In terms of both hardware and software/OS, the direction where Nokia (Maemo) is heading appears to be somewhat confusing to the current OSS-developers and the noticeably OSS-friendly userbase (after all the NITs have so far been best known as *Linux tablets*); to the extent that Nokia now seems to be after new "simplified" userbase while still hoping to take advantage of whatever the OSS "community" can provide.

The "new userbase" wouldn't have much interest in running non-fingerized/hildonized Linux ports though so out goes backward compatibility with past modus operandis, including the DPAD.

How many of the existing apps in various repos will be ported to Nokia's new finger-only platform? How many of those apps *can* be ported? How many of the developers are looking elsewhere for a hardware platform that is willing to accommodate them?

AFAICT the existing community has had next to no input on the hardware design of the "N900". On the phone side Nokia has probably over a hundred wildly different models in production at any given time but they do not seem to be interested in building a couple of (two) slightly (externally only) different next-gen tablets that would cover both the OSS/developer crowd and the targeted finger-only masses.


Wrt. DPAD, I've found it useful for basic navigation, esp. in many non-hildonized Linux ports, although admittedly it is often impossible to guess how the DPAD will behave in any given situation. It really shouldn't be a huge obstacle to create/maintain bindings in toolkits that take advantage of that external navigation aid when applicable. If anything, I might prefer a well-designed "Jog Dial" type nipple (Sony has a patent for it AFAIK) which would not only facilitate basic 4-directional navigation, easy scrolling and mouse button 1+2 (longer press) functionality, but also full free form 360-degree guidance which would open many new uses in both Linux ports and newly developed apps.

Finger-only operation is fine if the target market (incl. developers) is happy with strictly limited "walled garden".

Providing alternative input methods (DPAD/Jog Dial and/or keyboard) doesn't preclude developing - or even emphasizing - finger-only mode, but instead keeps the door open for the existing community and their varying "universe" of applications.


PS. and somewhat off-topic: Finger-only apps should be provided with an API for creating simple "training wheels" GUI grid over the screen to guide which areas of the screen can be used for what types of touch actions.