Hands on with the Nokia 770

MobileBurn has some hands on pics of the 770, Nokia's new non-phone internet tablet thingy, and well, it's small. But you probably already figured that.

[hobgoblin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

it may be small but it looks like the screen is good :P

and with a on-screen kayboard as well as a hand writeing system that can take whole word this may be my first nokia product ;)

perfect for haveing in ones pocket on a boring day, even more so in combo with a 3g phone :D

[TheZodiac @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

According to mBurn this screen is awesome... @ 350, screw the foccee table :) Im bringing it to my Tmo hotspot - and if I am out of range? Ill pair it with my BT cell phone :)

nice... cant wait to see how this get hacked, and how the open source community uses the advantage or lunix to write programs and utilities for it.

I sure do wish it had more memory though - like one of those Toshiba 0.85" 3GB hard drives! :)

[ntj65 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I personally love gadgets with a screen on steroids... I love this thing, the psp and the like for their gorgeous screens.

I do admit that they're a pain in the butt to keep clean and scratch-free.

[cdharrison @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Pretty cool, but its too bad I no longer buy Palm stuff...

[Joe Henson @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Full Specifications:

Size
Weight: 230 g
Dimensions: 141 x 79 x 19 mm

Colour
Black and matte silver

Display
High-resolution (800x480) touch screen with up to 65,536 colours

Operating temperature
-10�C to +55 �C

Memory
Engine: DDR RAM 64MB
Memory: Flash 128MB (>64MB for user)
Memory card: 64MB RS-MMC (Reduced Size - MultiMediaCard)

Operating system
Internet Tablet 2005 software edition

Applications (in 2005 software edition)
Web Browser
Flash Player version 6
Email Client
Internet Radio
News Reader
Media players, Image viewer
PDF viewer
File Manager
Search
Calculator
World Clock
Notes
Sketch
Games

Supported File Formats
Audio: MP3, Real Audio, MPEG4, AAC, WAV, AMR, MP2
Image: JPEG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, PNG, Animated GIF format,
SVG-tiny, ICO
Video: MPEG1, MPEG4, Real Video, H.263, AVI, 3GP

Connectivity
WLAN: 802.11b/g
Bluetooth specification: 1.2
For Internet connection and file transfer via phone
Profiles supported: Dial-up Networking, File Transfer, Generic Access, SIM Access and Serial Port profiles
USB device mode for PC connectivity
RS-MMC
3.5 mm stereo audio out
Power connector (2mm)

[Stoneman @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

How is this thing supposed to play movies? I think it's got an old X-scale ~200 MHz processor. My V35 can play MPEGS fine, but AVI's -- forget it, too many dropped frames. (And that's a 300 MHZ machine!).

[Cal @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I played videos on my Zaurus 5500 with no problem. It has a 200mhz arm, which didn't even have xscale extentions

[Lauri @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

No. It isn't x scale. It's omap something. Omap thingies have a general purpose arm cpu and a dsp core for multimedia functions.

[Rob @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

oh yeah!! this thing has potential!

Add a few programs... BANG! Instant Hi-Res linux based pda. Nokia...did something right?? WOW!

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Whoa, 800x480 in a screen that small puts the PSP to shame (I know they're in different categories, but the PSP is often praised for its screen quality). That's an extremely high density screen.

From the pic posted on the front page here yesterday, I thought this was bigger than this. It's actually pretty cool. I'd find something like this useful.

[Vic Matson @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Please correct me if I am wrong, but am I correct in thinking open sourse means installing Linux open office or using a LAMP stack hosted version?

[TZK @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

4.1 inches with that resolution, is going to be night I think. I really want to see one up close... what are RS-MMC cards maxing out at these days? CF would have been cooler with a hard drive option :)

[Eric W @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

So if you make a new PDA, and call it an internet tablet instead, it's suddenly cool? Screen resolution is nice, MMC is ultra lame.

[pimp @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

voice to text recognition on this would be tres cool.

[pimp @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

voice to text recognition on this would be tres cool.

[petro @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Damn it. Why can't they put this screen on the LifeDrive?!

[JV @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Does it play Flash movies?

[petro @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

#16 - yes, it plays flash.

[Derrick @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

#11, the entire software stack on this Nokia 770 ranging from the OS (kernel, GUI etc..) are open sourced. Tons of applications from the open source community can be easily ported over as the hardware is open to the community. It also means, the community can provide kernel upgrade and all kinds of software updates and upgrades even if Nokia stop developing this product line. This is way too cool. I am sold.

[blue @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I will wait for a better version that features a heard drive.

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

"So if you make a new PDA, and call it an internet tablet instead, it's suddenly cool?"

If you base it on Linux, give it an 800x480 screen, and make it internet-ready, then yes.

The fact that it runs Linux means all sorts of open-source apps apps could just be re-compiled and run pretty much "off the shelf". (I know this is not the only Linux PDA, but it's the only one this small.) The screen is far higher resolution than any PDA this size. And the fact that they're calling it an "internet tablet" implies that it's going to have at least some pretty good wireless capabilities.

I don't think anybody's pretending this is a revolutionary device, but it seems to be a series of refinements and features to the PDA that people have been asking for for a long time and that nobody else seems to want to give us.

[Zeek @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Stop acting coy, yo's.
You know if you're commenting here, you are so standing in line at midnight to grab 3 of these. The thinking [or married] persons PSP. Gifts for the kids. I'm already in line on the construction site where I'm hoping a Nokia lifestyle store will be opened in the next 3 to 9 months. This thing is so effortlessly from the future the way Microsoft will never be [tablet computing?!? The way you have to hold the thing immediately makes anyone look/feel like a 50's secretary.] and Apple could only wish it was [video ipod bluetooth HD streaming thingie?!? One. Trick. Pony. And 2500$ worth of ala carte proprietary widgets to get it up and running, I'm sure.]
I gotta say, I didn't see Nokia coming up from the rear, but this is quite a resurrection.
The Linux developers will be all over this and I'm sure if you want, you'll be able to buy faux bearskin covered speakers/docking cradle/baby monitor accesories for it too, soon enough.
Cannot wait.

[Permanent4 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Stoneman: I doubt this thing will be able to play movies. It's clearly not designed with MPEG-4/DivX/XviD in mind. If you really want portable video, you're probably better off going with Archos. The AV420 is down to $401, according to Pricewatch. The PMA430 is down to about $700, but its internet functions aren't going to be nearly as slick as this Nokia.

TZK: RS-MMC cards max out at 1GB now, but you'll pay the premium for it. Lowest price I've seen is above $150. A 512MB RS-MMC card, however, is only $45 (incl. shipping) from NewEgg.

[gerbick @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I seriously haven't had this kind of gadget-lust in ages.

I must have one of these... and the price is just so damn right.

[J @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

OMG! It's a PDA!

Wait, they don't want us to call them PDAs anymore, bad for marketing.

[khamel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

i have been in the market for something like this since I sold my laptop in favor of my desktop because i realized that no matter how much money I spent on a laptop ($1500) a $600 desktop would be faster and better. But i have been looking for a way to surf the net or check email from the couch and now my prayers have been answered.
The advantages of this over a PDA (this is not a PDA, come on) is the price point, $350 is dirt cheap, and the fact that the wireless b/g and bluetooth are part of it so you dont have to worry about whether or not they work. I think thats the key and thats why I'm gonig to be pre-ordering this thing for $350 instead of buying a palm E for more that isnt going to have the Linux community that this Nokia will have.
Even if its not as great as everyone wants it to be, for $350 it can't be beat.

[Alindy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

What really separates this from a Axim 50V, besides the Linux?? I would rather take the Axim with it's 624mhz cpu, separate graphics chip, and both SD and CF slots. It also will get better with Mobile 5.0 and DirectX apps.

[Sluggo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Three Questions:

1) What is the point of this?

2) Who(besides some geek that wants to tear it apart and tweak it) is going to buy this?

3) What are they going to use it for that isn't already doable with:
a) A Sharp Zaurus Linux PDA
b) A Palm or PocketPC?
c) One of those webpad thingys that were "all-the-rage" 3 years ago and no one bought?

Dazed and Confuzed, Sluggo

[MarkF @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

In some of the photos the 770 is shown with it's silver/grey cover slightly pulled down. There is what looks like contact connector exposed. Is it possible, or has it been mentioned elsewhere, that there will be expansion units/sleeves available, ala the early Compaq iPaqs? Make an optional HD sleeve and this thing would be a real PDA killer.

[Gregory Pierce @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Its an interesting device but of little utility to me. If they would slap a GSM subsystem in it so I could use it as a phone with a bluetooth antenna, THEN I would be really interested in this. As it is now its just another interesting PDA - the change of the marketing name doesn't make it any different.

[JV @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I have a feeling that this was made for casual home use. Have you ever held an Axim? It's so awesome, you don't want anyone to touch it. We have one where I work for testing mobile apps, and I am very careful with it...which makes it not fun to use. This Nokia device is the kind of toy that you can pull out of your pocket without worrying about scratching it, and let your friends use it without worrying about them screwing it up somehow. I can see children using this too.

It's a great, simple idea.

[otakucode @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

My plans for this thing would be using it as a remote control for my Xboxes running Xbox Media Center via the nice web interface it's got. Also, being able to launch IMDB and do quick searches on movies/actors/etc without leaving the couch is nice too.

Can't wait to get an IRC app on it.

[Jerry Kindall @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

If it'll play video, even if it doesn't have quite the oomph to decode 800x480 video (400x240 then upscaling would be fine), then I'm so totally there. Even if it doesn't, I'll be sore tempted, but I'll probably wait for a model that does. Actually I'd like a slightly larger screen too, say 5" diagonal, at the same res.

The big benefit of this over Palm or Pocket PC? It's Linux, which means there'll be a cut-down version of Konqueror (with Apple's Safari/WebCore contributions) and/or Firefox for it. You know, a real honest-to-God desktop-caliber Web browser on a machine you can fit in your hand. Booyah!

[OddManOut @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

To: Sluggo

Since you threw out some seemingly open ended questions (valid ones at that), I'll throw out few possible answers.

"1) What is the point of this?"

As per their marketing it's mostly designed as an in home ultra mobile link to the internet and it's attendant services...some of them anyway. It looks to be the internet equivalent of the cordless phone. The cordless phone was designed to untether us from the desk within our own homes, but the internet sucked us right back to the desk. Wifi has allowed us some leeway again, but luggin your laptop around the house is kinda like using a Zack Morris style celly, it works but.... This thing looks to make taking the net with you inside your house totally casual and even incidental...

"2) Who(besides some geek that wants to tear it apart and tweak it) is going to buy this?"

In all likely hood I would think that probably is the what demographic will be the primary consumer. But as technology becomes ever more ubiquitous, were are getting kind a new 'casual geek' class of people who are adept at integrating the more basic aspects of new tech/gadgets into their lives, but don't really go too far into the 'hobyist' type stuff. I think THAT is who Nokia is actually targeting. Might work, I don't know that the 'casual geeks' plus the harder core geeks will be enough to make this device a profitable venture. We'll just have to wait and see...

Although the answer to qustion three adresses this topic a little more...

'3) What are they going to use it for that isn't already doable with:
a) A Sharp Zaurus Linux PDA
b) A Palm or PocketPC?
c) One of those webpad thingys that were "all-the-rage" 3 years ago and no one bought?'

IMHO - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. The Zaurus itself can be used for virtually anything ANY computer can be (it might have to run for a few years to do so , but...) and an agregate of the others certainly cover all these things bases and more. The price point is a compelling feature though. I don't think any Zaurus ever debued under $400 (I could be wrong on that). The name brand recognitian behind NOKIA will probably help to. But as for this things technical capabilities...nothing extraordinary. But it probably is desingned more to strike a particular feature balance than it is to be the front runner of technology.

If the UI is well designed it could have a significant advantage over the more hacker oriented Zaurus, and the crash/problem prone pocket PC.

Think of it as a Toyota Corolla next to a Subaru WRX and a new Ford Mustang. The mustang is fast and powerful but um, not known as a leader in reliability, but still, you jump in and drive and it's fun. The subaru is a prized niche item, it's imported, it's got gut's, rally cred, the elusive all wheel drive, and (subjectively) 'cool' styling. But pop the hood and it's FREAKIN' WIERD (is Subaru still storing the spare tire over the engine ?), not really the pervue of the average shade tree mechanic. But still, you jump in you drive it and it's fun. Now look at a toyota corolla. Not really as much fun to jump in and drive it, you'd probably lose a serious 1/4 mile race, and it's not really suitable for rally driving either. But it will rarely break down, it will be easy to fix when it does, it WILL get you from a to b, and you know what ? With a little work and a good driver, it CAN be fun to drive (particularly the type s).

Which of the three sells the most ?

I'm not saying this thing will overun the PDA market (particularly because I'd don't even really think of this item AS a PDA, it doesn't look PIM oriented at all). But I think it is sorta unique in it's blandness enough that it might hit an untapped market.

Should be nifty to watch...cause if they are comming out at $350 I should only have to wait a year to get on eBay for $75...

[I am left-handed @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Obviously designed by a right-handed person. We're always left out (badabing!).

[leha @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Dell Axims are nice the only problem is that they are made by Dell. That means no support on old models. I got Axim x5 2 years ago with 2002 version of windows and guess what you can not upgrade to 2003 or 2003se2. Well there is unofficial way to upgrade to 2003 but not to 2003se2 (2003se2 supports landscape mode that I would like to have). There is windows 2005 coming
out and as far as I undestand only axim x50v will get upgrade, all other guys are overboard.

It is not the worst support though(hp is not much better). That is why I preffer to rely on opensource, open source community is better and more friendly when it comes to support.

The other reason why nokia toy beats axim is that 800 horisontal resolution is much better then 640. How many websites will be drawn nicely on 640 considering that 1024 horisontal resolution is pretty much standart nowdays?

[Sluggo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

To: OddManOut

I agree w/ you that these will probably end up on eBay for $75 in a year. I think they are chasing windmills and will lose money on something like this for the forseeable future.

I see more people carrying either BlackBerries (a suprising # of women & housewives) or Laptops everywhere - including homes. At least with laptops, people can do everything.

[petro @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

So, any word on whether or not this unit can be used for gps?

[Virtuous @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

This is not a PDA!

"For their part, Nokia is positioning the 770 as a thin client, a terminal. It is not intended to be a storage device, even though it does share many aspects with new media players, such as its RS-MMC memory card slot. This is the reason that you will find no PIM type applications pre-installed on the system, like a Calendar or ToDo list app. Of course there are plenty of Open Source applications that can fill that void, but it seems clear that Nokia is very much trying not to position the 770 as a PDA, even though it does include an email client (along with Opera, an RSS reader, and other apps)."

[OddManOut @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

To: Sluggo

While I think this thing is kinda cool, you are likely right (divergence from straight up phones doesn't seem to treat Nokia very well *cough*nGage*cough*).

As I said, this type of device fits into a market that does not right now have a specific product targeted at it. BUT...it's a SMALL market, and there are many devices that will do the same thing and more.

The price point thing and linux nature are the biggest draws IMHO. But for $350 you can pick up the odd Zaurus C860 on ebay every coupla weeks (there's one on there now) and it's got twice the horsepower, a keyboard, and a comumnity. All of which this thing does not.

As I said, I was just responding to the questions you posed. All said I think if this thing is marketed *just right* and Nokia contrives to somehow add an aura of iPod level chic and 'hip' imagery around it it could succede.

But you don't see me buying stock in Nokia (or one of these thing for that matter)...

Thanks for the reply 'Sluggo'!

[jay @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Guys, this is not a PDA! It lacks calendar, contacts, and tasks applications so you can't compare it with other PDA's. Of course someone might just program these apps because it's linux. It's in a class of it's own... (but of course a lot of devices can do what it does).

[FreeStyle @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

To Sluggo:

I have been waiting for a device like this for the longest time. I love this device for a few simple reasons.

1. This device supports FULL web browsing , (according to the specs) all pages load like they do on any PC. I have not used an axim , but the original iPaq I had left a lot to be desired in terms of surfing the web.

2. The screen size is practical for surfing the web and the resolution is drool worthy!

3. Easy to handle. I can lean back on my couch or on the bed and surf the web. Try doing that with a laptop.

4. The price point makes it more irresistable.

5. Third party apps and tweaks.

I think Nokia has hit a sweet spot with this device. It will not be a rage like the iPod but I think it has GREAT potential.

[mizu @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

The screen size is most certainly not practical for desktop calibre surfing. The resolution may possibly be, but the size makes the pixel density very high and text tiny.

I have the Sony U71P and consider standard fonts on it's native 800x600 resolution a bit small, but still legible. I think one would struggle to read long passages of text from the Nokia without suffering eyestrain/headache.

This is based on the assumption that the hands in the picture are not Andre The Giants.

[theflew @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Am I the only one that read the details behind this?

Supported formats (From Nokia site for the 770):
* Audio: MP3, Real Audio, MPEG4, AAC, WAV, AMR, MP2
* Image: JPEG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, PNG, Animated GIF format,
SVG-tiny, ICO
* Video: MPEG1, MPEG4, Real Video, H.263, AVI, 3GP


Not a PDA (Looks like the linux folks have been busy) - Links from the maemo.org download page:

Contact application:
http://oss.kernelconcepts.de/maemo/contacts.shtml

Todo Application:
http://oss.kernelconcepts.de/maemo/todo.shtml

Word Processor:
http://www.indt.org.br/maemo/index.html#abiword

And games... This thing is going to hit the ground running...

[Yi @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Nokia 770 website also says
"The Nokia 770 Internet Tablet's software is upgradeable and currently runs on the Linux-based Internet Tablet 2005 software edition. There is a planned launch next year of an operating system upgrade � the Internet Tablet 2006 software addition � that will support additional services, including Internet telephony (VoIP) and Instant Messaging."

Very soon you will be able to use Nokia 770 to make phone call, using Wi-Fi and VoIP. I think this is Nokia plan, to make sure not left out in VoIP market.

[sujay @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Nokia's foray into handheld verticals, is in tune with the internet spreading inside our homes.
however as the recent past as shown that combo devices are no great hit, we still need a seperate phone( a nokia !) a seperate pda ( palm) a seperate music player( an ipod)..
now a personal , quick start, handy internet device, a device good enough to be used by students in a classroom without the additional burden of carrying that laptop, to be used in field by sales rep....etc.

expect to see features like:
1. bluetooth.
2. a hardware add-on ,plugin to make it a SOHO wireless router.

and there are a few more takers.