maemo.org - Talk - Is it the right time to get a Maemo device ? (N900)

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- Nokia N900 (https://talk.maemo.org/forumdisplay.php?f=44)

- - Is it the right time to get a Maemo device ? (N900) (https://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=39457)

Re: Is it the right time to get a Maemo device ? (N900)

Very interesting replies, people. I'll comment later today after I get my work done.

THANKS !

Re: Is it the right time to get a Maemo device ? (N900)

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Originally Posted by bgrigor (Post 456093)

My generally feeling on the N900: awesome hardware, awesome OS, but some apps are missing (e.g. a good countdown timer), some apps are pretty rough (e.g. the Ovi Maps app is not Nokia's latest best version for whatever reason) and some apps are still buggy.

This is where I am hoping that the power of Open Source kicks in. Has anyone tried to run Navit on it ?

Actually, what I was going to do is mount a 12" touchscreen in my car and use the GPS receiver in the N900 as the GPS source. The touchscreen device will actually run the navigation software and that will probably be Navit.

Its missing a countdown timer ? Does Maemo support PyQt ? It would only take a few hours to write something simple like that if it does.

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Of course, apps will be written, polished up and fixed over time.

As long as it doesn't get totally abandoned when Maemo 6 is released, thus my worry.

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I would say the N900 is still in the "early adopter/geek" stage and the really average consumer might be advised to hold off for 6 months.

I wish Nokia would have an open development process like Redhat does with Fedora. Then we could see where they are going. If the N900 doesn't get upgraded to Maemo 6, its going to be a stale device in 8 months. I wish Nokia would make an announcement about this and I wish they would open up their development process. The N900 looks like an EXCELLENT piece of hardware. Maemo looks like it WILL BE an excellent OS. I just need to know that the N900 isn't going to be abandoned with the release of the N950/ Maemo 6.

Re: Is it the right time to get a Maemo device ? (N900)

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Originally Posted by Barts (Post 456094)

I wanted a phone that could browse the internet as it is on a pc, i won't lie to you and say i wante it for x,y and z.

That is a big part of it for me. I'm frequently on the road and a lot of times I just need to browse for 30 seconds to find a phone number, part number, store location, etc. Other times I am stuck in an airport for 2 to 4 hours and I'd like to get a bit of work done... or at least keep myself occupied.

I *really* like the fact that the N900 has a keyboard compared to the iPhone that doesn't. I want to be able to type out a memo from my phone when I need to.

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i'm a bit tunnel visioned in that way. but it was important to have good storage, and a good camera, as i really missed having a good camera. but since i've had the phone i want to find out more, and find out how to use the things on it, i've had it a month and only just figured out how to do rss feeds hahaha. but i use it for internet, fm transmitter when i'm in the car

That fm transmitter would really be nice for me. I rent cars, I ride in other people's cars, I stay in hotel rooms with a radio, we have a radio in the kitchen at home and in the bedroom and in the workout room. The N900 would be ONE music source for every location. Finally ! No more carrying around cables everywhere.

What are the chances of getting Amarok running on the N900 ? Its a full fledged KDE4 app...

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use it for skype to call my dad in hong kong

That is the killer app for me. I'm so tired of roaming charges, no coverage here, blah, blah, blah with cell phones. 3G coverage with the iPhone is spotty at best and downright unavailable in a lot of areas.

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love that i can view emails, browse the web, read texts and never have to shut down and re-open applications, i can have what i want on my home screens. been using it to watch movies and listen to internet radio.

Sweet !

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i just generally use it as a phone should be used and enjoy everyminute of this device a month on, but bear in mind this is just my experience and opinion.

Yeah, but you are a real user, not a marketing guy. Its great to hear that "regular" people are enjoying this device.

FWIW, its not receiving any press at all in Canada. Everything is iPhone, iPhone, iPhone.

Re: Is it the right time to get a Maemo device ? (N900)

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Originally Posted by me2000 (Post 457378)

FWIW, its not receiving any press at all in Canada. Everything is iPhone, iPhone, iPhone.

Just to check: Have you maybe heard anything about the Google Nexus One in Canada, eh? :)

Re: Is it the right time to get a Maemo device ? (N900)

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Originally Posted by bgrigor (Post 456178)

I haven't tried VOIP. Skype chat works great.

Good to hear that.

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GPS is still in need of serious work.

Good to know that too.

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Browsing is surprisingly good--great for checking news or TV listings.

Excellent.

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First and foremost, a cell phone. I don't have a landline, so my cell phone is both my personal and business communicator. The N900 has a great GSM radio with fewer missed and dropped calls than my previous SE Z710i. BTW, I'm on Fido on Vancouver Island. HOORAY N900!

Excellent. I'm in Calgary. How did you go about putting your N900 on a Fido account ? What plan are you using ?

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Second and very important: ability to hold ALL my contacts, appointments, tasks and notes from Outlook. HOORAY! I have over 4000 records on the N900. I've never used other smartphones, but my previous regular cell phones absolutely SUCKED at this.

What application are you using for this ? This is exactly what my wife wants. Are you syncing with outlook, ie receiving the emails on both your laptop and your N900 and then ????

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However, Nokia PC Suite is giving me some grief, so the picture isn't completely perfect yet. Also, the PDA/PIM functionality is still pretty basic, e.g. cannot edit a contact from within the Phone app. I am hopeful these little issues will be worked out over time.

Is the Nokia app open source, ie could I add that functionality to it ?

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Third, a music player. HOORAY! I have about 11 GBs of music and album art on the N900. The Media Player is basic but it works OK. Much better than my SE Z710i (shame on you Sony!). Only missing functionality is support for my Audible.com audio books, and I'm hopeful that will be added in due course.

Great to hear about the music. As I stated in a previous email, I'd love to have ONE music source for a change. I wonder if I could access my music files via a shared mount from my laptop and play them on Amarok on my laptop ?

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Fourth, a decent camera. Again, HOORAY! The Camera app is pretty basic, but it works OK and the pix can be quite good, much better than the iPhone as I'm told. And it BLOWS AWAY my other phones.

Excellent.

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As a bonus, the movie feature is also surprisingly good. There's an issue with the little chrome trim around the camera lens, but I expec that will be fixed (replaced with a black ring perhaps).

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Fifth, a GPS. The N900 GPS receiver seems OK, but the Ovi Maps app is disappointing. First thing to do is download all the maps for your area ahead of time so you don't need a data connection to at least see where you are. I downloaded all of North America. However, Ovi Maps still demands a data connection to find addresses and do routing, which is rude. The "Track Me" only works with a route, etc. I eagerly await an upgrade, otherwise GPS is pretty much useless to me on the N900.

Google Navit. I think its going to become the GPS app for Linux.

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Sixth, a decent calculator. Since I've been an HP RPN fanboy since the HP-35 and HP-41, I installed Free42 right away. YES! You won't believe how LAME the calculator is on the SE Z710i.

I am a TI89 guy. I would love to be able to use my phone as a calculator.

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Things I wasn't looking for, but which work surprisingly well:

- Web browser with Flash, nice! I'm not into a cell data plan, but when there's WiFi, it's nice to grab the news or check ferry schedules.

Does the N900 have enough power to watch youtube videos ?

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- Streaming media from all my Windows 7 media servers, VERY nice! I gather the iPhone can't do that? So I don't need to lug my laptop around the house to watch Photoshop User TV!

Its surprising what a difference a small form factor makes as to usability.

I understand the N900 does IR. I'd love to use it as the base for an all in one remote control.

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Integrated IM. All my MSN, Yahoo and Skype contacts now appear on the phone in one App.

I'm not a texter, but I can see where that would be really handy.

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- Sketch app. With a stylus and the awesome screen, there is actually some potential to use the N900 for on-the-spot llustration and artwork. This wouldn't be possible on a capacitive screen

Wow. Not that would be handy. That and the camera.

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I'm looking forward to trying the KOffice drawing apps whether they're released.

KOffice on the n900 ? Is that in the works ?

Re: Is it the right time to get a Maemo device ? (N900)

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Originally Posted by ralphb (Post 457387)

Just to check: Have you maybe heard anything about the Google Nexus One in Canada, eh? :)

I wouldn't know. It was only announced a couple days ago and I've been too busy at work to read the news.

Re: Is it the right time to get a Maemo device ? (N900)

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Originally Posted by ralphb (Post 457406)

This N900 vs iPhone 3GS vs Nexus One vs Palm Pre comparison table might help you decide.

Does the iPhone have A-GPS ? I don't think so. It uses triangulation between cell phone towers to determine its position.

Does the iPhone have an FM transmitter ? I don't think so.

Sorry, I don't have time to Google this stuff to find out right now.

Re: Is it the right time to get a Maemo device ? (N900)

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Originally Posted by me2000 (Post 457396)

Is the Nokia app open source, ie could I add that functionality to it ?

Nope, unfortunately.

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Originally Posted by me2000 (Post 457396)

Should certainly be possible with ssh server on the N900 and sshfs on the laptop.

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Originally Posted by me2000 (Post 457396)

I am a TI89 guy. I would love to be able to use my phone as a calculator.

Check out AlmostTI

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Originally Posted by me2000 (Post 457396)

Does the N900 have enough power to watch youtube videos ?

In general yes. Some people complain about lag/dropped frames though. My phone isn't here yet so I don't have personal experience.

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Originally Posted by me2000 (Post 457396)

KOffice on the n900 ? Is that in the works ?

Yes

Re: Is it the right time to get a Maemo device ? (N900)

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Originally Posted by me2000 (Post 457378)

T
What are the chances of getting Amarok running on the N900 ? Its a full fledged KDE4 app...

Well.. just speaking from previous experience - I got full KDE4 ported to debian and booted the N810 to it.

Penguinbait (I think?) got a full KDE4 port that loaded right onto Maemo for the N8x0.

And Easy Debian is already available that you could install the KDE-libs on, and then amarok, and just run Amarok from there. Problem here is, I think there is some issue with Easy Debian and sound - but some have managed a work around.

In Short: Yes.. it *will* be possible, what method or how is still up in the air - but for someone experienced they are doing things such as this right now on their N900's.