Re: Symbianites/Symbianation
 

yeah, I was an idiot and an a..hat for saying many would want it, and it would add to the usefulness of the device, but now that the evidence is before them, they don't like hearing it. Well I didn't want to hear them earlier say it was useless, go back to Symbian, etc, so they're gonna hear it. no more mr. nice guy. effem

Re: Symbianites/Symbianation
 

Again, I was hoping that this thread would not get bogged down in a back and forth over individual features...

Since automatic screen rotation has been brought up I wanted to clear some things up:

1. AFAIK, ASR IS supported by the N900 but only for telephone functions.

2. I am neither for nor against it and only wish that the subject had not been injected in so many diverse threads by such a small percentage of this forum's active population.

3. The point of item #2 in no way indicates the % of this forum population that are either are for, against, indifferent, or just want a dang cheese samich.

It may simply mean that a large % percentage of this population have read the explanations, accepted the proposed roadmap for implementation, and moved on...


***

I have gathered up the responses and posted them here as a recap so that they may be copied, culled, and reposted in this thread and compared to what the N900 can actually do out of the box, as Beny1967 suggests.

If I missed someone’s suggestion it was not an intentional oversight and as more features come to mind just copy the list, add them, and then repost the list.

The list so far:

• Ovi Maps
• Quick Office
• Integrated syncml client
• Way bettter camera.
• Printing support.
• Easy phone calls
• Easy contacts and dates management (no syncml)
• OVI integration
• Games
• Easier photo or media sharing
• Finding applications that aren't beta-(still) is easier
• Web browsing on the N97 is better, much faster connection
• Predictive text entry function and keyboard is better
• Barcode scanner
• Magnifying glass
• OCR
• Faster GPS aquisition
• Ported apps for Google Mail, Maps, Youtube...
• SyncML and a decent, syncable PIM suite !
• No-fuss, natural SIP calls
• Calcium (phone keypad calculator)
• Sports Tracker
• Nokia Maps
• Default applications are solid and well integrated
• J2ME
• Large install base = more 3rd party apps
• Universal ASR including desktop, dashboard, and widgets

… and as RipTorn suggests, if someone wants to eventually copy the list over to the WiKi so that it might serve as a proposed Road Map for the OS or as I envisioned, a list of potential opportunities for independent development, it won’t hurt my feelings none.

Someone with a prototype, SDK, or based on Nokia's released specs, could start by trimming "The List" and include the reasons why. :)

Re: Symbianites/Symbianation
 

Popularity is not an argument. Yes, Nokia E90 has portrait mode and T9, and just like a G1 portrait mode is the default mode. No wonder portrait mode is then more used. Can you see Nokia N900 does not have the required hardware to give a similar experience as Nokia E90? Can you see that Nokia N900 default mode is landscape and draw from the strength and weaknesses from this? For example, Dashboard makes it difficult to support full ASR. But we discussed that elsewhere already...

No, I do not deny that. The person I quoted keeps discussing this very issue in various threads ad nauseam. First of all, it is difficult to follow the same arguments/discussion scattered in several threads. Second, it is not productive.

The point is, like lcuk said, to start from what we are and have, instead of comparing to an other device series and then saying we don't have that. My reply was not directed to you. Person I quoted and replied to has no experience with Maemo or Linux whatsoever therefore I suggested learning Linux until Nokia N900 and Maemo 5 are released. Learning Linux desktop will give the person a boost to exploit the strong points of Maemo.

In other words if you start using a new platform don't compare it with your current experience. Forget that, unlearn, and give the new platform a fair chance.

Same here, and I can say you cannot always walk around with Nokia E71 while using it. Walking requires focus. Using a computer requires focus.

Re: Symbianites/Symbianation
 

remove J2ME from the list b/c if its ever supported we'll never get new games developed using the 3D acceleration, we'll just end up with the rubbish J2ME apps made for s60, if only you knew how bad java games on it are.
it will hold back gaming innovation on maemo just like its done the same to s60, big mistake if it ever happens officially
even symbian foundation are questioning its relevance going forward, read the article they writ about java http://blog.symbian.org/2009/05/29/the-future-of-java/

Re: Symbianites/Symbianation
 

Java ME (formerly known as J2ME) does a lot more than running games.

Re: Symbianites/Symbianation
 

i know it does but games is what it gets primarily used for and all the big publishers use it and they suck so bad doing nothing innovative.

Re: Symbianites/Symbianation
 

I agree, but there are still some web services that require java, particularly some bank services and stuff. Java games should have a mandatory warning label.

Re: Symbianites/Symbianation
 

That is Java SE; not the same as Java ME. Wikipedia entry about Java

Re: Symbianites/Symbianation
 

J2ME would require an emulator... Most J2ME apps that are out there now would require a d-pad or telephone keyboard for input I would think. In any event, a web run time could do more with less fuss.

Should Nokia's WRT also be on the list?

Re: Symbianites/Symbianation
 

The terminal is not meant to be user friendly, it's just meant to get things done. Just like there's a terminal in Linux, OSX, and a command prompt in Windows. Under normal usage, most people don't have to interact with it.

Re: Symbianites/Symbianation
 

Coming back to the Symbian convert thrust of the thread, don't forget there were other flavours of[1] Symbian than S60. If I can hark back to Series 80, the ability to delay the sending of text messages and (IIRC, which I may not, not having used amy 9500 for a couple of years) emails to some deterined time in the future was a boon and its omission from the E90 caused much wailing and gnashing of teeth.

[1] OK, GUIs for...

Re: Symbianites/Symbianation
 

Hmmm - I got a bit bogged down in this thread. But unless I'm mistaken, the OP was asking those of us with a symbian (or similar) background what it was about that OS that attracted us, presumably in order to address the reality that if this project is to have a long and happy life it will need to address a lot of people saying "oh but it won't do X!"

Here's my list of things I'd want in a 'perfect device'.

Solid, quality camera: like the k750 had. (Yeah, I know - SE lost the plot with the c905!) The n95 (after the 1st firmware upgrade) had a more than decent camera

Basic office functions - calendar (preferably syncable... in a perfect world, syncable with groupwise!) calculator, documents reader (in a perfect world tv out and a powerpoint reader that includes the animations and transitions!) Preferably a pdf reader.

Music player taking all possible files, including DRM

E-reader programme, also compatible with DRM

Bible reader with search, verse finder and choice of translations (like the Olive Tree reader, for example)

A good card/solitaire game

Something for a shopping list (I currently use smart-shopper which is j2me)

A good app for following twitter - gravity is pretty good on symbian. Tweetdeck is awesome.

In a perfect world, a choice not only of facebook and myspace, but a range of other blog tools: I use LJ and Tumblr (be great to have a 'post to tumblr' option!)

Oh, yes: a phone and sms. I only send about 3 MMS a year, so I shan't weep for that. Email - and a good webbrowser (again from groupwise among other things).

Basics such as 3g, wlan etc.

A sound recorder (comes as standard with MMS phones so you can send a sound file - I have MMSed 'happy birthday' to people before now).

I truly have used a phone/pda as a torch (palm used to have an app for that which was handy!)

I'm honestly not sure quite how many of those maemo can or cannot do. Some seem to be a bit a lost cause.

Re: Symbianites/Symbianation
 

Connect to AT&T's 3G network? ZING!!!

Haha, all kidding aside, to be honest, until the first full reviews of the N900 come out, I think it's going to be a bit difficult to see.

The main difference that Symbian holds (against other smartphone OS', too) is that it's a phone first, mobile computer second. That's why it works so good for normobs who ease themselves into it.

Maemo, on the other hand, is quite clearly a mobile computer first, phone second.

While that might seem obvious, it's a very important distinction, and Symbian users coming over to Maemo will, in some cases, have to completely alter their usage to fit Maemo.

Re: Symbianites/Symbianation
 

I actually really like the idea as what you have suggested as 'opportunities' for indie/community devs and/or professional devs as well.

It definitely would be good to see a list just to highlight the differences as I am guessing people who have never used a previous tablet and are expecting a full fledged Symbian experience may be disappointed that Symbian apps don't install etc.
:)

Re: Symbianites/Symbianation
 

Oh, I dunno... some of us have been using Symbian since before it had any means of wireless comms beyond IRDA. S60's interface is very much dictated by the phone form factor, as evidinced by the pain communicator users felt moving from the 9x00s to the E90, but even S60 can be used as a computer with phone capabilities. I'll grant, however, that the majority of S60 users don't know this.

Re: Symbianites/Symbianation
 

Can be, yes, but the overall interface and experience has always been phone first, IMO. (speaking solely in terms of the interface and how functions are laid out, etc)