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Nokia rumored to be kicking Symbian OS to the curb, moving in with Maemo
Poor Symbian. Sony Ericsson's been giving you some hot play with its Satio smartphone, but lately it seems Nokia wants little to do with you, always throwing a cold shoulder and mentioning what a great guy that Maemo dude is. Now, according to rumors from the (still pink) German Financial Times, Nokia is looking to drop Symbian OS altogether and move to Maemo wholesale, powering not just its internet tablets but also its smartphones, the first of which is due in "the next few weeks" -- possibly referring to the RX-51 Rover that's been out and about lately. According to the report, the Symbian OS just can't keep up with the younger players these days; "far too cumbersome to work with." Nokia has issued a typical no comment, but interestingly last night's mention of a "alliance" between Microsoft and Nokia for the creation of Office for Nokia phones made no explicit mention of Office for Symbian. Intrigue; we love it. Update: As Reggie has pointed out in the comments, Peter Schneider, Nokia's Maemo marketing guru, has put the brakes on this rumor via Twitter. "No, Nokia is not replacing Symbian with Maemo. Symbian and Maemo will continue to coexist." So much for intrigue, and romance. [Via TechCrunch]
Nokia and Microsoft to announce an "alliance" tomorrow -- what? Update: Office on Nokia phones
We're not sure what to make of this, but we were just invited to a joint Microsoft / Nokia teleconference during which the two companies will announce an "alliance." Yeah, there are some pretty wild possibilities there -- Nokia going WinMo? Redmond going Symbian? The creation of MaeWinMo? -- but considering the featured speakers are Stephen Elop, president of Microsoft's business division, and Kai Öistämö, Nokia's EVP for devices, we're guessing the real announcement will be something more pedestrian, like native Exchange support on Symbian or possibly that upcoming Atom netbook running Windows 7. Otherwise, hell -- Nokia would be supporting three different mobile OSs, and that seems just a little too crazy, even for Espoo. We'll see -- it all goes down tomorrow at 11AM Eastern.Update: This is probably unrelated, but Microsoft's Mac BU just called its own presser for Thursday, so if you're looking to spend the night weaving wild nonsensical conspiracy theories, we'd say all the pieces are in place.Update 2: Told you it was nothing too out there -- the Wall Street Journal says Microsoft will announce it's working on a version of Office for Nokia phones. Anyone surprised? Didn't think so.
Nokia device passes FCC for T-Mobile USA, looks an awful lot like a new Internet Tablet to us
Every week, random, seemingly anonymous Nokia handsets quietly pick up FCC approval. Most will never see the light of day on an American carrier, and the ones that do have usually already been announced so that by the time we figure out what the FCC filing refers to, it's uninteresting. Today, though, we noticed a Nokia RX-51 get certification, and we were immediately intrigued; standard Nokia phones have an "RM" designation, so "RX" has us thinking that this is no ordinary phone. Taking a peek at the SAR documentation reveals that it rolls deep with AWS 3G, just the kind that T-Mobile USA needs to do its thing. The final piece in this amazing puzzle has to be the ID placement doc, which shows the outline of a device far wider than your standard dumbphone. Where are we going with this? You might recall MobileCrunch's information from a while back suggesting that T-Mobile USA would be getting a Maemo 5-powered superphone codenamed "Rover" -- and, well, we're pretty sure this is it. Stay tuned -- things are about to get interesting.
Optima OP5-E MID first non-Nokia MID to run Maemo
Honestly, now that Nokia's hooked up with Intel we didn't think we'd ever see any more straight Maemo devices, let alone random third-party Maemo MIDs, but here we are, looking at the Optima OP5-E. The 4.3-inch touchscreen MID with an 806MHz Marvell processor and 128MB of RAM is said to be going through some final software testing before release, and it apparently will support SMS and telephony in the future, so apparently those KIRF iPhone looks are for more than just confusing tourists. No pricing and likely no availability outside of China, but hey -- Maemo, people. Give it up.[Via Pocketables]
Intel and Nokia officially partner on mobile devices: "the possibilities are endless"
Just as we heard, Intel and Nokia have today announced a long-term partnership that just might / might not revolutionize the way you live. The all-too-mysterious release doesn't go into great detail about what exactly the partnership will lead to, but it's clear that the two are joining hands in order to "shape the next era of mobile computing." Indeed, the duo has stated that they expect "many innovations to result from this collaboration over time" and they are hoping to "define a new mobile platform beyond today's smartphones, notebooks and netbooks, enabling the development of a variety of innovative hardware, software and mobile internet services." It's hard to say if we'll be seeing a Nokia UMPC, MID or smartbook in the near future, but we have to wonder if the world is even interested. An Intel-powered smartphone? Color us interested. An Intel-powered Nokiabook? Meh.
Nokia next-gen "Rover" tablet unveiled?
After the spec rundown this morning of the long-rumored Maemo 5 tablet from Nokia, we've now got ourselves a potential name and image to pair with the wonderful promise of 3G and OMAP3. According to this shot obtained by Cellpassion, the next-generation Internet Tablet device is taking quite a bit of an N-series turn, with that 3.5-inch WVGA screen (instead of the 4-inch display on the N810), three-row QWERTY keyboard and other refinements making this look to be much more a smartphone than a tablet -- which is presumably exactly what Nokia is going for. Naturally, we can't vouch for the source, and there are enough oddities to the image -- which seems to be gleaned from a presentation slide of some sort -- to voice caution, but if this is truly the marriage of Maemo with handset we've always dreamed of, it's going to be a little difficult to rein in our enthusiasm.
Maemo 5 Beta SDK released into the hands of an eagerly waiting world
Sure, you've seen the alpha SDK, and you've even seen it in pre-alpha, but if you're really serious about your Maemo 5 development you gotta check out the beta release. This should be music to the ears of all you crazy kids who are hard at work developing software for Nokia's next-gen Internet tablets. And "Maemo 5 Beta SDK" is not only fun to say, but it also brings several new features to the table, including: support for widget development, a new version of the Modest open-source email app, OMAP3 support, HSPA data connectivity, hi-def camera support, and hardware-based graphics acceleration. Lastly (though certainly not leastly) you'll finally be able to get your hands on a Maemo 5 Development Manual. We hear that one's a real page-turner. Hit that read link and get to work.[Via Brighthand]
Fennec Beta 1 goes live on Maemo platform
Naming confusion aside, we're just stoked out of our gords right now to see that all of this is progressing along so quickly. Out of nowhere, we're being hit with news that Fennec Beta 1 (that's the mobile flavor of Firefox, by the way) is now live on the Maemo platform. The only tough news is that said platform is just used on Nokia's Internet Tablets, so you'll likely have a tough (read: impossible) time loading this up on S60, Windows Mobile or any other mobile OS. That said, we are told that the first beta includes "greatly increased zooming speed and panning smoothness," and on the feature front, devs have enabled plugins so users can easily watch videos from their favorite sites. Hit the read link for all the nitty-gritty, and for you lucky N810 users, give it a download and report back.[Via phoneArena]
Maemo 5 gets Alpha SDK, Nokia fans rejoice
Nokia has just introduced the Maemo 5 Alpha devkit, especially for all you adventurous software developers who just can't wait to get your hands on the beta. The operating system of choice for Nokia's next round of Internet tablets, the SDK includes the new UI framework and five (count 'em!) new APIs, including: Location (for building location-aware apps), City Information (obtains information including city name, country name, and country code), Time management, Vibra service (triggers and controls vibrations), and Device orientation. According to Maemo.org, all the APIs are unlocked, the thing includes no documentation except auto-generated API references, and it "features a simplified UI implementation of the Desktop and the Application Menu." Additionally, the new OS supports hardware-accelerated 3D graphics and WVGA resolution. What are you waiting for? Hit the read link and start developin'.
Maemo 5 OS gets pre-alpha release, specs beyond your wildest imaginings
We've known since September that Nokia's next round of Internet Tablets would be using Maemo 5 OS, and now that the SDK is out we've got some more details for you. The 100 percent open source, pre-alpha release features a new kernel, new components, and supports cellular data connectivity, hi-def cameras, hardware-based graphic acceleration and OMAP3. In addition to all that, the Maemo Community reports that a soon-to-be revamped UI and a new multimedia framework (called "Midas") are in the works. Exciting, no? If you really want to get your hands dirty, hit the read link and soak in all the geeky detail.Update: As some commenters (and a tipster) have pointed out, Midas is the new multimedia framework, not Ohm. Thanks for the heads-up![Via Internet Tablet Talk]
A few more details confirmed on Nokia's next-gen Internet Tablet
Last week we got a few tid-bits of information on where Nokia is heading with its next round of Internet Tablets and now we're learning a little bit more courtesy of a spy shot taken at the company's Maemo Summit (held over the weekend in fabulous Berlin). The 3G HSPA connectivity and a TI OMAP3 processor mentioned earlier are confirmed, the latter of which will open the door to OpenGL ES 2.0 compatibility for graphics acceleration and, hopefully, alleviate the occasionally stuttery video playback that made the N810 a somewhat less than ideal PMP. Beyond that all we know so far is that it will utilize the company's Maemo 5 OS (Windows 3.1 is right out), will support USB 2.0 (surprise!), and that use of hair-care products at the Summit was apparently optional.
Nokia details Maemo 5 OS, hints at next-gen Internet Tablets
Nokia's always had big plans for the open-source Maemo internet tablet OS that powers devices like the N810, and it just spilled some more details about the upcoming release of Maemo 5 -- and provided some hints on what's in store for the Internet Tablet line in the process. The biggest ticket item seems to be 3G connectivity over HSPA, but new support for the TI OMAP3 processor should mean faster devices with better graphics, and Nokia's also promising "high-def" cameras with photo-sharing features. All this work on the Linux-based OS means that Nokia is now a Gold Sponsor of the Linux Foundation, and it's already contributed the HSPA OMAP3 code back to the project -- hooray for sharing. Of course, what we really want to know is when to expect the actual release of an updated Internet Tablet, but Nokia just says it'll be out "when it's ready."[Thanks, Ryan] Read - Nokia Maemo announcement Read - Maemo 5 liveblog
Nokia "definitely" preparing Linux-based phones, flavor unknown
With Nokia's dedication to Maemo and the recent Trolltech acquisition, it's no secret that Espoo has its eyes firmly locked on the Linux prize -- but outside the whole Internet Tablet phenomenon, there hasn't been a lot of product to show for it. Looks like that's all about to change, with CFO Rick Simonson commenting this week that the company will "definitely" be releasing some Linux-based cellphones in the future, marking a pretty big move for a company with strong tradition in its long-lived Series 40 dumbphone and S60 smartphone platforms. Simonson refused to get into the nitty gritty details about what flavor of mobile Linux would be used; borrowing from its tablets might make sense, but the Android and LiMo juggernauts seem like they're going to be pretty hard to ignore as well -- not to mention that Google is said to have chatted briefly about Android with Nokia in the not-too-distant past. So what does this all mean? Is S60 Touch in danger here?[Via Thumb Report]Update: A closer look-see at Reuters' report (ignoring the misleading headline) indicates that Nokia has not specifically committed to rolling out Linux on phones -- rather, it has simply said that it intends to expand its use of Linux across its product portfolio. We figure that handsets are bound to get swept into the mix at some point, but technically, we could just be looking at other kinds of devices. Always room for another Internet Tablet or three, we suppose. Thanks, Eric!
Nokia Internet Tablets to get Ubuntu and Qt ports
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]
Hands-on with the Nokia N810 WiMAX Edition
Having trouble telling the difference between this and a garden-variety N810? Yeah, don't worry about it -- that's okay, and it's actually by design. We had an opportunity to tool around with Nokia's just-announced N810 WiMAX Edition today, and it stays very true to the original N810's formula, substituting a darker case and keyboard (both of which look very handsome, by the way), and physically, that's about it. The real magic happens deep within this thing's innards, where the addition of a WiMAX radio keeps things speedy when WiFi hotspots are out of reach and Bluetooth tethering to a 3G phone is too much of a hassle. The software necessary to support XOHM activation isn't complete yet, but Nokia's reps tell us that the process of signing up for WiMAX service will be seamless and entirely doable from the N810 itself -- no pesky phone calls or visits to a store necessary. They likened it to purchasing hotel internet service; there'll probably be hourly, daily, or continuous subscriptions available, making it possible to only shell out XOHM coin when the situation demands it. It works just like any other data connection on the device, too, so getting your wide-area broadband on is pretty much as painless as it could possibly be. Check out some shots (including a side-by-side with the original N810) in the gallery!%Gallery-19608%
Mass exodus from Nokia's Maemo group -- what does it mean?
We're not able to glean much of a clue what this all means to the program exactly, but at least four players in and around Nokia's Maemo team have quit in the past few weeks. The company's so-called "Internet Tablets" -- the 770, N800, and N810 -- have been the main beneficiaries of the Maemo community's efforts; with Nokia's recent acquisition of Trolltech it's pretty clear that the company's still fully committed to the open source thing, but who knows, maybe Maemo's not the way they want to do it. Fortunately, Maemo's picked up enough of a following to live on with or without Nokia's support, but it'd be an awful shame to see 'em move in an entirely different direction nonetheless. We'd say the platform's safe -- for the moment, anyway, with the impending launch of the WiMAX'd N810 seeming likely -- but we'll keep an eye out for developments.
