Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

MeeGo, the open-source mobile operating system that Intel and Nokia are jointly creating, recently took a hit with the departure of its Vice President of Devices, Ari Jaaksi. In the wake of that announcement, an Intel executive who oversees MeeGo development insists the project is on track, but concedes that MeeGo-powered smartphones–and tablets, for the most part–won’t debut until next year.

The news could disappoint gadget fans that have been anticipating the release of a portable MeeGo device since Intel and Nokia joined forces in February. It could also have implications for Nokia. Though the Finnish mobile technology giant is still the world’s largest handset maker, it is struggling to reinvent itself under a new Chief Executive and has been looking to MeeGo to rekindle interest in its high-end smartphones.

Intel, meanwhile, is hoping MeeGo will entice manufacturers to incorporate its Atom processor in a broad range of devices.

The chipmaker says the same general plan is still in effect. “We have been hitting our dates,” said Doug Fisher, Vice President of Intel’s Software and Solutions Group and General Manager of Intel’s Systems Software Division, in an interview. “We are very pleased with MeeGo’s progress so far.” Indeed, the two companies have met several early deadlines already, including the release of a “1.0” version of MeeGo designed for netbooks in May and a “preview” of the software, modified for handsets, in June.

A “1.1” version of the operating system will be unveiled later this month. The update, which includes support for touch-based commands and telephony, is targeted at tablet computers and smartphones.

MeeGo phones and tablets are in the works, but consumers will have to wait until next year to see and purchase them. Fisher said handsets will debut in the first half of 2011, perhaps at one of the tech industry’s large trade shows.

MeeGo tablets will also come in 2011. One exception is the WeTab from the German firm Neofonie, which was announced in September and is currently available for pre-order in Europe. Fisher said the WeTab will be the one MeeGo tablet released in 2010.

Intel doesn’t view the measured pace of MeeGo releases as a delay. Fisher noted that other MeeGo devices will ship this year, such as netbooks and Internet-connected TVs (IPTVs). Intel also expects cars with MeeGo-powered entertainment systems to be available in coming months through a deal with the Chinese car maker HawTai. Eventually, Intel would like to see MeeGo incorporated in places as diverse as digital signs, kiosks and ATMs.

To lure more manufacturers to MeeGo, the chipmaker has been stocking MeeGo applications in its app store, the AppUp Center. Intel says its developer program has produced more than 1,000 MeeGo applications to date and is distributing tools that will let developers quickly port apps from other formats, such as Apple’s iOS. Taiwanese PC maker Asus and retailer Best Buy are expected to start selling computers equipped with AppUp Center later this month.

The flurry of activity doesn’t mean Intel is taking its focus off phones and tablets. Fisher said Intel continues to hire engineers to work on MeeGo and other mobile operating systems. For MeeGo, “handsets are the volume play,” he noted.

So far, Nokia is the only handset maker to publicly agree to produce MeeGo phones, but Fisher said Intel is in talks with at least one other company.

http://blogs.forbes.com/elizabethwoy...s-before-2011/

bad news :/
what is this other company, I wonder...:rolleyes:

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

It might be that Intel is talking about MeeGo from www.meego.com.

When Nokia says MeeGo, they're talking about Maemo 6 / Haremattan / half-MeeGo. Which is more likely to be ready before its successor because development started earlier.

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

Let me guess!! I Ava? or Sony :D

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

later they release it, more they use n900 as prototype \o/

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

it seams that nokia is intel's biatch :D

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

sounds like good news to me :P

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

Yay dual core atom processor for Mobile. Result is 4hours battery's life a full charged lol..

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

you're way too optimistic :P

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

Meego was delayed because Chuck Norris wants PR1.3 on his N900 ;)

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

yes of course there are promising things said, but those interested in N9 will have to wait more than expected apparently... I still wonder why they always talk too long in advance about a good device that will likely be exceeded on the day of its release :/

so long life to N900 ! \o/

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

All in all this is good news. The N9 will be running Maemo6 and be available in December, or it will run MeeGo and be available next December. I will bet on the first option.

The other manufacturer is LG by the way. The WeTab is just a rather large netbook without keyboard. Got to have one :)

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

Intel doesn't make or decide Nokia's phone strategy. Nokia have said they will release the first Meego handset this year, since this statement is from an Intel spokesperson it should not be taken to mean Nokia no longer intends to release a Meego handset this year. Personally I think that with Nokia's track record of not meeting deadlines, that although they intend to release a Meego handset this year, it will likely not be ready till January.

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

How exactly is this news to anyone?

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

another delay.

typical Nokia!

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

I just repeat this so maybe you'll read it this time.

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

Nokia never intended to introduce a phone this year that runs the MeeGo OS that is developed by Intel and Nokia.
The original roadmap shows a Maemo 6 device to be released this year. Nokia calls this device "MeeGo compatible", the first instance of a MeeGo device. But it will be based on the Maemo core with an UI made using Qt that will also be part of MeeGo handheld UX (to be released in 2011).

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

To be honest, i would rather wait for the finished product. What's the point in releasing a MeeGo handset that isn't completely fininshed just to push it out before the end of the year :confused:

Nokia need to get this one right, if they release an unstable device running Meego to please the masses it will backfire. A lot of people are expecting alot from Nokia's Meego device. Its branded a potential Iphone and Android Killer so it needs to tick all the boxes and make sure consumers recieve the experience they expect.

They need to make sure that their Meego Handset is 'FLAGSHIP, INNOVATIVE, FLASHY....list is endless, i don't mind waiting for stage 6/6 not stage 5.5/6 lol.

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

oh well, nothing would change for me... i always have my adapter (for normal power plug), an usb-cable and a solar-power plug with me :D

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

lol... i knew it. Feel sorry for all those that got their hopes VERY high. Nokia will keep delaying meego/phone until they become irrelevant. I am willing to bet they won't even get meego right. Just like maemo they will abandon it once it is release.

Stupid company


angry mode off :)

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

C'mon guys, we can spew more nonsensical, panicky stuff that isn't even true and don't understand!

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

When Nokia and Intel announced MeeGo and the Meego-Harmattan and MeeGo handset UX was explained there where people saying that there will be many left confused.... they where right even after 8 months have passed. ;)
Nokia spokesman said just 2 days ago that:

Sure N9 can be delayed, but this news got not much to do with Nokia and especially with MeeGo-Harmattan.

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

Can you just imagine how much ground they will have lost just by missing xmas? I do wonder if they are just going to start pushing windows or something. I mean they are too much of a giant to just go away, but if that becomes the case I really think they will be seen for the most part as an irrelevant giant.

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

No one have ever said that real MeeGo is coming this year. MeeGo != Maemo

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

C'mon guys. This really is not "New News" and has nothing at all to do with various departures. The timescales are exactly the same as they were more or less months ago.
As previously stated many many times the next handset released and the software been worked on right now will come with Meego/Harmattan hybrid. As quoted by Quim Gil it will be halfMeego.
Have a read through this wiki which contains alot of answers to many questions raised over and over.
http://wiki.maemo.org/What_can_we_re...bout_Harmattan

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

I think this thread present another intressting point. weak marketing skill from nokia(I know they have tons of marketing people). But they want every one to think n9 will be deliverd with meego, and so they call it meego-harmattan, half meego or meego whatever... the point is that since its called meego. All news/press releted to meego will give the average user the assumption that n9 will be delivered with meego. Would be much smarter to release this as...Maemo 6.

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

Anyone got any relevant stats for this. I should think that the N9 would be priced above a typical Christmas present purchase, so will be mostly sold with a contract. Are there seasonal variations for when people get new phones on contract?

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

Please let it be HTC.

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

No, the last thing they should do is just that.
Nokia's MeeGo phone is hailed as the flagship and i would imagine many are expecting the UI to be big step up from Nokia and it is the first OS from Nokia that have gone the full circle(S^4 following later next year) that was started by the Trolltech buy in early 2008.
Imagine that when this N9, Maemo 6 phone gets out it will be big thing in the media and we probably get the first taste of Nokia fully implementing Qt written services/apps. Doesn't really matter if N9 does amazing or badly it will seem very chaotic that after 7 months there comes MeeGo 1.2 phone out. Norm consumer wont have any idea what's happening.

Call N9 as Meego phone and later next year ship MeeGo 1.2 phone that will probably have the same UI or evolved UI of that on N9 MeeGo-Harmattan. At best case scenario 99% don't even know what happened. ;)

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

I dunno. Intel really only promotes people that use their chips.

That said, if HTC does it then it's likely we'll have to "root" the device, there will be no internal storage to speak of, and the only way to get it will be to buy it from the carriers. Actually this goes for pretty much every handset vendor except Nokia, and it only gets worse from there.

Indeed, I do wonder who they are talking about.

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

Is it only me who like to call things their real names. what if N9 cant be updated with the "real deal" that would take the prize.
we will see what happening, but press like this. Not easy to know whats meego and whats not.

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

Don't get me wrong. I would like that to happen too, but i totally get why Nokia did what it did and for Nokia it was the right way imo.

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

The thing is that the MeeGo-Harmattan is probably closer to the end-user "real deal" than what you (will) find on meego.com. If you really want to get dirty with platform development, sure, the Maemo roots really show (deb and all), but I really don't see anyone (who is NOT a hacker/developer) upgrading to any plain MeeGo version.

EDIT: To clarify - to update from *MeeGo-Harmattan* to meego.com MeeGo 1.2 or later.

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

truth is intel does not know when there will be a MeeGo device, its open source i could take the code had missing parts and release a MeeGo device tomorrow if i wish without ever discussing it with intel

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

Tada! Strange thread to find...

Seems like we have come Quite far and, at the same time, not that far :(

Meego's future was in question here... Now that it exists and has caused so much of buzz with what it brings. WIth Nokia Moving to windows 7 and Elop announcing that N9 is the last device to run Meego, its future is still in question. :(

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

grave thread digging FTW

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

Damn I must've just missed all those Atom-based smartphones while looking at the NOTE!

Re: Intel Says No MeeGo Handsets Until 2011
 

Why, it's not strange for the time/context...
I've explained the whole meego/maemo/bongo thing to you.
There's some threads over at FMC that bring more light to Tizen, go see them.
It's still a dim one, and pretty much vaporware IMO.
But it can't be written-off one way or another... yet...
I won't be terribly interested if Qt plays only a miniscule role.
But they've hinted both ways so far....
There's Meltemi too, but I'm not sure Nokia really wants it to be a success.*
As we've still heard very little about it...
And I'm not sure I want to trust Nokia for the "gazillionth" time.
Same goes for Intel/Samsung w/Tizen though.
I won't be giving them as many chances as I did to Nokia.

*probably not in the smartphone arena at least.