Jolla answers our questions!
So last month I got Ali to post about getting an interview with Jolla, and asked you, the readers, if there were things you wanted to know. Well now we have the answers, and reading through them, I am bloody excited about what may come out of the ex-Nokia staff start-up. Their answers remind me a lot of the standard Nokia replies. I guess that is good in a way, as they give you enough to keep you intrigued, but never really tell you anything. Let’s dissect some of the responses:
Will you licence anything from Nokia’s MeeGo projects? eg. Location services, low power screen, etc.
- Unfortunately we cannot comment on our license deals individually.
Does this mean they may be licensing certain things from Nokia? Or will there be other companies that they licence from.
How open will you be about accepting community input? ie. Community concepts, “ideas project” etc.
- We are working closely with the community all the time, and we look forward to community plans and ideas. We are incorporating community contributions and we are contributing back to the community ourselves.
Although it doesn’t tell us a lot, at least it means Jolla will be paying attention to actual users, and not merely doing what they think the user wants, which is what I believe has been a large downfall for Nokia.
I know there is a limit to what you can reveal about the device, but will there be multiple form-factors?
- We are now working on our first smartphone and it will be revealed later this year. For the next products in our roadmap we are contemplating different form-factors.Do you intend to have a significant amount of OS APIs available to developers?
- Yes, we are. We don’t have any other needs than quality, continuity and certain protected areas to block access to API’s.
Being linux based, will it be a debian system? Or use RPM packages?
- We are using RPM packages.Do you have a differentiation strategy?
- MeeGo itself is now a differentiation strategy. An independent ecosystem is a clear differentiation from iOS, Microsoft and even Android. We are creating a new user experience which will be clearly different.
I like this line a lot “Meego itself is now a differentiation strategy”. It is true, since nobody else is using MeeGo, they are clearly setting themselves apart from the competition. Whether it will be enough or not, we will need to wait and see. Remember Grid10? That was using its own OS, and company went bankrupt.
Will you aim devices at a specific niche market, or general consumer (or both)?
- We are targeting the general consumer segments, but we will also make sure that the community members and technology enthusiasts will have maximum access to what Jolla is doing.In regards to last two questions: Glad some great designers will be there. Am keen to see something other than the typical rectangle. I didn’t mind the design of the 6600 back in the day.
Any intention to have OpenMobile ACL?
- We have so far been talking about our Qt/Qml application ecosystem, and we will continue revealing more about our application ecosystem later this year.Will you use your own app store, or the current “Apps for MeeGo” that is also found on Nemo?
- MeeGo, as an independent platform, gives us a good opportunity to partner with content providers, be it media, apps or something else. Naturally a serious smartphone needs a native method of accessing the application offering.What are your thoughts on being called “Ferrari of the Smartphone world”?
- Ferrari is a nice car, and a very well known brand. As a value association, it’s an honour to be compared to Ferrari, though we intend to be more accessible to the general consumer.
Since Swipe UX is Nokia patented, will we see the same style of Swipe that is in Nemo?
We are making a new Jolla UX that cannot be seen anywhere at the moment. We are going to inherit elements from MeeGo software that are well received by the users.
Will there be worldwide availability? And also, sold through carriers?
We are looking at 3 different channels depending on the continent. Retailers, operators and online stores. We recently announced our first retail partner in China, and will continue announcing new partnerships as time goes by.
What architecture will the devices support?
MeeGo itself supports Intel and many ARM based architectures. We will reveal the architecture with the product later this year.
Will you aim for a low, mid, or high-end device? Or will you cover all the tiers?
We will first release one smartphone and later on we are looking at different options on our roadmap to cover different user experiences and devices.
Where do you see the company going in the next 5 years?
We want to be a significant volume player in the market and we want to make MeeGo ecosystem vibrant, valuable and extensive.
On a support note, how will you offer servicing of devices to consumers?
This varies a bit based on the commercial channels used in different locations. On the software side we want to make sure that every Jolla device, once bought, stays relevant.
Will there be a developer device program, similar to the N950s and the Tizen Devices?
The MeeGo platform needs a reference smartphone device. We are in talks with the community and developers to understand how we can best support their development.
We’ve been told most of the MeeGo team from Nokia are now at Jolla. I would like to know if some of in the industrial designers that created the N9 form factor are now with Jolla.
We have our own in-house industrial design, and some of these people have long careers in Nokia and have been behind many different devices.
How does Jolla mobile ensure that their hardware design is going to stand out?
Considering the current trends in the mobile marketplace, it is not that difficult to stand out when it comes to hardware design.
So there you have it. Personally, I am looking forward to how they handle the issue of apps, the design they choose, and this Jolla UX they mentioned. If it can fill the void left by Nokia abandoning the N9′s future, I think the majority of N9 owners will find a viable upgrade.
What are your thoughts on the responses? Let us know below
Please do not fill up comments regarding us bringing attention/coverage to Jolla. It is a company started by ex-Nokia staff, using an OS created by a joint venture where Nokia was a partner.
P.S Sorry about the formatting, there seems to have been some issue caused by copying and pasting Jolla’s responses
Edit by Jay (Formatting wp bug sorted).
About the Author (Author Profile)
Hi! My name is Michael. Like the others, I'm also a Student, living here in Sydney. I have a real passion for the latest technology and I'm a real Nokia buff! My aim is to keep those of you, like myself, updated with the latest in what's going on in the Nokia World. Currently sporting N9 & Lumia 820, with other Nokia devices in my posession. Get in touch on Twitter via @MFaroTusino, Google Plus or even simply drop me an email at mike.mnb[at]outlook.com or tips[at]mynokiablog.comSubscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
Thank you. Very humble, honest, and straight forward.
Keep your heads down, do good work, and ignore the noise. We look forward to the results.
I am excited about their devices. I wish there would be someway I could be a part of their team. I wish them best of luck and any will support any way I could.
I heard that they want to end american multitasking
.
“The manner where you
constantly open and
close apps need to be
get rid off. The user
interface should also
be customizable.”- Juss
Hurmola
What is specifically “american” about that style of multitasking? Just curious.
Could you give me an example of Polish multitasking for reference?
I think this means: “american multitasking” vs. “true multitasking”
nokia n9 chapter 2.. sure hope it wows us like the N9 did! all the best jolla mobile!
As long as it’s not Chapter 9 for Nokia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapter_9,_Title_11,_United_States_Code
“Chapter 9, Title 11 of the United States Code is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code”
a doubt is jolla will be the only oem using meego or will we seem some others also
other oem will straight jump into android. easy money
Hehe. China would like to say Hi.
Dont know what that comment meant, but if they are even semi-successful, there will be OEMs from China for sure.
OEMing makes sense when you providing some services behind the OS. Like Google doing with Android
ecosystem is not really important, i can download the installer in sis/sisx format from official website, then run it (for free app).
well, except for paid apps, we still need application store.
Easy money? Well, if you are based in Korea and your name is Samsung. A huge struggle for everyone else seems to be par for the course.
I think Sony should give it a try. I want Sony to use MeeGo. It will be the best combo. I recently grabbed myself an Android tablet and to be honest I am super mad at Nokia for ditching such refined OSes just because of their own laziness. They should keep improving Symbian from days back, back in 5 years.
I am also super made at Sony Ericsson for leaving UIQ and I am super mad again at Nokia for not taking UIQ as an inspiration for their Symbian^3. And I don’t even want to start about Maemo, MeeGo and webOS.
Agree that Sony should give it a try. They are well positioned in the ecosystem game: playstation, music services, TVs, PCs etc. They should skip supporting Google and team up with Yahoo.
Sounds great
the only thing that made the N9 and Meegan was a failure was the lack of applications if jolla focus in that we see something extraordinary even without taking out a new mobile enough to the N9 and an extensive catalog of possible applications
The lack of apps didn’t make the N9 a flop. It was Nokia’s attitude towards it. When you declare a OS dead on arrival no sane developer is going to look at the platform as a primary option. Technically speaking Nokia had a basic ecosystem ready around it (Mail, Maps, Store, Music, calendar). Yes the ecosystem had some issues, but it was a matter of fixing it.
Hell the same thing is happening to Symbian now, even though it was on a downward trend there where a few good apps incoming. Nokia’s continuous moves to kill it finally dried up any good apps that where supposed to come.
Do you really think that N9 was flop? Whoa, I thought that it was actually quite successful, considering that it was doa.
Yup the phone was a flop, not because there was no demand for it. It was a flop because Nokia kept it out of this main markets.
And the main markets are? U.S of A modern day CCCP
Semantics, but your definition why N9 was flop is bad
Yes, it was available only in limited markets, but that does not do it a flop. Not every device/service is available world wide, but they are still very successful. It’s flop when exceptations are much higher than demand, not when availability is limited to certain markets.
sorry MeeGo
Thanks for bringing us the interview. Ignore those microsoft fanboys
wonder if there is skype, whatsapp on jolla os? Am i asking too much?
Skype is Microsfot owned so we will never know. But ahatsapp yes for sure, as there is MeeGo Harmattan version, what mean that perhaps it can be launched on Jolla’s MeeGo without any changes. Even if changes would be needed I suppose it would be really small (in area of interface mostly as MeeGo provides standards below) and developer would be able to make them really quick. And as N9 version is made by developer from the community I think we will not have to wait any second longer then absolutely needed. So I think yes, it will go with Jolla’s MeeGo. IMHO.
As one of the N9 owner. I still hoping somehow Jolla and Nokia can work together to bring pureview to MeeGo as it was planned before…
+1
Woooooowwwwww….. That would be really the dream-mobile……. More then something needed……
I like that Jolla mobile is aware that using meego is already a differentiation by itself. With a ui that highlights the strengths of meego and a gorgeous design, i’m in.
Also glad that they somehow corrected the Ferrari comparison stating that they want to be more accessible, I’m guessing the device would be at the upper mid-range segment. Good to know that they have former Nokia designers with them at Jolla.
All in all, good news!
Go Jolla! Fuck Elop/Nokia!
beware!…. you could get a sickness, shame-sickness – frankly, I would not risk….
Sounds like they are on the right track.
The fact that they are accepting contributions in coding does speak volumes about how serious they are about being vested in the community and listening to users and developers.
The only real problem I could possibly see is the lack of a for-profit market place for apps. On the other hand, if the BIG des want to sell MeeGo Apps for Jolla, they can sell them from their own sites.
Just need a decent camera to match, although i dont expect a 41mp pv.. Maybe 8-12mp
Was it Noki or Esbo, who earlier linked a Taiwanese company. They seem to deliver a vast majority of camera tech to phones.
In the future – if Jolla survives the first launch – I would try to negotiate with some of the camera manufacturers to join. They are losing market all the time. IPhones camera comes from Sony?
Well sony has a 12mp camera sensor, so that would be awesome..
I think a decent camera is a very important selling point..it cant be below par..
True. That is one of the hygiene factors with core apps, screen etc.
i doubt there is better ui than swipe!
It shouldt be difficult to do
What we have in N9 is the first version. I spent some time reading the Ideas project page and there were tons of good ideas. Also some of the tweaks are great too and should be applied:
- Billboard: flexible stand-by screen. I love it that I dont need to wake up my phone to check date, song playing, battery status nor next calendar appointment
- Notification bar content: having all settings related to daily ‘being’. Eg power save, wifi, flight mode (I use at night), tethering on/off (instead of going to to app), music controls, profiles…
From WP I would take the idea of People hub and do it better.
App launcher does not need to be one of the home screen. Id like to see a mix of tiles/widgets, where user was able to create a Swipe Feed style of screen in similar fashion how newspaper layouts are done. That is close what WP tiles are becoming in 7.8/8, with better widget natute.
You are saying what I am thinking. +1000
Now this is what MeeGo fans through out the world want. Jolla device with great camera spec will be truly an awesome piece of smartphone.
Let see what Jolla can bring to us. Hope it goes just like as expected.
this is the way.wp will soon be sucking meego ass.
I doubt if Jolla will ever take off. It will be just another niche OS.
In no way will Jolla be a niche device.
Jolla will get apps from the strong Linux development community. Jolla will get money from those angry N9 fans.
Jolla will get respect from Journalist and Bloggers that respected Meego.
Jolla has a good start already.
The mobile world will make way for Jolla.
Jolla is now more than a company. It is like a hope that moves heroes forward. Like hope that moves Neo to destroy the matrix, or John Connor to fight with Skype. Don’t ask me who is Matrix-Skynet in this story
this spell could platform to burn-out completely 
. MeeGoists needed the new hope, like Jedi knights. And Jolla has gave it to them. “When you want people to build a ship don’t give them tools for this work, make them dreaming about sailing the open sea” – The Little Prince author, French writer and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s. All we can smell the little rose, watch the star among the others and wait for Jolla’s smartphone as we love N9 like the only one rose. All we dream about the newest Jolla’s smartphone. The unborn one yet, but the legendary one already.
Sorry not Skype, but Skynet – Jay please correct this if you would be so kind, thanx in advance.
I hope they can license Maps, Pureview and Rich sound recording from Nokia to use in their mobile phones.
On the topic of Jolla, look at this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Jolla
not very encouraging whats said on wiki.
it does not bother me if they are a success or not,
i’m just worried that some people will get hurt finically along the way,
strong emotions are always vulnerable to marketing hype,
did you see the NAME of the deletion petitioner?
Big surprise, a stupid fanboy trying to deny existense of Jolla.
But the name Jolla isnt catchy… Wish Jolla Team good luck.
I don’t understand what does this have to do with Nokia anymore.
Nokia understood that this wasn’t the way to go, unfortunatly some fanboys still live in 2006 and keep believing that na OS without strong devellopers support and a strong ecosystem can be successful. One day, after spending thousands of Euros, this guys will also understand that this project isn’t going anywhere… but by then it will be to late for them.
Look at Symbian, MeeGo, BB, WebOS… none of them are bad OSs, but they are all dead or dying because they don’t have a strong ecosystem supporting them.
WP7 is dying even with ecosystem.
Actually WP7 it’s stabilized.
But its ecosystem isn’t even ready. It will be in October with Windows8+WindowsRT+WP8+Xbox&Kinect+Office2013+Skydrive+WindowsStore+SmartGlass… All integrated! That’s the ecosystem Nokia and Microsoft have been talking about, not what you have seen so far. If you think that all of those services will fail, than you are terribly mistaken, and if you think that Symbian alone could compete with all this than this conversation is over.
It is not an ecosystem when one party controls everything, at best its coroful and nice (walled) garden. Go out and see ecosystem, if you can show me one party that controls everything i’m willing to accept your definition. (God is not an accepted answer.)
What i try to say is that Jolla does not have to provide everything to help build living and viral ecosystem that can be successful. They need good partners and good dev/usr community.
China. And I’d say Apple – after all, they sold the modern mobile ecosystem to the world.
In both cases there is a strong and whimsical central rule (yes, you can call both walled gardens), yet there also is unprecedented innovation and diversity within – perhaps even more so than in many truly open ecosystems.
p.s. I’m not pro-walled gardens at all. I find the a necessary evil at best. I wish Nokia wasn’t in bed with one, but that’s the post-iRevolution world for you. Thank Apple.
…and exactly like China, the ecosystem will start to flourish after opening borders to the outside world and accepting diversity
Apple will get back to their position in high end – high price market segment through time.
only ios & wp depend on ecosystem, android & symbian user can download apk/sis installer from outside the store (even from pirated source). malware? umm no, that was only a rumor that created by wp fans, i have galaxy tab that has several pirated apps, it don’t have any malware on it
Ecosystem means much more than the way you download Apps.
Ecosystem is a bunch of services that are all integrated and yes, Android is in Google’s Ecosystem, which is weaker than Microsoft and Apple’s counterparts but still na Ecosystem with services like Gmail, Google Maps, Android for smarphones and tablets, YouTube, GoogleSearch, etc, etc, etc…
hmm, i can access gmail, gmaps, youtube, gsearch, gtalk wihout android phone. an ecosystem should be open & multi platform, not selfish & closed
+1
Sorry guys, I want to understand something, is it good or bad for nokia n9 owners, and why?
Don’t care of ecosystems, open standards are enough for me. And I’m sure the team responsible for N9 will create something cool and different and when they do I will buy it.
Any device that only can be used with services that are inside a walled garden can not be considered to have an ecosystem. An ecosystem is basically interactions between different species that compete for resources. WP et. all are more like farms where a monoculture dominates – maybe safe and orderly but ultimately as boring as a McDonalds meal.