Nokia Rover smiles for the camera

For all those confused, this is NOT a Symbian handset. Its a smartphone running Maemo5, the next generation version of Nokia’s Linux operating system. It is the follow up to the N810 web tablet which lacked phone features but could make calls through a bluetooth connection to a phone. It is a robust UI running a full Flash desktop grade Firefox browser, and the UI is great with good transitions and effects. Maemo is versatile, able to run Android and other Linux apps with slight modifications. I’ve heard the UI of Symbian^4 will look nearly identical to Maemo5, but this is just a rumor. Its not far fetched, either, since Nokia’s Qt technology, the graphical underpinnings for the next Symbian UI, was mainly used as a developer tool for its Linux tablets. TMobileUSA just managed to change its image and leap the competition with the most advanced phone available today.

I believe Nokia has the capability of developing a capacitive screen, but they tend to cater to Europeans and Asians more. Its like saying Apple can’t make the Iphone multi-task. The capability is there, but the question is do they want to , and I’m sure they have business reasons. I’m actually looking to seeing the Maemo5 perform, too bad I’m locked in with my Iphone3gs for a while. Its good to know that there are other options out there.Competition is always good for the consumers.

I like it!!

This may make me give up th e90. Is there anyplace to see maemo 5 in action? I am assuming youtube. Is it really feasable to run an android app on maemo?

@ Jonathan, users get caught up in tech terms instead of performance. Who cares if its a resistive or capacitive screen? Is it responsive and accurate? I’m using the N97 right now, and its both. And no one mentions that capacitive screens aren’t as accurate when selecting elements. iPhone icons are big for a reason. And the N97 supports handwriting recognition. I haven’t seen a capacitive screen do that yet.

@ Jonathan, users get caught up in tech terms instead of performance. Who cares if its a resistive or capacitive screen? Is it responsive and accurate? I’m using the N97 right now, and its both. And no one mentions that capacitive screens aren’t as accurate when selecting elements. iPhone icons are big for a reason. And the N97 supports handwriting recognition. I haven’t seen a capacitive screen do that yet. And I bet it comes with little or no branding,unlocked. It’s VERY powerful, and will make you wonder why you paid the same price for your iPhone as this. This is a computer running Linux first, with the phone added on top. Only the Koreans have such powerful desktop grade devices.

maemo is linux just like Android, only more open. Any decent Linux developer worth his salt can easily recompile Android apps to work on Maemo, as has already been done. I haven’t seen the UI in action, but there are screenshots everywhere.

@christexaport, you and I actually communicated before. I have been a Nokia user for the last 6 years started with the 6682, N75, N95 8gb(the best phone I ever owned) and then took forever for Dell to ship my N97 and ended up with the Iphone3gs instead. I would have not minded the resistive screen, but I was hoping a redo with the S60 OS more like the Android or Palmpre. Maybe I was expecting too much but I don’t regret getting the Iphone either. I think I’ll like this Maemo5 from all the screenshots I’ve seen. I don’t think of myself as a fanboy of anything and I get what I think suits me at that time. I do like Nokia phones, I just didn’t like the N97, and yes I got to play with it since a friend of mine has one. I travel to Asia once a year and I keep my unlocked N95 with me, so I have not stopped using Nokia at all. Most of the apps I use are on the Iphone like Epocrates, Medcalc so its more convenient for me too. Maybe the Ovi store will have more apps by the time I get a Nokia phone again. I like this Maemo5 which you say is linux based and hoping that the next Symbian^4 will be even better. Why didn’t the N97 come with Maemo5? Is this a just released OS? I loved the Symbian S60 Os, but no offense, its an old one. Although its got great multi-tasking capabilities, Nokia needs to be on par with the other touch screen OSs’.This is a step in the right direction.

@christaexport, I sure what you mean about high grade phones in Korea. I had a 3 hour layover at Icheon International 2 years ago and checked out the duty free electronic shops. I was so tempted to buy one, but so concerned about carrier support here even though it was unlocked, plus I did not have enough cash and my wife would murder me

If you guys want to take a look at some of the apps and more spec rumors of the device go to maemo.org, then click on Talk, and then click on General.
So far people are saying that the device might be announced in Nokia World on September 2-3, and maybe an October launch when the Maemo 5 summit occurs

For those totally uninformed here: It is running Maemo 5, Nokias Open Source Linux OS for tablets. It has been used for many years now on N800/N810 tablets, but Maemo 5 is the new and yet unreleased version, see http://www.maemo.org . It has abselutely no ties to Symbian or S60 (not that this should be bad).

Althoug not verified, this *looks* to be a smartphone, not a tablet. Nokia har earlier said that the Rover (AKA N900) will have a radio for data, not talk. Maybe they have changed on this, and the small size *seems* to confirm it. Also, I guess this will be the perfect testbed for the new Symbian Foundation Open Source OS.

In any case, I am not sure the Rover is any good for the majority of iPhone junkies. If you have shown no likings for Linux previously, or for OSS, then stay out of the way.

@ Jonathan, hey guy! I don’t recall the conversation, but I love the N95 8gb too. If it had a higher resolution screen like the N97, I’d use it another year! The Korean phones are amazing. Did you see the one running XP AND WINMO at once? Having had the N95 8gb, you should know that app stores are for neophytes! Just use Google. Honestly, this IS an N97 with another OS.

Yeah, I’m definitely going to check it out at Tmobile. Could be my next phone, the only big thing that put me off on the N97 was it ran the same OS only in a touch form.

@Jonathan can u please post a link where you seen screenshots of the Maemo5 ?

Thanks for another captivating commentary it was a thrill to look over.

Donald Henderson
garmin forerunner 205

nokia, the most mobile in Indonesia