rs-px | # 61 | 2007-10-21, 17:08 | Report

I'd be happy with the solution you outline. Once the toolbars are turned off, there should be enough real-estate for word processing, even if the app isn't 'optimised' for the N800/810's small screen.

But, as always, the question is who's going to do it I don't think that making a good word processor is high on the list of the average developers' To Do list. Nokia should pay somebody. I've been monitoring the N810 reviews closely and nearly all of them criticise the N810 for not having an MS Office compatible program (not even a viewer, like most other mobile platforms). It's real black-hole in the software catalog.

Incidentally, has anybody ever looked into porting OLPC's Sugar over to the N800, or its word processor in particular? I believe it's all built on GTK. I believe the word processor is port of Abiword.

johnkzin | # 62 | 2007-10-21, 17:34 | Report

Nokia doesn't need to pay someone to do it. They just need to partner with Google. Get a port of Google Mobile Apps to the tablets.

Specifically, the mobile gmail, mobile calendar, and mobile docs. Make sure they can cache and sync data, so you can cache your messages/calendar-data/documents for off-line reading and writing, and then sync when you get on-line again.

That gets the tablets a quick path to an office equivalent application suite (word processor, spread sheet, presentation graphics, calendar, and full service email), plus syncing between local contacts and a central service, with just a little bit of porting work.

That's what I'd like to see (and, if they got Google to add "folders" to Google Bookmarks, then they could add in syncing bookmarks to this environment).

megabyte405 | # 63 | 2007-10-21, 22:54 | Report

The reason for lack of back-compat with maemo includes (but is not limited to) space - keep in mind there is only 256 megs for the system and most of a user's files - this is not very much! Additionally, so much changes between releases thus far that it would not be possible/feasible to provide this compatibility, I'd imagine. (Maemo/Hildon API's have not been designed with compatibility in mind up until 4.0 - however, with the work in integrating with upstream that is the source of many changes in 4.0, this will likely be a consideration from now on.)

Yes, someone has contributed a patch for OS2008 support to AbiWord. It has not been integrated yet - it is being reviews. The current version of the patch (again, which hasn't been applied yet) would remove 2006 support, so we're working on being able to permit both 2006 and 2008 (and perhaps 2007, too) builds to take place.

Unfortunately, there is no "quick path" for anything - a "google mobile apps" port, a new program in Java, Python, etc (numerous suggestions have been made) would all take at least as much time as finalizing AbiWord for Maemo, and you'd end up with an unproven codebase and behind the curve.

With luck, the patch submitter for the Maemo 4.0 port will be able to revise the patch and get it well integrated, so that I can get some proper builds from the upstream source tree for maemo.

rs-px | # 64 | 2007-10-22, 10:42 | Report

Ryan, I didn't suggest a new program in Java. I suggested using one of the existing programs out there, provided that Sun deliver a decent (and speedy) Java Runtime for the N800/810. Frankly, they're not great, but we're desperate!

I had a go at running a few of the Java word processors on my 770 but the Java Runtime that I downloaded doesn't allow GUI stuff. I'm not sure if the more updated version for the 800/810 does. Alongside speed of java apps, this is obviously an issue.

That said, converting Abiword to Java really would make it cross-platform. No worries about porting any longer (well, no big worries). Java seems to be experiencing something of a resurgence nowadays.

As for porting Google Docs to the N800/810, I think the whole point is that it's an online office suite. Creating a static port for a non-online machine defeats the purpose. Plus, like I've said before, the level of features on Google Docs is pretty poor. It's little more than a text editor with ambition. To see how online word processing should be done, Google Buzzword. That really is impressive. Arguably as good as my standard word processor.

But when considering online office suites, bear in mind that getting online while out and about isn't always free of charge. Take the deal I use. I've get free wifi with my ISP deal, but I'm limited to a set number of minutes per month. If I were to spend hours word processing every day, the minutes would be eaten up in a week. So even if a superb word processor was available online, I don't think it's the answer to the N800/N810 word processing black hole.

johnkzin | # 65 | 2007-10-22, 15:06 | Report

Actually, I think both of you completely missed my point.

The point of Google Mobile Apps is, as I understand it (and correct me if I'm wrong) exactly that: mobile phone optimized and non-live (non-constant internet connection) use of key google applications (gmail, docs, calendar, blogger, and several others). "The whole point is" that you don't have to be tied to sitting in a place with some form of coverage when you want to do these things.

And, you don't have to "create a static port": Google already did that for you. The question is "what infrastructure does it require". It requires java and a particular cert availability. And probably some sort of blessing and testing by Google and Nokia.

It was my understanding that Google Docs could work with Word documents. Is that not true? Is its text editing ability more extensive than what you get with the N800's built in "Notes" program?

T-unit | # 66 | 2008-02-17, 01:54 | Report

How About a port for open office has any body tryed to port is writer funtion?
I would really enjoy Open Office on my Nokia N800

linux_author | # 67 | 2008-02-17, 02:07 | Report

- i didn't go through the entire thread here (will read sometime at my leisure)... the OP asked for an RTF-capable word processor...

- but i have to put in a word for pico or nano... these bare-bones editors work for programming and writing, and include support for spell-checking...

- but the best feature is that YOU WILL NEVER LOSE ANY WORK! you can yank the battery in the middle of writing, and upon restoring power, will find a *.save file in the current directory...

- i have *never* lost any work in more than 10 years and 21 published books using these software tools...

- JMHO, YMMV...

sleepkyng | # 68 | 2008-02-17, 12:42 | Report

my dream is for a full screen customizable text editor like q10
http://www.baara.com/q10/

as a writer, distraction free space like this is magic.

Karel Jansens | # 69 | 2008-02-17, 15:46 | Report

Pico or Nano are nice editors. Unfortunately, they rely on the less-than-stellar user interface the x terminal on the N8X0 provides.

So: no.

midwinter | # 70 | 2008-02-17, 18:00 | Report

My mileage does indeed vary.

I need footnotes.