So it seems like the new thing for manufacturers is to gather a bunch of platform champions (read: developers and bloggers) in a room, wax poetic for an hour or two about strategy, and -- here's where it gets awesome -- give out or loan hot, new devices to everyone in attendance.
Google's done it,
Palm's done it, and now Nokia's getting in the game by handing out pre-production
N900s on extended loans at its Maemo Summit event last week, and that inevitably means that we're going to be seeing a ton of unboxings and reviews over the coming days. This particular unboxing comes to us courtesy of
Slashgear, which notes that the devices are currently running non-final firmware even though the hardware is the same stuff we'll be seeing on shelves in the next few weeks. It's looking great so far -- but then again, so did the
N97 in its muted black box prior to release, so we'll withhold final judgment until this one's been thoroughly vetted for awesomeness.
posted Oct 12th 2009 3:01PM
The N900 is coming ! The N900 is coming !
Quake III Arena on the Nokia N900 !!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHSZfhY25Jc
If you click on the picture, it would take you to the website for you to see the unboxing video. The phone is small for the goodies it packs inside.
I was also excited and waiting to get this N900 until a rep from Nokia told me that the N900 is not meant by Nokia to be a phone but just a net tablet like the n810, and that's because they are committed to keep the N97 (which I have) as their flagship model, and that's also the reason why they have invested so much on the ROM v2.0 for the N97 and axed so many phone features from the N900, which will lack among other things voice dialing, tethering, and other phone's features.
After I heard that I preordered my HD2 which should arrive in just 2 weeks in the place I have prepared for it in my pocket.
Your rep didn't have any N900 on stock so he was trying to sell you a N97 now. Go back in a few weeks when they have them, and reps have a different tune.
The no tethering claim was pure BS. Even the product pages say:"Capability to serve as data modem via USB connection".
Wooot!!!
The Viper is coming 5' 69'.
Want ;(
Now I have to figure out which one I would like to get N900 or HD2 ?
You read my mind.
I would go for HD2.... do know why... but seems more appealing...
I think price would be the decisive factor. However, one has to wait to see what Windows Mobile 7 brings.
If Windows Mobile 7 is to bring the same goodness of its desktop counterpart, I think we have a tough decision to make. What makes me lot the N900 now the most if the keyboard. I need real keys, I can't deal with the virtual ones.
The HD2 has a beautifully big screen, but the physical keyboard, 32GB of storage (and SD card slot), and true Linux OS are what sealed the deal for me.
That and the browser supports xpi addons from mozilla.org directly, so I can load noscript and adblock+ on my phone. How awesome is that?
The first 10 minutes with a N900.
http://mobiletechaddicts.com/2009/10/13/n900-first-look/
i'm really not sure what to think about his first off i've been wanting this phone for a few months now but ever since all those HTC HD2 videos came up i've been having second thoughts can anyone help me out which phone should i get?
No offense, but, that is a personal choice. When the phone are ready on your area, go and play with each one. Or buy each one and make sure there is a flexible return policy in case you don't feel the phone is the One.
I guess, you have to consider many factors. and i think this place won't help you much in deciding, infact will confuse you more, since fanboys of both sides are lingering here and with engadget's own obvious love for Android/iphone and sour taste for Resistive screen will surely influence you more in a negative way.
But things you should consider: (in my opinion in decreasing order of importance).
1) Who is the manufacturer? Features of the device. What can i do with the device considering my own life-style, background?
How many extra apps may be required to take care of my day-to-day stuff? Lesser the apps required, better, More apps required
shows indirectly device's limits, shortcomings, that it requires more third-party apps, also more the apps, more memory needed,
more chances of failure and hang-ups, restarts, etc. If you have a full web-browser experience, you won't require half of the crappy
apps.
Do i need hardware QWERTY keyboard? What's the battery life? Do i need TV-out? Do i need FM-Transmitter or FM Radio or
both?
2) Locked or unlocked. Contract for 2 years or not? Want freedom to switch as per market shift? Tmobile's rumored $50 unlimited plan?
Final total price of the phone. Whether there are rebates involved. (with rebates you pay higher tax on pre-rebate price).
3) How can you save more money by buying a particular device? Like: Can i make voip calls, can i use internal gps without any data plan? can i have downloadable maps on my device for different countries?How much do i have to pay for these maps? Can i get them legally free? What accessories come included in the box?
4) What is the manufacturer planning for the future of the device's OS? Are they making efforts to make it easy for developers to
make their apps cross-platform compatible?
5) Last comes about the processor speeds, and screen tech. Do i really need 1GHz proc? or 600 MHz would be fine as per my lifestyle? How many hours am i going to be glued to my phone versus my computer? Is the Resistive screen adequate enough for me. (ignoring engadget reviews, but considering user reviews).
6) Final things read user reviews first and then blog reviews.
I follow the above method when i select my smartphone, because nowadays phone have become an expensive buy for us, compared to few years ago, when we were used to feature phones.
One takes crappy video, the other takes great video - if that makes any difference
On the note of battery life.. is this better or worse than the HTC HD2
I read somewhere that its terrible and will only last ~6hrs
and i read somewhere else that it destroys the HD2.
Any clarification?
@Lemming
Battery life seems to be excellent, 8hrs+ with very heavy use, 16+ with normal use, 2 days light use.
one for me please :(
Yum
on pre-order with t-mobile uk, keep checking order status.... getting impatient. The waiting is driving me mad "I can't wait!"
N900 says : Oh I just can't wait to be Kiiiing....
Now we'll just wait till Mustafa drops dead (N97).
You can look, but you can't touch. Yet =)
Wow a $689 phone that can't be docked.
It can't even replace my iPod.
Which phone can truly replace my iPod touch 100%?
So 2 Years of data n voice here in USA.
Voice 60 data 35$
So 95. Tines 24 months $2400
plus cost of phone $$3100!!!
Fir price of ownership for a nokia.
Sore loser?
You're still off. $580 on amazon and $650 on their main page.
Then either $50 unlimited plan in 2010, but for now $59 plan on t-mobile contracted for 2 years, and activation fee = $1946-2036.99 over 2 years. I don't need to go over the price of the other phone, so just get macjonny in here to say I'm a nerd again and move on?
This device can only be so great. Unless it has a development background like the Iphone or android devices, it will probably get boring quickly.
Wait for the 1ghz android.
Maemo has been out for years. The development community is there.
That doesn't mean it has the same support or interest. Android is the OS that is predicted to jump up in acceptance over the next few years, not Maemo.
Same support or interest? Thanks for writing me off!
I support it. I am interest it. Do you consider that this phone is backed up by Nokia right....??
Err... it's Maemo. A Linux variant. You know, Linux? The OS with a gazillion developers all waiting to code applications for free?
Android is just... well... Android.
Maemo is a Debian Linux fork and GTK+ compatible, so everything that runs on Ubuntu should work on Maemo aswell.
As long as the application is resolution independant and not to heavy for the OMAP processor.
Bryan, you don't know much about Maemo if you assume they don't have a huge userbase. Android isn't the end-all-be-all open source mobile platform, and Maemo has been around for years. When you say stuff like "development background" or "interest", you MUST be talking about marketing. But then again, Nokia doesn't need to market the U.S. because they've got better things to deal with. Maemo is a widely-know mobile OS outside the U.S. anyways, so to just pass of Maemo as boring, would prove blissful ignorance.
Okay development background wasn't the term i was trying to use. Im not saying this phone is bad, i think it looks great, but i dont think its something that would keep me interested for more than a few months after i get used to the features.
Does anybody honestly believe that this phone would be better then an android variant with the same features? if so why?
Because they are dumb Nokia fanboys.
RESISTIVE SUCKS (They'll get their panties in a bunch because of that).
I'm amazed you called everyone in defense of Maemo Nokia fanboys...
and what the hell did resistive screens have to do with this thread? Seriously go back into left field!
@Bryan
I don't think Maemo 5 will be a BIG advantage over Android for me unless I'm a die-hard Ubuntu fan. Many of Ubuntu's applications will be directly ported to the N900, because it's a Linux variant after all.
That's not to say the same won't happen for Android.
It might sound a little fanboyish (my username doesn't help one bit), but I feel like Maemo is a better multitasking platform. There are lots of widgets and applications you can put just about anywhere. The organization is however you want it to be. It's overall synchronization of Text, E-mail, and other clients are a win for me. You can do these on an Android phone too, but I fell my user-experience on Maemo would be better. I'm still looking at this through both sides...
After you said "Nokia shouldn't care about the US market," my Nokia fanboy sensors went off. You can't deny this shit.
@Mark Anderson: Android is Linux. Booyah!
@Bryan,
Read this:
http://conversations.nokia.com/2009/10/09/qt-for-maemo-the-floodgates-are-now-open/
I didn't even say that. How did you fail quoting me?
"Nokia doesn't need to market the U.S. because they've got better things to deal with."
The only thing that sounds fanboy-like in that sentence is "because they've got better things to deal with". But it's more of an opinion than blind opinion, because blind opinion is fanboyism, and thank God I don't coast on that like you do.
Strike 2, hun.
lolwut? I said that comment. So both of you fail.
I said "Nokia doesn't need to market the U.S.", not that they shouldn't. Wow...
You're all fanboys anyway and none of you can deny that. You're a Nokia fanboy and that troll is an Android fanboy. You might as well embrace it rather than deny it, I've seen your posts. And no one gives a fuck about resistive screens anymore.
@N900
The ease with which gtk/qt apps could be ported to the N900 is much greater than Android, simply due to the fact that the N900 uses Xwindows and a rather standard base of libraries. Android would require reconstructing the entire front-end of the applications using Java, and calling out from Java to libraries, which isn't feasible for some apps.
@Zhris Ciegler
Kinda. It uses the Linux kernel but the file system is completely haywire and completely not intended for direct use. The console environment is severely lacking unless manually upgraded.
I really want one of these to replace my E71, but unfortunately, T-Mobile doesn't offer service in my area. I guess I'll have to keep using my E71 with my N800. Maybe Nokia will offer the N900 that will work with AT&T's 3G (not just EDGE). I'd also be thrilled to drop AT&T and switch to T-Mobile, but I don't think there's any chance of them expanding to my area (rural Northern California) any time soon...
Nokia does offer us versions that work with att 3g? My E-71 -2 worked with 3g on att, as did My nokia N95-4
I feel your pain, N-brother. Here *** gives Oreo cookie *** Let's hope Project Dark / Black / Magenta-with-the-lights-turned-off brings good things.
@digitallysick: My E71 works great on AT&T's 3G, but I'd give it up in a heartbeat if the N900 would work on AT&T's 3G.
@tikiteko: Thanks, I'm also hoping that T-Mobile has some secret plan to expand their coverage exponentially. The county seat here just approved a new T-Mobile tower in the area that is supposed to bring local service: http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_13522192
I'm hoping this is part of a larger push by T-Mobile into this area.
OK i don't care what you say-that is uselessly large
I like big butts and I cannot lie
You other phones can't deny
That when the N900 walks in with an itty bitty waist
And a round thing in your face
You get sprung
Wanna pull up tough
Cuz you notice that butt was stuffed
I honestly think this phone is really cool. They have so many little tweaks and gadgets that make the phone so worthwhile =D
http://www.tvlesson.com/video/40309_nokia-n900-review.html
Have a N810 and the only thing I don't like about it is the processing power. The N900 is great, but I don't want to be locked into any carrier and at this point still find it $580 ( amazon ) a bit too much for an upgrade to the N810. I'll keep my eye on it though and hope the prices drop in the future. Want it, just can't afford it!
Huge fan of the hardware/Maemo - not such a fan of the carrier options though (or, lack thereof).
I'm trying to understand what apps can be installed on this sucker. Are we talking only apps for Maemo specifically, or can things for Linux in general be compiled to run on this. I'm trying to understand what benefits this has over say Android that already has a butt ton of apps ready to go now.
Thats the whole point of Maemo and its fully mozilla based web-browser, that you won't need half of the apps that are required to get your work done quickly on other platforms. On Maemo, everything is just one click away with shortcuts, etc.
It seems you haven't been reading recent articles on Engadget about Maemo.
This will answer your question about apps too:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/09/nokia-makes-qt-port-to-maemo-5-and-n900-official-video/
This shows some capabilities:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/09/nokia-n900-video-shows-off-3d-gaming-youtube-shenanigans-and-m?icid=sphere_blogsmith_inpage_engadget
This shows its web-browsing capabilities, which will minimize the number of apps needed for the platform.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/07/nokia-shows-off-n900s-sweet-web-browsing-skills-on-video/
Search more for N900 and Maemo 5, you will get your answers very easily.
i was hugely disappointed with the N97. waited awaited and waited and when it came out it was the worst nokia i have ever used. I got me a Palm pre now and me and nokia are over
And this is relevant how...?
Is this article about N97?
Failed iphonekillers list brand nokia ,
n85
n95
n97
8500 express n now
n900 can be added to that list.
Fortunately, Nokia doesn't try to market their phones as iPhone killers. They try to compete, yes, but not kill.
Also, the N900 -is- a killer from my perspective. No jailbreaking needed, keyboard, 800x480 screen, real multitasking, and 48GB (possible) storage? Yes please!
He doesn't even know the name of the phone. It is 5800 Xpressmusic and not 8500 and it is
still selling like a hot cake globally.
And he doesnt know that N95 is older than iphone.... Was it ment for abortion of iphone? :P
I hope nokia will create an AT&T/Rogers/Fido variant for the n900. apps is not a problem bec it's a debian linux variant. I dont like htc hd 2 bec it's windows 6.5. I think linux is the way to go.
I'd be all over this phone if I wasn't stuck with at&t.
This will work with AT&T if you don't want AT&T's 3G. Else its quad-band GSM.
Yea, looks exactly like an iPod touch, what with the touch's slide out keyboard and all...
Silly.
Nokia is the leader in hardware design. Apple is no where near Nokia as far as hardware design is concerned.
Coming from Nokia?
No that design is totally Nokia and doesn't look like iPhone at all
They should make an N900 Jr. and slash the price by at least 1/3. I got two friends who have a 5800 and an N97. The one with the 5800 got his just recently and the one with the N97 got his for more than twice as much as the 5800 and only finding out that the only thing the N97 has over the 5800 is a 5 megapixel camera and a physical QWERTY keyboard.
A 5800 retails for less than $300 now and the newer 5530 (5800 with no 3G) retails for less than $250. N900 Jr. for less than $400? I think Nokia can do it.
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On a phone?
Yes... Yes Yes
Please give this to me with ATT 3G, I was finally lucky enough to score an unlimited SIM from the ATT reps we keep on staff here at our corporate campus. Nothing like unlimited everything, but as much as I love my 5800, I don't use it much because of the lack of a keyboard and resolution/screen size is lacking.
Give me this with ATT 3g and I will buy one tomorrow... please Nokia.
Dude... Firefox Addons on a phone, and since it's a relative of Ubuntu it's going to be like a month and they will have an emulator for like every old school console out there, and thanks to the possible 64GB (maybe more if the micro sdhc cards get bigger) you will have room for everything. No more lugging around phone+Pmp+jump drive.
hrm....question is, do i cancel my pre-order with the n920 around the corner?
http://bangbangtech.com/archives/111480/n920-leaks-to-steal-nokia-n900s-launch-limelight