Releasing hardware and developing software are not mutually exclusive. The only thing that would happen if Nokia decided to not release hardware and focus on software is that the developers would be given something else to do that earns money for Nokia....

Assuming the new device is based on the OMAP, people will not have been taken away from updating the N800 software to write stuff for the new device. Nor will it take significant effort to 'back-port' changes (he says ).

If it is an OMAP then all those who don't want to buy this new device (because it has a keyboard, is the wrong colour, whatever) will benefit anyway as the software is targeted at the same architecture (afaicr Nokia said that the N800 will be supported for at least two more (software) release cycles).

I suppose we'll just have to wait and see if it is an OMAP machine...


Simon

Have you used the device? I have—a lot. You can claim whatever you want, but it's an absolutely fantastic platform.

You're absolutely right. A multiple tablet launch would make the current situation more "comfortable" as more choices is a good thing at the consumer level. However, I could see that more choices would cost a good deal more in the end. With two or more devices out at once, you introduce higher production, marketing, and support costs. Not to mention the whole self-competition thing.

Could this perhaps be one of the reasons for the new hardware?..
>> http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/01/nokia-buying-navteq/

Exactly. I have come to realize that it's not so much the device that makes the biggest difference anymore, it's the software that holds the true potential. Once you have the hardware, there's only so much you can do to improve on it, but the software can evolve in ways yet to be seen. The best part is that we all can contribute to that evolution in so many ways it somehow frightens us.

I think a company as well established as Nokia can see when they need to re-evaluate its hardware offerings. We'll see how much they really learned from the past on this one soon enough.

Yes, for six months, unfortunately.

They didn't sell because they cost a thousand dollars when new.

That also didn't help, no. I felt the same thing about the Newton that some people here feel about the N800 now... so much potential wasted.

Telenav, now Navteq? They are definitely gearing themselves up for something bigger. Apart from the obvious spread of GPS navigation capability to more and more future phones, who says they won't take a stab at the dedicated GPS car units themselves? Hard to say, as it may well compete directly with the NIT, and in the end the NIT may well betheir portable/car GPS offering.

As for the next generation design, having used BBs and Treos for business, I have no problems with thumbing my way to get places, but I don't have large fingers yet find the soft-keyboard offered on the 770 originally I was not overwhelmed by its capability. Maybe the fact that you lose the actual screen you're typing into just to make use of it for standard functions on the tablet- it drops in that window on top of the soft keyboard. So if I had a choice, yes, I'd go hardware keyboard of some type, slider or ?, but at least I'll have the context of my efforts in full view.

As for the 4-way pad everyone envisions being here or there...I say DITCH IT, and go trackball or rollerball such as we're seeing in more compact mobile devices. It works, and gives you nearly limitless navigation coverage- works fine in menu-based environments and gridded icon based layouts, nevermind the improvment for movement in a mapping-type application or the obvious, games. Yes I know, the ball will stick out some...such is life, but not a whole lot more than the D-pad; design to accomodate it - others have. BUT also make the ball user-replaceable if necessary.

I guess when it comes to the keyboard options Nokia has to decide either to offer multiple designs - maybe one without and one with, or go one way and stick with it- improving upon it each and every time. There is no good way to measure who uses their device the most, but developers typically will be the winners when it comes to obtaining a fresh device for feedback purposes rather than the casual user who could have the best ideas on how to improve something. Thankfully we have forums such as these.

Has everyone given up the concern for improved handwriting recognition? I mean, this again boils down to Nokia deciding what to do with the platform. If it's X, then you should be able to work fluidly w/o need for a hardware keyboard. If they can't/won't perfect the handwriting piece to meet *everyone's* requirements (as if), then perfect the keyboard option instead.

I for one don't want another generic "does what every other device out there does" unit. I have 2 770s - the first I bought as a gift to myself, knowing full well it would be overshadowed and improved upon by the next-gen offering. But I purchased anyways. When the much cheaper 770s hit this past summer, I had another choice- buy a 2nd 770, or save and get an 800, even though it too would be surpassed eventually. I went with another 770 so that I could in fact have one to tinker with, the other to use regularly. And at some point I may let the kids (teens) have access to my aging one. By choice I did not get the 800, but whenever WiMax gets incorporated and things settle down a bit on the FCC spy-front, I may get the WiMax-enabled model. The question then becomes...do I really like Sprint enough to get a data plan with them?

Okay, I think I am staying on topic about the Third Internet Tablet vs. my MAC II GS played the best b&w games of any computer back in the mid-80s and I can run MAC OS Cheetah on all my old hardware.

It's really now just a waiting game, and until then, I'm going to enjoy my NIT further by trying more software and digging further into the HE and the ported CLI applets. With a much larger audience now than when the 770 was let out the door, Nokia has ten-fold the population to please...I wish them megaluck!

I think I explain it with the difference of OS mainly as well as optimization. It must be definitely easier to optimize the iPhone performance in contrast to the N800. That said, I would not mind speed increases on the N800 but I don't seem to be as bothered by its responsiveness as a few people. Meets my expectations just fine.