Nokia could give Linux a spin in high-end mobiles
By Darren Murph 
posted December 3rd 2008 3:29AM
posted December 3rd 2008 3:29AM
[Via LinuxDevices]
posted December 3rd 2008 3:29AM
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@Ihar `Philips` Filipau :
Yes agreed but the thing is : the ability to use theses apps or not is mainly a consequence of which OS it runs.
And although there might be little in common between a desktop and a mobile version of Linux, this will change eventually, and for the best.
Anyhow I suppose if we focus on OSs it's mainly because that's the only information we get from engadget.
How am I supposed to know I'm going be able to use my favourite apps on a new mobile phone, if engadget doesn't tell me the OS it runs ?
@Ihar:
No, Linux is the one component that's largely the _same_ across desktop, embedded, and mobile systems.
What you're thinking of are the various other components of an OS, and particularly high-level stacks like X and GNOME/KDE, which are part of a typical Linux-based distribution, but are not part of Linux, nor even Linux-specific. They run on a UNIX system, and don't care what kernel is used.
If you want to avoid calling them the same, then come up with terms that suit, rather than appropriating one existing (and trademarked, BTW) term to mean something else.
Nokia is pretty much alone with Maemo. Big chunk of developers have moved for Android or making iPhone apps. Anyway, some light in the tunnel to get rid-off that Symbian.
Did you see that teaser a while back? With the phones you put round your wrist and use grass to create energy?
That, was the end of Nokia in my eyes.
I'll believe it when I see it. Almost every mobile company talks about Linux from time to time, but who here is actually running Linux on their phone?
Still I hope they do it. Anything's better than Symbian.
Symbian works and it is quite stable, which is kinda important for a phone.
"who here is actually running Linux on their phone?"
All the owners of the G1?
"'Android' is a software platform and operating system for mobile devices, based on the Linux kernel"
Straight from Wikipedia.
Nokia? are they still kicking around?
I recommend everyone to not comment on this idiot's post and just low rank him straight away.
@Hamza Because you have a Nokia?
Because he's just a troll, and asking if Nokia are still kicking around with them having something like 40% of the smartphone market is just plain idiotic.
a fair response.
Maemo is a great idea that has been jerked around by Nokia for years without leadership or the tools to really unlock the devices potential. What does android have the Maemo doesn't..... many things. First they have a sensible, cross-platform development environment. The recent competition produced in months a glut of high quality, end users, applications most of which show more attention to detail than 90% of Maemo applications.
Nokia has poured hundreds of thousands of man-hours into Maemo as well as related development and they still don't get it. They do things like beg their users for feedback but then either remain silent on bugs or close them without resolution ( hello GPS bug ), each new firmware/SSO is a crapshoot with many users needing to reinstall their device from scratch or deal with some new, obscure, bug ( random battery draining events ), and of course there are developers begging for documentation or open source access to modify things like wifi that keep getting shot down ( no skyhook because they refuse to release the d-bus API ).
So Nokia can scratch it's head in amazement as Maemo, once again, gets passed over but the result will come as no surprise to me.
If you've been following Nokia (and Trolltech), you'll see where this is going. If you haven't, and you're interested:
"In June 2008 Nokia acquired Trolltech ASA to enable the acceleration of their cross-platform software strategy for mobile devices and desktop applications, and to develop its Internet services business. On September 29, 2008 Nokia renamed Trolltech to Qt Software."
You want to see why?
http://trolltech.com/products/device-creation/reference-designs/touchscreen-mobile-phone
The "Neo" platform is way ahead of "Android", and this is what I'd expect to see their Linux phone based on (they did pay 100million Euros or so for Trolltech, so they must have had something big in mind!). I would also expect a port of Qt to Symbian. Qt is already available on OS X, Windows, Linux & Windows CE. A mobile phone platform built on Qt can switch the underlying OS relatively simply...
My 0.02...
They will just buy it, try to integrate it and fuck it up.
They fucked up maemo already, they have a gazillion of incompatible always-in-beta apps and technologies, so I don't see a reason they would do good this time.
So, he's from marketing. "I don't see anything in Android which would make it better than Linux maemo."
As a proud owner of N800 tablet with much-hyped-by-Nokia maemo Linux, I can say, that this is totally wrong.
Maemo is a OS wich is not developed properly, has no support, and almost no applications. Software catalogue contains fugly ports of Linux apps, with no optimization for small screen / pen input. N800/N810 are just geek toys, not proper consumer devices. No PIM. No PC Suite-like app. And they are painfully slow (still usable although).
Yet Nokia tries to spread Maemo BS around. Maemo is fucked up, get over it for Pete's sake! Either develop Symbian or shift to Android. Or invest at least several millions in getting Maemo done.
"much-hyped-by-Nokia maemo Linux" - much hyped? You gotta be kidding me. Nokia hasn't done a single tiny bit of advertising for any Maemo device, so how exactly did they hype it? Please elaborate...
"Maemo is a OS wich is not developed properly" - what is that supposed to mean?
"has no support" - um, Nokia constantly releases new versions, and small updates for it. Given how much of a niche product the internet tablets were up to now, what exactly do you expect? They are and have been experimental devices up to now, so...
"and almost no applications." - I disagree. Given how small the community is compared to other platforms, there are a lot of very nice applications like Canola, Maemo Mapper or liqbase already available for it, and if they use Maemo on more mass-market devices like phones, this is going to become even better, fast. So what exactly are you complaining about there?
"N800/N810 are just geek toys, not proper consumer devices." - and Nokia's marketing (or the lack of it, actually) reflects that. And this is about to change. So what are you complaining about?
"No PC Suite-like app." - and why would that be needed, again?
"Yet Nokia tries to spread Maemo BS around. Maemo is fucked up, get over it for Pete's sake!" - I think you really need to go outside once in a while and catch a breath of fresh air...might help with all that unnecessary bitching and whining...
> "much-hyped-by-Nokia maemo Linux" - much hyped? You gotta be kidding me. Nokia hasn't done a single tiny bit of advertising for any Maemo device, so how exactly did they hype it? Please elaborate...
I've seen lots of hype around N8x0 and new and New and Exciting concept of Internet Tablets with New and Exciting Maemo OS. Remember, USA is not the only country in the world, m'kay? :)
> "Maemo is a OS wich is not developed properly" - what is that supposed to mean?
Decent PIM? Established roadmap with new features? Less bugs?
To me it looks like Nokia tried to develop Maemo as consumer OS, failed and just let it hang there.
> "has no support" - um, Nokia constantly releases new versions, and small updates for it. Given how much of a niche product the internet tablets were up to now, what exactly do you expect? They are and have been experimental devices up to now, so...
If they are "experimental devices", I find it quite funny that Nokia charged me 500 bucks for one, and marketed it as an "ultimate Internet Tablet yada-yada". I bought it to use as a PDA (PIM, some documents), hoping that they will go PDA way - no luck. Had to give to me wife for eBook reading.
> "and almost no applications." - I disagree. Given how small the community is compared to other platforms, there are a lot of very nice applications like Canola, Maemo Mapper or liqbase already available for it, and if they use Maemo on more mass-market devices like phones, this is going to become even better, fast. So what exactly are you complaining about there?
I'm not talking about community apps, I'm talking about built-in. I use Nokia E90 Communicator as phone and find that they've done a really good job in developing standard apps in Symbian (like PIM suite, email clients, etc.). Nothing like that in maemo. And community PIM apps suck.
Problem with Maemo apps is that they are always in beta, UI is not well designed and they have too many options to set instead of just working.
> "N800/N810 are just geek toys, not proper consumer devices." - and Nokia's marketing (or the lack of it, actually) reflects that. And this is about to change. So what are you complaining about?
Don't think that it will change, really. Nokia suck at software development. They make nice hardware though.
> "No PC Suite-like app." - and why would that be needed, again?
Desktop sync and management. As it is in, for example, Symbian.
> "Yet Nokia tries to spread Maemo BS around. Maemo is fucked up, get over it for Pete's sake!" - I think you really need to go outside once in a while and catch a breath of fresh air...might help with all that unnecessary bitching and whining...
I might've overreacted here, that's true. Just got wound up by markedroid bullshit.
I upgrade my N800 when updates come out (and they even do OTA update now), but it does not look like they're really trying to improve things, just fix some bug here and there. Feature-wise it's still like two years ago, when I bought it.
At least if they would release Maemo phone they would have something done already. I mean if they would release maemo based phone the userbase would automatically 5x compared to tablets that indeed are bit of a geek toy and getting more support for it then.
Will see how that next tablet with OMAP 3 goes and what direction Nokia is taking Maemo with it.
The Nokia N800 and N810 tablets are what they are. Anyone expecting to use them as intended will be delighted. Anyone expecting PIM apps will be disappointed. The applications that come with the current version of Maemo are OK. They aren't great but they aren't trash, either. You can replace them with better applications if you want to.
No, I just hate random MS bashing. Makes no difference who writes it.
Nokia ought to roll out sister models of the N97 and 5800 Express Music with Maemo installed. Then you could decide which way to go.
The iPhone does NOT based on Linux. It's a cut down version of OSX which is based on Unix. Apple would NEVER run any software that it didn't have 100% control over it (e.g. they never will use open source).
hmm, linux...reminds me of my good pal the rokr e6,
when motorola decides to redo with a larger screen
and redesign the GUI, then will i start taking these
devices seriously.
hmm, linux...reminds me of my good pal the rokr e6,
when motorola decides to redo with a larger screen
and redesign the GUI, then will i start taking these
devices seriously.
Jesus Christ, Maemo? I've got an N800 and I can tell you that Maemo SUCKS compared to Android. Horrible horrible user experience. (Yes I'm talking about OS2008, too.) The real problem is installing applications. The whole repository thing is a pain in the butt, and problem resolution (i.e. a repository is down) is very poorly handled. It still feels not ready for primetime, and maemo's been around for years now. You really have to be a geek get into their tablets, and that just won't fly with a phone.
Nokia suffers from pride. They're the "leader" in the space because up until now no one had made anything better), But they assume it's because they have the best technology and design. Well, wake up, Nokia, because nearly everyone who switches to Android or iPhone or even Blackberry never looks back to S60.
I have a valid question...
Why do you think this is going to sell better than the iPhone?
Because it's a top end Nokia N-Series?