Below I’ve quickly listed out top 10 physical attributes the N900’s successor needs to be inexorably alluring (physically) to your 2010 smartphone consumer. Areas I’ve omitted I’m assuming meet the N900s standard, e.g. 1) stay with the black theme 2) screen resolution 3) expandable memory 4) Notification lights etc.


I’ve included 11-15 but stopped there as I could go on forever adding features I’d like to see in the N900′s successor (continuous autofocus, placement of buttons/ports/additional buttons/more in built memory/oleophobic screen etc etc etc).


This, as usual, is just an opinion. It’s mixed with a touch of personal preference , but mostly filled with what Nokia needs to do to satisfy the market’s demand from a 2010 smartphone leading the pack (based on frequently mentioned suggestions).


As such, 1-10 is ordered in what I reckon is the necessary priorty of features that would make the N900’s successor undeniably physically desirable, leaving only OS of choice as the final deciding factor (which by then, Maemo 6 will have made its appearance]


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Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

What you wrote makes sense... i like the points... they're logical...i would maybe add 16) DVB-T tuner lol

But i don't like the bigger screen and i don't like capacitive !

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

Hmmm I would not buy that phone. I'm afraid you lost me at 'capacitive'. When you threw in metal, bigger screen, and xenon flash, I stopped reading. I had a phone with xenon flash and kept it permanently off: the colour from it sucked.

I'd skip the wide angle lens: if you're going to improve the camera in impossble ways, why not just ask for optical zoom and have done with it.

Oh, and sms toast is an essential.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

What xenon phone is that? Always had pretty awesome results from my N82.

Isn't it for definite that the Maemo 6 phone will have capacitive screen? (They could at least make a varient, but capacitive is necessary, even if it's just to satisfy the tick list of features)

I specifically didn't add optical zoom. :)

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

I'm fine with the resistive screen, especially since you can use a stylus with it. I'm fine with the size as well, considering it seems about the same size as my friend's Touch Pro 2. I think to get a quality keyboard you need some thickness. (See the very mixed reviews on Droid's keyboard, for example.) I also don't have a problem with the three row keyboard either.

Some of those things would be nice to have, but I'm pretty happy with what we do have hardwarewise.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

What we have hardware wise, I'm really, really happy too. I'd happily have the N900 as my main phone for the next year.

This post was more about things to be done in N900's successor. Since the N900 was NOT made for mass market in mind but for early adopters, it feels like (understandably) it missed out in certain areas.

Slimmer and capacitive were two of the most frequently mentioned "areas of improvement" in reviews.

These are the two main things absolutely necessary in the N900s successor.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

Nice list, disagree with some of the points though.

4th row on keyboard for numbers Disagree, would be a waste of space. It's not like numbers are being used all the time.

Increased MegaPixel count Strongly disagree! MP madness has already destroyed the quality in the normal compact camera market. Every increase in MP on such a small sensor means more noise. We don't need MP, we need image quality. 5MP is way enough. Spend that extra buck on a better lense, higher frequency - or simply on time for better programming.

Also, not really important but: Xenon Flash (...) "You can also keep Dual LED for video light. Don’t need to pick one or the other – have both.". Uhm what? Why would anyone do that. That would be an insane waste of parts and space. Nobody would ever design a product with both types of flashes :|

On a more general note I much rather prefer a fat and ugly phone that is awesome (quality and software wise), then some fashion accessory that has cut down battery life, camera quality, ergonomy and a crappy or no keyboard, just to keep it thin. But that's just a power users view. I know mobile "phones" are generally for the computer illiterate and are a lifestyle product as much as a utility device.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

I don't care about screen tech either as both seems to work for my needs really...

About the case (#5) I don't care either as industrial plastic can look nice and are solid and lighter, unless it's all made of titanium for the fun factor but it all depends on production cost after.

Also, I'm wondering why the back plate isn't a specially molded battery with 3-4000mAh battery as there is a lost of space lost to air!

Anyway, i pretty much agree with all your list which is just enough and not overdone, good job! :-)

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

1 useless, atleast with resistive I can actually use this with a stylus, where I couldn't use it with fingers

2 fed up with "slim" devices, make it a brick 0.5kg heavy with a 10000mAh battery at the back :)

3 agreed
4 sure
5 nice idea
6 sure
7 no camera at all
8 see 7
9 or none at all
10 agreed
11 erm
12 hmm nice idea
13 always a good idea
14 see 7
15 hmm hard to disagree with that other than having a screen protector/privacy guard fill the role

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

"Totally flat screen, no dust cave bezel"

Isn't the bezel there so you won't scratch the screen just by placing it on a dusty surface? I don't find its presence annoying at all.


I want an analogue mini-joystick to the left of the screen (raised ~1mm), and green/red buttons arranged like:

on the right side, so they double as A/B for games. Their resistance would need to be optimized for games. You have to press most red/green buttons too hard in my opinion.


Edit: The camera flash should be outside the lens protector so that it's easier to use with a flashlight app.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

^_^ It's good to disagree. Always like hearing the other side.

- 4-row would be taking up more space. But not that much extra. I was just thinking about how you could type much more efficiently in a four row keyboard, where the top was for numbers (and thus, secondary keys too).

When you're typing, the focus should be more on the keyboard. But that's if there's even going to be a keyboard.

- Increased MP count - I don't mind sticking with 5mp and just improving the sensor, maybe improving flash. It's more of a marketing thing. They could of course, if they had bumped up to 8MP, we could have proper 5MP in widescreen instead of the current 3.5MP. (have not worked out the math of what actual pixel count would be)

- Xenon flash and dual Led. - Now, for 2010, phones could probably still live without Xenon flash. In my post, I didn't mean that it's necessary to have dual LED too. Just saying that for me, I'd prefer to just have Xenon over LED, although you could have both if you wanted too. e.g. Satio has Xenon flash and led for video light.

They say that the best camera is the one you have with you. That's more often people's phones, and most often the subject people take photos of the most is people. That again is most often in lower lighting/indoors and that's when you'd need Xenon flash.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

No...

Thanks for the FUD, but multitouch resistive technology exists and doesn't make you throw away your sketching apps, handwriting input capability (goodbye 1B+ potential customers in China), and so forth. There are also capacitive-type technologies that accept stylus input if desired.

I would tentatively agree about 4-row keyboards. Arrow keys for all!

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

It might help prevent some scratches when placed upside down on a flat surface, but not when its in your pocket. Hasn't helped my N97 nor N900 when in pocket.

I did think about having glass but then the whole cracking issue when dropped...didn't want to think too much into the screen materials. (Perhaps just better scratch resistant plastic??)

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

I don't know, I kind of like the 3-row keyboard. It's already hard enough to reach the top of the screen while typing. I have a better solution: the N900 has enough space on the sides of the keyboard to add an extra column. Then make space one button wide, and you have four new buttons. Would much prefer that layout, personally.

Edit: other things to keep:

-Would rather have better keyboard and lens than slimness. (Although a few mm less would be nice, if you can pull all three off)

-Display tech doesn't matter to me as long as the device still comes with a built in stylus. It's essential for running desktop apps, and I would be very unhappy to see it go just for some stupid coolness factor. I also don't want to carry a separate stylus with me, even if it ships with the device, so keep the hole.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

yup @ resistive displays with multitouch. Soz, I didn't intend to suggest multitouch is only with capacitive.

And this is probably going to be one of the worst places to try and convince people about going capacitive - I mean you guys have enjoyed the benefits of styluses with your tablets.

But you are also right, it is also possible to have stylus use for capacitive screens.

The whole "physically irresistible" hardware wise thing is more aimed towards the market carved out by iPhone, newer breeds of HTC and rest of upcoming touch smartphones who will blindly want feather touch capacitive.

Nokia could always make a resistive variant. But it's nigh on vital they make one with capacitive (unless they can make a resistive screen that has the same sensitivity)

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

Can someone with the N900 tell me... is the "|" key readily accessible yet? I don't see it in the pictures of the N900. I was excited to see it on my G1.

That was my biggest complaint with the N810 keyboard. I really kind of use that key alot.. and flipping through a "symbols" list to try and find it is *so* annoying.

The 3 rows never bothered me.. the Numbers over the top row letters never bothered me.. the only thing I was constantly looking for was that damn pipe/bar.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

Agree with all. Some of those are not really important to me and some are.
I would be more than happy with 15mm with qwerty and 13mm without qwerty. I actually like the N900 keyboard alot, but if they can make it better with 4 row, why not.

OLED screen is something that i have learned to love with Omnia HD and with Zune HD so that would be great improvement for the future device and something i'm hoping to see. 3.7inch would be great, but if the device goes 4inch i don't want it to grow width too much. N900 size is great and i would like it to stay that way.

I would be happy to see N86 camera on the next Maemo phone and i'm pretty sure we will see that, but not a huge thing for me. Xenon would be great. You don't need to do anything else than to look at N82 direction to see the impact to low light pics.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

It would be best if the new column I suggested above would be OLED keys. Switch to the terminal, and you'd get esc,tab,pipe. Switch to an office program and you get something more appropriate there, etc. On the desktop, shortcuts.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

That would be kind of cool... then software could control which set of symbols it will activate.

Although I see that being a little confusing for new users....

"Wait so.. if I'm in here this does that.. over it does that.. but what if I want that other thing?!? HALP!"

Granted.. that will happen regardless :D.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

Nope, the pipe is still a virtual key selection from the symbols menu. At least that's the case in the U.S. version.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

Strongly agree with "4" (screen size), "9" (TV-out), and "13" (battery).

My 2 cents on "1" (capacitive) -- apes evolved when they started using tools instead of bare hands...

Don't care at all about the rest...

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

Is that like the E-ink keys on the Samsung Alias 2?

Those keys whilst hardware, are also contextual keys. They change from portrait/landscape as well as functions, from letters/numbers/symbols. Being e-ink they only consume power when they're changing.

e.g. Open phone mode (portrait) keys become 1-9
Open text editor you get letters
Open games you get a d-pad etc etc

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

I disagree.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

I can not imagine how the bezel on the current n900 could interefere with finger swiping at all. It is well clear of any part of the active display area.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

I 2nd that. I, 4 1, use numbers a gr8 deal of time. (2n) this thread could not be named without "15". Not having dedic8ed number keys on the n900 is a bit (2n+1).

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

Hmm a touchscreen eink row would be nice there. With a quick button to switch it to whichever mode is available.

Of cours it won't be the hw features or the high price that will keep me away from the next device. It'll be the DRM crap.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

At least though, in Maemo 5 there's only one "page" of virtual keys, so there's no longer a multi-page hunt involved.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

Oh id hate to lose the resistive screen. I didnt know the difference when i first went looking for a new device. I could see some advantages of capacitive over resistive (but also vice versa). But i really could not understand the resistive hate there was out there. I love the resistive screen on the n900. Works wonderfully, i often toggle between finger and stylus. I really cant see anything capacitive would offer me, and enought that i dont want to lose.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

Add a jog dial or something similar to scroll !

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

I'm a former iPhone 3G user and the whole resistive/capacitive display thing doesn't seem to be too big a deal to me. I have to "press harder" on my Nokia than I do the iPhone, but once I had that "figured out" it is just as sensitive.

That said, the rest of the list is good, but to be honest makes me feel like sending my N900 back. It seems people are really concentrating on the future, of Maemo6 and the "next" device which is supposed to be the "Wow" factor for regular folk. I just paid $550 for this xmas present to myself and I'd like to feel that it will "last" for some time. Android devices get better with every new iteration of the OS, and I really hope that the N900 won't get left in the dust. Consumers simply won't accept it if their state-of-the-art phone doesn't get newer and better features- new patches and entire versions of the OS so I think it will behoove Nokia and the Maemo community to start thinking differently. As much as it bothers me to make a comparison with Apple, even they ensured that the old original iPhone can run the newest 3.0 firmware without a hitch.

I really hope that there will be a lot of development for the N900, and that Maemo6 will work spectacularly upon it. This is Linux, folks. The purest form of Linux seen on a mobile device! Linux is famous for being the OS that you can get running on your toaster. It gives new life to older hardware by having damn good, efficient programming. Ubuntu 9.10 doesn't require a Core i7 processor upgrade or for you to have a Wacom Intuos4, forcing you back to 9.04 if you don't have that hardware!

The N900 just came out - lets concentrate on making it, and Maemo5 the best mobile it can be.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

hmm, I love having the option of using a stylus and the accuracy it offers, even if I have clumsy fingers. I would have found a capacitive screen that would preclude that dissapointing. As others have said, just because the iPhone set likes the vague brushing that comes with that tech it does not mean it is the ideal solution.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

That's the problem with Nokia at the moment (for consumers). Their product line has little longevity. Look at Nseries and their S60 lineups. From the N95 you had N85 and N96 and woe the N97 and mini. Very little difference yet something new for people to buy.

It's pretty much all half baked goods. Interim solutions for the next succeeding model (keeps attention on Nokia products, though slightly harming the image brand whilst they're at it)

Nokia have said that N97 could run future versions of Symbian...whether it has the hardware to run it properly is another thing.

Things might be a little different with N900 though - better hardware under the hood an OS upgrade. It should be able to run everything that a dedicated M6 handset could (perhaps not as fast, like apps on iPhone 3G vs 3GS - oh yeah and minus the multitouch)

Nokia have been very open about N900 and where the focus is going to be. It is their "step 4 of 5". I'm guessing all the attention is meant for step 5.



Yup. N900 is meant to show to people what Maemo can do and hopefully build up a strong software and app foundation for its Mass-Market successor.

Whilst doing that, attention must be focused too on the MaemoPhone meant for mass market. As early as possibly if there's gonna be the slightest chance of getting a suggestion to be considered before Nokia "leave it to the market to deide >_<". (It's probably already too late)

MaemoPhone 2 needs to be as close to perfect for "average joe/iPhone crowd/2010 smartphone crowd" that when people think of "ultimate gadget" they think of that MaemoPhone.

Nokia seems to know what they need to do, but just have a hard time executing it.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

The only thing I would add is the compass. I don't care or disagree with the others in the list...

I still have to laugh how people can't use their iphone in winter when they wear gloves ^^

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

I'm basically against all your suggested changes.
- I don't want a capacitive screen (can't use it with a(ny) stylus, my preferred way of using the device, and a necessity with links in the browser).
- Screen is flat enough.
- The other suggestions would make the phone bigger, and as much as I prefer larger screens I don't want a phone to be bigger than this.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

I strongly support the battery worktime and XMPP.

I spend hours talking in XMPP, Right now, 1200mah in n85 work bad,

Need XMPP mobile with at least 14 working hours over 3G and at least 3hs talking in XMPP over 3G.

Camera, flash, lens, touchscreen, weight, slim, etc doesnt matter.

Best regards.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

I would like to have instead of this the left SHFT/FUNC/CTRL buttons slightly bigger and moved to left - it is a nightmare to press simultaneosly FUNC + '*' and I was forced to include '*' in X-Term down raw (start key is pretty useful while I work with shell !). Multitouch use is not very good (pressing FUNC, FUNC and '*' then FUNC again).

Of course - a WORKING video camera in Phone, at least in Skype! This should be a hit.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

That list makes me think on the that features the future Maemo device would need to shut up US-based whiny bloggers, but it doesn't consider that they will find a reason to whine anyway.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

You can just hit func and then hit star. Func and shift are both "sticky" (ctrl is not).

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

As I understand it, you can't use a stylus on a capacitive screen at the current state of the technology. So that would be a problem for me. The ability to use a stylus was a key selling feature of the N900since apps like Sketch make sense. I think it also means pressure sensitivity is possible? As an artist, I would not want to go the other way.

Re: 15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]
 

Yes you can type the | and other sybols without having the virtual keyboard.. Just hit the arrow key (shift) on keyboard then the ctrl button on the top left of the keyboard..