Hey, for 99c software it might work (but still being less profitable than other platforms), and that's the reason iTunes can work, too (the single unit costs very little). However, at that point you put a brake on complex (commercial) software that requires serious budgets (how strong a platform needs to be to sustain development and marketing of something like, say Real Racing for 99c ?).

What you're talking about is not commercial development - it's a formalized donation scheme. It's OK but it IS a marked difference.

no one says apps MUST be $0.99. The App Store has $15 apps I know of.

And Texrat, the N900 is nice, but the imaging beast is the N86. (or N82, or N93, depending upon who you ask...) The form factor is the biggest thing with an imaging device, which Nokia hasn't adressed for awhile now. We expect an N93 replacement mid to late 2010.

I just hope to God it has the 850 band. My son is so frustrated that he can't use his N93 on AT&T's network... and IMO it was ridiculous to leave that band out of such a high-priced item that had the margins to "eat" the minor cost increase. Quadband had no problem making it to lesser-priced items... /OT

Once LTE and WiMax get traction, 3G access will gain priority, and we may see the first quadband WCDMA radios in mobile devices soon, much like the GSM and EDGE data radios from the past couple decades. I'm thinking 2-3 years.

But back on topic...

I don't know if I mentioned this, but I'd like to see an app to capture embedded web video streams, like RealPlayer SP. I just love cataloging video clips that interest me.

a) The App Store *does* have DRM

b) In the App Store a 'send/share your favorite app with your friends' app can never happen (unlike on Maemo)

I think it all depends on the user.

If you look at the world of Mobile device users there are two groups of them, you can call it Us and them.

We love the fact that we have new Maemo devices
They love the fact their new nokia

We want to load anything we wan on our device
They want to EASILY find and load cool new farting apps on thier phone

WE are buying a platform to define an experience
They are buying an experience delivered by thier phone

What we cannot forget is that (most likely) 90% of the people who will buy th en900 of future Maemo phones will not be spectacularly tech savy never mind developers. They want something that "just works" is easy to work with and is fun.

With this said I think that nokia should bundle Ovi store or some analogue with Maemo devices, if the you do not want to use it, you understand the power of the technology and the platform and can go get it else where. As we have already seen on Symbian, just because it comes with Ovi, you are not forced to buy through Ovi.

On sharing app's, It should be dependent on the developer, It will be up to determine if they built free-ware or not. If Ovi can act as a licenses mediation tool, more power to it!

Ovi for Maemo was confirmed, we just don't know the date.

What applications would you want from Ovi store?

all of them! That is the point of the Ovi Store. All Maemo apps should be there.

Another advantage for Maemo, and another reason why there will be buyers for Maemo apps from Ovi. Some kinds of people love to be the first to buy any new toy, and will enjoy the karma they get from sharing the app with their friends.

If only Ovi for Maemo will be sufficiently seamless as to offer a good experience.

Roger

I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing. When I say send/share, I mean they can LITERALLY send/share that application to friends (not an IM invitation or email to buy!) It doesn't matter how seamless Ovi is in that case, as people will be able to receive apps *before* they even have the chance of thinking about whether it's worth buying or not, and to make it worse people might not even be aware what they are doing is 'detrimental' to the store.