yeah, I was an idiot and an a..hat for saying many would want it, and it would add to the usefulness of the device, but now that the evidence is before them, they don't like hearing it. Well I didn't want to hear them earlier say it was useless, go back to Symbian, etc, so they're gonna hear it. no more mr. nice guy. effem

Again, I was hoping that this thread would not get bogged down in a back and forth over individual features...

Since automatic screen rotation has been brought up I wanted to clear some things up:

1. AFAIK, ASR IS supported by the N900 but only for telephone functions.

2. I am neither for nor against it and only wish that the subject had not been injected in so many diverse threads by such a small percentage of this forum's active population.

3. The point of item #2 in no way indicates the % of this forum population that are either are for, against, indifferent, or just want a dang cheese samich.

It may simply mean that a large % percentage of this population have read the explanations, accepted the proposed roadmap for implementation, and moved on...


***

I have gathered up the responses and posted them here as a recap so that they may be copied, culled, and reposted in this thread and compared to what the N900 can actually do out of the box, as Beny1967 suggests.

If I missed someone’s suggestion it was not an intentional oversight and as more features come to mind just copy the list, add them, and then repost the list.

The list so far:

• Ovi Maps
• Quick Office
• Integrated syncml client
• Way bettter camera.
• Printing support.
• Easy phone calls
• Easy contacts and dates management (no syncml)
• OVI integration
• Games
• Easier photo or media sharing
• Finding applications that aren't beta-(still) is easier
• Web browsing on the N97 is better, much faster connection
• Predictive text entry function and keyboard is better
• Barcode scanner
• Magnifying glass
• OCR
• Faster GPS aquisition
• Ported apps for Google Mail, Maps, Youtube...
• SyncML and a decent, syncable PIM suite !
• No-fuss, natural SIP calls
• Calcium (phone keypad calculator)
• Sports Tracker
• Nokia Maps
• Default applications are solid and well integrated
• J2ME
• Large install base = more 3rd party apps
• Universal ASR including desktop, dashboard, and widgets

… and as RipTorn suggests, if someone wants to eventually copy the list over to the WiKi so that it might serve as a proposed Road Map for the OS or as I envisioned, a list of potential opportunities for independent development, it won’t hurt my feelings none.

Someone with a prototype, SDK, or based on Nokia's released specs, could start by trimming "The List" and include the reasons why.

Popularity is not an argument. Yes, Nokia E90 has portrait mode and T9, and just like a G1 portrait mode is the default mode. No wonder portrait mode is then more used. Can you see Nokia N900 does not have the required hardware to give a similar experience as Nokia E90? Can you see that Nokia N900 default mode is landscape and draw from the strength and weaknesses from this? For example, Dashboard makes it difficult to support full ASR. But we discussed that elsewhere already...

No, I do not deny that. The person I quoted keeps discussing this very issue in various threads ad nauseam. First of all, it is difficult to follow the same arguments/discussion scattered in several threads. Second, it is not productive.

The point is, like lcuk said, to start from what we are and have, instead of comparing to an other device series and then saying we don't have that. My reply was not directed to you. Person I quoted and replied to has no experience with Maemo or Linux whatsoever therefore I suggested learning Linux until Nokia N900 and Maemo 5 are released. Learning Linux desktop will give the person a boost to exploit the strong points of Maemo.

In other words if you start using a new platform don't compare it with your current experience. Forget that, unlearn, and give the new platform a fair chance.

Same here, and I can say you cannot always walk around with Nokia E71 while using it. Walking requires focus. Using a computer requires focus.

remove J2ME from the list b/c if its ever supported we'll never get new games developed using the 3D acceleration, we'll just end up with the rubbish J2ME apps made for s60, if only you knew how bad java games on it are.
it will hold back gaming innovation on maemo just like its done the same to s60, big mistake if it ever happens officially
even symbian foundation are questioning its relevance going forward, read the article they writ about java http://blog.symbian.org/2009/05/29/the-future-of-java/

Java ME (formerly known as J2ME) does a lot more than running games.

i know it does but games is what it gets primarily used for and all the big publishers use it and they suck so bad doing nothing innovative.

I agree, but there are still some web services that require java, particularly some bank services and stuff. Java games should have a mandatory warning label.

That is Java SE; not the same as Java ME. Wikipedia entry about Java

J2ME would require an emulator... Most J2ME apps that are out there now would require a d-pad or telephone keyboard for input I would think. In any event, a web run time could do more with less fuss.

Should Nokia's WRT also be on the list?

The terminal is not meant to be user friendly, it's just meant to get things done. Just like there's a terminal in Linux, OSX, and a command prompt in Windows. Under normal usage, most people don't have to interact with it.