I keep hearing two things lately that annoy me to no end.
ISSUE ONE: The Fate of the Nokia 770
People are calling this post by Dr. Ari Jaaksi and the link to Carlos's blog an indication that Nokia is washing their hands of the 770 Internet Tablet and IT2006. In the second link, it describes OS 2007/770 Hacker Edition as follows:
It’s not a end-user ready release. It’s a tool to allow developers to continue working on the 770, moving on to the OS 2007 / Bora software platform, bridging the gap between 770 and N800. It’s less than alpha. No Q.A. was done on it and who knows what it might do. It should not brick your device but then again, we can’t be totally sure of that either.This is being interpreted as an abandonment of IT2006 and, subsequently, the Nokia 770. From what I've seen, that is an incorrect interpretation. It is, to me, a commitment from Nokia to provide a test platform for developers who do not yet have Nokia N800 tablets to continue their development for both the Nokia 770/IT2006 and the Nokia N800/IT2007.
When I interviewed Dr. Jaaksi, he told me that the Nokia 770 has not been discontinued and will continue to be sold and supported. This is emphasized by the advertising blitz in the late months of 2006 and the fact that both products are still available through Nokia and CompUSA. There has already been improvement work for the Nokia 770 in that the new application catalog under development is searchable for IT2005, IT2006 and IT2007. I asked Dr. Jaaksi directly over email today to comment on the status of outstanding IT2006 bugs in the Bugzilla. I'll report back when I get a reply or if he blogs a comment. *edit* Feedback received. I need to prepare for the blog post that will follow. *edit 2* see this post.
ISSUE TWO: iPhone comparisons
People keep making comparisons between the Nokia N800 and the iPhone, probably because they're the two most impressive devices to come out of the early January product announcement time. Other than that, they have very little in common.
There are dozens of details I could go point-to-point on (which I started doing, but deleted,) but simply put: the N800 is not an iPod and it's not a phone, though it can play audio and video media and make internet voice and video calls. The iPhone is not an Internet tablet, though it has a web browser on it's tiny screen and may possibly have an instant messaging client. It's like comparing an Aston Martin to a Ferarri. Both cars will get you to work and back - it's just a matter of how you want the ride to feel.
13 comments:
Then why is Nokia pushing all developers towards the N800? I think they all deserve a free N800 but what will this result in?
I understand that they still want to sell old stock but hey, I'm not blind.
lurk: Because it's new! They did an even bigger push when the 770 was released. They're just trying to make it easy on the developers to adopt both platforms.
Sorry, but from a developer perspective, the 770 is dead and I am very disappointed by Nokia about it.
It's fine that they do the "engineering release" of OS2007, but that's not continued support.
I would have expected them to continue supporting the 770 to run OS2007 like its sibling and I hope they will change their mind.
I wonder why Nokia continues to charge such a high price for the 770. Here in the UK its £245 for a 770 and £269 for the N800. Given the difference between the two platforms in terms of performance nobody is going to buy a 770.
I high price for the 770 makes sure people buy the N800. It's very clear what's happening if you can look from a distance and it's not at all a problem for me but don't try to fool the 770 owners! What will potential N800 buyers think if they read about the 'support' on the 770. It's very short sighted from Nokia's standpoint. This might work with phones but not with 'computers'.
ThoughtFix - I can't understand why you're defending them.
Don't you think Nokia's actions with regard to the 770 say a lot about their overall strategy? If the 770 is already incompatible with the latest OS just over a year after its release, aren't you concerned that your N800 will meet the same fate when its successor arrives? I am unwilling to purchase a new $350-$400 device every other year. Are you?
Well, someone used "disposable" in response to Ari's blog.
There are 2 connected, but distinct items here:
1- Supporting OS2006 on 770
2- Giving it the same priority as OS2007 support on N800.
If Nokia (or any other manufacturer for that matter) sells and promotes a device, then, they have an obligation to support it, not abandoning or reduce it to some fixes in their spare time.
If not, I suggest Nokia trademark "disposable Internet" term, so people would know that they should buy a new one every year just like a pack of gum.
This strategy will be highly successful (as a marketing disaster)!!!
I don't know how Nokia managed to put you in their pocket, but have lost your objectivity.
Like someone said 'internet is moving target', 770 have to be able to run if it wants maintain its current position in the internet world. By taking off all developers from 770 Nokia is sawing off its legs. Without consumer OS compatibility to Os2007 770 can barely wiggle in the future.
Readers: I am addressing the responses to this post in my following post.
thoughtfix, thanks for saying this aloud. I'm tired of people moaning about 770.
Yes, Nokia could have handled this better, but Nokia told in the beginning that 770 would have OS2006 - they never promised OS2007. Somehow people just didn't get it.
They are using the same practices than with phones. Maybe they shouldn't but people should give rational feedback, not troll around.
I agree that Nokia should fix the current bugs in OS2006. That is what the word support means.
BTW I have the both (770 and N800) devices.
"It’s a tool to allow developers to continue working on the 770, moving on to the OS 2007 / Bora software platform, bridging the gap between 770 and N800."
What's that crap about?!
Why should a developer (talking about myself in this case ;)) even consider to spend time and work on a device, he doesn't even own.
In my opinion nokia should spend it's time and money on fixing all those nasty errors in os2006.
Daniel, did the following mean you received a reply from Nokia?
"*edit* Feedback received. I need to prepare for the blog post that will follow."
If yes, then, what was it?
there is a way to upgrade n770 to os2007, do a google search...
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