The N900, Fitting an Accountable-Natured Use
By now you have already heard a boatload on Nokia's latest announced device, the N900. The N900 is a successor to the popular N800 and N810 Internet Tablets, but does them a few degrees better. For one, the operating system has been totally retooled and sits now on much better engineering and hardware. On the other side, you have that still open and tweakable aspect due to its Maemo Linux roots, and this endears the N900 to be the kind of device that can and should be tuned to the user's liking.
The thing that most intrigues me about the N900 - and in some respects about the N97 - is how a device like this can fit within the toolkit of ministers and those involved in the kinds of ministry endeavors where the world is their window, desk, and workspace.
So I thought about its relevancy in that wise - as a tool for efficient working. I think about how I used my N800 (and donated N810). I see some things that are pretty much no-brainers with the N900. A device that is tailor made to be a pocketable computer that just has the power to get things done. A device that has a smattering of wireless options - including cellular wireless abilities - to pretty much utilize any connectivity point possible in order to share, report, or create information.
I think also about the cost: financial and mental. The N900, like the other tablets before, promote a different way of looking at the information that you interact with. Financially, this will be the most expensive tablet to date, though there will be options to purchase it through a carrier and get some level of assistance with the subsidy model. But you get back to getting work done and the question served is how does a 3.5in screened mobile device enable my ministry to be more personal and effecitive with my dwindling time but increasing responsibilities?
I don't know that the technology alone can answer this. But, I know from my recent N800 experience that given some assessment time, you can not only get your value out of this device, but also enrich your life. For my N800, I turned it into a work folder. It was a large storage space, that also served as a notepad. Because it was connected, I could afford more of those moments in meetings where I simply needed to be notified of what is going on. In time, I pushed out from that usage to managing the Intranet, using the device to communicate more effecitively with others, and now - with the N97 - I'm mobile-centric, but my data and means of communication work with those around me enriching their lives. I see this with the N900 as a possible role.
That is, once you get past the price. Its expensive, and in these times, making expensive mobile purchases totally doesn't fall on the "list of things to do now." Nevertheless, I think that those who are purchasing this device beyond the geek-factor have the ability to see what Nokia is clearly stating with this device: you don't need all that power of a laptop if all you will do is connect online for communications, email, and basic work. And a mobile device should be yours to choose how you connect wirelessly, the devices you use, and how you enrich the world around you.
This type of fitting into one's life isn't normal of mobile devices. More are doing it, but not all are this up-front about making sure that you know - at the touch of a finger - that your world is what you make of it. To that end, the N900 calls us all into an interesting piece of accountability.
posted by Antoine @ 8/29/2009 10:00:00 AM
6 comments
6 Comments:
It's all about the software, though. Any nifty device, regardless of how well it's made, without proper software is useless. For a handheld device to do what you want, it will need some things:
1. Really decent Bible software and modules. This requires more than a Bible reader, or online tools. I don't know about you, but here in Krakow, frequently over-the-air internet is unreliable, and it is certainly expensive. Hence, the need for on-board tools--serious tools, including dictionaries (Greek and Hebrew included) and commentaries.
2. Office-type software--mainly for writing, especially able to do outlines.
3. If one is working cross-culturally, translation software or at least multi-lingual dictionaries are essential.
Everything else is probably not necessary, or most likely included (contacts, calendar, messaging, email, etc.)
Sadly, these needs so far, mostly eliminate the iPhone, the Pre and yes, this wonderful device. Maemo is still lacking at least two of the three above. I've been dying for a Nokia tablet for a couple years now, but I have yet to see software that meets these three needs. So, I stick with my Treo (now on my second), because the PalmOS has the software. (WinMob does too, but I can't stand it for myself).
I wish the new Nokia lots of luck, but will wait for the software.
The bible for the tablets is ok, but as far as I know, isn't getting better anytime soon. We can make noise about that here :)
#2 is coming. Not sure in what form, but I do know its coming.
#3 is interesting, and something that should be there already in some form, but probably isn't. Since this is a new OS, multi-lingual materials might be better to come by.
If the software of the current tablets were not a limitation, I'd send you my N800 right now. You'd get solid use out of it I'm sure. Until then, noise here and elsewhere would need to be made so that developers see that there's a need for this software, and then we can plant techie-like seeds to persons like yourself who would build God's people as needed.
I am really excited about the N900. This looks like the hardware and OS that I have been waiting for that will allow me to keep my laptop at home with no regrets.
Software is key though, and I have a bad feeling that unless Nokia really pushes Maemo more, that this will be a niche product and will not draw new developers.
I agree that software is key. I've started a discussion at Talk.Maemo and this will hit here in a few days as well. Hopefully, some momentum can come forward in that respect and this can be something addressed so that the question of use can be answered with a full deck.
Antoine-
Thanks for the generous offer! I've tried to convince myself now, for a couple years that one is worth having, and as much as I love it, I just haven't been able to justify it--but I love how you've made them work for you! :-)
One advantage of these older ones right now, over the N900 is that one can run the PalmOS on them--but I don't know how well what I need would run. But then again, with my Treo, I'm set. ;-) BTW, just this evening in church, I used my Polish-English dictionary and my Bible software. ;-)
I agree about pushing for development. Some don't listen, though. But I hope Rapier gets updated for the new Maemo, and improved. It's hard, though to push when one isn't in the ecosystem for a particular device or system. But I've written to the developers of my dictionary software, begging them to support at least _one_ of the new platforms! ;-)
I think that probably the biggest lack in open source, though, is multi-lingual dictionaries. There are a few, but what I've found is very incomplete and not trustworthy. Well, I've rambled again...
-Jon
Multi-lingual dictionaries you say, uhmmm ;)
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