Finally, after some 8 months or more of speculation and rumors that the N8 would get a 2.0 firmware update, it happened. ‘Anna’ arrived.

For customers that spent 500 Euros on an N8 last year it’s a huge sigh of relief. For those thinking about a new cameraphone, I can tell you that there’s very little to moan about now. The software is mature, the price is right.

Portrait keyboard, simpler browsing, a re-worked icon set (that my wife says is cheap ‘like Linux’, I think it looks good!) and fixes all-round. For example, my OVI store now works again after being out of action for a month or more.

The N8 is still no high-end smartphone but as a media phone, the value for money here is amazing. Recent price drops have brought the device down to near €300.

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Having covered Meego news from many countries and attended Meego and Maemo conferences in three countries I would argue that the biggest contributing country is Germany. If it’s not #1, its up there in the top 5.

So why have Nokia taken work done by these talented people, built a product on it and then decided not to selling to them? The same applies to the UK and US and many other countries.

If something is going to be built on open source software, shouldn’t it be available to everyone?
Meego, controlled by the Linux Foundation should write this into their terms. If you want to use the Meego brand in your marketing, you jolly-well make sure its available to the people that worked on it.

At the least, the Linux Foundation need to publicize the official line from Nokia. Why? Are there legal issues? Carriers complaining?

The best case scenario is that all those that contributed should get a reduced-cost product. 50% off retail sounds fair. If Intel, their customers and the Linux Foundation want to see more developer input, they can’t let this closed-distribution continue.

Nokia appear to have closed the lid on the Meego software, removed funding and put the N9 out there beyond the reach of many. No only in terms of location; Have you seen the price?

Play with the right spirit Nokia.

http://www.meegoexperts.com/2011/08/germany-confirmed-n9-nokia-meego-harmattan/

Myriam Joire does an excellent job on this review of the Touch 4G Slide. She says it’s the 3rd best cameraphone on the market behind the Galaxy S2 and the Nokia N8.

If you want a connected camera first though, the N8 is still the one.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/t-mobile-mytouch-4g-slide-review/?fb_ref=article&fb_source=home_oneline

Posted, possibly while reclining, with the Galaxy Tab 7

It was a tough move but following a failed OVI store upgrade on my N8 (loan from Nokia) this morning I decided that enough is enough. I’ve seen enough software install and update failures to tell me that I should move on. Considering the fact that I’m excited about Google Plus on Android along with the instant photo upload feature, the time is right. I know I’ll miss that camera but I have to move on so the N8 is packaged and ready to be returned. Thanks for the thousands of great camera shots Nokia. Thanks for a great phone and thanks for some interesting HDMI capabilities. Maps wasn’t so successful on the phone and as for apps, I didn’t really find myself using it as my go-to Internet device. I had my Galaxy Tab by my side for Internet and Apps and to be honest, without it, I would have been a little lost.

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