Tag: mobile phones
Meamo becomes Meego, but what of the N900?
by Jim on Feb.24, 2010, under Maemo, Operating Systems, android, linux
For sometime N900 users have been wondering whether we would get Maemo 6 (Harmatten.) Whilst everyone wants the latest update on their device, and feels let down when it doesn’t happen; Nokia’s transparency with regards to bug fixes exacerbated the desire for the update. Nokia have labeled many bugs with a ‘To be fixed in Harmatten’, basically saying “live with it” — unless the N900 can be upgraded. So if Nokia do leave the N90 behind it could be a damning blow to many fans.
Earlier this month at MWC Nokia and Intel announced the merger between their two opensource Linux based operating systems. I can only assume this is an attempt to cement the operating system alongside iPhone OS and Android as one of the mainstream smartphone operating systems of the future. Whilst Nokia’s Symbian is still the top selling mobile phone operating system, its days look to be numbered with Apple and Google making a big impact in the market.
Still, I am not sure what position there is in the market for Meego. It is highly likely that we will eventually see just a handfull of sucessful operating systems for smartphones. For example, manufacturers like LG, have noticed that using their own custom systems was detrimental to their phone’s sales. Sure the hardware was good, but what use is it if no-one is making software for it? So Meego will have to fight with Android, Windows Mobile, Symbian, and eventually Bada for these manufacturers support.
The issue here is Android already has a number of devices from different manufacturers in the market and it looks like support for Android will steadily grow after a difficult first year (when only HTC offered devices.) It would be a difficult choice manufacturers to switch allegiance, but I would expect a few devices to appear (to test the waters so to speak.) Whilst Windows Mobile seems to have a strong grasp of the business market (alongside the Blackberrys.)
It’s such a shame that Nokia have decided to drop Debian as the upstream for their system with this merge. Whilst I’d like to see an updated system, I can’t say I am happy at losing the ability to install Debian packages without any worries.
So I struggle to see where the system will fit in the market; unless Nokia and Intel go for tablets…
