Hey everyone. I'm kind of new to the forum and I'm really loving the concept of the N900 and I've been stuck to this forum for the past 3 days just reading what everyone has to say. For those of you that have used the phone (or know about it), I have a few questions.

1) System Notifications - I'm pretty big on listening to music while I commute or when I'm bored in general (like most people). Do system notifications go through the headphones or do they go through the speaker if you're already listening to music? This was one of my biggest problems with Android. While listening to music, I was never the wiser of an incoming instant message, email or sms. I always had to change it to vibrate (only vibrate) to "feel" the message.

1.1) I really like the "always on" philosophy of the N900, and one of the main appealing features of this device is that I can tie in my instant messaging clients. On my blackberry, when I receive an IM or something like that, I can many times have it "pop up" and take me directly there. From the videos that I've seen, There is something like the notification area at the top of the screen, similar to android, right? To tell you that "you've got a new SMS from ...." or "New Instant message from ...." and you click it and it takes you into the message or something like that. Right?

2) I've posted this question in other places in the Talk section of the forum, but since I'm already asking questions, I thought I might as well include it. Does Maemo 5's default messaging client support Imap Idle Protocol (for push email, such as on Gmail)?

3) I saw on the product sheet for the N900 that updates are done OTA, I imagine that applications can also be installed and downloaded OTA? Is there any type of store? Or does everyone have to go to the MAEMO website to download ?

Thanks a bunch everyone!

I can't say I have used n900 or maemo5 but with n810 and maemo4, the notifications for chat, or missed call came to a specific area on left bottom of screen and blinked and also the led flashed(although you could turn off if you wanted).

BTW, I really liked the multicolor of led in the n810, I wonder if the n900 has something like that.

I am still unclear on whether the n900 will use the nokia messaging client or a client like on previsou maemo caled Modest. I don't think Modest does imap-idle.

My understanding is that the n900 will use the ovi store for apps, but previous maemo were also kind of like debian in that you had certain other repositories of apps that you could add and install apps kind of like you do in synaptic if you have ever used a debian machine

3 - Package management is handled by APT. You can add your own repos. I don't think anyone has seen how Maemo Select will be displayed to the user yet.

There is an Application Manager that allows you to install additional applications from a central application repository on the Internet (you will hear people to refer to this as 'extras'). It is not technically a store (almost all applications are free), but has nearly the same functionality. Also, it has been hinted that in time, Ovi will also carry maemo apps.

Yep, small led on the bottom left corner of the front panel if i remember correctly...
not on the corner though.

Well, for the vast majority of people, package management will be handled through the Application Manager. Which is, in effect, our "AppStore" (although it lacks many of its features). It will allow you to install applications from the Nokia repositories and Extras when you take your device out of the box.

Maemo Select will be handled the same way Downloads is handled now. In fact, it's simply a syndication of the Downloads content that's limited to applications Nokia has selected.

Awesome I really appreciate these answers. I am really looking forward to pre-ordering my device. But my reason to returning my Android phones was the same I couldn't really listen to music and chat on the bus to school / work.

The N900 with Maemo 5 looks like a very powerful device

On my N800, all sounds, including the screen "click", comes through the headphones. Assuming I haven't set the system volume low and music high, I can hear any notification or warnings from it.

While this isn't the N900, it would seem weird to me for Nokia to change this in Maemo5.

Awesome Took the plunge and reserved Pre-orders are HORRIBLE! In their confirmation email I got the "3-4 weeks" (- - Wish me luck ^^

As modest on Diablo supports IMAP-Idle (The tinymail backend does this), I don't see why modest on Fremantle shouldn't support it.

Is it October yet?