Few things I would like to see in the next Nokia Internet Tablet device
By Dusan Belic on Thursday, November 20th, 2008 at 5:14 AM PST In Devices, Ideas and rants, Linux, Nokia
First of all, let me share my somewhat sad story with you. I have the Nokia (NYSE: NOK) N800 and love using it with Sierra Stowaway Bluetooth keyboard. When the N810 was initially announced, I thought who needs this when I already have the N800 and a separate keyboard. However as friend bought one for himself, I had a chance to play with it for few weeks. After getting used to the somewhat awkward keyboard, I started to appreciate the device. Soon afterwards, I decided to buy the N810, but wanted to get it from the U.S. as it was significantly cheaper due to weak dollar. Another friend from California ordered the device and shipped it to me. I never got it – it was lost somewhere in transport between North America and Europe. Boy was I pissed. Then I said “fine, I’ll wait for the next Nokia Internet Tablet and grab it as soon as it’s released.” After all, aside from the full slide-out keyboard (which is super-useful, don’t get me wrong) and built-in GPS receiver (which I actually don’t need that much), the N810 isn’t that much better that its predecessor. Both the N800 and N810 have the same amount of RAM (128 MB) and both Tablets rely on the same 400 MHz CPU. In a nutshell, the N810 is N800 with keyboard and GPS. As my N810 was lost (as I said previously), I decided to wait for the next Nokia Tablet.
And here are my thoughts about such a device – things I would like to see implemented in order to buy it:
- The form factor and size should remain the same. Keyboard could be improved, though.
- Screen size is perfect, but a higher resolution would be even better. 1024×600 pixels is what I want. Don’t tell me it can’t be done, as we’ve already seen smaller devices with such screens.
- As I said in my earlier post, more RAM is a must and so is the faster CPU. Intel Atom perhaps? Some other MIDs on the market use it.
- Built-in 3G/4G connectivity is not that important as far as I’m concerned, though an option would be nice.
- Additionally, Nokia could opt for a capacitive touchscreen, but that’s not a must the way I see it. A haptic feedback-enabled screen is also a valid option.
And that’s about all I wanted to say on the subject. We have two big events approaching, CES and Mobile World Congress, and I’m hoping to see and soon afterwards buy the next Nokia Internet Tablet device. What do you think? Would you buy such a device? Any thoughts?
Nokia already made some announcements at the Maemo Summit in September. We know this much about the next tablet:
- it will include HSPA data connectivity (developers
were told to assume “always online”)
- it will include a high definition camera
- it will use an OMAP3 high-performance processor
(”enabling up to 3X gain in performance over
ARM11-based processors)
- it will include hardware-accelerated graphics
- an alpha SDK is promised for developers this
month, with a beta SDK for developers in March
to May 2009 (so it seems unlikely that we will
see a device before summer 2009)
Source for the above:
http://www.vimeo.com/1853196
(see minutes 4 to 5 for features, 19 to 20 for dates)
We don’t know anything official about the form factor yet.
One thing i will add WIMAX have to be also in the next Internet Tabelt and more RAM and a faster CPU (!!!!).
Ah and please a better Browser the Mozilla Browser is better than the Opera Browser because it is not so often crash like Opera but i miss the TAB function.
Oh it is now more than one thing, but this tablet will be my next
I hope it will came soon true!!!
Atom? What in the world are you smoking? Devices twice the size with much bigger batteries can’t get more than a couple hours of that thing.
Nokia has already announced they will be using an OMAP3430—a much nicer (and insanely more power-efficient) SoC than the Atom. . . .
so, do you guys not think i should go for the N810 available right now, and wait for the next best thing?
There are two versions of Atom – one for laptops and the other one for MIDs. For instance Aigo’s and Gigabyte’s MIDs rely on Atom CPU.
@Dusan
Obviously, and the one for MIDs is the one with the 2-hour battery life. . . .
I think a N810 with faster processor, more RAM and two great features from the N800: FM Radio and two card slots.
3G Connectivity is not that important unless they add phone functionality two, cause a 3G connection without a phone means two chips: one for the N900 and other for the phone and two bills and all that stuff.
I love my n810. The few things I would change are:
Hardware:
1: An OLED screen such has on the n85, but with the 1024×600 resolution mentioned above, although for OLED I’d settle for the resolution not changing from current tablets.
2: Someone mentioned a scroll dial of some kind elsewhere, and while I like the touch screen I agree it would be a nice addition (especially if it acted as a select when depressed since finger selecting on some web pages is a pain with or without the stylus).
3: Better audio output power on the 3.5mm jack. I have to crank some systems I plug it into as well as blast the audio on the tablet itself to get decent sound levels.
4: Additional card slot would be nice, especially if they keep the internal card. I know it would annoy some people, but make it microSD
Everything else is.
5: Ability to charge via the USB.
6: USB 3.0 (do they have a mini/micro design yet?)
7: Keep it carrier independent (no cellular connectivity! not everyone uses HSPA, and tethering my phone is a lot cheaper)
8: Make it dockable (using the usb port, and possibly the 3.5 audio jack) so that we can have better car mounts and now desk mounts that don’t require pluggign and unplugging lots of cables.
Software:
1: Make the desktop applets lockable (i seriously don’t get how this hasn’t happened yet)
2: Work with firefox to make fennec better and the future default browser
hmm… well went off a bit more than I planned to.
I’d like to see more RAM, better processor, accelerometer, better GPS module, better touch screen (multitouch??), better camera . And may be better build quality/design.
Having a little “Video Out” jack would be great for we older folks that need a microscope to read the screen.
Using ‘video glasses’ as an option would be great.
I vote for tv/monitor output and external usb monitor – or even a docking station. In this way It would be able to replace my laptop for most of my needs.
External video would be nice…
http://www.tablet-guru.com/2008/03/18/nobounds-and-the-n810-show-the-future-of-the-internet-tablets/
http://www.internettablettalk.com/2008/03/14/the-nobounds-project/
but the noBounds site seems to not be available from Nokia anymore.
Wifi N. That’s all the extras i want.