How about.. FM transmitter..

Then you could listen internet radio/mp3s etc and with external stereo. (No wires)

Meanwhile there is some thinking going on in the opposite direction eg in the direction of needs->device vs like in this thread device->needed changes to hardware.

Well worth a look
a presentation: http://itredux.com/redux/RM1.pdf

and several posts - one of them:
http://itredux.com/blog/2007/10/08/revision-four/

@ArnimS

Nice to meet you! Congrats on all of your devel work for the platform. I've looked at your blit code and appreciate your appreciation for keeping loops tight. I look forward to contributing as well, and having many discussions with you.

I've thought about your post. I agree (after doing research) that the trackball has durability issues. More importantly, the trackball would present usability challenges for the general public. I've also considered your solution regarding the flattened analog "slider". I think that from a gamer perspective, it's a good choice, but not not necessarily for the masses. From experience, the dpad is far more comfortable for normal on-screen selection.

I believe I've come up with a suitable compromise. I've attached an image of the proposed interface and break down the specifics below:

The RoundPad


1) I call the new interface the RoundPad. It's simply a round d-pad, that can be depressed, but is also a capacitive touchpad on its face, for multi-positional input (just like the analog stick).

2) Based on the sensed finger position, the depression (through software) will determine what direction the user has pressed. This allows for a 4-directional dpad, 8-directional dpad, or n-directional dpad emulation. This makes it just as intuative as the original dpad, and usable for many games.

3) There are raised ridges on the RoundPad, to provide tactile feedback of where the finger is situated on the RoundPad without looking down at it.

4) There are steep ridges at the edges of the RoundPad, to let the user know, through touch, when they have reached the edge of the pad.

5) The circular shape is an important characteristic of the RoundPad. Not only for the namesake, but allows both planar and spherical mapping from touch input. Spherical mapping can provide the ability to rotate objects easily, *or* if one were to imagine that (s)he was _in_ the sphere, the ability to look in multiple directions. This would work especially well for first person shooters, that allowed looking around in any direction and jumping (for example), all with one thumb.

6) The RoundPad would be slightly oversized, but not a huge disc.

To solve the problem with the 'game' buttons, the N900 can simply have slightly raised keypad buttons on the right of the keypad. For example, the keys [i, o, p, k, l, ',: , -, +] would be rounded to emulate the keys of a joypad, but not limiting keypad input. Imagine using the picture below:



This implies that the RoundPad would likely go on the keypad, keeping the face free for larger screen sizes with potentially higher resolutions.

From there, styling (colours/form factor) and marketing can differentiate between tablets targeted at different demographics without fragmented production/support of additional hardware/software (eg. neon green for gamer teens, silver for executives, shiny black for metro-sexuals, pink 'hello kitty' for schoolgirls, etc). Maemo skins and pre-installed application can complete the different flavours.

In short, the N900 is one step closer to true convergence without 'geeking' it up at all.

This doesn't solve the problem of lefties-vs-righties, but the pressure reduction on manufacturing may enable Nokia to produce limited runs of a left handed keypad for inclusion in 'specialty' tablets.



A digression for those that are interested....

I produced the RoundPad graphic in an OpenSource (100% Free) program called Blender. It's a HIGHLY full featured modeling, animation, compositing app, that can compete with commercial applications costing thousands of dollars. It's freely available for Linux, Windows, Mac, etc. in only a 12MB download (incredible, isn't it).

I've modeled the image SPECIFICALLY in 800x480 to simulate how it might look and to prove that that it *can* be done on the N-Series tablet (from an interface perspective). In fact, the interface of this program is so versatile, that with the addition of the keypad, and use of the stylus, one could model on the tiny N810 with great efficiency! Without the keypad, though, there would be a number of challenges.

I've modeled using a 200MHz pentium before, and while it was sluggish, it was usable. With the N800 (especially when/if accelerated openGL hits) the application should be quite usable. It's very light -- ~30MB ram with a detailed object consisting of 50,000 faces, and the ability to split models up into different groups or files to keep on-screen geometry/memory low enough to be usable.

This is software design at its finest. I only wish more developers (commercial and open) designed to the level of the Blender Foundation. To see Blender's capabilities first hand check out the gallery, hit a video, or go to blender.org. The fact that the N810 should be capable of contributing to a design project *and* being stored in the pocket is incredible.

Ok. That's it for now.


}:^)~
YARR!!

Capt'n C-type 2000 Spyder

I spend a good deal of time in an area that doesn't allow cameras, and more and more places seem to be going this route

I think it'd be great to have an easily removable camera, if not an optional module.

I've Blender interface layout above to be better suited for an Nxxx display.


}:^)~
YARR!!

About to take a Napt'n

I'm not the least bit concerned about 4:3 material. The reality is that by the time the N900 is released 4:3 sources will be dying out. I'm thinking more about a platform for the future than something to support the past. Next year should see the cessation of 4:3 television sales and the transition to HD only sets. This is really just being forward looking.
Huge maybe but the standard for many devices including professional photography hardware.
Have to look that one up. If it can better manage power and still deliver a significant boost in performance I'm all for it.
Not really that huge. Certainly worth any trade off one might have to consider space wise. If you don't like compact flash this is a good alternative as it would allow driving common off the shelf CF adapters. Not to mention the large number of other USB ports available.
Then go buy a PSP!! Really this is a poor argument as most people aren't buying N series devices for use as game machines.

The whole idea here though is to provide space for a 16:9 screen. Of course we want to keep the device manageable size wise.
FM Radio is practically free since it can be had built into WiFi chips. The only issue is the antenna. This is a capability that is low cost but dramatically enhances a multimedia device.
Err NO! It certainly is a bigger item then many here but is not impossible with current technology. With the right processor much of the "radio" can be done in software.
All depends on how important atmospheric conditions are to you.
Well going solar is quite! A wide range voltage input just makes it easier to connect up such devices.
Yes but the problem is that cameras simply are not permitted in some places. That is a big issue. The other issue is that the cameras are hardly that inspiring quality wise.
I like the way the browser on the i series devices have enough intelligence to zoom in on the section of the page that you tap on. It is done with a considerable amount of smarts and an apparent understanding of the HTML and CSS. It is not a simple zoom.
I understand that one can get Python. What I would like to see is Nokia make it a primary part of the system as I currently see it as an add on. The idea being a fully supported python and library set. If I misunderstand Pythons current support level then I apologize. I just want to see Python as important on the N machines as Java is on some Motorola phones.

Dave

Sad yes. This is my primary concern with the built in camera. In some facilities I would have to physically remove the camera which of course on the current machine would make a mess of it. Due to the quality of these devices it wouldn't be a big loss.

On the good side of things such a module should make for an upgradeable camera.
I do wonder if it is needed at all. Lets face it if you are carrying around a cell phone with the N series device do you really need another camera? Maybe for video chat and such but is that really a big draw?

dave

Python will be part of future Nokia Internet Tablet operating systems.
http://arstechnica.com/journals/linu...sions-of-maemo

It just isn't fully ready yet.

The first final versions of Python for S60 have also just been released.
Python is very much supported by Nokia.

Realistically:

Faster processor (600 mhz or so)
No video bandwidth issues.
Transflective screen w/ 24 bit color
Dual microSDHC slots.
Keyboard that has a tab key.
FM radio
GPS (something that locks on within 30 seconds or so, although preferably it'd allow for downloading ephemeris data from the internet for pretty much instant satellite acquisitions.)
2 GB of flash is fine if they still give two memory card slots.
Double the RAM.

I'd pay $480 for THAT device, but I don't think I will for the N810.

Some of the suggestions here are absolutely crazy and would end up giving us $2000 tablets, it seems.

Also, I've seen it a ton of times here and on the easter egg post, but I don't get why everyone is so enamored with the idea of having an IR transmitter inside, I'll stick to my Harmony remote personally, does things much better than a touchscreen remote could.

I don't quite see this thread in that light. The various people posting here have needs that could be meet with additional hardware. Or better yet refactored hardware. Especially after the disappointment of the N810, I do hope that somebody tries to distill some product specs out of this thread. If the N810 can be seen as a step backwards this thread can be seen as an indication of what a step forward would be.
An interesting machine to say the least. The mention of the Qualicomm chip set is new to me and looks very promising. That is if somebody adopts it in a mass produced product. My feeling is though that this project will be late to market if the goal is next September.

The issue being that competition seems to be heating up in the tablet, large phone business. I'm expecting a flood of stuff between now and the end of March.

Dave