The next phase of Nokia handsets in the evolution of Maemo software is N900 releasing in October this year in select markets. In US and UK it will be released on T-Mobile.

N900 smartphone is linux-based Maemo software handset that brings PC to mobile. The cell phone gives exact experience of PC on a handset.

In N900 one can do multitask and gets browsing internet facilities as it is on desktop computer.

N900 runs on new Maemo 5 software that empowers mobile users to work on multiple windows application together. The mobile also offers full advantage of hi-tech mobile features such as touch screen and QWERTY keyboard.

Ansi Vanjoki, executive vice-president for markets of Nokia says, “With Linus softwar, Mozilla-based browser technology and now also with cellular connectivity, the Nokia N900 delivers a powerful mobile experience.”

He also added that the Nokia N900 shows where the company is going with Maemo software and they will continue working with the community in order to push this software forward.

The Maemo also complements the other software platforms of Nokia such as Symbian that powers Nokia’s smartphones.

The phone will have GSM radios and triband 3G to support T-Mobile. It will be having a full Firefox3 browser with 5MP CZ cam, lens cover, LEDx2 flash and 800×480 video.

The messaging through N900 will be easy and convenient because of the full physical slide-out QWERTY keyboard. With only few touches on screen one can set up e-mails and it mobilizes up to 10 personal e-mail accounts.

N900 Features and Specifications :

Dimensions : 110.9 × 59.8 × 18
Color : Black
Weight : Approx 181 g
Display : 3.5 inch touch-sensitive widescreen display, 800 × 480 pixel resolution
Email & Messaging : SMS, Instant Messages, MMS
Web Browser : Maemo browser powered by Mozilla technology
Memory : Up to 1GB of application memory (256 MB RAM, 768 MB virtual memory)
Connectivity : Micro-USB connector, High-Speed USB 2.0, Integrated GPS with A-GPS
Language Support : British English, American English, Canadian French, German, Italian, etc
Camera : 5 megapixel camera (2584 × 1938 pixels)
Music : Maemo media player
Operating System : Maemo 5 software on Linux
Application : Contacts, Camera, Calculator, Clock, Games, PDF Reader, File Manager, RSS Reader, Media player, Maemo Browser
Gaming : Chess, Bounce, Mahjong
Kit : Nokia Stereo Headset (WH-205), Nokia charger adaptor (CA-146C), Cleaning cloth, Nokia High Efficiency Charger (AC-10), Nokia Battery (BL-5J), Video out cable (CA-75U)

N900 video Demo (Youtube Video)

Watch the video of N900 below:

It is a fact that small free applications created by non Apple programmers will experience problems. Often the first releases of these small applications are not stable and well-designed and will take a little time before all problems are sorted and application made stable.

At times you might find that some applications, when opening them, will only take you back to the iPhone’s Home screen. Some applications might even restart your iPhone. Here are some recommendations you can follow in order to troubleshoot problematic applications:

Step 1 – Restart the Application
Attempt to restart the application again. Often, restarting an application for a second time might work.

Step 2 – Restart the iPhone
Simply hold down the Sleep switch at the top of the iPhone until the ‘Slide to Power Off’ note appears. Simply slide your finger in order to turn off the iPhone and restart it again.

Step 3 – Reinstall the Application
Firstly, you will need to remove the application from your iPhone. Then visit the App store again and re-download the application. You will be notified that you have already purchased the application. Simply tap ‘OK’ and you will receive a notification that you will not be charged again for the application.

Step 4 – Reset Your iPhone
If you experience your iPhone to freeze or become totally unresponsive, it is suggested that you reset the iPhone. In order to reset the iPhone, simply hold down both the Home and Sleep buttons for at least 10 seconds. The phone will shut down, after which you can turn it on again.

If all above fails and the application is still not working, you can report this to Apple. A team of technicians will investigate and often this will fix any errors you may be experiencing with the application.

The iPhone is unlike any other mobile device you have experienced before. In large, the iPhone has replaced old fashioned device buttons with onscreen touching, flipping, dragging and more. This guide will explain the various finger techniques you will be using with the iPhone.

Tap
In owning an iPhone, you will be doing a lot of tapping. The iPhone consists of a number of onscreen buttons, which you will need to tap with your finger. Luckily they are big enough for users to see and touch. Here you will not be using the old-fashioned stylus, pen tip or any other small object.

Slide
On some screens you will be required to confirm an action by sliding your finger across the screen of the iPhone. Examples of sliding requests are when you intend to switch off your iPhone or unlock it after it was locked due to inactivity. You will also be requested to slide your finger to answer a call on a locked phone or to shut off an alarm or alert.

Drag
Dragging will occur when you are zoomed into a web page, email or photo and you wish to move around the enlarged image. Dragging is almost like a flick of the finger, but only slower and more controlled.

Pinch and Spread
In applications such as Mail, Web, Maps and Photos a user can zoom in by spreading. This is done by placing two fingers on the screen and spreading them apart. By doing this the image will start to enlarge.

Once zoomed into an image, you can zoom out again by pinching. This is done, once again by placing two fingers on the screen and pinching them together.

Flick
A flick can be seen as a fast and uncontrolled slide of the finger. By scrolling vertically you can browse long lists. The faster you flick the faster the list scrolls by.

Double-Tap
The double-tap term is plain forward and easy to understand, however, this is very rarely used on the iPhone where all functions are activated with one tap.

Generally double tapping are reserved for three functions only, and they are:

• Double tapping images in the browser will zoom in on them.
• Double tapping a zoomed image will restore the image to its original size.

When watching a video, double tapping it will switch between aspect ratios.

Two-Finger Tap
This is a very rare action on the iPhone and is only used in Google Maps. This will zoom out of a map viewed and is performed by tapping the screen once with two fingers.

Certainly, the visual voicemail function contained on the iPhone is one of the biggest sale motivators. With the iPhone there is no need to call into a voicemail message box or entering any passwords to listen to messages left by others. There is no need to listen to all messages and continuously pressing buttons to listen to the remainder of the messages.

Whenever a caller leaves a voicemail message the iPhone will wake up and display a notification on the screen of the voicemail message that was left. If activated, you may also hear the message alert tone sounding.

Setting up Voicemail
The first time you visit the Voicemail screen you will be prompted to set a numeric password for your voicemail account. This will only be required the first time you access this facility.

Here you will also be asked to record a message for your voicemail facility. You will have two options here, as you can make use of the iPhones’ custom pre-recorded default message or create your own custom recorded message.

Viewing Voicemail Messages
Once here, you will be in a position to view all received voicemail messages in chronological order. This list will display the callers’ name, if listed in your contacts list and the telephone number from where they dialled.

You are now in a position to view and listed to any voicemail message you wish. You are not restricted to listen to messages in a specific order.

In order to listen to a voicemail message, simply tap the name of the message twice. This is in contradiction with the usual one-tap function of the iPhone.

Remember, it is required that you turn on the phone speaker as you will be looking at your phone and not holding it to your ear.

Also, important to note is that the iPhone will store new messages for a period of 30 days. Ensure that you visit this facility frequently in order to prevent a loss of information.

One of the advantages of the iPhone for corporate users is the fact that the user can access a Virtual Private Network (VPN) straight into a corporate network directly from the iPhone. The advantage of this facility is that the user send and receive his/her work email directly on the iPhone, without the need of visiting the office.

The iPhone has the ability to connect to servers supporting PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) and L2TP/IPSec (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol over the IP Security Protocol). The majority of corporate networks will support at least one of these two protocols or technologies.

The iPhone 2.0 furthermore consists of capabilities of connecting to Cisco servers, which is the most widely used system across the United States by large corporations.

Setting up VPN

On your iPhone, visit Settings à General à Network à VPN. Tap the on/off button and a VPN Configuration screen will pop up.

Now tap the protocol used by the company who’s VPN you wish to access. Your options are PPTP, L2TP and IPSec. This information can be obtained from the systems administrator of your organizations systems.

The following information needs be completed. Again, this information can only be obtained from your systems administrator:

Server
This is the Internet address of your VPN server.

Account and Password
Your systems administrator needs to set up a user account and password for you to access the systems. Here you need to enter the username and password provided to you.

Secret
If your systems make use of L2TP technologies you will require another password, known as the Shared Secret. This needs to be entered here.