Nokia Launches, New Product Category, Linux Based Nokia 770 Internet Tablet
By NEWS RELEASE |
May 25th, 2005
Comments (4)
Today Nokia introduced its first device in the new Internet Tablet category, the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet, at the LinuxWorld Summit in New York. The Nokia 770 Internet Tablet is a dedicated device optimized for convenient Internet browsing and email communications in a sleek pocketsize format. The Nokia 770 Internet Tablet features an impressive high-resolution (800×480) widescreen display with zoom and on-screen keyboard, ideal for viewing online content over Wi-Fi. Aside from Wi-Fi, the device can also connect to the Internet utilizing Bluetooth wireless technology via a compatible mobile phone.
“We are very excited to introduce our first Nokia Internet Tablet device to the market. With the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet consumers can access broadband Internet services away from their desktop, for example in the backyard or at a café within a Wi-Fi hotspot”, says Janne Jormalainen, Vice President of Convergence Products, Multimedia, Nokia.
The device runs on Linux based Nokia Internet Tablet 2005 software edition which includes widely deployed desktop Linux and Open Source technologies. The maemo development platform (www.maemo.org) will provide Open Source developers and innovation houses with the tools and opportunities to collaborate with Nokia on future devices and OS releases in the Internet Tablet category.
“Linux is a logical choice for the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet as Linux and the Open Source development platform provide us with fast and efficient solutions to build products for this new, Nokia product category. This is the first step in creating an Open Source product for broadband and Internet services. We will be launching regularly updates of the software. The next software release planned for the first half of next year will support more presence based functionalities such as VoIP and Instant Messaging”, continues Janne Jormalainen.
Additional highlighted applications of the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet with the 2005 software include an Internet Radio, RSS News reader, Image viewer and Media players for selected types of media. The Nokia 770 Internet Tablet is planned to start shipping in the third quarter of 2005 in selected countries in the Americas and Europe.
About Nokia
Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations. www.nokia.com
May 25th, 2005 at 2:10 pm
I like the product (especially since its based on an open-source platform), but I’m not sure why someone wouldn’t just buy a Wi-Fi / Bluetooth enabled PDA to do the same thing? I hope it will be priced competitively.
May 29th, 2005 at 7:36 pm
The other day I actually restored my old NEC MobilePro 750C to life . . . it had lay in pieces in a drawer for about 2.5 years, but when I reassmbled it, it worked fine. It’s an old Windows CE 2.x “palmtop” with keyboard and touch screen.
Anyway, I found out that there is a version of NetBSD which runs on old NECs, and some have used the PC Card slot to add a wireless card - yielding a similar Internet browsing device. Haven’t started on mine yet, but I’m trying to figure out how to do it.
Thought it was funny that I discovered this possibility for an ancient palmtop right after seeing Nokia’s new device.
June 2nd, 2005 at 8:25 am
I forgot to post this the other day, but Mobile Burn has a hands-on review of the Nokia 770. One of the biggest complaints: no Bluetooth support (would come in handy for adding a wireless keyboard).
June 25th, 2005 at 6:26 pm
There is bluetooth support, just not currently enabled for keyboard support. I am hopeful that someone will actually program this feature.