4 ms·

"Wasted time first with Maemo"... Damn that hurts my brain to read, and in hindsight, I have to agree. The n900's open platform built on debian, functional res

by tunap 10y ago

"Wasted time first with Maemo"... Damn that hurts my brain to read, and in hindsight, I have to agree. The n900's open platform built on debian, functional resistive touch and a hardware keyboard should have gained traction. Of course, without the monetized ecosystems of app stores and specialized accessories it is no wonder the policymakers didn't want it.

jldugger 10y ago
If you think back to 2009, it was a different era. People were still paying carriers for _ring tones_, and they were loathe to give up that level of profitable device control. For the first year of iPhone's life, there was no app store to speak of. And the n900 did have an App store. It was shitty, and suffered from the typical platform bootstrapping problem. And if I recall, there were some security holes that let people download apps for free. n900's problems were: a) resistive touch sucks b) tiny, tiny hardware keyboard keys c) a pathetic, zero subsidy US launch d) incredibly late to market -- iphone had a 2 year head start e) zero developer credibility f) no support for MMS g) surprisingly flaky USB charging port
- tunap 10y ago
  Valid points, but while I agree resistive sucks in every other instance I have experienced, the n800 and n900 were extremely well implemented iterations. Precision was spot on using fingers, fingernails or the included stylus. As for the small keys: thumbnail precision. I had rare typos and multi factors more wpm than this on-screen capacitive nuisance I have no choice but to edit every 3rd word with now. edit: additionally, 2009 was already too late. Android's release from Tmo exclusivity and iPhones release from AT&T exclusivity had opened the gates to mass consumption with ectremely effective marketing & fanfare. The writing was on the wall, RIM & Nokia didn't or couldn't see it in time, nor adapt. edit 2: maemo app store was free as in speech & free as in beer, like any other linux distro's repository.
BuuQu9hu 10y ago
N900 is coming back: https://neo900.org/ https://neo900.org/

by tunap 10y ago

jldugger 10y ago

If you think back to 2009, it was a different era. People were still paying carriers for _ring tones_, and they were loathe to give up that level of profitable device control. For the first year of iPhone's life, there was no app store to speak of. And the n900 did have an App store. It was shitty, and suffered from the typical platform bootstrapping problem. And if I recall, there were some security holes that let people download apps for free. n900's problems were: a) resistive touch sucks b) tiny, tiny hardware keyboard keys c) a pathetic, zero subsidy US launch d) incredibly late to market -- iphone had a 2 year head start e) zero developer credibility f) no support for MMS g) surprisingly flaky USB charging port

tunap 10y ago
Valid points, but while I agree resistive sucks in every other instance I have experienced, the n800 and n900 were extremely well implemented iterations. Precision was spot on using fingers, fingernails or the included stylus. As for the small keys: thumbnail precision. I had rare typos and multi factors more wpm than this on-screen capacitive nuisance I have no choice but to edit every 3rd word with now. edit: additionally, 2009 was already too late. Android's release from Tmo exclusivity and iPhones release from AT&T exclusivity had opened the gates to mass consumption with ectremely effective marketing & fanfare. The writing was on the wall, RIM & Nokia didn't or couldn't see it in time, nor adapt. edit 2: maemo app store was free as in speech & free as in beer, like any other linux distro's repository.

BuuQu9hu 10y ago

N900 is coming back: https://neo900.org/ https://neo900.org/