Nokia N8 - experiences

Imaging with N8 is nice experience.

(tip: erase exif data with "mogrify -strip [imagefile]" command in ubuntu, before posting).

But I just keep wondering that emailing thing. Today I figured out that denying those service terms when setting up email account on N8 will result downgraded emailing application for my use, which allows me to keep those smtp servers. Email header indicates that I use "EPOC Email Version 2.10" when I do not accept service agreement with Nokia. Otherwise all my emails goes to oz.com servers, which I do find unnecessary by all means.

N8 is nice device, missing only xmpp support, meego and hardware keyboard. Until those times, let's play with this.

Nokia N8 - FRA Phone

First thoughts on Nokia's latest N8 were fine, but then I found out this:

I just noticed that I cannot any more configure my SMTP server to Nokia N8 email client. Nokia pushes all my emails to oz.com servers and when I live in Finland, everything goes to Swedish signal intelligence (FRA), among other agencies. When I do emailing in my security business, I don't want to receive my domestic emails with this kind of headers:

"from nkemconn05.nokia.prod.oz.com (unknown [67.220.123.36]) by emh02.mail.saunalahti.fi (Postfix) with ESMTP id 8D8932BD44 for ; Sat, 2 Oct 2010 08:58:48 +0300 (EEST)"

I found this really disturbing (!) Even Android does allow me to specify SMTP servers with SSL-security. Big boys are wiser.

Nokia: hire some expertise and download FRA Portfolio

Update: It is still possible to create manual SMTP server entries. Phone to off line first and giving non existing email & password combination brings you to setup screen where smtp server can be specified. So there is an issue by default, but by tweaking you are able to produce domestic or inter company email communication with this.

Operator position in new era

After I've been experiencing totally closed and controlled eco system of apple, by using that ipad - I've been really thinking world in new ways. I see change is there, peoples are not willing to stick into closed world. But it does need an alternative view and actual alternative world to live in.

Predicting is dangerous business, but I believe that Android and hopefully Meego will create some pressure for Apple and other proprietary worlds to reposition. It's just not acceptable any more that I need itunes to activate my device or to transfer (possibly my created) content from devices. Peoples are starting to wakeup.

While I've been living in Linux cloud for last 15 years, it seems that I am in peaceful and quiet room - where chosen functionality just works and no worries are present. World is solid, controlled by me and data is in safe harbour. Now my visions seem to arrive in same world, when everything we deliver out from door are based in same solidity.

From here I could see new position for future mobile operators. They just cannot tie peoples down in proprietary channels and models any longer. While Nokia has already delivered N900, device which allows you to communicate totally standardised and cross device protocols - things are staring to change. As well opposite to big players, I see macro vendors building up neat solutions for customers and users - where functionality is tailored in great details to support your world, your needs and your solutions. Bringing users to these macro clouds means that adaptation is also made in your macro world. Key to penetrate is that these macro worlds are built by commonly accepted and adopted protocols and allows them to link together without corporate built borders. It will be huge.

Nokia N9

I saw pictures at Engadget of coming Nokia N9 (which supposedly is running Meego) and I was simply amazed. I think Nokia will score with this, since making things truly open ways is totally different, what's available from Apple and Android.

Compare N900 and Apple in technical ways and you realise that taking MP3's to your phone is a lot simpler with Nokia and almost impossible with Apple (iTunes..). Take an example of Jabber IM integration in N900 and Android, there is a _huge_ difference.

I can say that Nokia N900 is not so great in hardware and software, but methods they apply to use task flexibility and open integration is something which wins at long run. I don't want to obey iTunes in my every task, I want to use Linux and variety of other systems where iTunes requirements is pain. I want to use open and secure protocols to communicate, I don't want to use proprietary and vendor locked channels to target my comm's into. I want to run my own Jabber server and attach to it.

I want system which is openly secure, I don't want compromised and intercept ready base for my mobile thoughts and business.

iPad [sold]

Last week I acquired iPad 64GB/3G version from Dallas, while my trips took me there. But after a week, I was ready to sell it. Today next owner took off happy from here with my iPad.

Why's that you might ask?

For one simple reason; Apple's closed society. I couldn't understand why I have to use iTunes to use MY data, why iPad is not able to support _any_ standard transferring options and where is all my freedom on iOS platform?

That was a bit sick experience for me, I must say.

Others make me love Nokia

August 2nd, holiday period is over and things start to look back normal again. I post this with my Nokia Booklet 3G and it's not because Nokia is so great, it's because community is so great. I realized that ubuntu team has gained support to poulsbo graphic adapter, which Nokia Booklet has. See this wikipage for more details and simple solution.

I think Booklet from Nokia is nice device, mainly because it's quality and size. Features are just in there, but they just ruined this whole concept with Windows and this (so far) terrifying graphics adapter which has not been officially supported by Linux. I don't know if things are permanently good and fixed, but partially I am happy now.

Think this Nokia. To make difference in users minds, include quite a bit your own thinking and follow what you believe. What would booklet community look like if you have released this hardware in spirit of N900 and Maemo (meego) instead?

Happy booklet user, without Nokias effort and without Nokias support.

Summer phones

Holidays are going to end next week and summer 2010 has been really nice. Weather has kept us warm and daily temperatures has been near 30 deg here in Finland. Shortly stated, summer has been warm. As gadget guy, it has also been very adventurous summer. I've been switching my sim card from phone to phone, like Nexus one, Sony Ericsson X10 Mini and Mini PRO, Samsung B2700 (rugged one), Nokia E72 and finaly N900 from Nokia.

It's a mystery for me to decide which one to keep in continuous use. Every one of those has a features which keeps me going back. Few to mention;

• Android; usability, responsive and clear user interface. Fast web browsing and nice outfit of nexus one.
  
• Sony Ericsson X10 Mini PRO; form factor and keyboard (I do also have plain mini, which is small!)
  
• E72: qwerty keyboard and basic functionality just works. A bit hacked refreshed components thought, like gallery and email. Symbian is outdated as platform, I see.
  
• Samsung B2700; free from worries, how to handle my phone. Just great in that part.
  
• N900; IM-integration, I just need my Jabber client (to company own XMMP server) among skype to handle few international contacts. Shame it's a bit clumsy and maemo got replaced with meego in future plans of Nokia.

If I had power to design my own GSM terminal, it would be combination of those great concepts which keeps me switching SIM from phone to phone. Ultimately I would love to have these on my phone;

• Hardware optimised for size with qwerty keyboard
  
• Open Linux based operating system, with non-US crypto parts, fast and clean UI.
• System without version numbering, modular and upgradeable all along the way.
  
• Multi account emailing with GPG support
• Standard XMMP IM-client, with possibly Skype and other proprietary accounts supported as well.
• Camera and video recording with good quality

Give me some resources and I come out with the phone.