The N900 looks good, and later today I plan to go down to NYC’s Nokia store to investigate. However, as Ars reports, the N900 is the 4th step in a 5 step program to develop a mainstream smart phone, and Maemo 5 is last platform before Qt domination comes to Nokia.
So should I wait for the N900+1? $649 is a lot to shell out for a device that is running on a platform that is being retired (“moved to community support”). Besides, I’m a Qt guy, not a Gtk wizard, and any programming I do with the device will most likely be with Qt. Will Maemo 6 be available for the N900? The N900 does not, as far as I can tell, have a multi-touch screen, which means it won’t be able to use Qt 4.6+’s multi-touch gesture support.
On the other hand, how much longer until a Maemo 6 device is released? Probably over a year from now. I also fear, perhaps without good reason, that Maemo 6 (and perhaps even Maemo 5 — I’ll find out later today when I try it out) will have some kind of new-age high-tech web-service-enabled interface that is going to be more difficult to use than my current old school phone. I dunno.
So what should I do? Go for the N900/Maemo5 if it looks decent, or wait who knows how long for the N900+1/Maemo6?
PS: What’s the story with libdui or DirectUI? I can’t find much about this online.
PPS: Is there a future relationship between Plasma and Maemo beyond neat hacks?
Nokia has a decent track record of porting newer versions of Maemo to older hardware. The latest OS for N810 is available for Nokia 770 as e “hacker edition”
http://wiki.maemo.org/Updating_the_tablet_firmware
So I think its a safe bet to presume that Maemo 6 will be available for N900 sooner or later.
Of course if you are after the multitouch features then you need to wait for N900+1.
Is it confirmed that is lacks multitouch hardware? I mean, it’s not usable or promoted due to lack of support for it in X or whatever, same as for the accelerometer in the N95 that “didn’t exist” untilsomeone found out it actually did
I can testify that the n900 is awesome. Having been a cellphone hermit for a long time, I was blown away by what the E75 can do, but now the N900 is just so much better. The successor will be at least six months later. And the hardware may be different, e.g. smaller screen or no keyboard.
I read much about the N900, so the info i collected may be incorrect, as there is so much different info.
Qt 4.6 will run on the N900 so no need to wait on that topic.
I think next Maemo device will be a no keyboard device (Just as its the logical step to collect the “no that is a brick” users.)
Its not clear if harmatten will run on the N900 because of maybe a hardware change like now from N800 to N900, but i think this is unlikely.
N900 will be the openst mobile you can get (dont count the half dead openmoko). Android is closed beyond the java layer, WebOS is closed at some level, but i dont know much about it.
And finally:
I never owned a mobile, and the N900 is the first mobile i cant wait to get. So if a non-mobile user (age 35) cant wait to get a mobile in his hand, that means a lot
@Jouni
This is good to know.
@Jos
Smaller screen? Really?
@Gunni
True Qt 4.6 will run on the N900, but it will be community-supported and not fully integrated. With Maemo6, Qt’s drawing will be the native drawing.
@Jason: I see no downside on community-supported … i dont see a downside on kde
@Jason/Gunni
Actually, Qt 4.6 will be officially supported (i.e. through Qt Software) on Maemo 5. (read it in a blog post that I can’t find right now, meh)
that means themed, integrated, etc… into the normal maemo interface. Unlike past (4.x-4.5) Qt on maemo versions.
[...] Geek Ideas {{{ ZX2C4 }}} « Maemo 5 or Maemo 6? [...]
love the websites theme
VoIP on IPOD Touch 3rd Generation is my benchmark for any phone that comes in Market. I also own N73 Music Edition, so N900 is no exception. I want someone to beat Apple at what it does best, User Experience, at cheap rates.
Hands down, Apple’s app store wins by a mile. It’s a huge selection of all sorts of apps vs a rather sad selection of a handful for Zune. Microsoft has plans, especially in the realm of games, but I’m not sure I’d want to bet on the future if this aspect is important to you. The iPod is a much better choice in that case. Have you tried the ipad? you can get one free at FreshGiftCard.com