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Hands-on with Jolla's Sailfish OS (video)
We recently had the chance to spend time with David Greaves and Vesa-Matti Hartikainen of Jolla and take Sailfish OS for a spin. As you might recall, this open source mobile OS builds upon Mer (a fork of MeeGo that includes Qt) and uses the Nemo framework with a custom UI. Like any decent Linux-based OS, it supports both ARM and x86 devices. The company is also behind the Sailfish SDK which is in the process of being finalized but is still open to developer feedback (the source code is available). After seeing Jolla's various demo videos and noting some UI similarities with MeeGo (swipes) and, strangely, with BB10 (peek gestures), we were eager to experience Sailfish OS for ourselves. If you're wondering why the mobile OS is usually shown running on Nokia's N950 developer handset, that's because Jolla employs many ex-MeeGo engineers, so the OMAP-based phone was a natural fit. We were first given a walkthrough of Sailfish OS, then allowed to play with it. Many apps are still being worked on and some are still off-limits (we got in trouble for launching the camera), but what we saw was pretty solid. Take a look at the gallery below, then hit the break for our hands-on video and first impressions.
Key MeeGo team members leave Nokia, N9 owners swipe away a few tears
This week will be remembered as a volatile one if you're a MeeGo fan. Just hours after Nokia posted the PR 1.3 update for N9 owners, the company's MeeGo development lead Sotiris Makyrgiannis and other team members have confirmed that they're leaving for greener pastures. The split appears to be an amicable one, with the crew largely going to CloudBerryTec to write mobile apps (including for MeeGo) and consult on software even as they share fond memories. What's left is a lot of doubt over the fate of the swipe-driven OS itself. Nokia promised years of support for the OS as a side project following the big leap to Windows Phone, but it also hadn't mentioned the possibility of important staff departures, either. We've reached out to the company for a fuller answer -- if it turns out that MeeGo development is winding down, the staff shift could be the end to completely in-house OS creation at a company that was once defined by its custom platforms.
Refresh Roundup: week of September 19, 2011
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging to get updated. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery from the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy! Official Android updates The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with LTE is now getting some very minor plastic surgery, with what appears to be a simple maintenance update. [Droid-Life] Not the biggest fan of your buggy keyboard, Motorola Droid X users? The latest bug fix update, eloquently called 4.5.605, resolves keyboard stability and usability issues that have affected a large number of users. [Droid-Life] Owners of the HTC Sensation on O2 should be enjoying an enhancement to Android 2.3.4 soon, as the rollout has already begun. [Pocket-Lint] How 'bout that Motorola Xoom WiFi? Android 3.2.1 (aka build HTK55D) is rolling out to devices now; we imagine the update's a minor bug fix of some kind, but we haven't seen any change log on it yet. [Droid-Life] Telus is cranking out Gingerbread to the Samsung Fascinate 4G. [AndroidCentral] The HTC Droid Incredible 2 is now on the receiving end of build 4.08.605.3, a minor refresh that improves server connections for email sync, enhances Visual Voicemail stability as well as other minor bug fixes. [Droid-Life] Rogers customers are now reporting that the Samsung Captivate is now seeing an upgrade to Gingerbread. [MobileSyrup] The Sony Tablet S came shipped with Android 3.1, but it's already getting the bump to 3.2. [AndroidCentral] Unofficial Android updates, custom ROMs and misc. hackery Remember Android 2.3.6? You know, the update that blocked tethering on the Samsung Nexus S? It appears that the Nexus One is due for the infamous build. If you don't care to wait for the refresh to pop up OTA, you can download and install it on your own. No word on if tethering is blocked on this update as well, but we can't imagine it being different from the Nexus S. [Redmond Pie] Android 2.3.5 has leaked for the Samsung Infuse 4G in the form of build I997UCKI4. Such a leak causes us to suspect the official rollout should be heading our way in the near future. [AndroidCentral] XDA's rooted the Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch, and has published a full tutorial on exactly how you can do it. It's no SuperOneClick, of course, but it's certainly bound to get you to the same destination -- as long as you follow the instructions precisely. [XDA-dev] An early preview version of CM7.1 for the LG Optimus Black is available for download. Keep in mind that it's a test build, and won't be completely polished. [AndroidCentral] The first deodexed ROM for the Motorola Droid Bionic is now downloadable. Follow the link to get the full set of instructions. [Droid-Life] If you desperately want to have Gingerbread on your HTC Thunderbolt, a RUU for build 2.11.605.2 is all yours. [Android Police] Other platforms SFR France indicated this week that they're ready to push the Mango update out to the HTC 7 Trophy, though it didn't specify exactly when it will begin. Vodafone Romania and Telus (Canada) also let it slip that they'd be rolling out the update to their phones to Mango by the end of this current month. No date for the latest version has been officially set. The Nokia N950 is a bit of a rarity as it is, but that doesn't mean it can't receive continued support. The MeeGo-run device just received a beta of its latest firmware boost, and appears to be available for download. [NokiaHD blog] Refreshes we covered this week Existing Windows Phones to get Mango within the next two weeks Sony Ericsson Xperia Play finally gets HD video capture Mango bumps NoDo, rolls the update train to Dell's Venue Pro Samsung Nexus S 4G updated to Android 2.3.7, brings Google Wallet support Telstra won't be Gingerbreading the HTC Desire after all
Nokia commits to N9 support, gives MeeGo a reprieve for 'years' to come
Stephen Elop is certainly over MeeGo, but considering Nokia's promised commitment to Symbian, you didn't really think the company would simply abandon the infant OS and star of its flagship N9 handset, did you? No, it seems that Nokia will be supporting MeeGo for years to come, with several software updates and ample positive vibes coming from Espoo. The goodwill arrives courtesy of Nokia's Head of Portfolio Management, Klas Ström, and is an important step toward assuaging the "dead end" perception that Mr. Elop may have instilled. Whether the developer curiosity otherwise known as the Nokia N950 will receive a similar outpouring of love has yet to be established, but if not... perhaps the MeeGo community can pick up the slack. Hey, it never hurts to dream, folks.
Nokia's N950 demos MeeGo Harmattan in marathon video
Still obsessing about Nokia's N950 -- you know, the sexy developer-only MeeGo device you can't have? Before you let Elop rain on your parade, indulge yourself with an exhaustive 17 minute video from Thailand, dutifully documenting every nook and cranny of Espoo's ill-fated OS. The long-winded film tours the dialer, browser, and gives a peek at a plethora of camera settings -- like ISO, aspect ratio, and timers -- that we didn't get to see on the N9. Also making an appearance are maps with turn-by-turn navigation, what appears to be a document viewer, and a Facebook app. Go on, have a gander, and dream about a luscious MeeGo future that might have been.
Nokia's N950 splayed by FCC, 12 megapixel camera lurking within
Our friends over at the FCC have somehow both scored and already torn asunder Nokia's new flagship MeeGo development phone. Slicing and dicing Espoo's latest confirms the watered-down N9 specs we'd previously heard about, except for one: a 12 megapixel camera. An intriguing addition, as the N950's official specs list an 8 megapixel shooter, which the Finnish firm touted as "different" than the unit in its brother. Perhaps different means the additional 4 megapixels we spotted earlier this year? Sure, last minute component changes aren't unheard of, but if you ever manage to convince the Finns to throw one your way, do us a favor and let us know what it's packing. Ok?
Nokia N950 pictures: a gallery's worth of MeeGo to tell the story
At long (long!) last, the N950 is upon us. While "announced" via a nondescript text document earlier this week, we still had no clear indication of what Nokia's second MeeGo device would truly look like just a day ago. Despite years of leaks and an inestimable amount of visions tip-toeing around in our brains, we never could nail down a solid image of the thing. Until today. In addition to the video grabs seen earlier, we stumbled upon a backdoor repository leading to a somewhat curious looking Nokia device; and sure enough, 20-some-odd N950 photos from Nokia itself flowed forth. It's mighty troubling to still not have a cemented price or release date, but hey -- at least you know it's worth saving for. Enjoy. [Thanks, Jerry] %Gallery-126924%
Nokia's N950 developer MeeGo handset gets official: 4-inch display, QWERTY keyboard, same childlike dreams (updated)
If it weren't for a book's worth of confirmation text from Nokia, we'd swear the N950 was just as much a unicorn today as it's been every day prior. Even now, the developer version of the newly-announced N9 is coming to us sans imagery, with only a scant few hardware specifications to piece together something of an image in our minds. Thankfully, the mere mention of a "QWERTY keyboard" leads us to believe that it'll look an awful lot like a leak we spied back in August of 2010. Needless to say, this MeeGo-based device won't ever be widely available, but those interested in breaking out the code can look forward to a 4-inch TFT LCD (compared to the N9's far superior 3.9-inch AMOLED), an identical 854 x 480 screen resolution, a "different" 8 megapixel physical camera, a different location for said camera, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and a slightly less sensitive magnetometer. It's also devoid of an NFC module, and the 1320mAh battery falls a bit short of the 1450mAh cell tucked with the downright delectable N9. Mum's the word on price and availability, but Nokia's not hesitating to remind us that the N950 units that do ship will be of "beta quality and come without any warranty or support whatsoever." Don't even front -- you're still buying one. %Gallery-126924% Update: The N950 device after the break was pulled from a Qt developer video looking very much like those early N9 leaks (and not the E7 slider) presumably protected by a plastic case. Update 2: Another N950 without the case can be seen above. Update 3: And finally, a proper hands-on of the device has leaked into the wilds courtesy of mobilenet.cz. See it after the break. [Thanks, Mark and Alan]
Nokia N9 gets teaser video, Rick Springfield soundtrack (update: it's running MeeGo)
Sure, we've known of the Nokia N9's existence for some time now, a fact made all the more real by the handset's recent FCC appearance, but is a phone really real until its gets its first dramatic ad spot? Pocketnow managed to score a teaser for the upcoming QWERTY slider -- not the first time we've seen this thing on video, as those who can remember as far back as 2010 will recall. Interestingly, the UI seems to be consistent with the Anna release of Symbian rather than something totally unique to MeeGo -- though elements like the status bar and multitasking appear different from what we've seen of that version of Symbian. Also, if you don't blink, you'll see the 12MP camera with Carl Zeiss lens and the chiclet keyboard. As for the live version of "Jessie's Girl," that's anyone's guess. Update: General consensus is that the N9 is running Meego. We also noticed after watching the video a couple times that the camera is autofocus instead of EDoF (see enhanced video frame after the break), which is excellent news! [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
