Things most reviews of the n900 missed. (for Nokia)
 

While there is a lot of work to be done on the n900 I've outlined many problems below, but failed to credit all the really amassing things that have happened to make this phone possible. Just to qualify I forked out over $700 CAD for my n900 so I could to make this contribution.

To preface, I am quite disappointed with the actual performance of Maemo on my n900 but I am more than excited by the open development process. As a community member I can have some input, I would like to see good ideas bubble up with the communities help. so I have outlined my biggest n900 shortcomings below.

I hope I don't need to point out if any one of these points resonates with you please take the time to figure out how to vote and VOTE, it beets just leaving a smear in on the blog. If any point has a Bug # please add a link and my point number so I or other members can vote on it.

Things reviews of the n900 Media player missed. (for Nokia)

Things reviews of the n900 applications missed. (for Nokia)

above links are other posts on the same topic.

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

1. PIM lacking
a. add description to tasks
https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=6892http://www.jdidesign.com/files-in/maemo/1a-b.JPG

b. add a Category field ( map to Outlook contact, notes and tasks)
https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=5497 (categories are like groups)
c. add search to PIM
http://www.jdidesign.com/files-in/maemo/1c.JPG

d. add search to notes
https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=7125
http://www.jdidesign.com/files-in/maemo/1f.JPG

e. add search to tasks
http://www.jdidesign.com/files-in/maemo/1e.JPG

f. add search to contacts (all fields including numbers not just name)
http://www.jdidesign.com/files-in/maemo/1f.JPG

g. improved switching between PIM components
https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=6934
h. add send calendar event – Bluetooth – possibly support for IR too.

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

2. Phone
a. show call duration on call history list.
b. reorient incoming and outgoing call arrows (looking at the arrows I can't tell which is in and out)
http://www.jdidesign.com/files-in/maemo/2a-b.JPG

c. provide call details on “select and hold” (duration, number called, date, type of call, etc)
http://www.jdidesign.com/files-in/maemo/2c.JPG

d. improved performance for rotating and identifying orientation. (i can never just hang up as the phone changes to landscape and as I hit the button I miss)
e. programmed numbers in Skype with a pause to enter DTMF tones after connecting won't dial.
https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=8343
f. one hand address book by name search in portrait mode (typing on the keyboard works great. but requires 2 hands) scrolling through 400 contacts is not fun no matter how nice it scrolls.
add keyboard option in portrait mode for one handed search by typing name.
http://www.jdidesign.com/files-in/maemo/2f.JPG

g. making Skype calls when Skype is off line should provide a button to go online not just a tell you to go online.
http://www.jdidesign.com/files-in/maemo/2g.JPG

h. if power button is pressed twice when the device is locked (screen off) I it should go from the unlock swipe to the phone app. (if pressed once it performs as intended)
i. alarm sounds when in silent mode alarm shroud just vibrate.
j. When clicking a contact in call history add Call Details button
http://www.jdidesign.com/files-in/maemo/2j-k.jpg
k. When clicking a contact in call history display number called in an editable text field (allow editing and re dialling using dial out options like Skype SIP Cell etc.

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

3. messaging lacking
a. incoming SMS message time is incorrect. https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=5994
b. search function to search conversations.
c. delayed send SMS (setup an SMS message to send out at 8:30am eg. I'll send you a reminder before our meeting tomorrow - enter the SMS message now and have it auto send tomorrow @ 8:30)
d. SMS using Skype service
e. block Skype spam
http://www.jdidesign.com/files-in/maemo/3e.gif

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

Great great, points

i am with you on all of them.
I do think however a lot of these would be sold by MeeGo 1 (maemo 6)..

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

So where does that leave us..? Im massively concerned for the N900 now.

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

Surely with how it is now, in whichever orientation you hold the phone, the arrows pointing in towards you physically are calls coming in to you and the arrows pointing out away from you are calls going...... er, out from you?

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

I created the screen shots out of frustration with Meamo, I hope the Meego team solve them, and there is more chance of solving someone one is aware of it.

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

Speaking as one reviewer, sorry, these items that you point out weren't missed. They may not have factored into the overall review, but preferences, such as what you outline here aren't misses.

Many early reviews of the device came on devices loaned for a time (2 weeks to a month). Given that it takes 2 weeks to get acclimated to a device, and then several months to accrue an opinion about the device compared to other platforms, there's a lot that can be not as acutely highlighted in that time scale. Add to that any platform/usage bias, and frankly speaking, not everything will come to light immediately. Its not a pass towards reviewers only the reality of trying to get eyeballs more than mature users.

Nevertheless, you make some good suggestions - and ones that many former PDA users that I know will like. Good stuff, just next time, don't (seemingly) bash reviewers who might not have your context towards using a device. You catch more bees with flowers and honey than with a flyswatter and bigger wings ;)

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

I totally didn't mean to offend anyone especially all those who contribute to the project. Prior to purchasing the n900 I read every review google could find. while I was aware of a lot of the shortcomings no one mentions the PIM function was inadequate, so I started making a list of things I would have liked have improved before making the purchase. All in all I love what the n900 stands for and want to see it sucseed thants, it.

I'll throw in some more honey next time.

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

Tim, thanks for this thread and the other two similar ones. You've obviously spent quite some time mocking up those pictures. I worry that them "living" in a forum post might mean they get buried and forgotten about. Can you attach them to individual Brainstorms or bug reports?

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

good point,

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

Someone already mentioned this, but on point 2.b clearly the arrows follow the rather widely spread computer world orientation, down is to you (download/down*) and up is from you (upload/up*)

2.h is a no from me, just unlocking the device makes more sense than launching phone, though personally I have no need for that either and it might lead to accidental unlocks in my pocket.

2.i is again no, this is how alarms have always worked in all my phones.. I'd hate to not wake up in the morning because I left the phone silent.

Of course all these could be suited to fit both needs with related options.. Otherwise most points seem good, especially all the search functions and call details.

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

YES. Full ack.

For now I'm using different calendars for kind of category but this is quite unhandy. Even the possibility to switch every single calendar on/off is a fine solution. Better would be having real categories (don't have to be taken from Outlook, I mean for synchronising there should be toool converting stuff from N900 to whatever-pim-used-on-desktop) and a handy filter for selecting/disabling some of of them.

There cannot be too much search functionality.

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

Very useful.

Could be enhanced by a roughly calculated cost estimation. You enter the basic costs for a call (e.g. 9 Ct/min) and an interval like 60/60 or 60/1 and get the estimated costs.
Just an idea. :rolleyes:

The arrows might be preceeded with a phone symbol. So you definitely know whether it is incoming or outgoing. Would make it more clear than a single arrow pointing to any direction.

Yes, you can never have enough details of such actions.

Oh yes. Sometimes you call a number in an office and the persons just tells you "no, the man you wanted to call has 456 not 654". Just editing a probably long number would be very nice!

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

Just as I said before: you cannot have to much search functionality.

Delayed sending of SMS is what I also missed on my E90 running S60. Birthday-greetings at midnight, reminders for some special events etc. :cool:

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

Keep up the excellent work TimWatt. Don't let the kiss @sses try to quell your desire to elicit change and improvements. I don't know why so many people get so bent whenever someone goes to the trouble of being critical, pointing out flaws or oversignts, because it's clearly a sign that you care, not that you don't. Who would bother if they didn't care?

Anyway, I'm very appreciative of what you did. And I agree with you.

I must confess, I really really wanted to get the N900, as I have an N810, but I can't be tied to T-Mobile or ATT or whatever. Nokia really needs to come out with a phone that's suitable for multiple carriers in the US if it's supposed to be a higher end phone. I'd say that's the biggest hindrance of them all, that it's T-Mobile only in the US.

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

The arrows, as you show them, are inverted. The "in" arrows shows that the call was made "to" the unknown number.

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

I'm starting to miss android :(

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

Why? And how is it related to this thread?

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

it is semantics, yes i see your point (green and pointing towards the centre of the device is a rescind call) but it is pointing to the number.

i guess my point is when i started using the device I couldn't tell which calls were in and which were out. I still get confused. (call me the lowest common denominator)

i think the issue can easily be solved and my suggestion of rotating the arrows may not be the best option.

thanks for the feedback

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

Android doesn't have tasks or task descriptions and I believe the PIM is limited and.

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

Hmm... paint a little N900 near the arrow. This would solve the problem. Points the Arrow to the N900 it was incomming, points the Arrow in the other Direction away from the N900 it was outgoing.

Have you started some Brainstorms about your suggestions where I can vote for?

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

I completely disagree with this. CDMA carriers like sprint and verizon carrier lock their users into the phones and voice/data plans they purchase. ATT is a fairly open GSM carrier but there is no difference in price between a carrier locked subsidized device plan and an unlocked data/voice plan.
T-Mobile will shave $10 a month off your bill in their no contract even more plus plan rewarding users for bringing an unlocked phone to their party. They may not have the best coverage but IMHO they have the best policy for an unlocked power user device like the N900.

On topic - great points mentioned by Timwatt, the two things I really miss are sending .ics from the calendar via email and opening .ics directly from a webpage in the calendar. Currently you have to download to device and then open from the file manager.

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

I haven't ever created a Brainstorm before just checked it out and it looks like once you get terminal velocity and list at the top it gets votes but in the bottom it just looks like a bad idea.

go ahead and create one or many i am a little short of time for the next 2 weeks.

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

That and the fact that only 5 brainstorms have ever been implemented. (fact!)

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

How did you get that Keyboard shortcut on contacts? I don't see that button when I open up my contacts.

And how come the keyboard is a tiny one... my on-screen keyboard takes up the entire screen! ughh

Thanks in advance!

http://www.jdidesign.com/files-in/maemo/2f.JPG

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

For the hardware, N900 misses these:
- Larger battery, or at least separate battery door from lens cover so third parties could more easily provide bigger battery (like in N95)
- Digital compass (like in N97)
- USB-port, which is able to be in a host mode (like in N810)
- Separate arrow-keys also in Scandinavian version of keyboard.
- DVB-H (like in N96) (Not that important as the above ones.)

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

That picture is a mockup to show what he would like to see, not what exists now.

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

Oh how i wish there was a more practical keyboard, all my comets are just suggestions for Nokia, all I can do is hope someone is listening.
it's just photoshop

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

I wish to see all of your phone&contacts suggestions come true.

Really a big miss.

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

Too much time so did some mockups

For people who do not see reason for portrait mode this explains a lot :P
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/4...tachement1.png
Basically look how much more information with one eyefull when selecting attachment for email.

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/6...tachement3.png
Here is same portrait attaching mode for image gallery with removed names and details with idea to add multiple attachements easily. Basically higlight pictures rounding+add icon for selected and button to add selected.
..edit Maybe bit too crowded, probably one column less..hmm

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/8420/nokiamaps.png
This just simple merge off full screen and normal mode in nokia maps. In top bar you can see transparent close/minimize buttons but another parts from top are removed. Again pixels used wisely!

.edit
So there is no place to put too much padding or waste pixels on this screen. It might mean not being not so finger friendly, but it´s price what i´m ready to pay to some extent.

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

Ok. Fixed. Note to myself. It´s 800x480 not 800x600 :P

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

Damn, your mockups look so normal, it's unbelievable they're not simple screenshots! Really hope your ideas will come true! In fact, there is lot of room for improvements regarding maemo's GUI!

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

Hats off for providing nice mocked up GUIs for your ideas. If nothing else, it should give some ideas to third party app developers.

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

I like the idea of maximizing the screen and not worrying about about padding. the finger friendly part is actual a non issue if the touch sensitive aria is slightly larger than the screen. I think this has been demonstrated in the Palm Pre.

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

Nice mockups but still i do not see why portrait mode would make an big improvement. I am not against portrait mode.. but do not think it's that big of a difference as ppl try to make it. (i hope i will be able to switch it off when it comes). Chatting is better on the hw keyboard anyway.

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

This was just one example, but of course the biggest crave to portrait comes from fact that right now it's quite hard to use n900 comfortably while on go (walking, on que) to just check things fast and have another hand free.

And purpose my mockups was not only to show advantages of portrait mode but the habit of UI designers to over-estimate the space needed for buttons and elements. One of biggest reasons I haave not used KDE/Gnome on my pc with (1024x768 resolution) has been for years lack of pixel wise themes. I mean even 20 pixels mean A lot to me. For example windows xp without candy and default fonts is quite opitmized (browser, explorer). I just hate with passion all the padding and extra space in all themes across the differen OS's. To me too many look like they are for old people or for tv resolutions. Same thing applies to N900. More compact. Pixel wise usage importance goes up exponentially when resolution goes down.

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

portrait mode works in lots of application, contacts all lists, calendar would say portrait should be default except for RDP, photos, web and camera.

Re: Things most reviews of the n900 missed.
 

SIM CARD Menu should be also the priority.
For GSM standar service, m-Banking, etc...
This service is available in almost all Mobile Phone device.

But why Nokia N900 does not have this?
This is fatal!