Having spent time with a Nokia 5530, from this short and not very informative video, there is NO difference at all. The 5530 screen is very responsive, and being able to use the stylus made it more fun and more versatile. The problem on the touch screen N series devices, including the N97 is the lack of consistency in the interface. Some items require one touch, others, two. Nokia's reasons for this are sound, you may want to apply an action to a selected item. However, the simpler and more logical (Captain) solution is to display a pop up menu of options if one holds ones finger (or stylus) down over the item - in a similar manner to the iPhone keyboard, where if you hold down the appropriate letter key, a selection of accented alternatives appear.

It's all about use case scenarios and good design.

A few years ago, it was reported that Apple were buying up the rights to a large number of books. There is (currently) no other company better suited to producing a document and book reading device that blends outstanding industrial design with a viable content distribution system. The iPad is probably real. Let us just hope Apple get it right. a) Daylight readability. b) Long battery life. c) Wireless charging. d) Resistive screen for operation using a non finger pointy thing. (Or gloved hand.) e) Colour screen. f) Top notch browser for handling all those web apps.

Michael, you are spot on, and it is great to see Jeff Raskin given a
mention. (I began a dialog with him back in the 1990s and was
devastated at his passing.) I have shared your views on computers -
not for a decade or two, but since the 1970s when first reading about
them and being so disillusioned at how different and difficult to use
they appeared to be from what we were promised by Science Fiction
authors and other visionaries. We (my employer) has toyed with ideas
on how to solve these problems, and we're hoping to finally deliver,
but we won't be saying anything until we know we have got it right.
One really does have to start from scratch - as if computers had yes
to be invented and we (humanity) now wants to design a system to make
our lives easier. How would we go about it? What's doing to work and
be intuitive across the globe - and beyond? How do we get people to
're-boot' their whole way of interacting with technology? Ah, the fun
of multiple use case scenarios!

Things are always "about to get interesting". That's what makes life so much fun and worthy living. The element of surprise! But once the trick is explained, there can be disappointment. Let's hope this is 'the one' for Nokia! (The E71 of touch screen devices?)

...and what about the human operating it? Do they come with protection too? Similar issue to that with the underwater / water resistant phones from Nokia and Samsung: "Habla? Gargle blub blub, howbubble r u, blubble blob?"

It's LOO, not Lou. Lou is a guy's name.

I wonder if humans have an as yet undiscovered 'black box' that logs highlights in our lives, such as extremes of temperature, pressure, illnesses etc? Wouldn't it be a momentous discovery if our brains logged a lot more of our lives than we think (even everything we see - like a massive video database?) and then at sometime in the future we could interpret, interface with and access that content.

The consequences would be as worrying as fascinating...

If this blends a TZ7, LX3 and EP-1 into one (IE, stereo audio recording for video plus manual controls for stills), then this is heaven. And it's great to see Panasonic have finally put a separate PLAY [>] button on the rear so one can quickly jump into playback mode without the need to slide a switch - and of course, this will mean the camera is always ready to snap a shot at the press of the shutter release!

I hear the industrial designer has just booked a flight to a clinic in Switzerland. Seriously Engadget, surely it is better to get a full hands on before such comments? Where's the journalistic integrity? (Get the facts, ask questions, publish.) What's that opinion the Japanese have of US business practice? "Fire!, Ready? Aim!"

Yet more packaging to clog up the Pacific Ocean after forcing everyone to strain their fingers and thumbs attempting to open it.

I recently received some Sandisk SD cards from Amazon. There was no packaging, just the two cards in their flip open plastic protective cases - mailed in a Jiffy bag not much larger. Way to go Amazon.

Maxell? It's 2009 and the world's hurting. Get with it!

(Store displays can use dummy packaging that is not actually given to the consumer. Just the cards ma'am!)