Nokia N900

[Christo]

Surprised no one has posed this yet. The Nokia N900 has been leaked, its a Nokia phone/tablet using Maemo 5 (a 'new' OS based on Linux). Maemo will be the new OS for higher end Nokia phones replacing Symbian (thank God). This Im actually looking forward to - a seemingly decent OS (the very experienced reviewer said comparable to the iphone OS), faster processor, 800x480 res screen and usual Nokia hardware (release maybe Oct 2009)

Official info just released:
http://maemo.nokia.com/
Official videos:
http://vimeo.com/6296297

video of it in action:

The Nokia N900 will be available in select markets from October 2009 with an estimated retail price of EUR 500 excluding sales taxes and subsidies.

Specs:

ARM Cortex-A8 processor running @ 600 MHz (Texas Instruments OMAP 3430)

Up to 1GB of application memory (256 MB RAM and up to 768 MB of virtual memory) and OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics acceleration

3.5 inch 800 × 480 resolution touch screen

110.9 mm × 59.8 mm × 18 mm (19.55 mm at thickest part); 181 grams

BL-5J battery with 1320mAh of power

10.2 Mbps HSPA (900/1700/2100 MHz), quadband GSM/EDGE, Bluetooth 2.1 and WLAN

Browser powered by Mozilla technology, full Adobe Flash 9.4 support, the ability to copy and paste from the browser

32 GB of storage built in, expandable to 48 GB via microSD

5MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics; 800 × 480 resolution video recording

“The Nokia N900 will be available in select markets from October 2009 with an estimated retail price of EUR 500 excluding sales taxes and subsidies.”

GPS

Always online: Up to 2-4 days (TCP/IP connected)
Talk time: Up to 5hrs WCDMA, 9hrs GSM
Active online usage: Up to 1+ day
personal email accounts


http://www.intomobile.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/n900front.jpg

http://www.intomobile.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/n900keyboard.jpg

NO HOTLINKING

Theres a preview/review of the phone and around 100 screenshots of the OS here:

http://www.mobile-review.com/review/nokia-rx51-n900-en.shtml

 

[Christo]

The N97 was meant to be their big gamble to take on apple

Borich

yeah, seems they were working on this in the meantime, better late than never huh!

If the OS is comparable to the iphone, is speedy and not buggy like symbian/winmo then I think it will be a great phone!

Although I just skimmed that review and it doesnt seem to have a standalone headphone jack? If it doesnt thats a BIG let down.

Anyway I always get excited about the possibility that there is a new phone with a decent OS but am always disappointed.

Its does, you can see it in the top pic. If the guy that wrote the article is pleased with the OS thats a good thing, he's a very respected/honest blogger (Eldar).:

“the most impressive device in 2009, all the others, mildly put, are not so (impressive)”, “compared to this, S60 looks like an old crap”, “I look at Nokia N97 in one hand, this device in another, and understand that..wow”, “after living with it a few months, I can say that this smart(phone) has me drooling with wonder. And already pretty fast and stable”

 

[Christo]

I am not sure I get all this, it is just the follow up to the Nokia N810 (which I have had since release) and is a Internet Tablet - not a phone. One big difference between this and the N810 is that it has a sim card and therefore also be used as a phone.

The reviewer is a chump, he wrote that massive review and barely mentioned the N770/N800/N810 which are the predecessors. Also he appears to be jumping to MASSIVE conclusions which are currently groundless and probably some very bad assumptions.

Its not just an iterative follow up, it is smaller than the N810 and uses the latest Maemo OS (Which has been modded for use as a phone more than a tablet). What massive conclusions is he jumping on? He's been using it for a while now. Sure, he is discussing the future of the industry which is hard to predict.

 

[Christo]

Nokia is a BIG player in the Chinese market. Capacitive screens are terrible for entering Chinese characters. Ergo, Nokia has stuck to making resistive touchscreen phones for now.

The OS isn't new, by the way. It dates back to the N770, which I believe was released in 2006.

Yeah I know, I just couldnt be bothered to explain (so put it in "" marks as its "new" for a Nokia phone ie non Symbian.)

New phone, new hardware & new OS and they still cba to stick a capacitive screen on the the thing.

Surely by todays standards that would pretty much be a given..

oh why, because the iphone uses it? Personally I prefer capacitive however if the phone is responsive/quick, that should negate the usual issues.

 

[Christo]

Is there any confirmation about all this doods assumptions? Seems to me that it is possible that since it was a leak that it is just their next internet tablet and nothing to do with their mobile phone range.

Why do you keep mentioning assumptions, the guy has been using the device for months did you read his review? (also he has posted snippets about it on a forum for a while now). 'wanna clarify what assumptions he is making?

 

[Christo]

Official info just released:
http://maemo.nokia.com/
The Nokia N900 will be available in select markets from October 2009 with an estimated retail price of EUR 500 excluding sales taxes and subsidies.

Specs:

ARM Cortex-A8 processor running @ 600 MHz (Texas Instruments OMAP 3430)

Up to 1GB of application memory (256 MB RAM and up to 768 MB of virtual memory) and OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics acceleration

3.5 inch 800 × 480 resolution touch screen

110.9 mm × 59.8 mm × 18 mm (19.55 mm at thickest part); 181 grams

BL-5J battery with 1320mAh of power

10.2 Mbps HSPA (900/1700/2100 MHz), quadband GSM/EDGE, Bluetooth 2.1 and WLAN

Browser powered by Mozilla technology, full Adobe Flash 9.4 support, the ability to copy and paste from the browser!

32 GB of storage built in, expandable to 48 GB via microSD

5MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics; 800 × 480 resolution video recording

“The Nokia N900 will be available in select markets from October 2009 with an estimated retail price of EUR 500 excluding sales taxes and subsidies.”

GPS

Official videos:
http://vimeo.com/6296297

Video of it in action:

 

[Christo]

So they announce the N97 in December, we can finally buy it in late JUNE, it arrives filled with inexcusable bugs and is replaced, screwing all of us now in 24 month contracts, just 3 months later?

What?

It was announced in December for release in H2 (June).. But yep the N97 was always a bit of a dog. Whyever did you sign for a 24 month contract! Id struggle to agree more than 12.

-----

I was worried it would be a bit big, doesnt look too bad actually:

http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/images/news/devices/N900/compare.jpg

NO HOTLINKING

So, good things about the phone - Full flash, firefox, decent res screen, decent speed processor, Different OS, 1Gb RAM, Out soon (Oct), not too pricey (cheaper than N97 at launch..) and 10.2 Mbps HSPA.
Bad things - maybe a bit thick? Low Battery capacity?

 

[Christo]

Sounds like the same thing to me?

You should have got an N86, best non touchscreen phone imo.

 

[Christo]

Never even thought of that to be honest. Whats the best way to go about it and how much would i likely get for it

Or maybe try gumtree - works well in London anyway.

 

[Christo]

I think this looks a bad idea,

Apple, Android Palm and now Blackberry have smartphones covered, IMO there isn't space for Nokia in this market anymore as their products just aren't good enough.

The OS doesn't look fantastic to me from the video, I actually can't believe people still buy Nokia phones.

ROFL. Nokia are the largest smartphone manufacturer what an informed, objective post.

 

[Christo]

That doesnt mean their products are any good, any idea on the sales of nokia smartphones in the UK?

Not got UK, but worldwide:

http://i.afterdawn.com/storage/pictures/q2sales.png

NO HOTLINKING

Your statements are pretty subjective, S60v5 (touch) is pretty poor and needs updating I agree, however they are still doing rather well (saleswise) and the hardware is decent. I also agree that other OSes/manufacturers are really decent and gaining/taking over in some cases. Nokia needs to gets its ass in gear, however the N900 (Maemo OS) seems to be a step in the right direction, hence the strong interest. Personally I think the N900 OS looks v good (However I havent played with one, so obviously not a final opinion) what dont you like about it?

 

[Christo]

N900 prices:

http://maemonews.com/2009/09/21/prices-for-nokia-n900/

Also its available on pre order through Tmobile/Voda (if we can trust those sites) however, Ill be rather pleased if it is on those networks..

http://www.onlinephonecontracts.co.uk/handset.asp?hs=NokiaN900&net=all

 

[Christo]

im lookin at some new phone and im torn between n86 and the n900 ...

now that ive read this thread its defo the n86 .. as no oled and resistive touch screens are pants

are they??

....

Please tell me the difference..

---

Having said that the N86 is an awesome phone, best non touchscreen on the market.

 

[Christo]

Anyone know if this is coming out on 3? I'm up for upgrade now, and starting to look at some phones. Just can't decide which one yet.

Late October apparently.

 

[Christo]

Ive been into a few phone shops about this and just got off the phone from the Nokia Store in Manchester and its not good news....
All the phone shops have either not had a clue when/or even heard about the phone. All but phones4u and 3 didnt know anythingbut anyway; the guys there knew that it's the nokia that has just been released at the trade shows and both said that they would expect some time in December. Having just come off the phone with the Nokia Store, they confirmed this; if they have a definate release date so that i could come in and have a play about with it and the reply was no, they have not yet been informed but they also expect it in December some time.

Well the Nokia store in London told me late October.. Although since Ive heard it may be moved back to November, however early Nov.

A friend at Nokia has played with one on and off, says it is still quite buggy. But then he moans about all their phones before big release as he sees the handsets go through growing pains.

Typical bloody Nokia.

 

[Christo]

I can't see why they wouldn't. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if you could replace it yourself with a flash10 plugin (can't say for sure though, just guessing) as it seems to be very flexible being essentially a debian based distro.

I was considering some android phones, but if this lives up to its hype (and it seems it does) it blows all android phones out of the water. My only concern is battery life, which no reviewer has provided details for.

The N900 was shown at the 10.1 conference with the 10.1 software - so rather likely it will get the upgrade.

My concerns would be whether the antennae are as weak as in the n97, whether the resistive touchscreen is more responsive (could the n97 screen have been a symbian s60 issue or is it purely the screen?). Hopefully they haven't used the same crap parts again or it could end up a crippled giant... otherwise it looks fast, efficient and a great phone for web browsing, with multiple pages to jump between and 800 pixels wide rather than the painful process on the n97 of having to reload a choice of the back and forward page and jerky, unresponsive touch-scrolling.

N97 is a dog, always was a dog, theres no comparison really. Nokia products generally have very good connectivity. The N97 was slow - hence the poor response time. Hopefully Nokia have the N900 covered - but I am crossing fingers as they havent been the best of late.

 

[Christo]

Is the release date for this phone still the 12th oct or has it been changed/delayed ??

It was always October. Its still coming late Oct apparently

 

[Christo]

ignore me

 

[Christo]

I rarely use fingers with n810, it has a stylus and a stylus housing within the unit itself. Making it better and more accurate. Especially seeing as I am using a modified on screen keyboard from standard.

Fine if you want a pda, but this is touted as a phone and the GUI has been revamped to this end. If I have to use a stylus (for anything) (a la Wwindows Mobile) this phone is a no no, ut from the reviews it looks good for fingers.

 

[Christo]

Nokia aren't touting this as a phone. They always refer to it as a "mobile computer".

They actually called the N95 a mobile computer when it was released too. At any rate the N900 is optimised for touch.

Disliking the fact that they put phone capabilities into it. Prefer my current setup of a cheap crap phone, and 810. To me it was always a pda/laptop that you can fit into your pocket. And the spec upgrade is aimed at just that, was a mistake to shove a phone chip into it.

However, I will eventually buy it (when the price is less retarded), it is a much needed upgrade over the 810. Just the price they got wrong, for that much, I can get a decent laptop that will do so much more and still have enough left for a cheap phone via which I could use the laptop.

I mean, it runs linux, it is clearly a geeky toy, and not something actually usable for general public, as lets face it, linux based products are not known for its amazing UI.

I almost bought an N810 but it just was too big for general use. If you are a linux monkey Id see why one would buy it. Why woudnt you like the fact that it has additional capabilities (including GSM)? Surely ubiquitous data is a good thing - and the GUI looks rather good too.