wahlau's online hut

this is not so new - if you follow the Nokia Internet Tablet and Maemo recent progress, you probably already knew that a new tablet should be out before 2010. Since 2005, Nokia has already release 3 generations of Internet Tablets - 4.1" 800x480 screen, WiFi and Bluetooth enabled, Linux OS, both nokia and community supported applications and more. The last device N810 was released around early 2008 (if i remembered correctly) and since then, many have been waiting for the next update.

This is where the "leak" of the so-called N900 device attracted attention. The best part of it is - Mobile-review.com published some sneak-review even before any official information from Nokia. I am not going to repeat what you already knew or can read from the various tech sites, so you should perhaps start with the (p)review or make a wild search and you surely will find something.

I have both nokia 770 and the N800 (technically not mine), and so far they are only kind of like toy more than productivity tools for me. The reason is perhaps simple - I sit mostly in front of a connected computer, and I usually have big screens and high speed connection. So the only time i really appreciate such a connected device, is when i am on-the-move. But again i have a N95 8GB which offers a rather generous screen for short reading on web resources while on the move. I realised that besides me not really wanting to use it because i can already do many things without it, it is the fact that some main features i normally need are missing on the device. For example, i do use calendaring feature on the phone to keep track of some events. So far the Internet Tablets only have some third party soltions, and i have yet to find a satisfactory way to synchronize my stuffs with another source (currently i have it done via Ovi). I also listened to podcasts via an a2dp headset. The Internet Tablet does connect to my headset, but it is only for voice calls and not music. So when i compare features and things i do with my gadgets, the 770/N800 seemed to be very underused.

Recently i got the N800 back from my colleague, and i quickly restored my personal system to check on latest changes (i have it on a SD card, so that is one thing i really appreciate on such a nice flexible OS). I realise certain things on a tablet still make sense if they are available. For instance, input is certainly nicer as compared to a conventional phone. with T9 i can enter rather fast, but i am still very much a keyboard person. The N800 has a virtual keyboard, and even though not as good as a physical keyboard, it helps when i need to enter longer texts. The screen size is of course a good thing. Coupling with the phone, i can at least stay online for 2-3 hours before i should reserve some battery juice for both devices until my next charging possibility. Full web experience is still good on these tablets. It is still rather pocketable (i can put it nicely in my craghopper trousers since they have lots of pockets :P) and you don't really need an extra carry case or bag for these gadgets.

from my usage patterns i slowly notice what i really missed in such devices. Firstly, i need stable software. the Internet tablets should have at least the basic software running without stability issues. These software includes PIM, web, instant messaging, telephony (VoIP, Skype and etc.). More than these are just a plus. But normally i will just be happy if the above applications will just work. Secondly, I need easy connectivity. I have this since the 770. Kudos to Nokia for that. Thirdly, I need keyboard :) else i might as well work on my phone :)

Looking at the preview, i noticed perhaps Nokia will again bring out another great gadget. I personally don't think it will be the next big thing as in market leader, but the N900 (so far we all call it so) should be a good mature version of Internet Tablet as envisioned by Nokia since 770. The 4th device now has kind of all the features and experience collected since it predecessors, and on top of that included also some of the long waited wishes from users and communities. What i can see now from the leaked photos and the preview, i can already name a few that i myself will get excited:

• 3G - one device less :) and this is perhaps the first linux 3g phone to be in the market?
• Maemo 5 - yeah, an (hopefully) improved system with yummy UI
• Calendar - finally! hopefully it works well with Ovi or even Exchange (ahem, just a remark :P)
• 5 MP Camera - well, if it works as well as my N95 8GB, i am happy :)
• 32GB storage - i doN'T really need so much, but if it is fast enough, i think i am a happy user.

regarding the calendar, it really got me excited. look at the screenshots below (taken from Mobile-review.com):

As speculated by many, we might hear something from Nokia in about 2 weeks' time. Let's see, and hope that this round we will get a more exiciting device and a better transition into a seamless mobile Internet world.