Nokia to release mainstream Maemo device in 2010

Home > Nokia to release mainstream Maemo device in 2010

By admin on October 29,

2009 at 00:00,

We may be getting excited about the Nokia N900 but it's worth bearing in mind that essentially it's a high-end smartphone and not aimed at the mass market like the Nokia 5800. However, according to one analyst at least, we'll see a mainstream Maemo device hitting the streets in the second half of 2010. Find out all about how Nokia plans to release a mainstream Maemo device in 2010 after the jump...

A story has popped up over at fiercewireless that suggests Nokia is working on a mass market Maemo device. According to UBS analyst Maynard Um, Nokia plans to release a mass-market Linux-based Maemo smartphone in the second half of 2010, which they hope will rival the iPhone’s current market sovereignty. "Nokia cited that it expects to have a mass market iPhone competitor in [the second half of 2010] based on Maemo which we believe is a recognition that the ability to rely solely on the more standardized Symbian to compete is limited," said Um.

Check out our Nokia N900 hands-on

While the move to produce another high-end Maemo powered device may look like Nokia is making a conscious effort to eventually switch from Symbian to the Linux-based Maemo OS, this is apparently not the case. Joseph Gallo, a Nokia spokesperson said, “We [Nokia] are absolutely committed to Symbian as our smartphone platform." Additionally, Gallo is reported to have stated that Nokia has been researching the Maemo OS for years, and that the Nokia N900 is a natural extension of that research.

What do you think? Is Nokia planning to gradually screen out Symbian, and what are your expectations for this new Maemo powered iPhone killer? Tell us in the Comments below.

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http://twitter.com/MehdiElGueddari Mehdi

I really wish that journalists and blogger would stop talking about \"iPhone-killers\" every time a new phone comes out.

For all its flaws, the iPhone is still a fantastic device. Although I wasn\’t convinced by it when the first model came out 2 years ago, I have to admit that it did change the smartphone landscape and gave other manufacturers a much-needed reality-check. I\’d hate to think of what 2009 smartphones would have looked like had the iPhone not been released. Not to mention the massive new opportunities that the iPhone opened for startups.

What we need isn\’t an iPhone-killer. Why on earth would you want to kill such an amazing device? What we need is a credible and viable alternative. Despite all the good things about the iPhone, it\’s obviously not the perfect fit for everybody. There\’s room for different approaches and better smartphones for people who think that the iPhone is just not good enough. In addition, Apple\’s closed and control-freak model limits what can be done with it. There\’s room for more open platforms that could lead smart guys to create amazing new uses for these devices.

Maemo could definitely be one of these credible alternatives. The N900 as it is (been using one for 2 weeks now) isn\’t quite there yet but is close. It\’s a great device that could be turned into a terrific one if it got enough traction in the developer community and if Nokia ironed out the rough edges still present in Maemo 5.

For this to happen, Nokia will need to finally start listening to their users (and not just the geek ones), do their job properly with Maemo 6, sort out the Ovi Store mess and manage to push enough developers to create great apps for Maemo. I believe it could happen but it\’s a long shot. Nokia definitely seems to be listening more to their users now. Qt and WRT might scare developers less than good old Symbian C++. Symbian Horizon sounds pretty good (will this be extended to Maemo too?).

Of course, by the time this new Maemo device comes out, iPhone OS 4 will probably have been released, possibly with a new iPhone model. Who knows what surprises these will contain? After having finally caught up with Apple, Nokia might end straight back at square 1 playing catch up again. Nokia will also need to clarify what exactly they plan to do with their 2 OSes. It\’s really not clear at present.
iphone sucks

first of all..the sooner you accept that the iphone is a crappy phone with flashy ui, the easier it will be for you to understand why it sucks. back in 07 i bought the LG viewty and towards the end of that phone\’s lifetime, i HATED it. however, it had an awesome camera (5mp with decent lens) GREAT video recording., MMS, MULTITASKING and much more. and oh yea…this was OUT OF THE BOX and NOT several models and upgrades later.

the reason every phone out there is CALLED THE IPHONE KILLER is because since the iphone is a GIMMICK, everyone is riding it like zombies. there are other phones…MANY other phones that are much much much better than the iphone. even non-touchscreen phones.

if thats not bad, get this…

i had this REALLY cheap nokia phone from tmobile and i purchased it in 2006. it had monochromatic screen, no camera or sophisticated browser…..HOWEVER it had COPY N PASTE. along with other basic features.

so before you crazy for iPhone os 4, which is probably gonna have crippled upgrades anyway, consider this..

the iphone is a good phone, don\’t get me wrong, but a phone that is made by an ASTONISHING company (i love apple and own macs at home) who make the best computers, aren\’t doing all that they can with the phone. and i KNOW they can. they can EASILY make the iphone with a 5mp camera, flash, better battery (they have a laptop that last 7 hours for christ sakes), and they can EASILY make the ihpone with a slide out slim qwerty (apples is KNOWN to being slim with their products). but why aren\’t they doing this? simple. MARKETING and PROFITS.

did you see the new ipod nano? it fucking records VIDEO! yay! but wait….it doesnt take pictures… thats ok thought, i\’ll just wait 6 months until ANOTHER ipod nano is released that takes pictures. but maybe that one won\’t record video. waht now? i\’ll just buy the ipod nano that will come out 9 months from now that will take photos AND record video….its never ending.

at first this \"marketing\" strategy was acceptable, but now its pretty much a middle finger with the words \"fuck you\" written on it.

most nokia phones (n series INCLUDING n900 ofcourse and the nokia tube 5800) are better than iphones.
the android phones (which i hate) are better in MANY ways that the iphones.

and yes symbian is way more convenient and intuitive than iphone. developers would GLADLY develop for open source (android, MAEMO, blackberry, etc) rather than apple. yes i am aware that there are MANY apps in the app store, but the only reason is cause of its brainwashed popularity.

here in the states everyone is brainwashed by gimmicky and flashy things (ahem iphone) which is why the n900 might now appeal over here, but i know for a fact in the uk it dominates and always will. i KNOW the n900 is a better phone BY A LOOOOONNNNGGGGG shot. apple better think of something quick and something HUGE.

my opinion? the iphone is flashy, thin, nice, smooth, and all that, but in the end… it sucks more than paris hilton using a vacuum cleaner.

LET THE FLAMING FANBOYS IN PLEASE……