maemo.org - Talk - Do you know of any upcoming commercial physical hardware limitations for the n900 devices that may limit it's life?

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- Nokia N900 (https://talk.maemo.org/forumdisplay.php?f=44)

Re: Do you know of any upcoming commercial physical hardware limitations for the n900 devices that may limit it's life?

Quick reply...
The GPS in the N900 is a TI GPS5030.
Now, TI produces NL5500, the industry’s first single chip that combines assisted global positioning satellite (A-GPS), Bluetooth 2.1 and ultra-low power technologies, as well as FM receive/transmit capabilities. It maximises board space by 40 percent and reduces power consumption by up to 50 percent over previous TI solutions. It also reduces the “time to first fix” (TTFF) over previous TI solutions. Integrated “position optimizer” software delivers superior accuracy in weak satellite signal areas, such as urban centers and heavily wooded areas.

Unfortunately, TI sells the chip only to manufacturers, not to single individuals. However, if somebody is willing enough, he could replace current GPS chip with the newest one, and remove Bluetooth/FM chips as no longer needed, and tell others whether the benefits are worth the trouble.

When there are more satellites in the sky (Galileo should be operational by 2014, GLONASS is operational, COMPASS has 5 satellites operational and 30 planned), GNSS precision will become better. The problem is, you will need a chip analysing all signals (in different codes and at differing frequencies) from all visible satellites to get this precision.

The good news are, at some point you will decide that you don't need:
higher precision
because you have your own eyes,
and +-1 metre isn't important;
faster GPS lock
because you have patience,
and +-1 minute changes nothing;
digital compass
because you have an analog one,
and it's not difficult to learn all the constellations by book
if the weather is good enough to see them;
screen with higher resolution
because it's already too high;
that the large device is better than a small one
which would require a needle-thin stylus.

Any broken part can be replaced/updated, in theory.

USB fragility, absence of USB host mode and upcoming Bluetooth 3.0 can become sources of increasing frustration.

Re: Do you know of any upcoming commercial physical hardware limitations for the n900 devices that may limit it's life?

precision of less than a meter is useful for things like unmanned aerial vehicles in urban environments, autoguided weapons, those people that measure buildings and terrain and stuff, people that study continental drift, volcanic activity etc and lots of others

Re: Do you know of any upcoming commercial physical hardware limitations for the n900 devices that may limit it's life?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ndi (Post 820870)

On a side note, I tried the iPhone's and by slowly rotating the phone along its axis I was able to get a reading on "West" with a +/- 45 degree error. That is, fiddle with it enough and West will be South.

I find this to be unusable. Better to use GPS, photos, a map, or ask a camel than to think you are going the right way and actually going 90 degrees to the west.

This doesn't happen on the iPhone 4's compass at all. IMO it feels like what a digital compass should feel like: a hard lock at north at all times without any drift/swaying of analog compass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V7Sa_daVsI

I remember the iPhone 3GS compass could drift if you rotate it slowly, just like an analog compass with a stuck needle. Then again, that's not how you would realistically use a compass.

Re: Do you know of any upcoming commercial physical hardware limitations for the n900 devices that may limit it's life?

n900 should not resist to a world disaster. So ... it will end in 2012 :) But before this date, be careful as the Newton law can shorten his life too.

Re: Do you know of any upcoming commercial physical hardware limitations for the n900 devices that may limit it's life?

the end of the world can last for a bit though depending on which of the many possible ways it can end....

Re: Do you know of any upcoming commercial physical hardware limitations for the n900 devices that may limit it's life?

Quote:

Originally Posted by christexaport (Post 821046)

and get totally ignored by Nokia, even though the early adopters that paid the high price for this device are having their warranties end in the meantime.

I can't even sell this POS because its broken, so I won't be buying another Nokia smartphone for awhile. Not because I don't want to, but I can't recoup enough money via resale to afford it. So for the first time since 2000, I have no phone. Sad for a phone freak like me...

Gotta say it, Nokia. FAIL, FAIL, FAIL.

The blame is on your countrys way for consumer protection. (read: none).

I checked yesterday and my N900 was serviced in under 2 weeks with the usb falling apart -issue and I still have more than an year warranty left... And I was among the first to get N900 in my hands when deliveries started.

Re: Do you know of any upcoming commercial physical hardware limitations for the n900 devices that may limit it's life?

Quote:

Originally Posted by daperl (Post 820699)

Yes, it's strictly necessary. What if in the evening I'm sitting on my balcony and I want my n900 to tell me what constellation it's pointing at? I haven't displaced. What now?

http://www.learn-orienteering.org/old/img/bigdip.gif
:rolleyes:

Re: Do you know of any upcoming commercial physical hardware limitations for the n900 devices that may limit it's life?

Shall we post pictures of analog phones to address any phone related complaints against the N900...?

How about pictures of super baggy pants for its size deficiency... and a radio flyer wagon to address its weight issues?

... and an analog compass strapped on to the back?

... and a small platform to its side to spin a gyroscope on?

... how about lugging around a car battery so you can juice your miniscule batteries with it?

edit: added a few more lines to ensure no one missed the point.

Re: Do you know of any upcoming commercial physical hardware limitations for the n900 devices that may limit it's life?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ossipena (Post 821132)

I got a special deal on my purchase of the N900 from Nokia -- and to make it really extra-special the warranty was reduced to an incredible one week in length.

Re: Do you know of any upcoming commercial physical hardware limitations for the n900 devices that may limit it's life?

I dunno; I think a few minutes, a $5 replacement USB-micro jack, and my $100 temperature-controlled solder rework station... I'd have it replaced with no issues.

I'm not too worried about the lack of warranty(Got mine used, IMEI number turns up no warranty), nor the USB issues. I am -slightly- worried about it either getting lost, stolen, or breaking into two or more large pieces. Either those, or frying the processor due to OCing.