Bridging the Gap with the Ovi Store
The N900 definitely has web compatibility as a secret weapon up it’s sleeve, but they aren’t leaving apps out. The N900 has been sold for a little while, and though it would have been better to see the Ovi store at launch, better late than never, as they say.
Nokia has just recently launched what they are calling the Ovi Store, which is the app catalog for the N900. The pickings are really rather slim at the moment but we’ll have to hope that it can spur a little bit of development for the platform. I’m doubting that the Ovi Store’s size will reach even that of Palm’s WebOS app catalog (1000 or so apps), but I’d be happy to be proven wrong. Quality app development during this touch-friendly paradigm in mobile device computing would greatly benefit the N900.
Wrapping it up
I know the Linux guys out there will hate me for saying this, but Maemo 5 and the N900 are the perfect example of why a highly closed-source product like the iPhone can be so successful. There is a level of oversight that might be annoying to developers, but it ensures that the end product meets the bar that has been set, and in the end, delivers a good experience to users.
There are some important changes that will need to be made to the interface before a device like this will become consumer friendly; mainly consistency across third-party applications. Hopefully Maemo 6 can do that for us, but at this point, I don’t think that Maemo 5, in its current state, is ready for the main-stream. The N900 is quite pricey and I don’t think really competes with some of the newer phones that are popping up because of it’s lack of quality applications. The N900 will definitely fit great in someone’s pocket who needs serious web browsing compatibility, or someone who wants to run Linux applications, but for the everyday consumer, I think the N900 still needs a good deal of polish and some app development.
Many thanks to Dynamism.com for making this review possible. If you can interested, you can shop for the N900 at Dynamism.
Nice and honest review. Having owned a N810, which died after a very intense period of using it as a daily device for everything (as lyrical writer – even wrote a complete opera on it), I think the N900 is a far better device (if not the size had shrinked to 3,5 inch). But I love the hew maemo OS.
But with Abiword on it, I don’t complain – being able to use and convert to so many different documentformats.
Nevertheless I hope for a new 4,3 – 5 inch maemo with slider keybolard in the near future.
I’ve heard that the device has a built in FM transmitter. Is that true? Would be very handy to use something like that in a car.
Firefox Mobile is out for Maemo.
http://blog.mozilla.com/blog/2010/01/29/firefox-for-maemo-now-available/
so,
n900 or archos5IT ???
that is the terrible choice i have to do :))
Nice review, thanks. You described the UI as ‘Inconsistent’ this doesn’t seem to changed since OS2008, I gave up my N800 because of frustration with the UI, especially the on screen keyboard.
@jpmatrix I’m currently very impressed with how Android scales up on the Archos S5, easy to learn, easy on the eye and fast.
:-)
Yeah I had the similar frustrations with OS2008 on the N810. For me, the issue was that half of the OS was designed to be navigated with the finger, and half of the OS was designed for a stylus. It was really annoying to have to swap between these two UI implementations (sometimes even within the same application). I was really happy to see that Maemo 5 is just about fully finger-friendly. Now though the weak interface design just kills me. Applications are cluttered and lack any consistency beyond a few basic requirements (like having the buttons for switching apps and closing an app at the top left and right).
Mmmm, a honest review maybe, but a bit critical. Prior to the Nokia N900 i was using the Nokia N95 and the Nokia 5800XM. The Nokia N900 is a breath of fresh air in every sense. I agree it’s not for everyone, especially when I showed what it could do, most people were overwhelmed by the basics of not have phone keys on the phone.
This device is definitely aimed at the person who spends hours surfing the web or social networking, IM and all the other goodies that go with this applications (Facebook, flickr, youtube, stumbleupon, twitter, last.FM, podcasting etc).
However, you only highlighted the hardware that has already been covered by a dozen or so other website reviews. There is so much more about the N900 than the faults you have pointed out.
Short and nice. I offer even shorter: “200% device for linux funs”. I have been using n810 for two years. It is nice design and materials. New Nokia n900 has get the same problems as previous one like lack of office apps, crazy GPS, apps instability. There is only good app working nice from a box is Skype. There is an only way to use Maemo is to install selected and stable apps (like Crazy Parking) and never try to update otherwise it stops forever sooner or later!!! Sorry for Nokia offering raw materials for users instead of readymade device. I have said goodbye to Maemo forever… Have a nice day!!
great great nokia. easy to use, it’s practical which i like. processor is faster and the nokia apps and games are fun to use. email and gps keep me in the loop for my business. my daughter and wife love using their facebook on there. great unlocked cell phones. camera and video recorder are crisp and clean and the batter life is great i only charge once a day. very excited to see what else nokia comes out with and what they have to offer. got our last couple unlocked mobile phones at gsmallover.com and we love them. 2 thumbs way up
Suggest you try Garmin.com for up to the minute information, they manufacture/sell GPS units.. For my own sake, I hope not, unless they plan to phase it in gradually because I just purchased a new GPS hand-held unit and it WASN’T CHEAP !!