I think that Register hack is just fishing for "Flame of the Week" entries. :D

rattis: agreed entirely :-)

I'm really not seeing the move towards format compatibility you talk about -- and I was involved in developing calendar applications for years. I'm sceptical about the future too, as long as Outlook is the "standard" everyone works to be "compatible" with.

I agree that decent solutions for this are long overdue. Calendar data is exactly the kind of low-badwidth, highly structured, multi-device, use-on-the-go data that should absolutely be standardized -- everyone would benefit. I don't know how the problems could be solved without Microsoft playing ball, however:

• The exchange format problem is pretty much already solved by iCal (used by everyone else but Outlook, at least the last time I checked)
• client-server syncing is still an open problem: CalDAV (or maybe in some cases GroupDAV) is probably the way to go...

I don't know as much as you do about it, but I was thinking of iCal, even though Outlook doesn't use it. Frankly, I could pass on Outlook, although I keep getting MS Office and PPCs/PDA phones with Windows Mobile, so Outlook ends up being the default PIM, even though I don't use 90% of its advanced features.

In response to the post about not being online all the time, and therefore not benefiting from an online calendar or PIM: I think of the web-based PIM (whenever it's put together) as serving only a few critical functions:
1. data access from any networked computer
2. data sharing
3. data synchronization

There are a few apps taking advantage of this basic functional model. Like, there's a new Firefox plugin that allows you to synchronize your bookmarks and access them online from a web-based server. I think there's a move in RSS feed readers towards the same model, although it's not as far developed from what I can tell. And services like Box.net just allow file storage and sharing.

Now that I own a few PCs, the time I'm spending trying to sort through data archives and synchronizing data is increasing. I'm hoping that the internet can take over and provide some of the benfits of setting up a local server for this sort of thing with better efficiency.

Well, it's working now for me. And an interesting note; the versions available are as follows:

US site: 5.2006.13-17 (April 18, 2006)
UK site: 5.2006.13-7 (April 18, 2006)

I think that US version might be pretty new, as I can't find mention of it on the forums.

Yeah, it says 5.2006.13-17 on the update page, but if I put in my Product ID it comes up as 5.2006.13-7 for the actual update file.

A mail from the PR team of Nokia says that the webcast of the launch of the new tablet will be broadcasted from this address tomorrow at 8.45 CET (the link doesn't work):


www.nokia.com/press/770InternetTablet

This could be an hint about a new software release, instead of a brand new tablet !!

That better be the case or else...

Yet another news release can be found at:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060515/...nokia_google_1

ill bet we will have to pay for that upgrade

I assume that's AM? I wonder if I'll stay up 'till 2:45am to hear the webcast?

http://www.nokia.com/press/esnews052006

Please join us for an Audiocast on Thursday, May 18th.
Time: 3:00 PM EET / 1:00 PM UKT / 8:00 AM ET.

Audiocast link will be placed here on May 18th.

here we are
 

"...Stockholm, Sweden - Today at the VON Europe conference in Stockholm, Nokia introduced a new software upgrade for the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet. The upgraded features of the introduced OS 2006 edition include support for rich Internet communications, including pre-installed Google Talk(TM) - all on a portable broadband mobile device. Google Talk(TM) is Google's free instant messaging service that enables people to chat and make calls through the Internet.

Additional features of the new software edition include enhanced text typing with full-screen finger keyboard, improved memory performance and refreshed look. There is also an improved home view desktop allowing users to choose from a variety of small applets to enable fast access to Internet services.

"We are pleased to offer this software upgrade to both the existing user base of the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet as well to new users. Since the launch of the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet, we have received a lot of positive feedback along with requests for both small and large improvements. It is a credit to the internal team, here at Nokia, that many of these wishes are addressed in today's' upgrade", says Ari Virtanen, vice president of Convergence Products, Multimedia, Nokia.
..."

from http://press.nokia.com/PR/200605/1051308_5.html

go there and have a look

On the Nokia Press Release-Page it also says:

"The Internet Tablet OS 2006 edition which is based on popular desktop Linux and Open Source technologies is planned to be available during the second quarter of 2006 in selected countries in Europe and the Americas. It is downloadable free of charge from the Internet www.nokia.com/770."

http://www.nokia.com/A4136001?newsid=1051308

New press photos: http://www.nokia.com/A4136017?category=770#

what is this?
-i

It looks like status icon for the internet connection (be it WiFi or bluettoth)

That icon looks like a new connection indicator. Hopefully combined with the phone status bar icon as well to save space.

Cheers,

Andrew

So is it only the software upgrade?
Any idea when will the new software available?

Thanks.

The press release says that it will be available in the second quarter. But apparently the webcast says "June" so there is still a little more waiting to be done before we can get our hands on it.

Unless nokia does the right thing and releases the OS for developers in maemo.org before putting it into theyr own website so that the developers can compile and make new debs for the new OS.

Well, I have to say that the announcement and screenshots are very exciting. I am relieved that it is a software upgrade only (I just bought my 770 a month ago!). I like some of the new UI elements shown in the screen shots, and as a Google Talk user, I look forward to the IM and VOIP. My biggest wish at this point is for bluetooth headset support for the VOIP.

we never had to before, why change that now?

And, for the record, it specifically says in the Nokia press release that the upgrade will be free to existing users.