@thecreativelife we can't help with SlingPlayer until they either open-source or come to us and start to work with us as Skype did... nevertheless, i know pair of ears which need your whisper (or cry, if you wish)....
Here's a question: with the N800, one was able see the thought that went into the UI, specifically understanding a stylus or finger touching the screen. However, this was not the case in some settings screens (such as the Control Panel). Is this something fixed/enhanced, and will the new OS make it easier for developers to tap into using this aspect of the code so that there is a more consistent UI/UX?
Hi everyone. This is Erkko Anttila from San Francisco, and i'll try to answer as many of your questions related to the Nokia N810 software. Let's get started
Hey arjw. What comes to playing nicer with online services, the new browser based on Mozilla technologies (supports AJAX) can support sites like Google Docs, Zoho and Facebook
thecreativelife, i think the media support has taken a big step forward in the OS 2008 release. Why? We added Windows media video, which obviously is a really big improvement in web comptability and we added H.264 support.
For many Youtube is a big part of the media experience, and worked hard to improve that performance.
What changes will there be in the stock applications? E.g., Opera is being replaced with MicroB, correct? (And will Opera still be included for those that want to switch to it for whatever reason?)
Also, will there be parity in the OS between N800 and N810? Is it really one OS image that just has extra drivers that get loaded if N810 specific hardware features are detected? Will the update for the N800 be released day-and-date with the N810? (And when specifically is the N810's street date?)
Does this OS update include Bluetooth headset support for apps like Skype and the various SIP apps?
This might have been asked already, but will the video player include different codecs in order to play more video types? I have yet to get avi working on the N800.
@darla the media player supports some new codecs in the new release. Windows media video is now supported as well as H.264.
I'm really excited about both of these additions, as there is a lot of content around with these codecs. H.264 translates into the ability to for example play m4v files.
@CAW when updating your N800 to the new release, you will unfortunately have to re-install your applications. I know this is quite a burden but at this stage it cannot be avoided.
In the future we are working on improving the process of updating your devices with our releases, so that you really wouldn't have to go through the whole works everytime we release something.
@CAW wow, that is a hefty bunch of questions. Let's see if I can catch everyone.
There is quite a list of larger and smaller changes in the stock applications. Opera is now replaced with a browser based on the Mozilla technologies that also power Firefox. This means that we get Full AJAX support and comprehensive web compatibility overall. Support for Opera will not continue at all anymore.
The other larger changes are of course the pre-installed map application on both N810 and N800, new codecs for media player, performance improvements in flash video (you need to see how youtube performs now), a lot of UI changes to improve the visual appearance as well as make the UI more usable with your fingers, SIP support, Bluetooth headset support, and I'm most likely forgetting something. One additional thing are the improved use-times in both online and offline use-cases.
The OS is functionally the same for both N810 and N800. The differences come from the hardware, but the stock applications have the same features on both devices. It is just as you would expect from an Operating System.
On the exact schedule of releasing the software for N800, I don't have the details for you right now.
The bluetooth headset support will work with applications that are able to support headsets which would count in Skype.
The chip used for GPS is something I can't comment on.
37 comments so far
the press release says that os2008 will be available for the n800. when is that expected to be?
2 years, 1 month ago by rcadden
The technical specs [1] say it will use Wayfinder navigation. Why not have ported over Nokia Maps instead?
[1] http://www.nseries.com/nseries/v3/media/sections/products/techspecs/en-R1/techspecsn810en_R1.html#os2008
2 years, 1 month ago by NET9
is video calling over gtalk still supported or have that been dropped in favor of gizmo?
2 years, 1 month ago by rcadden
Has the media player app been redone? I know it seems like a small thing, but I really didn't like the media app on the N800.
2 years, 1 month ago by jezlyn
Loved the N800, but the video playback was very limited - any improvements in this regard?
2 years, 1 month ago by thecreativelife
@james check my site, the codecs listed as supported are just about everything
2 years, 1 month ago by rcadden
@TheGuroo!: Cool! That is way better than before - this looks like a dream device!
2 years, 1 month ago by thecreativelife
Wondering if there might be anamorphic video support?
2 years, 1 month ago by thecreativelife
@thecreativelife: that question sounds familiar :)
2 years, 1 month ago by cybette
@cybette: (^_^) it's the age old question - for me at least!
2 years, 1 month ago by thecreativelife
Mr. Software Manager, please tell me that Sling Media are working on SlingPlayer for the N810!!! How cool would that be?
2 years, 1 month ago by thecreativelife
YES. SLING ME, PLEASE!!
2 years, 1 month ago by rcadden
they alluded to it in LA... but focus was still symbian
2 years, 1 month ago by atmasphere
Stop the allude'n and start include'n!
Perhaps Sling could write a web app . . . Now that Flash will have H.264, surely it's possible.
2 years, 1 month ago by thecreativelife
I see facebook in the press photos along with gizmo and skype. Does that mean we might see a dedicated facebook app for the N810?
2 years, 1 month ago by abhishta
IT's a bookmark to the mobil site
2 years, 1 month ago by atmasphere
just wondering, wasn't there a Product Manager coming by a few hours ago, or did I misread something?
2 years, 1 month ago by rcadden
@thecreativelife we can't help with SlingPlayer until they either open-source or come to us and start to work with us as Skype did... nevertheless, i know pair of ears which need your whisper (or cry, if you wish)....
2 years, 1 month ago by silpol
silpol: did Nokia do the Boingo client port to the N800 that was just annoucned, or did Boingo?
2 years, 1 month ago by CAW
@silpol: That's good to know. Sling and the N810 seem like such perfect partners, it would be a shame to let that go to waste.
2 years, 1 month ago by thecreativelife
Here's a question: with the N800, one was able see the thought that went into the UI, specifically understanding a stylus or finger touching the screen. However, this was not the case in some settings screens (such as the Control Panel). Is this something fixed/enhanced, and will the new OS make it easier for developers to tap into using this aspect of the code so that there is a more consistent UI/UX?
2 years, 1 month ago by arjw
I should also ask, does the N810 play nicer with online services/apps such as Google Docs/ZoHo/etc.?
2 years, 1 month ago by arjw
Hi everyone. This is Erkko Anttila from San Francisco, and i'll try to answer as many of your questions related to the Nokia N810 software. Let's get started
2 years, 1 month ago by N810softwaremanager
thanks for taking time to answer our questions, Erkko.
2 years, 1 month ago by rcadden
Hey arjw. What comes to playing nicer with online services, the new browser based on Mozilla technologies (supports AJAX) can support sites like Google Docs, Zoho and Facebook
2 years, 1 month ago by N810softwaremanager
thecreativelife, i think the media support has taken a big step forward in the OS 2008 release. Why? We added Windows media video, which obviously is a really big improvement in web comptability and we added H.264 support.
For many Youtube is a big part of the media experience, and worked hard to improve that performance.
2 years, 1 month ago by N810softwaremanager
rcadden, video calling is still supported for Gtalk. That has not changed.
The cool thing with Gizmo is that because of their PC application, there will be video calling to a PC.
2 years, 1 month ago by N810softwaremanager
atmasphere, with the new browser and full flash support you can use the full fledge facebook website with (no reason to use the reduced mobile site).
I really love it myself as I can access my full facebook profile from anywhere, and even the 3rd party applications work.
2 years, 1 month ago by N810softwaremanager
What changes will there be in the stock applications? E.g., Opera is being replaced with MicroB, correct? (And will Opera still be included for those that want to switch to it for whatever reason?)
Also, will there be parity in the OS between N800 and N810? Is it really one OS image that just has extra drivers that get loaded if N810 specific hardware features are detected? Will the update for the N800 be released day-and-date with the N810? (And when specifically is the N810's street date?)
Does this OS update include Bluetooth headset support for apps like Skype and the various SIP apps?
Which GPS chipset is used in the N810?
2 years, 1 month ago by CAW
Do I still have to use a desktop computer to update the firmware?
2 years, 1 month ago by phi
Also, will this OS update remember our installed applications? Or will it be like the current OS upgrades and reset the device back to factory?
2 years, 1 month ago by CAW
This might have been asked already, but will the video player include different codecs in order to play more video types? I have yet to get avi working on the N800.
2 years, 1 month ago by darla
Hey everyone, I (Erkko) am back again. I'll try to answer as many questions as possible during the day.
2 years, 1 month ago by N810softwaremanager
@darla the media player supports some new codecs in the new release. Windows media video is now supported as well as H.264.
I'm really excited about both of these additions, as there is a lot of content around with these codecs. H.264 translates into the ability to for example play m4v files.
2 years, 1 month ago by N810softwaremanager
@CAW when updating your N800 to the new release, you will unfortunately have to re-install your applications. I know this is quite a burden but at this stage it cannot be avoided.
In the future we are working on improving the process of updating your devices with our releases, so that you really wouldn't have to go through the whole works everytime we release something.
2 years, 1 month ago by N810softwaremanager
@phi You will still have to use the PC flasher tool's to update your device.
2 years, 1 month ago by N810softwaremanager
@CAW wow, that is a hefty bunch of questions. Let's see if I can catch everyone.
There is quite a list of larger and smaller changes in the stock applications. Opera is now replaced with a browser based on the Mozilla technologies that also power Firefox. This means that we get Full AJAX support and comprehensive web compatibility overall. Support for Opera will not continue at all anymore.
The other larger changes are of course the pre-installed map application on both N810 and N800, new codecs for media player, performance improvements in flash video (you need to see how youtube performs now), a lot of UI changes to improve the visual appearance as well as make the UI more usable with your fingers, SIP support, Bluetooth headset support, and I'm most likely forgetting something. One additional thing are the improved use-times in both online and offline use-cases.
The OS is functionally the same for both N810 and N800. The differences come from the hardware, but the stock applications have the same features on both devices. It is just as you would expect from an Operating System.
On the exact schedule of releasing the software for N800, I don't have the details for you right now.
The bluetooth headset support will work with applications that are able to support headsets which would count in Skype.
The chip used for GPS is something I can't comment on.
2 years, 1 month ago by N810softwaremanager