John Tokash

Entries categorized as ‘Nokia’

2 N800s in a Dual Screen Configuration

January 31, 2007 · 2 Comments

Here are some ideas as to how such a configuration would work. Please add your thoughts.

What are we talking about?

Two Nokia N800 Internet Tablets fastened together. The hinge would connect the bottom edge of the first one to the top edge of the second one. The hinge would allow the two devices to be ‘closed’ by folding them back to back. Ideally, the hinge would also allow the devices to be folded screen to screen. The hinge would also be set up to allow for a flat position with the two being two screens tall. Finally, a slightly angled position would also be supported with the top device lightly tilted ‘in’.

How would this be useful?

  • Use the bottom device as a keyboard for the top device.
  • Use the top device for watching movies and the bottom device for reading the imdb entry about the movie.
  • Use the top device for ReaderMini.com and the bottom device email.
  • Applications could be written to take advantage of the screens as though they were one. The application could communicate with the ’secondary display’ via bluetooth, usb or wifi.
  • Use the top device for GPS / directions and the bottom for a browser.
  • Use the top for video chat and the bottom for a movie/browser, etc.

Categories: Nokia · UMPC

Nokia n800 Tutorials – Sync it with iTunes and Google Calendar

January 25, 2007 · 1 Comment

Jonathan Greene has a couple great how-tos up for my favorite Internet Tablet.

Getting Google Calendar on Your Nokia Tablet

Sync Smart Playlists in iTunes with your Nokia Tablet

Meanwhile, ThougtFix has a video demo of Windows XP Tablet Edition running on the Nokia 770. ;-)

Categories: Gadgets · Nokia

Four Great Nokia Concept Videos

January 19, 2007 · 4 Comments

RingNokia pointed the way to these excellent videos. I’ve reordered them, here, to show my favorite first and my least favorite last. The other two are a toss up. Keep in mind that these videos were shown at a Nokia conference months before the iPhone was revealed. Also check out this new multitouch video.

Direct link to video

Direct link to video

Direct link to video

Direct link to video

Categories: Nokia

MobileCrunch on the N800

January 18, 2007 · Leave a Comment

So, while we were buying N800s at CompUSA and blogging about them left and right, this guy already had one for weeks but was embargoed? OUCH.

I won’t be able to give it a thorough read until tonight, but Oliver’s review looks very complete. I definitely agree with him that a software upgrade to make communicating between nearby Internet Tablets would be great. And, also on his list, I’d love to see a portrait-mode switch for the display.

For another comprehensive review, check out ThoughtFix’s.

Categories: Gadgets · Nokia

ReaderMini.com in the news!

January 18, 2007 · 7 Comments

Looks like people have been trying ReaderMini and have some great feedback.

Adam Pash of LifeHacker welcomes the improvement ReaderMini is over the official Google Reader Mobile app, Jason Clarke of DownloadSquad says it works great in Opera on Pocket PCs, Kevin Tofel of JKOnTheRun likes ReaderMini’s footprint on the 7 inch UMPC screen size.

Meanwhile, there is plenty of constructive criticism, too. ReaderMini requires Ajax, so PocketIE apparently doesn’t work. It doesn’t work on the SideKick 3 either. On my todo list is making a version that looks like ReaderMini.com does now, but requires no Javascript. That’s a lot of work, though, so if you really want it, leave me feedback here.

Categories: Gadgets · Nokia · RSS · ReaderMini

Nokia N800 Review – by ThoughtFix!

January 15, 2007 · 1 Comment

ThoughtFix once again delights us – this time with a thorough review of the N800 Internet Tablet. I agree with most of what he says. His conclusion matches my feelings, exactly: “The Nokia N800 delivers the best Internet experience available in a pocketable form without breaking the bank.” Seriously.

I do wish he spent some time extolling the virtues of the built in media player and the soon to be released Canola media player (which is awesome on the 770). I imagine that’s coming in a later post!!

I disagree with his assessment that Google Reader works fine. With a small number of feeds, it’s apparently not bad, but the more you have the slower it is. If you want to use Google Reader on the Internet Tablets, you can use ReaderMini.com, but I wish Google had optimized their code, instead, so we wouldn’t need workarounds like that.

Update: Two more great reviews (via RingNokia): InternetTabletTalk has a multi-video review. Mobile Burn forums has a lengthy review, too.

Categories: Gadgets · Nokia

ReaderMini.com version .91

January 14, 2007 · 1 Comment

Who says Google Reader doesn’t work on the Nokia 770 and n800 Internet Tablets? Check out the latest version of my unofficial Google Reader front end, ReaderMini.com.

Changes in Release .9.1 – 1/14/07

  • Text in feed list now lines up better.
  • Brand new theme!
  • Button locations have changed.
  • No more (0) if a feed is stale.
  • Bold text has been removed from the feed list.
  • Fix: Hide/Show stale feeds now works again.
  • Added rudimentary AJAX progress indicator to several buttons.
  • Changed the icons for a few buttons – checkboxes everywhere!
  • Fixed: Links from posts in category river views now work.
  • FAQs, Credits added.
  • Added a “Get Next Page” button. Works sometimes (normal feeds), but not others (starred items, shared items feeds, category feeds).

Categories: Gadgets · Google · Nokia · RSS · ReaderMini

ThoughFix on the N800 – First Look and Video

January 13, 2007 · 1 Comment

ThoughtFix has 2 new n800 posts. The video is a great tour of the device itself, with some commentary on the differences between the n800 and the 770. The video also shows how the interface of the n800 changes automatically when you use your finger instead of the stylus. His First Look post is a great introduction to some of the device’s new features and is a must read if you plan to buy one.

Categories: Gadgets · Nokia

Nokia is Listening to its Customers

January 11, 2007 · 2 Comments

With the introduction of the N800 Internet Tablet, Nokia originally planned to not release the N800’s software improvements to the original tablet, the Nokia 770. After seeing the incredible amount of negative customer feedback that decision caused, Nokia is rethinking their decision and, in an open way, is researching how they can release Internet Tablet OS 2007 for the 770.

At first, I wondered why people were complaining. When a new Palm device comes out, I never expect the OS changes to be made available for older devices. However, per the most popular argument, these customers feel that they purchased a COMPUTER, not a PDA. COMPUTERs generally get new versions of their OS even after an updated model is released.

So, like Nokia, I’m slowly starting to understand where these customers are coming from. Also, like Nokia, my mind is racing with the negatives of a move like this. Backwards compatibility often has a price. Just ask Microsoft. Effort that is spent on maintenance can’t be spent on new features. For a device as early in its development as the Nokia Internet Tablet, I think I’d prefer innovation over backwards compatibility. Note – the two aren’t ALWAYS mutually exclusive and in those cases you should always lean towards back compat.

I own both devices and I would certainly upgrade the 770 to the newer OS if given the choice, but I can understand both sides of the argument and I don’t plan to complain in either case.

Categories: Gadgets · Nokia

Nokia Internet Tablet Blogs

January 11, 2007 · 6 Comments

I’d like to see a list of blogs that write about the Nokia 770 and n800 (even those that don’t write about the exclusively). If you know of a blog that falls into that category, leave a note in the comments section. I’ll update this post every few days with the complete list.

Categories: Gadgets · Nokia