I am a shutterbug, and most of the pictures that I take are shot with a mobile phone. My kids once said to me, “Daddy, you can snap. You snap everything!”

One of my pet peeves with the Nokia N9 is the lack of a hardware camera shutter button. Not having one means that I can’t take those self-portraits that I so love.

If you own an N9 (or plan to own one) and you are displeased with the lack of a physical shutter button for the camera as I am, I have good news for you.

A hack has been released which maps the “volume up” button on the device as a shutter button for the camera.

How To

1. Download the hack as a Debian file (application format for Maemo/MeeGo)

2. Run it to install on your N9. Once installed, you will find its icon in your app menu just like other apps

3. Anytime you need to use a shutter button, launch the app and leave it running in the background. As long as it is running, whenever you launch the camera, you can just use your “volume up” button as a shutter key.

That’s it. I have it running on my N9 now, and it is such a joy to be able to point the camera at myself (or anything else), smile, and… snap!

Source via Nokia Innovations

I am one of the priviledged few people in the world to own and use the exclusive and elusive Nokia N9. This is the wonder device with an amazing OS embedded in one of the most amazing hardware on mobile ever.

That OS has been branded MeeGo. However, the N9 does not really run MeeGo, because MeeGo wasn’t quite ready.

The N9 Is Not MeeGo

The Nokia N9 runs Maemo/Harmattan. Maemo was Nokia’s purpose built OS for tablets. It has powered a number of iterations of Nokia touchscreen tablets for years, the last being the N900, which I also reviewed here some time ago.

The N9 does not run MeeGo.

So, note: MeeGo wasn’t ready. On that, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop was right. Let us settle that once and for all. I have used the N9 till today, and I am convinced of that.

Even Maemo/Harmattan Isn’t Quite Ready

So, Nokia came up with an amazing device that runs Maemo/Harmattan branded as MeeGo. Problem solved. Who cares; right?

If you have been reading Mobility blog for a few months, you will have read my raving reviews and commentaries on the N9. All those positives remain valid. But here are the kind of issues that suggest to me that Maemo/Harmattan is not quite ready for mainstream consumers.

Take a look at these instructions:

Activate “Developer mode” by going to: Settings > Security > Developer mode. It’s OFF by default. Turn it ON.

After having it activated, you will find a “Terminal” app button under application menu.

Open it and you need to execute these commands (one command per line):

gconftool –recursive-unset /system/http_proxy
gconftool –recursive-unset /system/proxy
gconftool –recursive-unset /system/osso

I am betting my salary that if you are not a computer gizmo, you have no clue what those instructions are. I am betting that you have no interest in typing those Linux commands on your phone, except you live on command line instructions.

Well, those instructions are the only known way to solve a problem with the built-in Twitter app not working on the N9. Go figure.

For a long time, everything worked fine on my N9, then suddenly Twitter stopped connecting. Nothing I did worked. I restarted the device, checked my connections and even spoke to it (who knows?). Nada.

Finally, I got on the internet, and found that the only solution was the above steps. Now, I am more computer and mobile savvy than most people, but I can assure you that I didn’t feel any happier that I had found a solution. This solution sucks for the average consumer. It sucks for me too. Honest.

There are users with similar issues with the built-in Facebook app as well. There are some indications that adding multiple Google accounts on the N9 seems to corrupt the something somewhere (I’m deliberately avoiding geek-speak here).

Maemo, MeeGo, Mini, Mo

I love the Swipe UI of the Nokia N9, and thankfully Nokia say that they are implementing that on other devices. The N9 works well in almost every other way. But do ask yourself, “Do I want to become a Linux enthusiast in order to troubleshoot my smartphone?”

I’m betting that your answer is a big No – at least for most of you.

Troubleshooting Maemo/MeeGo devices will thrill geeks and nerds. But not the mainstream consumer. I am finally believing that Nokia made a good call dumping this platform.

Windows Phone, Anyone?

Windows Phone has a sleek, elegant user interface, but lacks too many functionality that Nokia fans have been used to. Too many.

as such, Nokia fans are caught in a tough place – Maemo/MeeGo not quite ready, Symbian has been pronounced dead (though it has stubbornly refused to die, the developer apathy to the platform is serious), and Windows Phone is so, so different.

Get Over It

Let’s get over it, guys: while the Nokia N9 is an amazing device and gets the job done, if and when you have issues, you know you don’t want to do the gobbledegook that is required to solve those problems.

Oh, plus, there are just too few apps available for the platform. It simply would be an uphill task getting apps to flood the market for it.

Running with Maemo/MeeGo simply would have been a strenous, uphill task for Nokia.

Still, I must commend the great job done by the small team that came up with the N9. Pulling this off in a matter of months, even after your CEO had declared your work as destined for the labs was amazing. Hat tip, guys.

But truth be told, this baby is not ready for mainstream consumerism yet.

Should You Get The N9?

Sure; it just depends on who you are. If you are a hardcore mobile enthusiast; yes do get it. If you love to use an exclusive device and stand out like I do, yes; do get one.

If you are also not an app junkie, by all means do get one.

Fortunately, I am both a hardcore mobile person and a lover of the finest in exclusivity. Plus, I use the barest minimum of 3rd party apps on my mobiles. As such, I am covered on all ends.

Now, do excuse me while I [grudgingly] go do the gobbledegook instructions required to get my Twitter account working on my N9 again. Don’t beef.

Comments please!

I have had the Nokia N9 for a couple of weeks now and have put it through my regular work schedule – and pushed it some more too.

It is not everyday that a smartphone like the N9 comes along. This dude packs a rare combination of holistic aesthetics with functionality like no other – and I’m afraid that includes its newer cousin, the Lumia 800.

The N9 In Summary

Strengths

• superb hardware design and performance
• Very good display
• Very good battery life
• Excellent user interface
• One-handed use and fluid desktop interface
• Superb social networking integration

Weaknesses

• Limited 3rd party apps
• Limited production units and distribution

If you want to stop there and find out whether I recommend the N9, my answer is a Yes; go buy one.

If however, you want to get the juicy details, do read on.

Operating System and User Interface

The N9 runs Maemo 6 Harmattan branded as MeeGo. True to tradition, the N9′s user interface is sweet and fluid without skimping on functionality.

Its older cousin, the N900, was king of multi-tasking in its day. The N9 handles multi-tasking like a champ – and without draining the battery like the N900 used to.

As a matter of fact, the N9 is a miracle in terms of performance – a 1GHz processor, a fluid interface, and multi-tasking in a sleek shell. It is paradise for both geek and non-geek alike.

The physical shell and the UI are a seamless blend, and the swiping gestures are natural and intuitive. Navigation is almost 100% by swipes. No button is present, and none is required to interact with the OS.

Display

At 3.9 inches and a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels, it gives a pixel density of about 251 ppi.

While the specs read good, non-geeks don’t care about specs. The N9′s AMOLED capacitive touchscreen is gorgeous to behold and to use. The curved glass, with anti-glare polariser translates to sharp images in every condition – indoors and outdoors. Even under direct glare of the tropical sun, you do not lose any legibility. Text and images are sharp and clear.

Web Browsing

The built-in browser is a mix of simplicity and advanced standards. The interface is clean and offers little by way of options, but it is fast and is one of the top HTML5-compatible browsers in the mobile space.

Sadly, there is no Flash support. I also noticed a bug – when entering text in a text box and the text overflows, there is no way to scroll through the text. This is a serious usability issue for people who use the browser for submitting info online.

Updated: The real issue is with interacting with text input fields – you can’t scroll through or highlight text, and so cannot copy or paste either.

Also, the option to copy text from web pages isn’t here either, which definitely limits usability. Shame, really.

It seems a limitation specific to the browser, as Firefox Mobile 10 on the N9 let’s me highlight and copy text both off web pages and text input fields.

So, if you need those features desperately, Firefox Mobile to the rescue (and with a more excellent HTML5 score of 314 too).

Email & Sync

Email rocks on the N9 – Mail for Exchange, Gmail, regular POP3/IMAP. All have worked well. With my Mail for Exchange account, my contacts and calendar entries are synchronised seamlessly to my device.

Organizer and Office features

The calendar is superb. The notes app is cool.

There is a Document viewer that supports Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF. The option to edit is not available. I would have expected that a device at this price point would include editing capabilities, so I am a bit disappointed there.

Multimedia

Multimedia on the N9 is good, but coming from the N8, it pales in comparison.

Let’s get it right: the N9 stands well on its own with a good 8 megapixel camera, a good music player and nice video playback.

However, let’s put the controversy to rest once and for all, the N8 beats the N9 in all these areas. N8′s camera performs better. N8 audio quality and volume is better. N8′s video codec support is better.

I must add here something that ticks me off – there is no physical shutter button on the N9 (though it’s twin sister, the Lumia 800 has one). It’s a big deal for me, as this absence means that I can’t take self-portraits. Yes; I love my face. Yes; I’m vain. Thank you.

The N9 also lacks an FM Radio and Transmitter as found on the N8.

Gaming

Games purr nicely on the N9, whether its Need For Speed, Angry Birds, Real FootBall or any of the other available titles.

The 1GHz CPU, graphics accelerator and accelerometre do a fine job of
keeping games running really nice.

Battery life

Honest to God, I was skeptical of how the N9′s 1450 mAh battery would hold up. I am glad to announce that all my fears have been wiped out. My N9 goes for a full day and a good chuck of the next on a single charge.

See my previous article, A look at the Nokia N9?s battery life, for details.

Built-in Apps

The N9 is on solid footing with regards built-in apps. The usual suspects are there on any smartphone platform, plus some nice integration of social networking and allied services.

Integrated apps and services are: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Skype, Flickr, Picasa, YouTube, and SIP.

Wifi Hotpot functionality is built in too.

3rd Party Apps

This is the only serious issue to be picked with the N9. The available 3rd party apps are limited, so if you are after hundreds of thousands of apps, please don’t look in this guy’s direction.

The N9 has the basic needs covered well – social networking especially. So if you are like me and don’t need or use 3rd party apps much, you are good with the N9.

My Conclusions

The N9 is spectacular and sublime. It screams and whispers.

It is death and also fresh life. It is the beginning and the end. There will be no more Maemo/MeeGo devices after this. Yet, it is Nokia saying, “Take a look at some of the nifty stuff that we are bringing you on other devices“. In other words, expect to see elements of the N9?s user interface on some upcoming Nokia products. This is just Nokia showing off.

The N9 is open and closed. It is functionality and aesthetics married in superfluity. It is what no other device is.

The polycarbonate unibody of the N9 is nothing short of outstanding craftsmanship. The N9 is the sexiest phone on the block It is a phone that you want to be seen with.

The OS and UI are superb and intuitive. They work. They flow. They wow! The N9 is a drop-dead absolutely stunning piece of work.

If you are a mobile enthusiast, you should get one.

If you followed my reviews of the Nokia N9′s older brother, the QWERTY slider N900 last year, you will remember that I found it an excellent device. Its main sore thumb, however, was poor battery life.

As such, one of my apprehensions concerning the N9 was this very issue: how well would this new kid on the block manage battery power?

As a rule, the N9 takes me through a full work day of email, web browsing, Twitter, calls, SMS and a few others. I hardly ever have to worry about running out of juice, and often go over 30 hours on one charge.

It really is amazing, considering that I had to move on from the N900 primarily because of its poor battery life.

The guys at GSMArena have also setup a new battery performance test for devices. Incidentally, the N9 was the first device to be subjected to this new test, and here is the verdict:

That gives the Nokia N9 a final score of 39, meaning that the smartphone will need to be charged every 39 hours if you do 1 hour of each of the three activities described above [3G voice call, web browsing, video playback - Editor]. So reasonably heavy users should expect to get about a day and a half from the N9.

As you can see, GSMArena’s tests seem to be in sync with my own average daily usage.

In a nutshell, the Nokia N9 seems to be one of the most power-efficient smartphones in the market at the moment. This dude keeps pulling surprises!

I do not remember any mobile device that has been received with the kind of excitement with which the Nokia N9 has been received in the mobile blogosphere.

Nokia says that the N9 is a demonstration product of sorts, limits production to just about 90,000 units, stiffles it for Windows Phone, limits country availability, yet everybody who has reviewed one is raving about it.

This has to be said: the N9 is not even being compared to the iPhone; rather it has become the new standard, and the iPhone is being compared to it.

No other mobile has been described with the dramatic, poetic, sometimes almost erotic language that the N9 has been described with.

I thought I would compile excerpts from some of the N9 reviews floating about the internet. Hope you enjoy them.

The Sexiest Mobile

Matthew Miller, on Twitter; ZDnet
I really like my new iPhone 4S, but it’s funny how blocky it is while others go sleek. The N9 is the “sexiest” mobile phone I have seen.

I have only been using the N9 for a few hours so cannot comment on battery life, camera performance, and a host of other functions, but will be spending more time with it and report back on my findings. It really is a slick device with a nice OS, but it is also sad that so few people will ever be able to experience it.

The Most Amazing Phone You’ll Never Buy

Robin Wauters, Tech Crunch
The Nokia N9 is easily one of the most pleasant, fast and thoughtfully designed phones I’ve ever used. And I’ve used plenty of iPhones and Android phones to date to know what I’m talking about.

There’s a lot of things to like about the N9: the quality and responsiveness of the touch screen, the nifty ‘swiping’ features, the general look and feel of the (unibody) hardware, the navigation and ‘Drive’ applications, the curved glass, the camera quality, the way notifications work, the incoming updates river view, the lack of buttons, built-in NFC capabilities, and so on. A really, really solid job, Nokia.

Once In A Lifetime

GSMArena
When the first touch-only OS debuts on one of the hottest pieces of hardware this year, you can bet we want a piece of the action.

When a smartphone’s popularity is off the charts without it being all over TV, it must really be something special.

We were amazed by the silky smooth handling when we first met the N9 back in June. If you can pull off that kind of performance, it doesn’t really matter what kind of chip is doing the math inside.

The general performance of the Nokia N9 is silky smooth, even with all the eye candy that MeeGo offers. Animations are fluid, everything opens quickly and there are no hiccups even with over 15 apps in the background.

Beautiful. Simple. Brilliant. Out of place and hardly on time. Timeless…

If price is of no concern, you’ll have a phone like no other. More importantly, it’s nothing like the iPhone – and that somehow seems a mandatory requirement these days. Funny actually, if any device comes even close to the Nokia N9 and its touchscreen experience, it’s the iPhone.

Gone in 60 seconds

Timi Cantisano, The Mobile Fanatics
Experiencing the device for the first time is magical. Time stops, everything goes silent, your heart slows, you hold your breath because you can feel that this device is a piece of history. The slightly protruding curved glass screen is bright and extremely glossy, reflecting everything and anything like a highly polished jewel. The colors emitted by the glass display are colorful, true, and unyielding under extreme lighting conditions like sunlight. The N9 display is surrounded by a black shell thats soft to the touch, firm in construction and compliments the display well due to its matte finish. This design, structure, and style exude decadence and is something that is missing from current offerings by competitors.

Just like its impressive exterior the OS is brilliant. The N9 is different, it doesn’t rely on dedicated touch sensitive buttons but instead relies on swipes and gestures to accomplish actions. Often swiping from the side, bottom, and top of the screen will yield different results making the interaction with the N9 extremely physical and intimate. Over time your body reacts appropriately and swipes instinctively and all the while the OS stays right on pace without a sign of exhaustion. Simply put, the OS is quick, beautiful, and intuitive. Its a perfect example of creating something from scratch that is both familiar and different.

Beautifully Frustrating

Alex Kidman, Gizmodo Australia
It’s a very well made smartphone that feels great in the hand, responds with a surprising turn of speed and covers the majority of smartphone basics very well indeed.

The camera is great; just taking some sample shots shows good colour reproduction, fast focus and a simple shooting mechanism that just plain works. No, it’s not yet a DSLR, but it’s easily in the top echelon of smartphone cameras.

Battery life is very solid. Like most smartphones, if you run it hard — and especially if you use the hotspot function — it’ll conk out within a day, but with moderate use I’ve managed multiple days without it plaintively complaining of low power.

All this sounds excellent; a solid smartphone with a clever operating system, good response, great camera and eye catching design. But I’m still not buying one.

Gorgeous Hardware and Brilliant Software

Myriam Joire, Engadget
Love at first sight — this is possibly the most beautiful phone ever made. It’s not our first hardware love affair (we’re looking at you, iPhone 4S), nor likely our last, but the N9 is in a class of its own in terms of design. You’ve never seen anything like it, and if you think it’s attractive in pictures, wait until you see it in person — it’s completely and utterly irresistible.

The 3.9-inch FWVGA (854×480) ClearBlack AMOLED display is phenomenal, rivaling Samsung’s Super AMOLED Plus — text and graphics just appear to float on the panel, further refining the experience.

MeeGo 1.2 Harmattan is such a breath of fresh air it will leave you gasping — that is, until you remember that you’re dealing with a dead man walking. It’s impossible to dismiss what’s been achieved here — a thoroughly modern, elegant, linux-based OS with inspired design that’s simple and intuitive to use, all developed in house by Nokia.

Like No Other Phone

Dennis Bournique, WapReview
It’s one of the most innovative new phones I’ve used in a long time. The “Swipe” UI is very efficient, there’s obviously been a lot of thought put into making it easy to get things done. Still it is like no other phone before it and users coming from another platform, even Maemo, will need a little time to get up to speed. Thankfully. the learning curve is shallow and after only a week I feel I’m able to use the full power of the Swipe interface with confidence, something that took me months with Symbian and Android.

A universal Experience of Delight & Desire

Vlad Savov, This Is My Next/The Verge
I say this without any qualification: the Nokia N9 is beautiful. Everything about this phone’s design exudes elegance and harmony. Lines flow seamlessly into one another, fit and finish is perfect, and the feel in the hand is sublime.

I’ve used the N9 alongside an iPhone 4S and an HTC Radar over the last few days and would say it has the best ergonomics of the three. The aluminum-clad Radar often feels cold to the touch (because of its inherent thermal conductivity), while the iPhone’s glass surfaces and straight edges can’t match the N9′s smooth curvature and grippy texture. The N9′s Gorilla Glass screen slopes off at the sides, making it feel as if it were melted onto the phone’s body. The sensation of using it is exactly as divine as that analogy makes it sound.

The only other company that has shown this kind of immaculate care with keeping design themes consistent is Apple. Ultimately, what Nokia has put together in the N9?s UI is nothing short of a triumph. It feels cohesive and, remarkably, lives up to the fantastic elegance of the phone’s physical design and construction.

Holistically Beautiful

Chris Davies, SlashGear
Our frustration is that the N9 doesn’t deserve to die. In fact, Nokia has delivered a double-punch of compelling software and beautiful hardware: a device that earned curious, envious glances while we played with it in public, and a platform that was both instantly usable and consistently slick.

…it’s hard to escape the polish of the N9?s hardware/software combination. Seldom are we so reluctant to part with a review unit as we are over sending the N9 back to Nokia. It may not be the fastest, or the most whiz-bang of the smartphones, but it’s holistically beautiful and an example in many ways of why Nokia once led the mobile field.

The Ferrari of Phones

Randall Arnold, Tabula Crypticum
There’s been enough mentioned on this aspect, but I have to say it myself nonetheless: this is the Ferrari of phones. In fact I even suggested on Twitter that Nokia co-brand a red one with the Italian king of cars. I cannot overstate the sexy elegance. Yes I have overused that word “sexy”. Yes the N9 deserves it. No other cell phone has been designed better. Most don’t even come close.

MeeGo Harmattan provides the ultimate mobile device experience. Period. Yes, I have a fondness for the various Maemo iterations (and a tolerance for Symbian Anna) but this user experience is state of the art. Swiping is so intuitive, so expected, that I now find myself futilely flicking my finger across the screens of lesser devices.

I must now remind the reader: I am really a computer person, not a phone person. And when I have had to use a cell phone, my past preference has been Nokia sliders and E71-type form factors. So when I tell you I can’t put this candy bar touchscreen phone down, that’s profound. The user experience has no equal.

An Excerpt from my own Draft Review
The N9 is spectacular and sublime. It screams and whispers.

It is death and also fresh life. It is the beginning and the end. There will be no more MeeGo/Maemo devices after this. Yet, it is Nokia saying, “Take a look at some of the nifty stuff that we are bringing you on other devices“. In other words, expect to see elements of the N9′s user interface on some upcoming Nokia products. This is just Nokia showing off.

The N9 is open and closed. It is functionality and aesthetics married in superfluity. It is what no other device is.

The polycarbonate unibody of the N9 is nothing short of outstanding craftsmanship. The N9 is the sexiest phone on the block It is a phone that you want to be seen with.

The OS and UI are superb and intuitive. They work. They flow. They wow! The N9 is a drop-dead absolutely stunning piece of work.

If you are a mobile enthusiast, you should get one.

Timi Cantisano is Managing Editor of The Mobile Fanatics. He has written a brief piece that captures the magnificence of the Nokia N9 beautifully, and I think its worth sharing.

An excerpt:

Experiencing the device for the first time is magical. Time stops, everything goes silent, your heart slows, you hold your breath because you can feel that this device is a piece of history. The slightly protruding curved glass screen is bright and extremely glossy, reflecting everything and anything like a highly polished jewel. The colors emitted by the glass display are colorful, true, and unyielding under extreme lighting conditions like sunlight. The N9 display is surrounded by a black aluminum shell thats soft to the touch, firm in construction and compliments the display well due to its matte finish. This design, structure, and style exude decadence and is something that is missing from current offerings by competitors.

Just like its impressive exterior the OS is brilliant. The N9 is different, it doesn’t rely on dedicated touch sensitive buttons but instead relies on swipes and gestures to accomplish actions. Often swiping from the side, bottom, and top of the screen will yield different results making the interaction with the N9 extremely physical and intimate. Over time your body reacts appropriately and swipes instinctively and all the while the OS stays right on pace without a sign of exhaustion. Simply put, the OS is quick, beautiful, and intuitive. Its a perfect example of creating something from scratch that is both familiar and different.

On the one hand, it is sad that such a magical experience as the N9 is also a bus-stop of sorts. But then, Nokia says that elements of the UI/UX will be integrated into some of their upcoming devices, so we might as well see it as a demonstration product.

Truth be told, there is not any other smartphone on the market like the Nokia N9. I am glad to high heavens that I own and use this very stunning collector’s item.

Do enjoy Timi’s full article: Nokia N9: Gone in 60 seconds.

Here’s a short video tour of the Nokia N9. This is a smartphone running MeeGo/Harmattan underneath Nokia’s Swipe UI.

Download: If you’d like to download this, you can do that via this link from KeepVid.com.

What do you think of it? Any questions about anything in the video? I’ve still got my written reviews coming up, but this should be a good platform to take and answer questions.

My Nokia N9 arrived yesterday, but I was out and about the whole day and didn’t get it till I was on my way home. Anyone who knew how Lagos was yesterday knows that vehicular traffic was killing.

I rarely do unboxings. However, I was stuck in traffic for hours, many times at a stand-still for several minutes. To while away the time, I decided to do an on-the-road unboxing. Enjoy the pics and comments below.

Disclosure:

1. This Nokia N9 is a gift from Nokia West Africa
2. This is my 3rd smartphone gift from Nokia
3. Nokia West Africa is a client of mine as well
4. The above facts notwithstanding, I have always made my device reviews as objective as possible, dishing out criticism of Nokia’s devices as I see fit. Not once has Nokia stepped in to ask me to tone down or be nicer. You can expect me to remain as objective as I have always been

I haven’t had time to play much with the N9, but I will get to it today and over the weekend. You can expect screenshots and reviews.

In the meantime, I must say that the user interface is clean, sweet and elegant. It actually reminds me a lot of WebOS.

It actually feels good to be one of the very first individuals to own one of this very rare device running MeeGo/Harmattan. Too much swagga. Thanks to everyone who sent in felicitations. Much appreciated.

For anyone planning on buying this collector’s item off me, its yours for just $1 million only. That’s a mere N165 million. Not much.

Please fire away your questions in the comments section below.

Yes; you read right: my Nokia N9 – that MeeGo-powered smartie that everyone has been raving about – arrives tomorrow. It feels good to be one of the first guys to own one in these parts.

Considering that this is going to be a rare device (very limited copies are being produced), you can imagine how I feel. Would I be able to sleep tonight? Would I be able to sleep for days after it gets to me?

If you have seen videos of the N9, or read any of the various hands-ons available on the internet and seen the superlatives that this device has been described in, you will understand my excitement.

That curved display. That body. That user interface. The swiping. The caressing. Tap. Knock. Remember NFC? What of the camera? The browser.

The flaunting. The “Oooohs”. The “Aaaahs”. The swagga. Too much.

I’m itching to pitch it against its older sibling, the N8. Zonks; I’m itching to pitch it against anything in the smartphone market right now.

But I have to wait. Till tomorrow. If I pass away overnight from cardiac arrest, y’all know what was responsible. If you believe in prayers, pray for me. No; don’t shake your head. I already know that I’m pathetically, hopelessly irredeemable.

We threw out a quiz on Twitter yesterday. The question was:

What was the first Maemo-powered device from Nokia?

The answer to that question is the Nokia 770

Lots of tweeps who responded said it was the N900. However the N900 was the 4th Maemo device. The up-to-date list of Maemo devices is here:

1. Nokia 770 (Maemo 1, updated to 2)
2. Nokia N800 (Maemo 3)
3. Nokia N810 (Maemo 4)
4. Nokia N900 (Maemo 5/Fremantle)
5. Nokia N950 (Maemo 6/Harmattan, branded as MeeGo)
6. Nokia N9 (Maemo 6/Harmattan, branded as MeeGo)

Yes; the N950 and N9 are not really MeeGo. They run Maemo 6, but branded as MeeGo.

The 770 was an internet tablet released in November 2005 running a 252 MHz Texas Instruments OMAP 1710 CPU. It had no GSM radio, and had Opera web bowser bundled with it.

The display was a 4.1-inch 65,536 color looker back then, and had a resolution of 800×480 pixels at 225 pixels per inch.

The first correct answer was from Spacyzuma:

Spacyzuma, please DM us your mobile number, so we can send you some free airtime! Not much, but just to spice up the quiz

If you are not already following us on Twitter, get in on the fun and follow us @MobilityBlog today!

Okay, let’s do this the easy way. Repeat after me:

1. In the beginning, there was Maemo from Nokia
2. Maemo merged with Mobline from Intel and became MeeGo
3. Then MeeGo got married to Tizen
4. Tizen. Tizen. Tizen. That’s the new name.

So, what is Tizen? Good question!
Tizen is a new open source project that is the home of the Tizen software platform, a mobile and device operating system based on Linux and other popular upstream projects.

Like MeeGo, the Tizen project will support multiple device categories, including Tablets, Netbooks, Handsets, Smart TV, and In-Vehicle Infotainment systems.

The Linux Foundation will host the project, where Tizen development will be completely open and led by a technical steering team composed of Intel and Samsung. The Limo Foundation is also involved here.

Meanwhile, what happens to Nokia and MeeGo, especially with the launch of the N9? Well, the N9 is not really MeeGo. It is Maemo 6 Harmattan branded as MeeGo (which sort of suggests that MeeGo wasn’t quite ready, just as Nokia had claimed).

Will Nokia hold on to the Maemo part of MeeGo for their disruptive activities? Seeing that they are in bed with WindowsPhone already, it does not seem plausible that they will jump in with Tizen. But what do we know?

Anyway, that’s the low-down. Say bye-bye to MeeGo, and hello to Tizen.

Source. Also, you can visit the Tizen homepage for more details.

Popular Facebook mobile application for Symbian^3 and Maemo smartphones, fMobi, has now been made available for Symbian S60 5th Edition smartphones as well.

You can download fMobi for S60v5 here.