Slighltly OT, but IMHO Nokia needs not only to release but to make a lot of hype about this, I mean not only release it for us geeks to install it and that's it.
Make hype, talk about next-gen mobile computing, hire some good PR people or whatever it takes to create anticipation. Make consumers well aware that something big is coming, make them wait for it with eagerness...
Quoting Texrat, this Meego launch has to be BIG. And the launch has to start now.
I don't think this kind of open development process is compatible with "release BIG" + hype. It's like version 0.1 build 0.0.3 fer cryin' owt loud. Well, not that early but you get my point. Expectations must be at least slightly relevant to how far in the process we are. Let them hype it when it's time. The public has a short attention span.
That other company that excels in marketing more than anything else, they usually only put out a rumour that something big will arrive some day soon... And then when it's announced, they can go BIG and HYPE and the products are in stores two weeks later.
When we're aware of the product half a year before release day, it's just too early to hype it. Especially since Nokia has like a thousand models a year.
Have found this video where a few handset meego screenies are shown. Is it any close to what we possible get today? If so it looks awesome imho.
About hype - if nokia does so,people will flame it because as usual they don't see the difference between pre-alpha and final version(same happened to the netbook meego).
Make hype, talk about next-gen mobile computing, hire some good PR people or whatever it takes to create anticipation. Make consumers well aware that something big is coming, make them wait for it with eagerness...
I can already see the engadget article:
- "Nokia unveils the next generation of mobile computing, fails to wow."
- Add picture with default grey background raster, xterm, xeyes
Agree in that there is still much to be done. But the time to release is not as long as to not start creating buzz... Announcement of device in Nokia World (sept.), actual product will be here Nov-Dec...
In comparison, Apple started its PR campaign for the iphone 6 months prior to release, looks like it sold well after all...
Edit: And I was not talking of showing off the alpha build to the world, but about intelligent marketing... Bet you something that Nokia actually can leak some very nice screenshots or videos in the form of viral campaign if the would want to do so.
I don't think this kind of open development process is compatible with "release BIG" + hype. It's like version 0.1 build 0.0.3 fer cryin' owt loud. Well, not that early but you get my point. Expectations must be at least slightly relevant to how far in the process we are. Let them hype it when it's time. The public has a short attention span.
Even with open development a project can use PR people and create hype. Just look at Ubuntu. Most components for that are created in the open, but they can still get magazines and blogs previewing new features in upcoming releases when they release a beta.
I have already stopped to see eNgadget articles, made my life better.
Oh, and I am not suggesting that the marketing people aren't preparing the market for the N900, I am suggesting that they hold out on using the big letters about the product until they at least know what the product is going to be.
No sign yet of desktop, app launcher etc., unless that's what "mannequin" is.
I've just realised that there are more things at http://meego.gitorious.org/meegotouch including "home" and "control panel", and source appears to be available.
