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Nokia N900 Hands-On

Sep 18, 2009, 12:37 AM by Eric M. Zeman & Rich Brome

A quick hands-on with Nokia's first phone running the Linux-based Maemo platform, with video, photos, and more.

Video Tour

Here is a short video tour of the Nokia N900. We get a detailed look at how the user interface works and a brief look at the hardware. You can watch the video here:

Or visit YouTube for more viewing and sharing options.

Photos

Body

open

Our time with the N900 was brief, but we did get to see (and photograph) some keys parts of the user interface (UI). We have a few brief thoughts to share based on our quick spin around the thing.

Home screen

home screens

The home screen is a lot like Android, with re-arrangeable widgets on side-by-side screens that you can switch between with a swipe to the left or right. Widgets sit next to app icons and web page shortcuts.

When you edit a home screen, little buttons appear on the widgets to remove or adjusting options. The widget options window slides up from the bottom of the screen, with the desktop blurred in the background; it's a slick-looking effect.

Misc UI

main menu

The UI in general takes some getting used to. There are non-obvious tricks you need to know to get around, like poking at the edge of the screen (where there's nothing) is supposed to take you "back". In general, you can usually get where you want by poking at the icon in the top-left corner. I was never really sure what action it was supposed to perform nor where it would take me, but it seemed to cycle through main screens - like home, main menu, and the app switcher - such that I eventually got where I wanted to go.

The main menu is a fixed grid of "top" app icons, with the last item being a "more" icon. "More" takes you to a more-common scrolling grid of all the remaining apps. This reminds us of the way Windows Mobile used to work.

The app switcher is straightforward enough. This is a true multi-tasking phone.

Browser

full-screen

The browser looks decent enough. The very high-res display on the N900 really shines here.

Messaging

new msg. alert at top

The text messaging experience is quite nice. New messages appear as a notification at the top of the screen, with message text and all. In the app switcher - which usually shows simple thumbnail views of app screens - the messaging app has a special look that summarizes new messages. Going into the messaging app itself, you get a very nice threaded view with contact photos, exact times, and large emotion button when composing a reply.

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About the author, Eric M. Zeman & Rich Brome:

Eric has been covering the mobile telecommunications industry for 17 years at various print and online publications. He studied at Rutgers Newark and University of Kentucky, and has a degree in writing. He likes playing guitar, attending concerts, listening to music, and driving sports cars.

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Nokia N900

3.5" display HD+ resolution
TI OMAP 3430 processor
1,320 mAh battery
Memory Card Slot, Hardware Text Keyboard, Headphone Jack (3.5mm)

Comments

This forum is closed.

This forum is closed.

thaboy2007

Sep 29, 2009, 6:56 PM

I was right thanks for the help phonescoop not

I wrote last time that if the n900 had MMS and a writer wrote everypjone to date has it expect for the iPhone well till this past well I just read on thenokisblog.com that it said it doesn't have MMS yah some help indeed

STEELRIK

Sep 18, 2009, 11:30 AM

Better than the N97

Wow, Im love with phone, almost like love at fist sight, I will try to look for other ways to get extra money to get it, I guess I will try to get extra money with a PTC or PTR site. I'll wait for this phone hit the US Nokia site or at least somewhere of Continental North America or Latin America

Jayshmay

Personally I'm going to wait for the N900's successor. My money is tied up in an effort to become debt-free, by the time I'm finished with this goal the next version of the N900 should be out. I currently have the N95, but I very much look forward to ...
(continues)

Jayshmay

Guess what, this might be shocking, but the almighty N900 is actually cheaper, not by much, $17 less than the N97, that kinda surprised me!!! On amazon's website the N900 is $583

http://www.amazon.com/Nokia-N900-Computer-Unlocked-3 ... »...
(continues)

...

thaboy2007

Sep 24, 2009, 12:31 PM

lAst one for me

Wanted to know is the n900 comes with preloaded games or would u have to use the ovi store for games n apps or are they doin it competely different from the ovi store

thaboy2007

Sep 24, 2009, 12:27 PM

Wat date

Just wanted to know when was the n900 comin out Like exact date

thaboy2007

Sep 23, 2009, 9:29 AM

gots to know

hows is the n900 call time and speaker phone on it

thaboy2007

Sep 20, 2009, 3:18 PM

????

I wanted to know how's the calls quailty on this smart phone and does it has a speakerphone and if ur gettin it for tmobile does it still carry the my fab 5

fer712

why would it not have the fab5.....ur slow that feature it has nothing to do wit the phone so yes it will work 😳

mingkee

Sep 20, 2009, 8:14 PM

can this phone display Asian sites correctly?

Unfortunately, I am unable to test out at Nokia Flagship store (the reps said the phone is not available).
I want to test main functions plus:
display Far East characters
streaming/local audio support

thaboy2007

Sep 18, 2009, 8:49 AM

N900

I was watchin a couple of videos of the n900 but didn't see where u can send mms does it have it or not????

mixali

🤣

duane534

The ONLY device on the market that does not have MMS capability is the iPhone on AT&T. The iPhone on T-Mobile even has it. If you're on AT&T, get an xpPhone and sell your upgrade phone on eBay.

...

HokiesACC

Sep 18, 2009, 9:27 PM

Stereo speakers....

This is for the PhoneScoop guys if they see this or anybody else who's had a hands on. Any idea how the speakers are? Are they better than the N97? Are they like the ones on the N95 in terms of loudness and ability to play music well?

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