Not to throw wood on the fire, but when the same magazine interviewed a swedish representative from Nokia he (the representative) did actually mention the N900 having digital compass. Iirc It wasn't clear however if he was referring to the function ("simulated" compass) or an actual magnetometer. He might also have been making premature and uninformed assumptions.

Probably the latter, since other Nokia sources have claimed the n900 does not have a magnetometer?

Nice to know that whatever it is works well, though.

EDIT: A link to the interview, if anyone is interested. At about 6.17 he says in passing "..., you have digital compass in it, ..."
http://tv.mediaprovider.se/sa_funger...065242875.html