I'm sure we've all seen the rumored Nokia device that has the slide-out keyboard. And I'm told that there have been "next gen IT" threads on here before. I thought I'd share my ideas.


1) form factor

Instead of the MDA/OQO type "slide out keyboard" format, I'd rather see the micro-laptop-with-twistable-screen format, like this device:

http://www.dopodasia.com/NR/exeres/C...eft1_pro_9_1_1

Though, honestly, both are terrible from an ergonomics perspective. The hand wants the thumbs to be more vertical than horizontal (stretched out to the side). The MDA/OQO form factor is _TERRIBLE_ for this, and even the micro-laptop format isn't better (but the angle between keyboard and screen can be slightly better). That's why the pepper-pad layout is actually the right design for including a keyboard in a tablet. But, the pepper-pad is too big.

So, the idea I had was like a micro-laptop with 2 hinges and 3 sections. So, it has a cross section like: /\/ instead of /\ (like a laptop). The top section has the screen, and a hinge that can fold 360 degrees. The second section has a thumb keyboard, and a hinge that can fold 360 degrees. The third section holds batteries and memory cards, and has a lock that can engage it to form a rigid extension to the keyboard. So your palm and fingers can grab the third section, letting your thumbs stay more vertical as you type.

The third section can fold behind the keyboard, and then let the keyboard and screen face each other ... or they screen can fold behind the keyboard (facing away from it, and then the third section can fold over the keyboard (protecting the keyboard and keeping you from accidently hitting keys). In this later format, you would use the device just like a tablet.

I hope that description makes sense. The micro-laptop layout would look like this:

\__

Where the backslash is the screen, the first underbar is the keyboard, and the second underbar is the extra section, locked into place. The screen is facing to the right, and the keyboard is facing up. To close it, you'd just fold the keyboard up, unlock the third section and it down:

\/\

Only compressed so that the sections are right up against each other. The screen is facing to the right of the diagram, up against the keyboard (which is facing left).

The tablet layout would look like this:

/\/

Only folded to be more flat. The first section is, again, the screen. Only, it's facing to the left. The second section is the keyboard, facing to the right (away from the screen). The third section, since it has no features, is just there to cover/protect the keyboard.


(if someone wants to steal that idea from me, all I ask is that I get a design credit, and a free copy of the device :-) )


2) non-keyboard button layout (next to the screen)

a) 8 way d-pad + select on center left
b) 8 way d-pad + select on center right
c) programmable buttons in each corner

Software settings would allow you to set each dpad between "select" or "dpad" or "select and dpad" (the way the current N800 one works). So, those of us who don't like select+dpad can separate them. Also, by having two, you can select left handed or right handed configurations.

The four programmable buttons could be set to escape, home, menu, and an application specific button (ex: in the web browsers, I hate having to "hold down a url" to get the context menu to engage, so the application specific button might be set such that if you hold it down and click on a url, it pulls up the context menu instead of opening the URL).

For me, personally, the left dpad would be dpad only, the escape button would be upper left, the application-specific button would be lower left, the home button would be upper right, the right dpad would be "select only", and the menu button would be lower right.


3) 2 cameras

One low quality chat cam on the front, one higher quality picture taking cam on the back.


4) Segregated internal memory

I can't think of a decent reason why flasher erases user data and user applications. Flashing system memory should not affect user data and user memory. /home/user and whatever is the equivalent of /usr/local should be in a separate memory space that doesn't get touched/harmed by flasher when you upgrade the OS.


5) Support for the Seagate D.A.V.E.

Bluetooth HD. Keep it in your backpack or breifcase, but access it from your IT. (the N800 might support it by default, I don't know, but I'm saying that the next gen IT should support it out of the box). Hopefully the D.A.V.E. uses a generic enough part of the bluetooth protocol that you don't have to make the support for the D.A.V.E. be device specific, and the next gen IT could work with _any_ Bluetooth HD.


6) Build in Syncing ability

Nokia has other devices that sync their data seemlessly with both Windows and Macs. This should be a no-brainer. The next gen IT should seemlessly do all of the same syncing that their other phones do. Bi-directional sync calendar, contacts, and even bookmarks, with Apple's apps (iCal, Addressbook, Safari), MS's apps, Thunderbird, Firefox, Lightning/Sunbird, and Opera. And provide an app that gets you the same functionality on Linux. Last, for syncing, have all of it sync seemlessly with Google Apps (mostly the API's are there already, except I hear that the contacts API doesn't exist).

Bonus: sync with oracle calendar as well.

Second Bonus: support for syncing to a generic ACAP server for contacts and bookmarks.


7) The current mozilla based browser, microb, is slow and clumsy in comparison to opera. I'd like to see that fixed. I see a very noticeable difference in start-up speed and load speed with microb compared to opera. Further, trying to hold down a URL to get the context menu is hit-and-miss on microb. I think it would make a lot of sense to have a very smooth and polished mozilla based browser included in the base configuration (along with opera).


8) Better Email Client

The current mail client is pretty lacking. Why not work with mozilla to make a micro-thunderbird? If claws-mail can be ported, why not a scaled down thunderbird (in the same way microb is a scaled down version of the mozilla browser). Then you'd get real IMAP support build in, instead of what amounts to pop-behavior-via-IMAP-protocol.


9) The last 3 combine to also say:

what about a scaled down version of the mozilla calendar apps? Or some sort of built in calendar?


10) Generic SIP VOIP/Phone capability

I'm not a Skype user. But I do have a SIP capable server at home (CommuniGate Pro). Being able to use any random SIP/VOIP server would be much more useful to me than only being able to use Skype.

Maybe the Skype software can do that.. I don't know. But it strikes me as being Skype service specific.


11) WiMAX

I hope that the Sprint WiMAX version of the N800 would see that feature (WiMAX) carry forward into the next gen IT as well.


12) 3G mobile/cellular radio

It would be _nice_ to have 3G capability for IP, but I'm actually ok with having to use a phone as a gateway/modem if it keeps the profile of the IT lighter.


13) stereo headphones WITH microphone

Sort of like the headphones for the iPhone.


14) bluetooth stereo headphones

Sony (I think?) just came out with a pair.


15) And, a pair that combine #13 and #14 would be nice (bluetooth device that is both stereo headphones and a phone headset).


16) The ability to use the IT as a bluetooth device:

a) as a dialer for a phone (use the IT to pick a phone number to call, and have the phone dial that number)
b) as a 'headset' for a phone (so, you could use the IT's speaker and microphone, or the various headphone and microphone options (existing with the N800, or #'s 13, 14 and 15 above)).

Combine those, with the ability to use the phone as an IP modem, and you've basically just turned the phone into a back-end device, and the user only interacts with the IT. Plus, combined with #10, and the existing Skype software, and you've got the ability to choose between SIP, Skype, or mobile voice for your calls.


17) Companion Nokia phone product

A multi-vendor capabile Nokia phone that has no UI (past the bare minimum to mate it with the IT, so basically you use this as just a connection gateway to the phone network, and an internet gateway, using your IT for all of the user facing parts of a phone call, etc.). Though, this becomes less interesting if the next gen IT just has a multi-protocol mobile phone built in (#12).


18) USB host

In addition to the USB-client port that the N800 has, add a USB-host port, so you can hook up a keyboard, card readers, and maybe even a wired network adaptor (for times when wireless isn't private enough). Ability to hookup to a tiny 4port USB hub would be nice, too (so you can simultaneously use the keyboard, card reader, and wired network).


19) flash via wifi+web

Why do I need to download the new OS image to a desktop computer? If there's a segregated memory model, and/or if I have a large enough memory card installed, why can't I have an option to "flash from local memory"? Obviosly, you still need to have the desktop computer for emergency restores in case of a catastrophy or something ... but it seems like a general case for a "download new system image direct to local flash card, flash from downloaded image" feature would make sense.

Oh, I forgot one:

20) Separate screen preferences for AC power vs battery power

If I've got the N800 plugged in, why can't I have it set to never dim the screen? I'd like the next gen IT to have separate settings for:

Brightness
Brightness Period
Switch off the display

based on whether or not the device has external AC power or is on battery power. This is common enough on laptops that it seems like a no-brainer here.

This was an interesting list. I hope someone from Nokia reads it and pays attention.

Please vote for bug 1046.

I like your ideas.

Additional stuff I want to see in the next device:
-More Protocols for the standard IM application.
-A better mediaplayer with more formats (mplayer with more arm optimizations would be nice.) It should play the new mpeg4-stuff(h264 and aac) at full speed.
-External connector to attach an antenna for wifi stuff.
-Builtin GPS solution.
-Better quality camera that should be faced more towards the user, so your face is more centered. (On the N800 your face is in the left side of the picture if your about 40cm away.)

Then concerning the keyboard:
I understand what you say. But I don't know if that is a good solution. You would have to add space for the turn-mechanics. At the moment my N800 just fits in the pockets at my behind. I'd hate if the next model couldn't do that.
There is no way of typing with more than a few fingers on such a small keyboard. So I guess I'd be ok with a slider keyboard. I think I'd type on it like I type on the onscreen keyboard now: with my 2 thumbs.

This should be better rephrased as 'Ability to update/upgrade OS via package management, not via flashing monolithic firmware image'. This feature is coming in some future release. This is how linux distributions for PC work.

You really don't want segregated internal memory and handle situation when one of those parts is full but the other one has free space. Also technically there is no difference between system packages and user supplied ones so you can't draw line easily. For separate memory space you can use use SD/MMC card.

Really? I always figured that if you were actually making a video call, you'd look more at the sender's picture, which would automatically put your own gob more in the center on his side.

Obviously, not being able to make any video calls other than to other N800 users, I haven't been able to test this theory out. Thank you, Nokia.

Re: >8

As for the built-in email client I actually have very few problems with it.
There's only one major bug: When using IMAP, it ignores the 'message already read' flag.
Then there's a feature missing: There's no way to mark a message as 'read'. With such a feature the bug above would be less problematic to live with.

The built-in email client only looks at the IMAP inbox, no other folders or subfolders. That's exactly what I prefer for my setup (at the server I filter away things that can wait to other folders, later to be read at the desktop). For other users it may be the other way around: What's good for me is a limitation for them.

For the rest, I find the osso-email client easy to use: No guesswork.

Does the RTCOMM update not provide what you need?


I'm not familiar with what comes with the iPhone. How are the stereo headphones with built-in microphone that come with the iPhone better than the stereo headphones with built-in microphone that come with the N800?


Doesn't Nokia already sell these?


You may want to vote for bug 368.


Nokia's Internet tablet developers have said that a future goal is to restructure things so that system updates are more modular and will take place using the Application manager. Updates will also apply without wiping out installed applications and saved data.

Flashing the device from a desktop and wiping everything will be left as just a final resort repair method at that point.

Modest is coming, though it's unclear when.

Right now, Claws-mail keeps me happy.