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Andrew Zhilin brings us his concept of Mer User Interface for the N900. What is Mer? “Mer is an outgrowth of Nokia’s Maemo environment, designed to flesh out the tablet-centric operating system into a full-fledged Linux distribution suitable for embedded and desktop systems of all description.” via lwn.net see also Mer Works in landscape. “only” 3X4 grid of apps, plus note, a dock of customizable quick launch apps (15 TOTAL – extras views other window of apps). Works in portrait – note how it scales to portrait.

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N900 Mer UI – Portrait, New task switcher and dock.

Financial Times reports that according to a survey by Mobile Youth consultancy, in a sample size of [only] 1000 : Nokia was the most popular with 30% Sony Ericsson second with 27% RIM is at 2% with their BlackBerry- however growth has apparently been impressive. The article actually isn’t about Nokia but about how students are powering the growth of BlackBerry. Perception on BlackBerry is that now, they’re not just for corporate consumers. With the aide of some great marketing (love BB ads) and celeb association, it’s cool to be seen with a BlackBerry.

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Nokia most popular phone brand amongst university students

The N900 is a great phone, but it is (as Nokia themselves have more or less said) a work in progress. I’ll say it again, it’s step 4 of 5 to Maemo glory. Software evolution to one side ( see firmware update wishlist for N900 ),  understandably, this early adopter product isn’t physically “perfect” for mass market. I.E.

Originally posted here:
15 hardware changes that would have made N900 physically irresistible – [15 essential hardware features for its successor]

A major strength of the nearly all Nseries range is their ability to hook up to a TV screen via the 3.5mm jack [and CA-75U cable-included].  The N900 is the first Nokia tablet that allows this and amongst all other Nseries provides the best TV-out experience. This makes the N900 a serious contender as a home media entertainment system. CA-75U – 3.5mm jack one end, RCA the other. Connect to any TV with RED/WHiTE/YELLOW connectors or easily attach via adapter, e.g. scart

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N900 as a home media centre: Best Nseries TV-out experience

[Video at end of post] You’re most likely aware that there’s no portrait mode in the N900 except during call/phone mod e . You may also be aware that there’s a bug that induces somewhat a representation of portrait mode in the N900. On Friday, “N900 spontaneously went into portrait mode. It looked nice. Dunno how to bring it back though.” – twitter @jaymontano I tried for a bit to bring it back, found out how to confuse the N900 in other ways but not into the portrait mode I originally encountered.

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Video: Portrait Gallery in the Nokia N900

I’m not a proper audiophile, but I do really appreciate good quality sound that’s uninterrupted by outside noise. Thanks to the crew over at WOMWorld, we’ve received the daddy of all stereo bluetooth headsets to try out, the Nokia BH-905 with active noise cancellation. I’ve been exciting about the BH-905s ever since hearing about them in June .

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Video + Photos: Nokia BH-905 Unboxing (Image Heavy)

This is a quick 4 minute video to show the game “Super Tux” on the Nokia N900. This game uses the N900’s QWERTY keyboard, with arrows for navigation and predefined letters for jump/power/duck. Now, the N900 doesn’t have a D-pad like the N97, but you can change the controls so you can still have your “D-pad” on the left and other action buttons on the right, like most traditional gamepad controllers. Some might prefer to use the arrow-buttons on the right others might want to have a reconfigurable d-pad going on in the left. I’m in the latter, and I’m glad Super Tux gives you the option (which I hope would become standard in future games using the keyboard/arrow buttons) And in general, Super Tux is a fun game that you can download really easily and for free from the App Manager in the N900

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Video: Super Tux on the Nokia N900 – reconfigure keyboard to have “D-pad” on the left for gaming.

Here’s some low light photo conditions with the N900; testing out its flash against the N97 and the king of flash, and over 2 years old (absolutely ancient in tech), the N82. I know I harp on about Xenon, but these set of photos demonstrate yet again why it’s just so good! Real xenon flash as opposed to LED, gives you a higher percentage of good looking photos in a wider range of lighting situations. This is especially useful if you’re taking photos of people.

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Low light photo and flash test: Nokia N97 versus Nokia N900 versus Nokia N82

This video was made a couple of days ago and was initially just to show Mauku running on the N900. It’s a very simple, fast and easy to use twitter application, getting you to your twitter feed and sending out tweets quickly – respond/retweet and check out other people’s posted links. To get Mauku , Go to the App Manager Click Downloads You’ll find Mauku either from “Internet & Networking” category or from “All” Just click “Mauku”, check “I understand and agree” and “continue” (Another great thing about the N900 and Maemo 5 is that it’s so easy to install an application. No deciding whether to install on Memory card, phone or mass memory, or having to accept certificate after certificate…Click install – Done.) Whilst it’s fantastic that the N900 can load up websites like your computer does ( check out N900 with YouTube – just fantastic! ), some sites like twitter.com do need a little work around for mobile and the smaller screen. Mauku is great for getting your tweets out quickly on the go and interacting with your feeds, but it doesn’t offer the same functionality as Nokia’s favourite Twitter app: Gravity

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Video: Twitter on the Nokia N900: via browser versus via app (Mauku)

Hey all, This is just a bit of a rant on my part because Nokia seem to be letting the little things slip! It starts when I buy a 6303 for a gift so thought get from the Nokia store so it’s unlocked (cus they are a pain to unlock) and so I can get in black which seem to be scarce in the UK especially because I want to use a o2 SIM in it! (Managed to also use a 10% voucher code and should get another 10% back through Quidco) So I order, and the package arrives a few days later and think to my self…i’ll just check it out and set it up so it’s ready for the person to use… Nokia 6303 Box Label Ok so far so good – Correct phone, UK type and correct colour according to this, lets open it up… Nokia 6303 phone + voucher Ok it is the black one and they have even included a voucher for 10 free Music Tracks, nice … Nokia 6303 Accessories Now here is where things go wrong…Nokia seem to think that in the UK we use 2 round pin plugs (or want us to charge our phones in the bathroom in the shaver socket!) Now I bet you’re wondering why have I wasted your time about a small mistake like this? Well it’s because recently Nokia seem to just keep slipping up, Ben over at The Really Mobile Project spotted that the Nokia online shop sent out very strange e-mails last month after pre-ordering the N900: Link to track package was invalid E-mail to contact Nokia not correct Phone number to call Nokia (for a uk purchase) was: 1-800-***-**** Now I challenge you to be able to call that number and get through to Nokia! General tone of some part of the E-mail sounding unprofessional Maybe these are just a couple of things that have been happening and Nokia thought would go unnoticed…but why does it seem to be happing to us bloggers so much, are Nokia trying to make us loose faith in them?!? Ow yeah and the other reason I thought I’d spread the word is that they were supposed to call me back today with a resolution (hopefully a replacement changer) but never did! If you have had a similar thing happen let me know…just comment below!

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Nokia seem to be letting the little things slip

Since I started posting at mynokiablog back in April/May, a frequent visitor and commenter has always been Hiren. As well as participating in discussions, he’s been a big help in pointing out some mistakes in posts like inserting a wrong video or setting that video to private. I’m still really surprised of the readership mynokiablog is getting, and to maintain that new momentum (especially with my dissertation begging for attention) I’m always looking to expand the writer base for mynokiablog. Last night Hiren agreed to join mynokiablog team. In fact, he’s already got a post up – check it out: My mini N900 review (loaded with screenshots) About Hiren: Hiren’s a Warwick University Graduate and achieved MEng in Electronic Engineering with Business Management

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New writer on mynokiablog! Welcome, llaadd aka Hiren Lad!

In this video I demonstrate how I’ve been using Maemo 5’s panoramic desktop on the Nokia N900. Quick show of my four desktops How to add apps shortcuts/bookmarks/widgets How to change the background We’ve had customizable desktops/homescreens on a Nokia for quite a while since the days of the 770 and “old” Maemo, somewhat with S60 and active standby to S60V5 and the live FIVE-space widget on the N97 (& N97 mini).

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Video: Tour of the N900’s Panoramic Desktop/Homescreens

Calling it “the noisiest phone they’ve ever reviewed”, it’s the Nokia X6 – comes with music phone. Taking over as the new music flagship (if there ever was one in Nokia’s line up) as well as being the top Xseries and first Nokia phone to sport a capacitive touch screen. Big hits for the “blackberry like” Nokia Messaging where your emails instantly pop up and the fantastic Twitter (and facebook, and Google Reader!) client, Gravity. [note, I don't think  the X6 has a memory card slot as claimed in the video]

Originally posted here:
Shiny Media’s Video Review of the Nokia X6

  One of the real lesser used features of a mid to top end mobile phone is the GPS capabilities . It is rare that in a buying decision that the availability of GPS is given any consideration, of the additional features a mobile phone can offer, I’d suggest the two most often considered features are email capability and quality of camera. Then there are the media capabilities, generally music then video, followed by suitability for web browsing. GPS tends to rank after all these considerations, if it ranks at all. This could be set to change though, in the light of the recent announcement by Google regarding voice navigation on their Maps product

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GPS Navigation Services for Mobile

….well at least in comparison to S60V5. A month ago, Symbian’s CEO gave a rather vague presentation on the new Symbian UI . On Thursday, Engadget posted up a sneak preview of the upcoming Symbian UI which no longer resembles the murky confusion that is S60. With the new Symbian UI users will have: Reduced clutter Improved input methods Capacitive Screen (death to resistive on high end!) Multitouch Pinch and Zoom Single touch improved (less taps to get to places- would be fantastic if we can get to everything with 3 taps or under) Better website compatibility, Quicker flash UI will be faster – 3x faster than our high end (which one, N97 or N900?) Scrolling will be 60FPS vs current 15fps Optimized graphics – more responsive, beautiful Drastically reduce complexity and bring new fresh appeal – when Nokia does, many people will take a new look at Symbian to achieve what no other manufacturer can.

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New Symbian UI is smoking hot!

Graphics wise , whatever glitzy eye candy game you can show off on the iPhone, the N900 can do it too. Bounce Evolution was the first 3D game shown on the N900 and everyone was stunned at how good it looked (and it’s on a Nokia!). I loved Bounce on my 7210 – kept me busy for ages – I’d never have thought that it would ever look as good as this

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HD Video: Stunning 3D Gaming on N900 – Bounce Evolution – The Scenic Route

One week on with the N900. Although I’ve reviewed and given a first impressions of the N900 in September , that was based on very short weekend usage. Here’s just over a week (received N900 last Wednesday) on what I’ve found so far. It was only meant to be a short number of things that I loved about the N900 but one thing kept popping up after another

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One week with the N900: 22 things I love and a few things (9) that I don’t

Low Light photo, Flash off Let’s compare the fourth photo with the N82 which sports a Xenon Flash. This was actually not that good for N82, most other photos are solid clear – but on every occasion, the undisputed king of low light has about 99% success rate of sharp, well lit photos, frozen in time. Related posting plans ahead: Within a week, I’ll be posting another N82 vs N900 low light (on lock down this week to revise for Friday exam so may post on Sunday) I’ll also be uploading the rest of the photos from London in the N900 Photo sample part 2.

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Nokia N900 Low light Photo Samples

I was destined to meet up with my comfy pillow and duvet but just as I was about to climb under the quilt, I noticed the package that must have been received yesterday (Saturday). It was a big jiffy bag. I thought it may have been something I ordered from eBay. It turns out to be a memory stick from WOMWorld: [note: Photos taken by Nokia N900] What was on the memory stick?

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HD Videos: Nokia Human Research Department: Good things come in [slightly] smaller packages.

Just got back from London, and after an extremely eventful weekend I am minutes from crashing into my bed for a well deserved snooze fest. I’ll leave you with a quick camera/video sample at Covent Garden of a group called “Fandango”, just to demonstrate the video recording quality/audio quality as well as photo quality when using the N900 as a simple point and shoot (as opposed to rigorously testing out the camera with specified fields). I was actually just trying to take a photo of the Christmas Decor, and when I moved to get a better view I saw and heard this great, fun and lively classical group playing to a huge audience. Although I do miss the xenon flash and extensive camera settings of previous Nseries devices, I do love the redefined camera menu that’s just so simple to use. Switching between macro/auto/landscape and photo/video was as easy as it should have first appeared with S60 touch

Excerpt from: 
Nokia N900 – Can you do the Fandango? Photo and Video Samples – London – Part 1

Hey it’s Friday! I was just about to leave to catch a train (going home-home first then London for the weekend) but thought that I couldn’t let the weekend go by without a blog post. This is just an absolute quicky showing off the N900’s autofocus video. Unlike the N97 or other Nseries that are stuck to a fixed zoom point (N97 horribly set to infinity, so anything closer than, um 1 mile is blurry), with the N900, the subject can be very far away, within a few cm and the infinite degrees in between. This was literally all shot, edited in  2 minutes.

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Video: Macro Video Sample/Demo of the Nokia N900