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I also read that they're going to focus more on producing manual typewriters. Competition in the electric typewriter space is getting awfully fierce these days.
Can Samsung come out with a decent, respectable smartphone WITHOUT this TouchWiz crap? Every time I see it it screams "dumbphone" and every time I see it in action it screams "put me out of my bloody misery".
... but will users still WANT Symbian or Maemo phones with the advent of more advanced operating systems such as the iPhone OS, Windows Mobile, or Android?
Last Symbian device I ever used was an S40-powered flip and it made me want to throw it out a window. The interface was horrid, laggy, slow, complex.
And as the ad at the top of this page said to me, "With new Windows phones, you always have choices".
Can they PLEASE update the typeface while they're at it? Their standard typeface looks like pixelated 8-bit fonts from the 80s. No matter what resolution their screens are, it makes their interface look ancient and resolution smaller than it actually is.
The typeface is also too narrow, which means the type has to be bigger to be readable, which is why their interfaces look so "pixelated" to me. Typefaces designed specifically for screens tend to be wide (e.g., Verdana) to improve readability at small sizes.
Nokia bought the makers of the open source Qt C++ UI toolkit and frameworks. The latest Qt runs on Maemo and on Symbian (and on Windows, Mac, and Linux). Qt is at least as good as Apple's Cocoa and the Android APIs. So Nokia is moving towards standardizing on one toolkit for programmers, without abandoning their current OS. This won't mean one app will run both on Maemo 6 devices and Symbian phones, but it does mean developers writing for Nokia can focus on one toolkit.
Thus ensuring that Nokia will continue to NOT be a force in the US Smartphone market.The battle for mobile OS dominance is over before its started. OEMs who cling to vain hopes (PALM) will suffer dearly.
@Alfisted: The advantage Nokia has over Palm, however, is that it's not putting all its hopes on one OS on one phone.
So far, in the consumer market, the smartphone race is between the iPhone and Android. The Pre, while fantastic, was little more than a boost to Palm. They need something way better to stay in this game. WinMo 7 is nothing but potential right now, but we'll have to wait to see how that goes.
Nokia, however, has the resources, the history, and the name to push a phone product. If they can pull together a solid piece of software, they have a lot more going for them. The question is, will it be too late, or just in time for the next revitalization period in cell phones? There's still time before 4G phones take off. That would be a good time to have a really groundbreaking phone.
You've got a company that's invested hundreds of millions in developing Symbian^2 with an ongoing development roadmap for the next several years, and their side-project of an internet tablet OS that reviewers say doesn't make for a very useful phone yet, and you're surprised about which OS they're sticking with?
Nintendo should sell ROMs for Android and other platforms. I'd pay $0.10 per game, per day. They could be making billions from this if they just allow it. And it won't slow sales of DSi and Wii, on the contrary, more people will like Nintendo and buy their products.
@Intelext: Yeah...pretty sure they outsell Microsoft and Sony in both the console and handheld departments...by HUGE margins. Just because it doesn't appeal to you or to your peer group doesn't mean it isn't popular. I know that my Wii is turned on every single day by my wife for Wii Fit and has been doing extra duty with the New Super Mario Bros. this past week. Before that, I was spending a significant amount of my gaming time playing Super Mario World and Link to the Past on the virtual console on there. And I can't walk through a mall without seeing 20 kids playing DSis, whereas I think I've only seen maybe 10 PSPs since they first came out.
So, is this actually a legal issue? Nokia was not saying (were they?) that their phone would play those two games, they were merely showing that it could play these games if Nintendo was willing to license them, right? Or is Nintendo upset that they were even running on a machine they did not license their software for? Interesting questions that attorneys for both companies are pondering, I am certain.
On the bright side, since Nokia has been sliding in the cell phone world (um, somewhat similar to a particular "N" company game console recently), perhaps Nokia is just wanting to become the rebel of the cell phone world. Perhaps the E.U. will come to their rescue.
@Flying Jukebox: Actually, the Wii sales have been sinking, which is why Nintendo had to lower the price. It is true that the DS continues to do well, however - though one might accurately question whether the "next generation" of hand held gaming machines will be our cell phones. Perhaps the MarioPhone is in our future?
@Monty: Every console has been sinking, the Wii is one of the best selling consoles ever. People like dedicated buttons when it comes to gaming; i still don't see gaming on cell phones taking off. The N-Gage failed, why wouldn't the next generation?
@Monty: Wii sales have been sinking, but Nintendo still profits more from them than their competitors. So yes, it's a downwards trend, but it's nowhere as bad as Nokia's downwards trend.
In fact Nintendo is STILL printing money despite lower sales and income. That says something about how successful they have been in the first place.
@tokugawa: Nokia is still making serious dollars as well, so you are, unfortunately, bringing more validity to the original statement I made which was more or less a joke anyway. Both companies are the sales leaders in their respective markets, and many folks have been concerned about both companies being a generation behind their competitors. That said, both continue to make bucks despite the concern.
@Flying Jukebox: Well, the Wii is the best selling console this generation - without question, however it is not all sunshine and rainbows. First, the PS2 has sold over 130 million units, and the Wii has sold around 30 million or so, I believe. Admittedly, the PS2 has been around much longer, but chances are the Wii will never catch up. There is also the minor issue that overall sales per device for the Wii are much smaller than the PS2, or even the Xbox 360 or PS3. Ignoring those two items, the Wii is clearly the champion. Of course, Nokia is clearly the champion of the cell phone market, as well -- and it is easy to make a comparison between the two companies.
@Monty: But compared to Nokia, Nintendo is financially very healthy. They don't have to downsize or bribe any governments by threatening to move elsewhere (like Nokia does).
I'm pretty sure the actual profits compared to the respective income are much more favourable for Nintendo than for Nokia.
A) A cheapass contract phone which while not having a huge amount of minutes has unlimited texting and 3G internet as well as free calls to anyone on the same provider.
B) Has Skype and facebook integrated. Skype is a big draw for me as I can talk to most people I know on it.
I was thinking of getting an iPhone but eh it's not that worthwhile. Don't get me wrong it's still a great phone but you can do a similar job with an iPod Touch and a 3G mifi for a lot less money which is what I'm doing instead.
Depends how much you value a compass, GPS and a camera. Out of those I think I'll only miss the camera and only barely.
If I do pick up a proper smartphone when my contracts up I'll probably go android. I couldn't justify an iPhone after purchasing a 3rd Gen iPod Touch.
@cruzer555: The N900 and iPhone 3GS have the same processor, and the iPhone wins by being thinner and featuring a capacitive screen...
Otherwise the N900 hardware wins in every way. Better primary camera (5 MP with Zeiss lens and dual-LED flash), higher screen resolution (800x480), hardware keyboard, standard micro USB data/power port, micro-SDHC card slot (in addition to the built-in 32 GB of storage), stereo speakers, secondary front-facing camera (VGA), built-in kick stand!
So how the iPhone 3GS hardware better than the N900 again?
I have both devices, and own the iPhone 3GS (the N900 is a review unit), so I'm just being objective here.
@tnkgrl: I admit the camera is better, flash in a phone however is USELESS. The screen resolution is indeed much better, I hope the next iphone will match it. Hardware keyboards SUCK they are a waste of space and slower for typing. Micro USB is worse than ipod dock connector because you can't dock it in a stereo system as easy. Micro SD is not necessary in a 32GB phone. All phone speakers suck, stereo or not. NOBODY needs a front facing camera in a god damn phone!!! Kick stands are useless wastes of space.
Out of all the things you listed, many actually make the N900 WORSE like a crappy hardware keyboard. Only 2 things are better: the screen resolution, and the 1.8 extra megapixels.
It is not worth using such an inferior phone with a pathetic crippled OS (maemo cant even use portrait mode) when the only advantages are more screen resolution (with an awful resistive touch screen) and a SLIGHTLY better camera.
Summary:
-The OS is literally the worst, even windows mobile 6 is better
-The hardware keyboard practically doubles the size and slows down your typing
-It has the worst type of touchscreen, a pathetic, atrocious resistive one
@cruzer555: Have you even used and compared both devices in person? I presume not.
Have you tried the hardware keyboard on the N900? Obviosuly not, since it's pretty decent.
I generally avoid using the flash on any camera (except for fill), but saying it's useless is a bit much...
It's nice to be able to copy a music or videos from the 32 GB of storage to a friend's micro-SD card for them to enjoy on their phone without using Bluetooth or needing a computer - I've done it!
The front-facing camera is useful for video chat software (like Skype) - most people just don't know it's even possible to do this on a phone and assume a laptop is required.
Maemo is one of the best OS's I've ever used on any phone, and I've reviewed quite a few (check my blog: [tnkgrl.wordpress.com]) .
Maemo is pretty much a full-on version of Debian linux with a fast and intuitive touch UI sitting on top.
There's not technical limitation why the UI mostly landscape (the phone app and the picture viewer automatically switch to portrait, BTW).
It's just that the N900 is the successor to the N810/N800/770 Internet tablets, and as such is primarily meant to be used 2-handed in landscape.
Better than Windows Mobile? Are you kidding me? Clearly you don't know what you are talking about. Maemo is a gem.
Have you tried surfing the web with N900? It's pretty much full-on Firefox with Flash 9 support. Name another phone that can do this.
The resistive touchscreen is a hug mistake, I agree :)
@tnkgrl: ANY hardware keyboard withers in comparison to a good touch version.
Front facing camera is useful for skype and stuff, but not useful on a phone. Talking to someone while holding the camera filming your face is not very easy.
Maemo is fast, maybe even a little slick, but it is like a shiny yet EMPTY box. By that I mean, it has very little features in comparison to phones from better manufacturers.
Yes, it technologically can support portrait, but WHY DIDNT THE MORONS AT NOKIA ENABLE IT!?!?
Maemo is a gem... In the roughest of the rough. Windows Mobile is far superior. Running Maemo is like running a stripped out debian, and running windows mobile is like running FULL windows on your phone, complete with file explorer and right click.
Firefox is worse than safari, the only advantage is flash.
By the way, before I saw the flaws, I REALLY WANTED THIS PHONE, it was only after experiencing the drawbacks that I figured I will wait a revision or two.
In conclusion:
In a couple years, when Maemo has been outfitted with all modern features, and they put in a capacitive touch screen, I am sure this will be a wonderful phone to have. I am looking forward to the n91o or whatever they call the next version, which I prey will have capacitive :)
@cruzer555: Sorry, but you lost all credibility when you mentioned "even windows mobile 6 is better [than Maemo]"...
I'm done discussing this with you. I love my iPhone 3GS and my N900 and my Droid and my Pre, all for different reasons!
The smarphone world is clearly getting divided into 2 camps: OS X, Android, WebOS and Maemo at the top, Symbian, BlackBerry OS and Windows Mobile at the bottom.
If you can't see that, I don't have to convince you. Cheers :)
@tnkgrl: You are wrong about the smartphone world. The ONLY good ones are Android and iPhone. Until they get their act together (which they probably won't) they are on the bottom with windows mobile.
@pz: And all those of us using hacked iPhones. $60/month for an iphone and not having to use ATT? Not so bad in my book.
Sure beats the Blackberry I was using before.
@tande04: It's actually *much* improved compared to the 1st Storm, and frankly I think it's much better than the Tour as well--the larger screen is huge plus in my book.
@PaintDrinkingPete: Storm 2? Ha! Check back later if Giz posts "The Worst Smartphones On Every Carrier." (Shoutout to me, Matt, if you run that. Haha.)
09:27 AM
12/03/09
12/03/09
Last Symbian device I ever used was an S40-powered flip and it made me want to throw it out a window. The interface was horrid, laggy, slow, complex.
And as the ad at the top of this page said to me, "With new Windows phones, you always have choices".
12/03/09
The typeface is also too narrow, which means the type has to be bigger to be readable, which is why their interfaces look so "pixelated" to me. Typefaces designed specifically for screens tend to be wide (e.g., Verdana) to improve readability at small sizes.
12/03/09
12/02/09
12/02/09
So far, in the consumer market, the smartphone race is between the iPhone and Android. The Pre, while fantastic, was little more than a boost to Palm. They need something way better to stay in this game. WinMo 7 is nothing but potential right now, but we'll have to wait to see how that goes.
Nokia, however, has the resources, the history, and the name to push a phone product. If they can pull together a solid piece of software, they have a lot more going for them. The question is, will it be too late, or just in time for the next revitalization period in cell phones? There's still time before 4G phones take off. That would be a good time to have a really groundbreaking phone.
12/01/09
11/28/09
11/28/09
11/28/09
11/28/09
11/30/09
11/28/09
On the bright side, since Nokia has been sliding in the cell phone world (um, somewhat similar to a particular "N" company game console recently), perhaps Nokia is just wanting to become the rebel of the cell phone world. Perhaps the E.U. will come to their rescue.
11/28/09
11/28/09
11/28/09
11/28/09
11/28/09
In fact Nintendo is STILL printing money despite lower sales and income. That says something about how successful they have been in the first place.
11/28/09
11/28/09
11/28/09
I'm pretty sure the actual profits compared to the respective income are much more favourable for Nintendo than for Nokia.
11/25/09
A) A cheapass contract phone which while not having a huge amount of minutes has unlimited texting and 3G internet as well as free calls to anyone on the same provider.
B) Has Skype and facebook integrated. Skype is a big draw for me as I can talk to most people I know on it.
I was thinking of getting an iPhone but eh it's not that worthwhile. Don't get me wrong it's still a great phone but you can do a similar job with an iPod Touch and a 3G mifi for a lot less money which is what I'm doing instead.
Depends how much you value a compass, GPS and a camera. Out of those I think I'll only miss the camera and only barely.
If I do pick up a proper smartphone when my contracts up I'll probably go android. I couldn't justify an iPhone after purchasing a 3rd Gen iPod Touch.
11/24/09
Incidentally, that's what's in my pockets right now (Pre, Droid, 3GS, N900)...
Ah the joys of review units!
11/24/09
And Amazon has yet to ship my n900 :(
11/24/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/26/09
Otherwise the N900 hardware wins in every way. Better primary camera (5 MP with Zeiss lens and dual-LED flash), higher screen resolution (800x480), hardware keyboard, standard micro USB data/power port, micro-SDHC card slot (in addition to the built-in 32 GB of storage), stereo speakers, secondary front-facing camera (VGA), built-in kick stand!
So how the iPhone 3GS hardware better than the N900 again?
I have both devices, and own the iPhone 3GS (the N900 is a review unit), so I'm just being objective here.
11/26/09
Out of all the things you listed, many actually make the N900 WORSE like a crappy hardware keyboard. Only 2 things are better: the screen resolution, and the 1.8 extra megapixels.
It is not worth using such an inferior phone with a pathetic crippled OS (maemo cant even use portrait mode) when the only advantages are more screen resolution (with an awful resistive touch screen) and a SLIGHTLY better camera.
Summary:
-The OS is literally the worst, even windows mobile 6 is better
-The hardware keyboard practically doubles the size and slows down your typing
-It has the worst type of touchscreen, a pathetic, atrocious resistive one
11/27/09
Have you tried the hardware keyboard on the N900? Obviosuly not, since it's pretty decent.
I generally avoid using the flash on any camera (except for fill), but saying it's useless is a bit much...
It's nice to be able to copy a music or videos from the 32 GB of storage to a friend's micro-SD card for them to enjoy on their phone without using Bluetooth or needing a computer - I've done it!
The front-facing camera is useful for video chat software (like Skype) - most people just don't know it's even possible to do this on a phone and assume a laptop is required.
Maemo is one of the best OS's I've ever used on any phone, and I've reviewed quite a few (check my blog: [tnkgrl.wordpress.com]) .
Maemo is pretty much a full-on version of Debian linux with a fast and intuitive touch UI sitting on top.
There's not technical limitation why the UI mostly landscape (the phone app and the picture viewer automatically switch to portrait, BTW).
It's just that the N900 is the successor to the N810/N800/770 Internet tablets, and as such is primarily meant to be used 2-handed in landscape.
Better than Windows Mobile? Are you kidding me? Clearly you don't know what you are talking about. Maemo is a gem.
Have you tried surfing the web with N900? It's pretty much full-on Firefox with Flash 9 support. Name another phone that can do this.
The resistive touchscreen is a hug mistake, I agree :)
11/27/09
Front facing camera is useful for skype and stuff, but not useful on a phone. Talking to someone while holding the camera filming your face is not very easy.
Maemo is fast, maybe even a little slick, but it is like a shiny yet EMPTY box. By that I mean, it has very little features in comparison to phones from better manufacturers.
Yes, it technologically can support portrait, but WHY DIDNT THE MORONS AT NOKIA ENABLE IT!?!?
Maemo is a gem... In the roughest of the rough. Windows Mobile is far superior. Running Maemo is like running a stripped out debian, and running windows mobile is like running FULL windows on your phone, complete with file explorer and right click.
Firefox is worse than safari, the only advantage is flash.
By the way, before I saw the flaws, I REALLY WANTED THIS PHONE, it was only after experiencing the drawbacks that I figured I will wait a revision or two.
In conclusion:
In a couple years, when Maemo has been outfitted with all modern features, and they put in a capacitive touch screen, I am sure this will be a wonderful phone to have. I am looking forward to the n91o or whatever they call the next version, which I prey will have capacitive :)
11/27/09
I'm done discussing this with you. I love my iPhone 3GS and my N900 and my Droid and my Pre, all for different reasons!
The smarphone world is clearly getting divided into 2 camps: OS X, Android, WebOS and Maemo at the top, Symbian, BlackBerry OS and Windows Mobile at the bottom.
If you can't see that, I don't have to convince you. Cheers :)
11/28/09
11/24/09
11/24/09
Has to be. The service isn't actually that bad, if you're not living out in the middle of nowhere.
11/24/09
Sure beats the Blackberry I was using before.
11/24/09
11/24/09
11/24/09
Has there been a good review of that phone? Its biggest point is that it isn't as bad as the first storm.
11/24/09
11/24/09
That phone was such a disappointment on so many levels I was really amazed that they called the second one the Storm 2.
11/24/09