(This post is huge with stacks of photos so I temporarily changed my site feed to "short." Visit tabletblog.com directly for the full article. I will return to full content feeds in a few days.)Nokia's maemo team officially announced OS2008 for Nokia Internet Tablets (N800 and N810) today. There are a great deal of changes and upgrades so I am reviewing this OS as software product all by itself. It is available for download on the tablets-dev site.
Upgrade and First Boot
The actual download was rather difficult. The sites were hammered and I ended up getting my image from an anonymous helper. Installation was painless with the Nokia Internet Tablet Software Updater for Windows. Linux and Mac instructions are available on the maemo site.
The first thing my N800 asked (other than language selection) is if I wanted to restore data from a backup it found on a memory card. I decided to forego that step for this review, but it's known that OS2008 also backs up repositories and an application list. If you restore from an OS2008 backup, the backup/restore tool reinstalls your applications as well. Still: N800/OS2007 users - I suggest you start fresh with OS2008 and keep the default bookmarks if only to explore the device while it is still "clean."
The mobile phone wizard starts right after. The purpose of this is to pair your OS2008 tablet with your mobile for file/photo transfer and internet access.
Bluetooth pairing with my N95-3 was easy - a simple "enabling visibility" and sharing pass keys.
The mobile phone wizard is also preconfigured for a number of data providers. I chose AT&T. Previous versions of the Internet Tablet OS did not have AT&T properly configured but OS2008 worked perfectly. Make sure you have a data plan before using this! The shuttle+text test on performance.toast.net gave me 370 kbps from my apartment over Bluetooth to an HSDPA connection.
Wireless connections were just as easy. Click the connection icon on the top right, tap "Select Connection" and pick your hotspot.
It supports WPA-PSK just fine, so no worries on compatibility and security. I have yet to run across any hotspots to which I have been unable to connect.First Impressions
The home screen is more attractive than ever. The familiar search applet, Tableteer link (now with automatic updating goodness) and a new Getting Started applet. I wanted to record a video of the Getting Started demo but do not know the copyright issues that would be involved. It's worth the time to watch.It's readily apparent that the applets have transparency but the added bonus is that the side and top menus are transparent as well. This means the whole face of the home screen gets "themed" when you choose your background. The top right status bar shows fast access to things like brightness, battery status, Google Talk connectivity, volume, etc.
The top photo of this post shows the "Glasser" theme and wallpaper. I don't know why but I think the device looks good in orange. Maybe it's old-school OS2006 retro. Can something two years old be "retro?"
The left bar has a single tap to bookmarks, a presence option, and an application list. The default bookmark set is pretty good. I particularly like the inclusion of Gmail, Blogger, and Google Docs.Web Browsing
Browsing is better than ever. The Mozilla engine renders Ajax better and the Flash support is faster than ever. There are still hiccups in playing some Flash animations, but most of the Internet should be just fine. There's also some intelligence to the Flash Video support - the display's power management does not dim when Flash video is playing.
I am a heavy Google Docs user and having this access on my tablet is a big plus to me. All the editing features I tried work.
Here's the draft of a blog post I put up earlier this week. The 800 pixel wide screen is good enough to get a healthy amount of text on the screen.
If you are worried about screen clarity - stop worrying. My camera has a lot of barrel distortion in super macro mode so some of the above image is out of focus. Even so - the fonts, icons, and colors are all perfectly sharp.
While on the subject of browsing, the OS2008 User Site deserves a note here. Included are links to all the latest software, updates, news, and more. In case you're curious the people who put this all together, there are links to the official maemo team in there too.
They also hand-picked some of their favorite non-Nokia sites, user blogs, and tools for tablet owners. Hey look! I'm famous! Don't forget to answer their polls while you're in there. Time to explore more of the tablet.Applications and Application Management
The application list is as follows but can be wholly rearranged/reconfigured from the Control Panel.- My selection (configurable)
- Map - This uses Wayfinder's maps to find where you (with a Bluetooth GPS or the internal GPS on the N810) and what's near you. It does not have built-in routing and turn-by-turn voice directions in the package, but it can be upgraded by subscription ($130 for 3 years.) I tested Wayfinder's subscription service on an N810 here.
- Skype - VOIP calling
- Rhapsody - Subscription music service
- Media player
- Images
- Help
- Internet
- Web - Mozilla powered microb browser
- Bookmarks
- RSS feed reader - see this howto for importing your Google Reader feeds.
- Communication
- Contacts - Fast access
- Email - Utilitarian (and still a bit disappointing) Email client. Currently another Email client (modest) is being developed and may replace this application.
- Internet call - For voice chats using Google Talk
- Chat - Google Talk messaging client
- Gizmo - Gizmo Poject VOIP (and video calling in later versions)
- Utilities
- File manager
- Calculator
- Clock - I use the alarm to wake me up
- Notes - Text (not electronic ink) note taking
- PDF Reader
- Sketch
- Search - For local device searching
- X Terminal - The Linux geeks will love that this is included.
- Settings
- Control panel
- Application manager
- Backup/Restore
- Connection manager
- Teach handwriting
The Application manager allows for easy installation, upgrading, and removal of software. Linux handles software quite differently from PCs and Macs. Linux users install application from "repositories" on the web. When "check for updates" is clicked, the Application manager checks the repositories for all applications for both updates and for new software sitting in the same repositories. Later in the OS2007 release, they also started including "one click install" which takes a web shortcut and sets up the repository and application for you.
Since they're not all managed by Nokia nor are fully supported, occasionally errors will pop up when refreshing third party repositories. They can generally be ignored as they do not impact currently installed software and usually fix themselves eventually.Multimedia
Multimedia has changed a bit in OS2008. While the Media Player looks nearly identical to previous versions, it now has more codec support. Excerpted from the product page:
- Direct access to shared media over Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) connectivity and Windows network shares
- Rhapsody Music service client (only available in US)
- Direct access to Nokia Internet Radio Directory with free internet radio stations available
- Supported audio formats: AAC, MP3, WMA, AMR, AWB, M4A, MP2, RA (RealAudio), WAV
- Supported video formats: 3GP, AVI, H.263, H.264, MP4, ASF, WMV, MPEG-1, MPEG-4, RV 7/8/9 (RealVideo)
- Supported playlist formats: M3U, PLS, ASX, WAX, WVX, WPL
- Desktop applet for internet radio
- Storage support for memory cards up to 8GB
While we (other tableteers and I) were updating our respective tablets and discussing them on IRC (in #maemo on freenode,) user "FMz" gave us the tip that Google Video not only works but Google Video DOWNLOADS work as well. I decided to try it:
Here's the same clip from the Google Video window shown above it. It's not perfectly smooth but the capacity is impressive nonetheless. There's still no native support for DivX or XviD, but Nokia is giving us a free download to take care of that: Video Converter. Expect a video demonstration of that application on this blog within a week.
Customizing Features
Applet location and sort order, text input and touch sensitivity, and even the status LED use can be tweaked under the Control Panel. Some consumers may never change these but power-users (like myself) will love the ability to tweak their interface to the last detail.Summary and Conclusion
As a portable device operating system, OS2008 scores a hit. The interface was built to focus on the Internet Tablet's primary purpose: Internet use. The shortcuts, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, and bundled software show that well. OS2008 goes beyond that to give the consumer something of value and interest beyond the browser, too. While the Nokia N800 and Nokia N810 are not primarily portable media players nor gaming devices, they are given those abilities to some degree with bundled and third-party applications. Boasting a Linux base and a rich developer kit, it's certainly poised to become much more than that which is included in the box.There are some things I would change. I would replace the default Email client (and will when modest is available for full release,) include a rich media player interface, and somehow try to squeeze XviD or DivX support in the media player. Even with a few rough edges, I have never seen any mobile device of this size accomplish so much in bundled software. Good work.
24 comments:
Fantastic work. The only thing left for me now is to shore up enough cash to buy one.
Great review as always Daniel.
Great article ThoughtFix.
> This is BULL.
Isn't this a bit too strong statement?
> I just installed the OS2008 on my N800 and except XViD and Mpeg4-SP, nothing else works. I tried over 80 videos, ranging from WMV8 to WMV9, many different h.264 in mp4,
I can play (also stream) all the WMV9 files I tried; h264 inside mp4files from Apple website work just fine, and I can also watch all the phone-produced videos. I think many other people can confirm this: any problems with your files maybe?
> and a number of DivX ones too.
As also mentioned by ThoughtFix there's no support yet for DivX (MPEG4 ASP)
> Nokia should remove these statements about video support or sit down and really fix stuff. They seem to either trying to fool us, or they haven't tested with many videos on their labs.
Instead of randomly attacking people you don't know you could be constructive and file bugs in Maemo bugzilla.
> Speaking as a video person, I am disgusted with their video support claims.
This is also not a very nice statement, also because it doesn't say the truth.
NONE of my h.264 videos work. And as I mentioned, they were encoded by different people at low-res at different levels, so at least ONE of them should have worked.
As for MPEG-ASP it does work: XViD *is* Mpeg-asp. It's just DivX that doesn't.
I don't know if you got lucky, or if you are lieing, but my videos don't work. I only managed to render XViD and MPEG4-SP (not -ASP or -Part10). WMV didn't work either for me.
> Instead of randomly attacking people you don't know you could be constructive and file bugs in Maemo bugzilla.
Sorry, but I won't do that. Reason: I've filled over 500 bugs for OSS projects the last few years and I have been over and again patient. I don't want to do that anymore. I had enough of it. I want things to work out of the box. If they don't, then they will get criticized.
Sony PS3 had a firmware upgrade too last night. I upgraded my PS3. And guess what: 90% of my files WORKED. DivX worked, XViD worked, some MPEG4-SP worked, and ALL h.264 worked. It wasn't perfect, but it was a great upgrade and it delivered very close to what it promised in terms of video.
This Nokia OS2008 upgrade DID NOT.
Thanks for the great review.
I'm still waiting for my image to finish downloading.
Hope i could play soon
Hello,
The download google video for pc worked even 2 years back with my nokia 770. SO that is nothing new there. BUt the only problem is that google videos really took a beating after youtube came so not that many good videos are hosted on google videos.
It's possible to hack in support of additional format support, both audio and video
h.264 *does* work. I tried an h.264 podcast from my iPod Video (Geek Brief, small size feed) and it played back just fine. A little grainy, but it was optimized for an iPod video screen, so understandable.
We must also not lose sight that the N800 is not touted at a media centre, it is an Internet Tablet. The fact it also plays video is by the same token as the Archos media players doing Web browsing. It works, but it is not its main functional purpose.
Does anyone know if the N800 navigation mapping software works under the OS 2008?
Does OS2008 boot up and shut down any faster? I was frustrated with how long my N770 took - and ended up selling it because of the time it took to boot up and shut down. I am considering the N800, but unless OS2008 boots up faster, I'm not interested. Has anyone timed the boot up time with OS2008?
Great post Daniel!!
Is it good use as a blog/ebook reader? Could you maybe post some photos of pdfs running on N800? or 770, 810? Doesn't really matter.
I'm considering to buy this device, just want to make sure it has a good screen for occasional reading.
Thanks
Nokia rolled out a new application for the 800 810 -- WeBot. WeBot allow one to stream music and/or view photos from multiple computers spread out anywhere on the web.. the way it works is you install a WeBot bot on a computer (win, mac or linux), associate music and photos to the bot and then on any computer -- and now the 810 and 800 Internet Tablet -- you access all your media instantly. if you have multiple computers, say on a home network, work, networked drives, etc.... you can get to all of the content and manage it (add remove directories). it's pretty cool. check it out. here's my blog which explains in a bit more detail. http://webotland.blogspot.com/
I miss the removed feature of the home-screen mainmenu, that a denser menu would open if you conjure it with a sharp object (like the stylus of fingertip), otherwise with bigger icons. The interface is not very screen-estate optimized, and i just hate scrolling menus around.
I'll also add my say in the video discussion here: unfortunately the OS2008 media player does not play videos recorded with my N95. I wish there were several formats that worked on most Nokia devices out of the box. I shouldn't need to run any sort of conversions or know any format-names to play files from an another device of mine.
to taka: 770, N800 and N810 are all meant to be "always on" devices, so why is closing down and booting up time so important to you? Hopefully not because so many crashes.. :D
Ugh, like mace, the changes to the "home" screen to make it more finger-navigatable makes it completely useless for me.
With OS2008, I can get less than half the number of contacts in my speed contact list than I could with OS2007 and the RSS reader applet can display way less information on screen at once also. Argh.
There are some things I really like about the new OS, but the loss of functionality from the applet reworking is pretty painful.
Excellent review, however, I have yet to see anyone tackle one feature that has been a serious pain... bluetooth headset pairing. I have a Jabra BT125 headset and I was very excited that OS2008 might finally allow bluetooth headsets but it doesn't seem to. I can't get the system to even detect the headset.
I am desperate for more info on this. Does anyone have any light to shed on this? Daniel?
Thank you
Nice overview.
I should mention I'm a bit disappointed with Nokia's brand new Internet Tablet Video Converter software for the PC. Its a nice piece of software (I eagerly awaited) and the easiest to use but doesn't seem to want to convert DVD .VOB files (from my Sony DVD video camera disks...).
I've been working with about 5 different tools trying to do this and find most of them didn't want to create the size I wanted or won't combine the multiple VOB files or mess up something else. I wanted 400X240x30fps for running on the N810 as this works best in full screen. At this time I'm finding myself using Intervideo's (corel)DVD copy utility. I'm still incidently disappointed the N810 won't run 720x480 full dvd resolution but that issue is film on floor now.
Hmm, all these comments on films not playing in the various formats:
How about using MPlayer?
It plays nearly all videos on the N800, just copy your beloved TV Series in XVid and normal resolution (e.g. the last I used was resolution 624/352 Pixels, 25 fps, 1405 KBits, 192 KBit Audio MP3) onto the N800 and off you go! Works fine for me :-)!
I ran into the same problem with the download of the update. Had to wait until the next morning and it still ran slow but final got it. Only have two issues since the upgrade. 1) Lost the use of the video feature in camera (was an OS2007 version), on the hunt for a OS2008 version, and 2) every time I put it in lock touch screen and put it in my coat pocket it unlocks itself (wtf?).
Overall I like what they've done, could use improvements, eveything could always use improvements.
Fantastic work. The only thing left for me now is to shore up enough cash to buy one.
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