Haven't been following Android as closely lately. But if HTC Sense UI isn't available on non-HTC phones, then you've pretty much proven my point.

If you end up only buying HTC phones because of Sense UI, then HTC becomes the "only game in town" and consumers end up loosing as there are no real competitors. [Yes, I see/understand the desire for HTC to want that]

In the case of MeeGo, (if) the proposition is to create a base operating system that can span multiple devices that gives you great functionality out of the box that hardware and software vendors can easily adapt to their needs. In the grand scheme of things, if it ends up only being a few power players calling all of the shots and keeping the best parts for themselves (ie the "Intel/Nokia experience") then why would any other parties invest their time/effort into MeeGo since they will start off with a huge disadvantage.

So my real point is that if these "vendor customizations/brandings" end up defining what MeeGo is/isn't then (to me) the entire point of MeeGo is (somewhat) lost since it won't be a platform used by multiple hardware vendors, it will just be a platform developed by the major players, but developed in isolation.

I'm confused.. From Qgils post it sounded like Harmattan will have a different look and feel from the reference Meego handset interface.

Is that not the case?

This probably just more of a personal nit-pick of mine, but I (think) I would rather install "the base handset experience" instead of the Nokia (or any other vendor customization) branded one. Mainly because I don't like the "branding" as it usually doesn't add any real value over the stock system.

MeeGo Trouch Framework == Actual UI (User Interface) for device

MeeGo Touch is the ui library (add-on over plain Qt). The "user interface" consists of lots of stuff in addition to that, including app launcher, homescreen, system status bars etc.

If you need to develop applications, you need the UI library. You probably won't need the homescreen or app launcher. Don't count on all of this being made available.

If you asked me, you don't need to wait for this release to develop applications. You can already develop meegotouch applications for your current N900, without flashing it. You could also distribute those apps to current "mainstream" n900 users.

So by your definition all we'll see tomorrow is modified QT libraries?

So by your definition all we'll see tomorrow is modified QT libraries?

... That would suck. Bad.

No, there will be reference applications I believe. Plus the actual desktop/everything else packaged up nicely and working I'd guess.

As for the MeeGo Touch library, I'd personally avoid it - more information/some discussion at http://forum.meego.com/showthread.php?t=524

Right, and I've seen that thread and I plan to avoid the M*.. but I was also under the impression we would see a desktop and an interface beyond just a few apps you launch from xterm as a "k, this is what the library looks like".

Or does the interface we see tomorrow (if we see one? more confused..) included as part of the framework and we think Nokia will use that as well?

I had thought the MeeGo touch Framework would have included some basic things such as a desktop, launcher, basic user input, etc.. I was evidently incorrect in that.