Nokia Leaks Phone With Full GNU/Linux Distribution

An anonymous reader writes "It is now clear why Nokia has been so slow with S60 updates: the upcoming N900 just left everything else in the dust. Unlike Google's Linux platform, Nokia is not intentionally breaking compatibility with real distros, choosing instead to bring you the unmatchable power of GNU/Linux on your phone. This is the most awesome device I have ever seen: MAP3 CPU/GPU, 3,5" 800x480 touchscreen, keyboard, Wi-Fi, HSPA, GPS; 5-MP camera, CZ lens, 32 GB storage, SD slot; X11, VT100 terminal emulator, APT package manager. Estimated price without credit: $780 (N.5800: $390, iPhone 3GS: $750). Developers should note that even though the current desktop is still GTK+, Qt will be standard across all Nokia platforms in the near future (less powerful phones will use Qt on the Symbian kernel). Users can download flashing software from Nokia, and patches can be submitted at the Maemo site."

Comments

Open Source ?

[bug1]

Are the drivers it requires open source ?

Do Nokia playing nice, are they prepared to go out of their way to obey licenses or are they just interested in 0 cost rather than libre software ?

Re:Open Source ?

[sznupi]

Uhm...don't forget that Nokia LGPL-ed Qt, and recently is open sourcing Symbian.

So while of course there are also practical reasons for what Nokia is doing, don't, FFS DON'T, paint their actions like they're sleazy bastards that are conspiring against you!

When the price comes down a bit

[killmenow]

This will likely be my next major phone upgrade.

I own an N800 and an N810 and do some Maemo development work on them. They're IMHO awesome devices. I don't know or care about Nokia in general but they have been steadily improving this line of devices since the N770 and I just cannot begin to tell you how slick they are (again IMHO).

I use skype and gizmo to make VoIP phone calls on them at any Wi-Fi hotspot and they are just fun to play around with. The biggest problem with them, in my experience, is people expect them to be phones and don't get the idea that it's just a handheld PC. Adding cell phone capability with the N900 (and increased horsepower) will, I think, cross this device over from enthusiast toy to a more mainstream "smartphone" even though I think the term does the device a dis-service.

It's just more than a phone. I've never used a cell phone that had a web experience remotely close to the desktop/laptop world. The N800/N810 is 100 times better than any cell phone @ web browsing. The games available (for the most part if it runs on Linux, it'll run on these devices and I've enjoyed playing MAME games on mine), the productivity tools, the multimedia capabilities, etc.

I've never developed apps for the iPhone but I've tinkered with BlackBerry development, Android development and Maemo development. While I think it's not as well-documented perhaps as Android or BlackBerry, and getting set up to do development on it is not as simple, it's easily manageable and *much less locked down* than the other platforms. Developing for Android isn't too bad but I think it still is a bit more locked down, developing for BlackBerry you are also definitely limited by what RIM (and the cell providers) will allow you to do. I hope that with Maemo 5 and the new cell-phone stuff, Nokia doesn't cave to cell providers and start locking shit down on these devices and instead keeps to the spirit of the original open-ness so I can still write apps that do what *I* want them to do, not what T-Mobile wants them to do.

Application signing

[FreezeS]

I'm curious why nobody mentioned this subject. For me this is a major PITA when trying to develop on S60. 20$ for the privilege of running my own application on my own phone ??? No, thanks. Does anyone know if this scheme is going to be implemented on this phone ?

Re:Application signing

[ducky10]

Application Signing is how Nokia is going to control how people distribute applications for this device - this control is a big deal and is not explained in the article. It is a big deal because it determines how "open" the system is: If Nokia has to approve all applications then is this system open at all?

The link to Symbian's Open Signed Online is an S60 version of how Nokia has done "open" before. I don't think this is the kind of open that people are hoping for, but unless we hear otherwise, it's the type of open we should expect from Nokia.

Another way to consider the benefits of this phone is to ask how many people have really ever used Symbian's Open Signed Online? Are you. then, the only ones that are supposed to be excited about this phone?

Want!

[symbolset]

I'm going to have to find a way to get one of these. Decent video, open formats, always on cellular wireless. A gorgeous interface. And I can add applications with apt.

I think a lot of projects are going to start putting more priority on compiling to the ARM platform.

Re:Err, so just like the Pre?

[SerpentMage]

While I tend to agree with you, the issue here is that Nokia is not exactly a company that can't market. If this were say Samsung, then maybe you have a point.

I own Nokia shares and let me tell you I am bleeding! But I have not given up hope. And right now I am looking for a smart phone. And this is THE PHONE!

I wrote a blog entry where Nokia is about to tap into something that all of the other vendors are missing.

Imagine a world where your phone is your server. Imagine for a moment where your server is your life and tagging everything as you go along. Imagine for the moment where the phone would sync with the telco and distribute your data. THIS IS BLOWOUT THINKING!

The iPhone and Pre can't do this because they don't allow server processes. The Android could do this, but Nokia is targeting this 100%. From what I see Nokia is creating a cloud of mobile devices. Android assumes your data is somewhere in the cloud. I personally would prefer having my cloud in my pocket and letting others access it.

I know with this new Nokia device I will use it as my life and blood. That's where I will store my documents, etc, etc.. And when I need it on the road? Its there. Don't like the screen size, Wow, I remote window into the device...

We are about to embark on a new computing platform and I am for it...

Re:Two rival factions

[Max Romantschuk]

I use to be part of the "phones are for making calls and the occational SMS" crowd.

But eventually 3G phones became rather good, and most important of all, data in my native Finland became dirt cheap.

Nowadays I use my phone's data capabilities every day. Once I've dropped the kids to daycare I check a website that can tell me which of three bus stops to walk to, instead of trying to remember the 20+ buses' schedules that I would otherwise check to get the same effect. It's even better when I want to take the bus home after a night out. I can input my location in the route guide website and it will calculate a reasonable route for me.

Google maps has proved useful too, as my phone has GPS. The navigation software with voice guidance actually works, so I have no need for a dedicated navigator. The camera has a real xenon flash, so social snaps even in a dim environment are actually perfectly viable. Wikipedia is handy to settle factual disputes in the bar... ;)

The thing is, I think of my phone as a portable multimedia computer with phone-features attached. I could live without the features it provides, but given that 3G phones are so cheap these days it would make little sense for me to do so.

Re:Hmmm

[hao3]

http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/03/05/windows-3-1-on-s60-dude-says-why-stop-there-ups-the-ante-with/

http://thisnthat.ej.am/2009/03/09/windows-98-on-symbian-3rd-edition-phones/