Weekly Edition
Return to the Press pageSponsored link
Vyatta –
Linux & Open Source
Alternative to Cisco –
Advanced Routing,
Firewall, VPN, QoS..
Free Download ->
| |||||||||||
New Nokia Linux tablet packs slideout keyboard (LinuxDevices.com)
LinuxDevices profiles the
Nokia N810, due to hit the market in November. "The N810 is
smaller, heavier, and faster than the older N800, with new features that
include a slide-out hardware QWERTY thumb keyboard, GPS receiver, FM
transmitter (for in-car listening), and a light-sensing screen
dimmer."
(Log in to post comments)
New Nokia Linux tablet packs slideout keyboard (LinuxDevices.com) Posted Oct 17, 2007 20:35 UTC (Wed) by ajross (subscriber, #4563) [Link] The N810's browser has a Flash 9 plugin, and supports "class 8 and 9" AJAX (asynchronous Javascript and XML), something no other mobile device can do, Toivainen claims.Um... pardon? Can someone translate this? And here I thought "class 4 AJAX" was all anyone could ever need.
New Nokia Linux tablet packs slideout keyboard (LinuxDevices.com) Posted Oct 17, 2007 20:42 UTC (Wed) by TRS-80 (subscriber, #1804) [Link] What it means is it comes with a Gecko-based browser with full Javascript support, as opposed to the cut-down mobile browser (Opera?) it had before.
New Nokia Linux tablet packs slideout keyboard (LinuxDevices.com) Posted Oct 17, 2007 22:18 UTC (Wed) by jdahlin (subscriber, #14990) [Link] I think they typoed, they were probably referring to Flash versions, not AJAX versions.
in the cold Posted Oct 17, 2007 21:00 UTC (Wed) by ccyoung (subscriber, #16340) [Link] and I just bought my n800 plus keyboard plus etc three weeks ago! I used to think it was a very nice machine.
in the cold Posted Oct 17, 2007 21:58 UTC (Wed) by hitmark (guest, #34609) [Link] its mostly the same hardware, and you will be able to run the 2008 os version on the N800. so except for the built in keyboard and gps, your not missing out on much.
in the cold Posted Oct 18, 2007 0:21 UTC (Thu) by elanthis (subscriber, #6227) [Link] Welcome to technology. "But I just bought a dual-core, not they have quad core!" "But I just bought a 500GB disk, now they have 1TB!" "But I just bought a..."
in the cold Posted Oct 18, 2007 2:15 UTC (Thu) by frazier (subscriber, #3060) [Link] My disappointment with the 770 since it was announced was no integrated keyboard. When the 770 dropped to $135 I picked up one up since I knew the new model (N800) didn't have a keyboard either. I like my 770. I used it last night and I'll read LWN on it tonight. Once I had the 770 for a while it even more was obvious that a slide-out keyboard would be great. One day I'll replace my 770 with something, and this new Nokia, or whatever replaces it, will be at the top of my list. I mentioned to someone at work today how I wished my 770 or at least the N800 had a keyboard. Nice that Nokia is adding a keyboard to this product segment.
New Nokia Linux tablet packs slideout keyboard (LinuxDevices.com) Posted Oct 17, 2007 21:46 UTC (Wed) by leoc (subscriber, #39773) [Link] Out of curiosity, can anyone say how much of the software/drivers running on these devices is closed source and cannot be upgraded outside of what Nokia allows? I'd be interested in buying one, but I am concerned about being left in the cold as Nokia moves on to newer and better models. Will I be able to run new applications and newer versions of the OS over time?
nokia open source drivers Posted Oct 17, 2007 22:19 UTC (Wed) by undefined (guest, #40876) [Link] i don't know specifically about the n8[01]0, but see this lwn article response about the 770's closed source drivers. http://lwn.net/Articles/229838/ specifically see daniel stone's (daniels) comments as he is employed by nokia to support the tablet hardware (in the know), but is a part of the free software community (tells it straight, imo). there's also the concern that the maemo software platform is (partially) closed source (though opening more as time passes), but penguinbait has gotten both xfce and kde running on the device, which i don't believe require the closed source bits. i own a 770, and while it may have been official abandoned by nokia, it's still supported by the community (of which nokia and/or its employees are part): microb for 770, os2007 hacker edition, etc.
nokia open source drivers Posted Oct 18, 2007 0:32 UTC (Thu) by dlang (subscriber, #313) [Link] I asked a similar question a couple of months ago, and the answer that I got was that there are a couple drivers related to power management that are closed. I wasn't able to confirm this (and have held off buying one as a result)
nokia open source drivers Posted Oct 18, 2007 13:27 UTC (Thu) by mgedmin (subscriber, #34497) [Link] IIRC the boot loader is non-free, and the userspace daemon that monitors the battery charge is non-free. I don't remember if the wifi driver needs a binary blob or not.
nokia open source drivers Posted Oct 19, 2007 12:02 UTC (Fri) by dlang (subscriber, #313) [Link] that doesn't sound bad. I'm willing to live with non-free userspace tools, and if the binary blob for the wifi is for the firmware of the card (as opposed to the driver) I'm fine. the bootloader could be an issue, but I'd have to see what options there are (and what capabilities the bootloader has. as long as it can boot my own kernels I don't have heartburn with the concept)
Video out? Posted Oct 17, 2007 23:08 UTC (Wed) by daniel (subscriber, #3181) [Link] Give me video out on this and I will never take a laptop to a Linux conference again. Has anybody geeked this question? Something I can plug into something would be OK, or as a last resort, some messy arrangement where the X Server runs on a standard Linux laptop that somebody else brought to the conference, and the app (Openoffice slide show for example) plus the keyboard input runs on the device. Regards, I just picked my christmas geek toy, and I'm not waiting for christmas.
Video out? Posted Oct 17, 2007 23:11 UTC (Wed) by daniel (subscriber, #3181) [Link] Having thought about it a nanosecond longer, just ssh -X from a borrowed laptop satisfies my minimum requirement for leaving the laptop at home, but what I really want is VGA out straight to the projector.
Video out? Posted Oct 17, 2007 23:22 UTC (Wed) by jwb (subscriber, #15467) [Link] The OMAP processor in the N800 includes an encoder capable of composite video, S-Video, and dual VGA display controllers, one of which is used for the built-in screen. Nokia's specifications list the headphone port as an "A/V" port, so perhaps the new model will expose at least the TV output. I would also note that, in the last 6 months, there have been numerous patches submitted to the l-k mailing list regarding the built-in peripherals on the OMAP, including the frame buffer.
Video out? Posted Oct 17, 2007 23:58 UTC (Wed) by leoc (subscriber, #39773) [Link] Does this thing have a USB host port? Perhaps one of these would work.
Video out? Posted Oct 18, 2007 0:15 UTC (Thu) by jwb (subscriber, #15467) [Link] Yes, the N800 has a USB port that can be turned around and used as a USB host by way of "USB on-the-go", also called OTG. Support for this is in the linux-omap git tree. It barely works and the N800 can only supply a tiny bit of power to the attached peripheral.
Video out? Posted Oct 18, 2007 18:56 UTC (Thu) by meyert (subscriber, #32097) [Link] Sorry, but this is not true. Host mode is *not* supported with N800. Regardless of which source code. The hardware doesnt make it possible.
Host mode Posted Oct 18, 2007 21:53 UTC (Thu) by dufkaf (subscriber, #10358) [Link] Sorry, but this is not true :-) I have it running right now. You need patched kernel but it works. See http://lists.maemo.org/pipermail//maemo-developers/2007-O...
GSM Posted Oct 17, 2007 23:26 UTC (Wed) by paravoid (subscriber, #32869) [Link] If only it had an embedded GSM module... Nokia wouldn't even have to write a GSM stack; there's already one being written for OpenMoko that could easily be reused (they decided to go with DBus just recently). Let's just hope that there something like that in the works.
GSM Posted Oct 18, 2007 14:24 UTC (Thu) by proski (subscriber, #104) [Link] I'm afraid, it would have hard time in the United States. For some reasons, modern cell phones are rarely sold for a reasonable price here. Even Apple could not do it. And a Linux tablet with a two year plan just won't have that kind of appeal to the freedom-loving target audience.
GSM Posted Oct 18, 2007 14:24 UTC (Thu) by jem (subscriber, #24231) [Link] > If only it had an embedded GSM module... I don't see a need for a GSM or 3G module. The device is (primarily) not a phone, it's an Internet tablet! I always carry a 3G phone, but I wouldn't want to carry my 770 with me wherever I go, and it is definitely too clumsy to make a phone call with. If I need to surf the net with the tablet and there is no WiFi network available, I use the radio in my phone. Once set up, the Bluetooth connection between the tablet and the phone really works seamlessly; you hardly even realize the phone is involved in the connection. On the other hand, if the tablet had its own GSM module (and I wouldn't be able to use it via the phone), I would need two GSM subscriptions and two SIM cards, one for each device. That would be silly.
Gaming Posted Oct 18, 2007 0:24 UTC (Thu) by elanthis (subscriber, #6227) [Link] I was interested in the N800 for doing homebrew mobile gaming (doing it for a DS or PSP is generally more of a pain that doing it for any open system), but the lack of button on the right-side of the device made using it for NES/SNES/GB emulation pretty impossible. A keyboard makes up for that; might not be as nice as a standard controller layout, but you could make something playable. Combined with the touch features on the screen, an N800 with a decent gaming stack could be a good contender for 2D games compared to the DS/PSP for Free Software coders.
Too many neat Linux toys! Posted Oct 18, 2007 2:13 UTC (Thu) by drosser (subscriber, #29597) [Link] What's a Linux geek with a limited budget to do? OLPC, Neo1973, and now the N810. The phrase "Embarrassment of riches" comes to mind.
New Nokia Linux tablet packs slideout keyboard (LinuxDevices.com) Posted Oct 18, 2007 10:10 UTC (Thu) by NigelK (guest, #42083) [Link] *If* this plays back video smoothly, including YouTube, and the web browser doesn't crash as often as Opera does on my 770, I think I've found my next Internet Tablet. I don't like the keyboard, though, and the screen isn't as protected as the screen for the 770.
New Nokia Linux tablet packs slideout keyboard (LinuxDevices.com) Posted Oct 18, 2007 13:24 UTC (Thu) by louie (subscriber, #3285) [Link] I can't speak to the N810, but the moz-based browser on the N800 is much more stable than the browser on the 770. Note that the N810 (despite the keyboard) is still smaller than the 770- 141mm x 79mm x 19mm for 770 w/cover, 128mm x 72 x 14 for N810. So at worst, if you don't like the keyboard, ignore it. (I've also seen some hints that the OS has been tweaked to make it friendlier to use with fingers, which would be very welcome. Lots to learn from iPhone there.) Finally, as far as screen protection, I carry my N800 around in my pockets and backpack all the time, and have not seen any scratches and such. So I don't really think the protection is all that necessary. I have my issues with this device- frankly, I think the decision not to include GSM is somewhere between stupid and criminal, and the usability of the software is fairly poor in a lot of ways (see for example this comparison with technology from a decade ago.) But the hardware is excellent and getting better with every rev.
New Nokia Linux tablet packs slideout keyboard (LinuxDevices.com) Posted Oct 18, 2007 14:39 UTC (Thu) by bfields (subscriber, #19510) [Link] How does the browser do with the somewhat restricted memory? I find the 770 tends to grind to a halt (or nearly so) on the occasional oversized page.
New Nokia Linux tablet packs slideout keyboard (LinuxDevices.com) Posted Oct 18, 2007 18:47 UTC (Thu) by oak (subscriber, #2786) [Link] > How does the browser do with the somewhat restricted memory? > > I find the 770 tends to grind to a halt (or nearly so) on the occasional oversized page. The main reason for this and the 770 browser crashes is that 770 has too little memory for "oversized" pages. Swap can help, but swapping is pretty slow too. N800 and N810 have 2x the RAM compared to 770 (128MB vs. 64MB) and because the Maemo base system memory footprint is pretty large, the RAM available for applications is actually almost 3x larger than in 770. You can open many more applications in N800. The IT OS releases for N800/N810 should handle tight memory situations a bit better too. More of the pre-installed applications support "background killing" (I don't think any 3rd party app does this though) and kernel denies memory allocations to processes earlier too, as kernel having too little memory makes everything very slow. Although Mozilla browser uses more memory than Opera at the beginning, Flash 9 doesn't use as much memory as Flash 7, and Flash stuff is the thing taking most memory on web pages... I think Flash & Javascript stop if device starts to run out of memory, this helps too.
New Nokia Linux tablet packs slideout keyboard (LinuxDevices.com) Posted Oct 19, 2007 2:33 UTC (Fri) by skvidal (subscriber, #3094) [Link] Quote: Finally, as far as screen protection, I carry my N800 around in my pockets > and backpack all the time, and have not seen any scratches and such. So I don't really think the protection is all that necessary. End Quote keep in mind, the above is from luis "acid hands" villa. So if he hasn't dissolved this thing that's REALLY saying something.
New Nokia Linux tablet packs slideout keyboard (LinuxDevices.com) Posted Oct 19, 2007 9:23 UTC (Fri) by NigelK (guest, #42083) [Link] *grin* I'll look out for the feedback when it appears, then make a choice. If it's a perfected and stable 770, that would have been good enough for me, but with the extras such as GPS, well, it's a sound enough upgrade.
The screen is transflective! Posted Oct 28, 2007 8:37 UTC (Sun) by tekNico (subscriber, #22) [Link] Even more than GPS and the keyboard, the transflective screen is the bigger selling point to me. If it's only half as good as the OLPC one, it promises to be a huge usability advancement.
|
|||||||||||