I love what I’ve seen of MeeGo; But….
I’d rather not bring this up right after some of us have seen what could easily be one of the most gorgeous and simultaneously functional user interfaces ever seen, but I’m not sure I’ll be getting a MeeGo device or more specifically, this device. Read on to hear why.
Unlike Maemo which was the unruly child literally put up for adoption by its parents soon after it grew the ability to talk, the MeeGo we see today is a fully-fledged consumer facing solution which is more like the well-spoken prodigy of a child than anything else. And yet, I can’t help wondering whether it’ll suffer a similar fate, relegated to nothing but a memory through machinations not quite understood by the rest of us.
I had very low expectations of the MeeGo UI even after those preview videos we drooled over last year; in part due to my disappointment in Symbian^3. Usability-wise Symbian^3 was a significant step up from the Symbian-touch of yesteryear and at the same time for all the waiting involved it was disappointingly frustrating, clunky and behind the times UI-wise. Nokia eventually decided to EOL Symbian in the foreseeable future, deprecate MeeGo to a “future disruptions”/skunk-works/concept devices strategy and Windows Phone as their main platform. After seeing the way MeeGo ran on hardware that is for all intents and purposes well over a year old the only words that my mouth could form were “wow!”.
The attention (and praise) that MeeGo and the N9 is getting not just here but in the mainstream media (NyTimes mainstream!), the consumer technology space including noted critics of Nokia (Engadget) is warranted and more importantly, surprising. In what was literally one of the most chill product announcements ever, Marko Ahtisaari ran us through the most basic of basics surrounding the device, told us a bit about the hardware design and engineering and left, no long unimportant spiel, no fluff, just cut to the chase -said his piece and left.
After having sat through the entirety of the keynote prior to that fighting off the boredom that was plaguing me (and likely everyone else on the internet), the 15 minute presentation on the N9 left me nigh-speechless, it was just THAT good. Shoot, the last time I can say I was this blown away by a Nokia was the N95 way back in 2007. The hardware and UI combination literally floored me and I can honestly say that I’ve not seen anything this impressive, ever! BUT…why should I buy it? Sure the device literally comes with almost every imaginable cloud service and feature fully baked in, sure there’s a decent mapping solution, sure there is the Qt-based application ecosystem to consider and sure the open-source community will give it all the time and energy they can muster but the overriding question remains; does it have a future?
Do Nokia intend to divert manpower and resources to this specific device and platform in the coming years? Does the surrounding ecosystem in terms of applications have enough viability to warrant developer investment in Qt and specifically MeeGo? Will the heavy hitters actually make applications for this platform without significant effort being undertaken by Nokia themselves? Will there be an end-to-end solution for music, videos, cloud-storage, data streaming and other similar applications? Hate on Microsoft, Google and Apple ecosystems all you want for being closed and restricting, but the majority of consumers want, nay, need these things in ways I’m not sure MeeGo will provide.
I want to see good products succeed, regardless of the companies responsible. I want choice, ease of use and low-cost in my mobile device options (which are becoming an increasingly intrinsic part of our daily lives). I think MeeGo, as compared to stand-alone mobile operating systems is both a breath of fresh air and a great product, but like our dear friend Stephen Elop says, “We are moving from a battle of devices to a war of ecosystems.” Will MeeGo have a competitive ecosystem? I truly hope it does.
Category: Nokia
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So you've read something I've written. yay!! As you already know, my name is Andre and I'm currently a student based in Atlanta. Much like Jay, I pretty much blog here in my free time. Follow me on twitter @andre1989 or contact me directly at Andre(at)mynokiablog(dot)com. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or suggestions.Subscribe
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Sites That Link to this Post
- What’s in an ecosystem? : My Nokia Blog | June 23, 2011
- Ultimate guide to web reaction to the Nokia N9. | The MicroNokia Developer | June 23, 2011
Andre is a Windows Phone die-hard neophyte-fanatic
Andre wants MeeGo to fail to let Nokia focus on Windows Phone idiotic crap only.
some one has a different opinion than me! I must insult them!
Eldar Murtazin was brutally raped when in Moscow prison last year. Does your butt still hurt?
……I’d buy a MeeGo phone in a minute if I knew that it held up well day to day and that I’d have the games and applications and music services that I already have. I’m platform and OS agnostic once I get what I want.
I PREFER Nokia HW though.
Dude, if we doubt buying it that much, Nokia will definitely call it a “failure” and move on to WP7.
I want both Ecos to succeed, both MG and WP! If that means buying one of each, then so be it.
The N9 will be in my pockets no matter what comes up.
does anyone know about keyboard language support for this? Specifically i want to be able to switch between thai and english keyboards.
I don’t know about thai support but I know that you can switch keyboard layout by a single swype gesture right on a keyboard.
Donut? ugh. Your egarnis where cute i wanted to see those. magnets are kinda silly.
power to Meego!
The moment I saw the heading I instantly knew who dropped this steaming pile. Oh Andre, you WP troll you… Can’t leave well enough alone and let people have their bit of fun, can you now? Last time I checked your beloved slut WP was drunk and lying in the gutter.
+1000
*2^46
Shame there isn’t a way to vote stories down. Andre’s blatant Windows Phone fanboy trolling would get downvoted into oblivion every time.
GET THIS SHIT OFF THE FRONT PAGE.
To both Ninja and Zorg.
Why is that one needs to resort to powertalk to make clear he or she hates semi WP pro thinking?
I don’t read similar wording in Andre’s story that slags MeeGo, now do I?
Disagreeing is everyones right, and actually should happen. If we would all agree with one an other it would be boring as heck.
But suggesting Andre’s is a ‘WP troll’ and ‘getting shit of the front page’ is neither necessary or needed.
Yeah, his post was absolutely okay… Calm down
This close to going on what would be the most epic Rant post of all time, but I won’t I’ll bite my tongue for now. If you don’t like my opinions or views on things, provide your own, let me read them, otherwise please watch your damn tongue.
lol Andre’s posts are perfectly reasonable. Which is more than can be said for ninja’s. Which is prob why no one listens to ninja even if he does have the odd good point scattered through his rants
I love what ive seen of meego but…
M$ is giving me $$$$
I have not gotten a dollar and will never get a dollar or device from Microsoft or I would already have a Mango preview done.
I have however, gotten a relatively hassle free device and services I actually want to use from them, something I can’t say about other smartphone platforms.
Talking about ecosystem, here are the number of applications for each platform:
Ovi Store: about 50000
Windows Phone Marketplace: about 20000
Hmmm……
How many applications in the Ovi Store are written in Qt? How many are Symbian^3 specific? Next, how many are of good quality? How many are not actually applications but personalisation items?
Now then…. Application Numbers are not and should not be used as a bludgeoning tool for one ecosystem vs another. I never supported it when Symbian was being treated the same way and I will NOT support it now.
Application numbers are by and large irrelevant. Quality of content, diversity and feature filling are what matter.
how many apps in market place have a good quality?
Search for market place+spam and you will understand.
Andre, that argument kind of negates your post.
As long as MeeGo has the top 20 apps (or equivalent) and has a good usability (and right now it is just a lot simpler to use than WP7) it is probably enough for a year/18 months.After that we will see – maybe Nokia will commit to producing one device a year/18months. That will be enough for most of us.
Having used a WP7 device briefly I don’t think it is usable on a daily basis – now Mango might change my mind but I doubt it. The big issue with WP7 is that it is crazy complicated. The learning curve is too high for the average user.
Ah, great, I really hope you can feed this theory to potential Android buyers.
yeah great. 49990 of them complete garbage
Excellent post Andre!
Now, there is one thing I’m pondering. I have a friend who currently uses a Nokia 5800. He’s been using it since the year it launched. Now he is interested in replacing it. First of all, it would probably be hard to convince him to get anything but Nokia. The N9 is a sexy one, and he is interested in getting it. I told him that I can’t recommend it yet, due to a few unclear things, which you discussed in this post. Now tell me, would you recommend the N9 to someone quite average, who uses services like Ovi/Nokia Store, Maps and Music, but isn’t an expert or annything (he asked me when Nokia’s going to release phones with that Android or whatever
)? I think that a WP Nokia would also be excellent for him, but the N9 will probably come to stores sooner.
Tell him to buy it. It’s an excellent phone. The more the merrier.
Get it and support the ecosystem, someone must take the first step.
Don’t be cheap, support what you believe in.
The Nokia Microsoft partnership has interesting consequences for Nokia’s own services, very specifically their Music offering. In my area of the world I’d sooner use iTunes for my music than Ovi Music and Zune Pass beats the pants off both.
I would wholeheartedly recommend the N9 to an average user but for those who tend to ask a lot of their devices, the above average users.
The users that might be inclined to make a little system mod here or there and use tons of different applications many of which are unavailable on Nokia-run platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Kindle and one or two other more US-centric services then it might be a tougher sell. That said, if I had the money, I’d buy one right now, no doubts about it.
To André and all the other hesitators. MeeGo becomes what people want it to become. I’m quite confident MANY people will buy this phone if not their geek friends tell them, hey it has no ecosystem don’t buy it. Well of course it won’t get one with no user.
Get in there, buy a MeeGo device, get millions of other people to do it and bam you got the ecosystem.
MeeGo IS better than both Android and WP7 in terms of UX, which means it is a better phone. Don’t hesitate, SUPPORT IT if you want it to succeed.
It becomes what you make out of it!
users*
+1
what andre is saying is correct, ( bar his talking up the hardware of this device – which is pathetic – camera included despite what nokia are telling us).
basically microsoft is on the cusp on having a unified os (windows
on pc’s, tablets, and phones. which includes, internet explorer, voi phone, voi video calls, email, music, movies, tv, games, documents, apps, all available via the cloud should you choose, or not if you dont. not to mention legacy support of windows x86 programs ON MOBILE PHONES !
think about it, you use ur mobile out and about during the day, u go to work, connect it to ur monitor and viola – windows 8 at work, use ur keyboard and mouse, edit some documents etc, while still receiving ur email, tx’s etc, then disconnect, go home and connect it to ur tv and viola ! windows 8 pc setup appears, play ur games, download a torrent or 2, watch a movie, etc
the potential of this is fantastic ! yes meego is trying for this route, but lets be honest, its years away from realisation. also while linux programs can be converted easily ( so people claim, yet not much proof of it on the n900 – where is amarok, etc ?) windows phone has a lot more quality programs, not to mention games.
YEAH, we like monopoly don’t we?! Get back to Soviet Russia.
Monopoly = bad
Continuous client UX = VERY VERY GOOD.
It’s a tradeoff I suppose.
Continuous as in never changing? Or as in uniform?
Change, is what has driven the human to where he is today.
I know WP7 have barely joined the party but it’s time to move on.
Join the revolution today! MeeGo’s revolution! It’s just better than WP7, fact.
Better technically speaking, it haven’t come as long as WP7 yet but it will not stall as early as WP7. There just isn’t much more that can be done to WP7, MeeGo on the other hand can surpass it if you support it!
It hasn’t*, don’t know what’s wrong with me today
there is nothing meego can do that windows can not do.
Not currently, but in the future. MeeGo has a brighter future technically speaking with features WP7 will never ever get.
Until you say concrete examples, all you’re doing is trolling.
Don’t take this the wrong way, but: “MeeGo has a brighter future technically speaking with features WP7 will never ever get.”. Yeah, like which ones?
yes, no one wants games and hundreds of thousands of programs and apps available to them everywhere at all times. no one wants access to cloud based storage, no one wants integrated social networking, full web browsing experience on their phones, no one wants a proper app store, no one wants access to every bluetooth device, and peripheral there is, like printers, hands free kits, gamepands, mice etc on thier phones, no one wants a ecosystem backed by the biggest and most powerful software company on earth, and no one wants a phone that has the power of a pc in their pocket. no we all want meego and the hope that is gets better.
stfu you imbecile !
It won’t ever get that stuff if we don’t support it. I rather support Nokia than Micrsoft, especially when Nokia’s OS (not entirely Nokia’s but you get the point) is better.
And at the end of the day, you’re still a fatpanda.
“not to mention legacy support of windows x86 programs ON MOBILE PHONES !”
Er…No.
eh yes there is with intel cpu’s.
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Windows-8-on-ARM-chipsets-might-not-support-legacy-programs-says-Intel-chief_id18913
also intel revealing they plan to put w8 on phones:
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/intel-to-put-windows-8-on-phones-wait-whaaaaat/10981
Even if they resolve the technical difficulties, it probably will be fun to run a desktop windows soft on a 4″ screen.
From your own link :
“Unification may be the way to go. If Microsoft can solve the power issues and drop the heavy compatibility burden that comes with the OS Windows 8 might work on mobile devices (note that I said ‘if’ and ‘might’ … there are no certainties yet). But where does this leave Microsoft brand spanking new Windows Phone 7 OS? You remember, that OS that got a big launch a little while ago? The one Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer spent a lot of time talking about at CES? Yeah, that one. Kinda soon for a partner to be talking about another mobile OS, isn’t it?
Also, where does this leave consumers who’ve parted with cash and given the OS a chance? And let’s not forget the developers.
Where does this new tidbit from Intel fit into the big picture?
Is there even a big picture?”
actually there are many more pieces of the puzzle i haven’t posted.
things like windows 8 and windows phone sharing the same heavily optimised micro sized kernel in the near future, sms features being found in w8 code, and much more.
trust me this is happening.
I’ve believe that consumers want choice in the OS marketplace and at the moment, despite iOS, RIM, Symbian, Windows Phone etc etc etc, there is plenty of room for one more. It’s a big market out there, which can be segmented in many ways. I blogged about this recently
http://www.phonetipsandtricks.com/phone-operating-systems-how-many-is-too-many/
Andre is my secret identity.
And you are mine!
“Do Nokia intend to divert manpower and resources to this specific device and platform in the coming years?”
Well at least acording to Nokia they will, just look at their february announcement.
Well Andre the only way for Meego to have the things that you feel it needs is for you to buy the N9
MeeGo = Unmanned island, what you’ll get when you buy is what’ll have, expect no support, no apps, nothing.
Oh shut up… It sports AdobeAir, HTML5 Apps via Web, will get most of the good QT Apps easily redeployed and with a big IF it might get some myriad alien dalvik licences.
Besides that you probably will be able to run WebOS games again and many of the good productivity apps that the linux community has to offer.
You don’t need APPS it isn’t all about the apps.
Hi guy, can u explain to me why Nokia(specially Mr. Flop) still require closed evil empire controlled WP7 whereas Nokia just introduced Meego based N9 and first impression is really juicy.
Well, someone will tell abt ecosystem but as meego is tightly bind and fully supported by Linux foundation (the community who are responsible for Linux development) not android it has bigger ecosystem than WP7. One interesting point, in last year Nokia is the 4th largest contributor in Linux kernel development after some big shot like IBM. But this fxxxingg bullshit flop guy by using some his false word “ecosystem” he is trying to kill most inventive open mobile platform. Meego isn’t only supported by nokia, Intel but also novell (Novell is already conquered sun solaris market in telecom domain). In bottom layer of OS Linux has more diversity than Windows as kernel and device driver not only developed by one single software company but also manufactured. Another point, mobile phone is also drive by cellular technology not only. By considering 4G meego has great opportunity than windows because Linux will expand as well meego will expand if it gets some support.
I won’t buy any Nokia phone as long this rubbish CEO will stay at the Nokia’s top position.
Two links for u: http://felipec.wordpress.com/2011/02/22/meego-scales-because-linux-scales/
http://felipec.wordpress.com/2011/06/21/my-disagreement-with-elop-on-meego/
i dunno if anyone has suggested this out of world idea lol.. but nokia shd make n9 reasonable affordable and buy back their marketshare, even from those using iPhone and android and even perhaps, wp7.. and then retract their deal, paying back microsoft compensation from their n9 revenue lol.. and build a meego empire..
ok i’ll probably draw some flak for this but i was really partially joking.. but c’mon, most of us are hoping nokia will really focus on meego again no?
and once the meego empire is built, nokia can possibly do role reversal and ink its own advantageous deal with microsoft again lol. wishful thinking much…
“Hate on Microsoft, Google and Apple ecosystems all you want for being closed and restricting, but the majority of consumers want, nay, need these things in ways I’m not sure MeeGo will provide.”
Nonsense. That is exactly what they want you to believe so that you don’t question their lock-in, and you have swallowed it hook, line and sinker.
http://www.mobileinfoplanet.com/2011/06/21/i-dont-want-no-friggin-ecoystem/
“The attention (and praise) that MeeGo and the N9 is getting… is warranted and more importantly, surprising”
Why is it surprising? You really didn’t expect it?
I am surprised buy the negative spin in your article, and for once I have to agree with others here that your “favoritism” for WP7 is blatantly obvious.
“The cat is out of the bag . . .”
After the attention the Nokia N9 has received it may become an unstoppable force. . in a ghostly sort of way.
No matter what Elop does now to try to kill off MeeGo other phone makers will have noticed it’s ability to deliver killer devices and gain lots of attention.
LG have experience with MeeGo and have already indicated that they may do a commercial device. The attention the N9 has gotten will play a factor. They have already voiced their unhappiness about WP7 and could see MeeGo as a chance to get back into the high tier device game. Especially if they think that Nokia will be leaving the field wide open.
Then there is the other S. Korean manufacturer Samsung. Not known for any interest in MeeGo but that will not stopping them making a N9 clone (especially if Nokia kill the original). With access to the open source of the OS it wouldn’t take them that long. And boy are they good at coping others (ask Apple they should know).
And that would be the beginning. Once others figure out
that there is a winning formula that can take on the iPhone there will be clones . .
Let’s hope WP7 works for S. Elop otherwise it would look very bad if others got the benefits from Nokia’s efforts on the N9.
Very bad indeed. . .
I prefer Meego over the Wp7 UI, Wp7 mango looks very boring and simple, i dont like those “live tiles” cluttering my screen i prefer small colourful icons to click and play around with, i like widgets… Miscrosoft have never been very creative and “colourful” think nokie are making a huge mistake if they dont keep Meego and use it in their high end devices. HUGE mistake