The first official OS2008 update came to Nokia's internet tablets late last year, and those yearning for yet another can finally breath a sigh of relief. Reportedly, the company has pushed out the OS2008 Feature Upgrade for the N810 and N800, but we are told that users will still need to "reflash the device in order to install this release." Thankfully, future OS updates are slated to be provided over-the-air without the need to reflash. The changelog is actually quite lengthy, but the highlights include an open source email application based on Modest and the tinymail framework, simplified account setup and the introduction of Chinese character rendering support in email, browser and RSS feeds. Let us know how it goes, will ya?

[Image courtesy of Seartipy, thanks Ryan]

We've already seen Google's Android mobile OS get shoehorned onto Nokia N810 tablet, but it looks like the Internet Tablet OS is about to get even more flexible with ports of Ubuntu and the Qt toolkit. Nokia is acquiring Qt developer Trolltech, so it's no surprise the Qt is making the jump, but it looks like it'll be mostly a third-party-targeted framework, with the ITOS interface and bundled apps still using GTK+. Nokia told Ars Technica that it's exploring cross-platform possibilities between ITOS and Series60, and that it wants to see if GTK+ and Qt can coexist on the tablets like they do on the Linux desktop. That's pretty ambitious for a low-powered tablet, but we're all for more flexibility -- which seems to be in the cards with the Nokia-sponsored port of Ubuntu to ARM. Several pre-Hardy Heron versions have been ported and run off SD cards, if you're feeling adventurous -- we're not sure what the advantages are, but it's nice to know that Nokia's keeping things wide open.

[Via Digg]

Monsoon's HAVA HD streamer doesn't get quite as much love as the various Slingboxes, but it's a fine piece of kit with features Sling doesn't have quite yet, like pause and rewind -- and now it's got one more supported client platform, as the company's using CTIA to roll out support for Nokia's Internet Tablet OS. That means the N800 and N810 can now get in on the action, and the quality looks pretty decent -- the crew over at Internet Tablet Talk got a chance to play with an early version, and they think it looks even better than the PC client. Hmm, looks like that WiMAX N810 could double as a fairly decent portable TV, eh? Video after the break.

[Thanks, Joey]

$140 can't get you too far in the gadget world these days, but if you're in the market for a totally crap-ass knockoff of Nokia's slim and slender N800 tablet, look no further than this "dual-band PMP cellphone," all hooked up with a QVGA display, dual cameras, Bluetooth, 128MB memory, and enough snazz to blow away the real thing. We're being so sincere right now.

[Via PMP Today]

Sprint's CTO, Barry West, is working hard to alleviate concerns that their mobile WiMax service plans might be in jeopardy. Speaking on a WiMax panel here at CES, West said that things are on track for a commercial launch of their Xohm service in April in the Baltimore, Washington, DC and Chicago markets. At that time, up to 10 WiMax devices should be ready to roll which, if our Xohm booth tour is any indication, would include a WiMax-enabled Samsung Q1 UMPC, Nokia N800, and Eee PC among a few laptop and desktop modems. The service will sell for "reasonable rates" with plans to cover daily, weekly, monthly, or longer commitments. Devices like WiMax-enabled cameras could be sold with the service price baked in according to West. A 1-week disposable camera we imagine. However, unlike cellular services, Sprint has no plans to subsidize WiMax devices. While none of this is new, we're definitely relieved to hear it again.

Certain winners on Amazon's "Best of 2007" list of could've been seen coming a mile away, but in the top sales category we were just a little surprised to see the Canon PowerShot A570 IS topping the list of electronics, and Nokia's Internet Tablet topping out computers (unclear if that counts as the N800 or N810 or both). The Wii naturally held top honors for video games. "Most-loved" included Garmin's nuvi 350 under electronics, the MacBook Pro under computers, Leopard in software and Wii under video games. Wish lists were dominated by the 3rd-gen 4GB iPod nano, Asus EEE PC and the Wii, while top gifts included that same nano, as well as the MacBook and Super Mario Galaxy.

Although we can't see why you'd want to run anything except Palm OS Garnet in emulation on your Nokia N800 tablet, those of you aching for the latest and greatest are getting a little boost -- the firmware for the N810 leaked yesterday, and users have discovered it runs like a champ on the N800. The update boosts the processor to 400MHz, revs the browser to a faster Mozilla-based core, and includes Skype video support. It's not a drag-and-drop upgrade -- you'll have to score an N810 serial number and have access to a Linux box -- but something tells us those of you who've snagged an N800 aren't going to be all too fazed by that.

[Thanks, Kozzi]

[Via IntoMobile]

We're not sure if the new OS or upgraded features actually give it anymore bite, but Nokia's adorable little tablet puppy has on first glance been beheaded and rebuilt with an N800 for a noggin. Actually, after an exhaustive investigation by the Humane Society, it was determined that the 770-based pup was not in fact harmed in some sort of perverse head-swapping operation, but is instead frolicking happily among retired AIBOs and broken Dirt Dogs at the robot hospital. Next up for the family is an N810-crowned model, whose QWERTY grille is sure to make other robot dogs cower in fear. Keep reading to catch a video of this precocious little fellow in action...

[Image courtesy of Crave]

For all you Nokia fanatics waiting for the next-gen follow up to the beloved N800 internet tablet, your journey may be at its end. According to reports dot-dashed into the Engadget offices via a morse-code squawking carrier pigeon, the latest and greatest as-yet-unnamed (but for now called LJPRX-44) non-phone, non-computer device may be heading into your sweaty hands before long. There's not much to glean from the multifarious FCC filings, unless you're a glutton for punishment or an extremely determined wavelength-modulation-test-fan, save that the device will have both WiFi and Bluetooth, and should be the same general size and shape as the N800. Feast your eyes on the labeling above, and if you're really jonesing for some good-old FCC fun, hit the read link.

[Via TabletBlog]

While we were already looking forward to the N800 Internet Tablet's inevitable successor, it seems like Sprint may have something else in mind. According to LinuxDevices, the operator "will offer a mobile WiMAX-enabled version of Nokia's N800 Internet Tablet to North American customers next year," which reportedly falls in line with the carrier's grand scheme of making 4G services available "to over 100 million people during 2008." Furthermore, Nokia's director of open source, Dr. Ari Jaaksi, was quoted as saying that this here device would "most probably" include WiFi and Bluetooth as well, but as expected, no details regarding a specific launch timeframe were divulged.

[Via JustAMP]

One awfully clever Brazilian programmer couldn't stand not being able to experience the sometimes-maddening act of typing on the iPhone's notorious keyboard -- so he wrote an iPhone keyboard app for his Nokia N800. In what appears to have been a fairly short amount of time, Gustavo Sverzut Barbieri put together an Apple-copyin', typepad act-alike using Python, Edje, and a little elbow grease. Without ever actually using an iPhone, Gustavo seems to have clearly captured the essence of the keyboard, which is either really good or really bad for him... only he knows for sure. Check the video after the break to see the app in action.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

Just when we're in full-on video game mode, along comes a friendly tipster with some shots of the supposed successor to Nokia's N800 Internet Tablet that snap us out of our daze and remind us that there's more to life than Xboxes and PlayStations. No specs are available yet, but we can tell just by looking at this device that the Finnish giant has been listening to user gripes and thrown in a retractable QWERTY keyboard -- a move that will surely win this product line its share of converts. We'll keep our ear to the ground for more details, but until then you can enjoy a few more pics after the break...

Listen up N800 owners, Nokia just released an update to their Internet Tablet OS 2007 Edition. The update brings Skype client support, Flash 9 browser support, 8GB memory card suport, and "remarkably longer" battery performance when surfing bits over wireless. Yeah, it's not enough to spark mass market appeal, but current owners will surely be stoked. Version 4.2007.26-8, available now.

[Via Maemo, thanks Ameh]

Alright manufacturers, we're totally down with throwing in a bit of draft-N love or even a free FM radio, but seriously, why not activate the goods (without some controversial fee) before shipping these things out? Nokia's N800 Internet Tablet has withstood its fair share of unboxing and dissecting experiments already, and while we've seen one episode of a less-than-thrilling implementation of FM today, the N800's dirty little secret could have been a nice inclusion. If you're wondering why all those reviews never mentioning tuning into their favorite FM station while plugging away, it's likely because only a curious file dweller would find such a gem, and discover he did. Andrew Barr reportedly unearthed an FM radio chip built right into the N800, and even found a dedicated software folder where the application to run it was held. Nokia would probably suggest that a simple lack of time is the reason behind the half-hearted attempt, but if you're still not a believer that the N800 plays nice with those ho hum, commercial-filled broadcasts you love to hate, click on through for a live demonstration.

[Via InternetTabletTalk]