In this page you will find various articles about up & coming new technologies, or information on technologies yet to be embraced by the general population.
The Nokia N97 is the very latest "mobile computer" from Nokia. The successor to the N95, it includes Symbian OS 9.4 with S60 v5, a resistive touchscreen, 640x360 resolution 3.5" 16:9 screen, 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss Tessar lens, an accelerometer, digital compass, QWERTY keyboard and 32GB of internal mass memory.
To clear up some confusion, Symbian is the underlying operating system, and S60 is the name of the Graphical User Interface. Similar to Linux 2.6.x and KDE 3.5 if you are familiar with Linux.
I'm not one to pay much attention to the unit dimensions before purchasing. I first saw the Nokia N97 with my own eyes when a store clerk opened a box so I could have a look. The first thing I noticed was that the phone looks like a phone. It's attractive, and slimmer than the N95 which always looked like a small brick to me.
The internal speaker quality is slightly less than that of the N95, but no-one expects good quality sound from a phone's internal speakers anyway. The volume is still quite loud, the sound quality is fine, and not any less than I expected.
The N97 retails at $1129.00 and is currently available at Crazy Johns, Telechoice and some Optus & Vodafone stores.
There are two flavours of the N97 being sold in Australia, the N97-1 (APAC version), and the N97-2 (NAM version). The N97-2 is like the N95-3, in that it supports 850mhz UTMS, but dropping 900mhz UTMS support. Unlike the N95-3, the N97-2 does not drop 2100mhz UTMS support, and both the N97-1 and N97-2 have 1900mhz and 2100mhz UTMS support. Telstra's NextG network operates on the 850mhz UTMS band.
An awkwardly designed stylus comes with the phone. It is flat and rectangular, though as long as a regular stylus. The tip is shaped like an arrow.
The N97 comes with a screen protector already applied. Using the stylus causes permanent marks and indentations even if you are very careful not to try to scratch the screen. I have replaced the screen protector with a better quality one, though still a cheap Chinese brand, and using the stylus is no-where near as bad with this new screen protector.
The main screen of this phone, named the "Home Screen", can have up to 5 "widgets" attached. These widgets are little rectangular boxes of updating information such as a clock, news ticker, e-mail display, music player or the weather. New widgets can be downloaded from the Ovi Store, but may cost you some money. Widgets can also be moved around on the Home Screen on a grid, allowing you to choose where to place each widget. As of the current firmware (11.0.021), the clock is permanent. Swiping your finger across the homescreen will hide all of the widgets allowing you to see your wallpaper clearly, and you can swipe again to bring them all back.
The phone features vibration feedback enabled by default. When tapping on the screen, the phone will vibrate. Some may find it more comfortable with this on, and other may find it annoying. I have left it on.
To access the QWERTY keyboard, the phone flips out and tilts up on a nice 45 degree angle (a guess). This is where you will find the microphone underneath the spacebar. It is an awkward position to put the microphone, in my opinion, but it does the job and no-one has complained of not being able to hear me when the phone is slid shut.
The keyboard features a shift key, all 26 letters of the alphabet in a QWERTY arrangement, the spacebar is in the position of where the "ALT" key is on a standard keyboard, but it is not annoying, and seems the logical place for it. Backspace and Enter are present, and numbers are available by using a key which works much like an "ALT" key.
Also to the left of the keyboard is the standard "joystick". Up, down, left, right and a centre button like that on the N95.
The camera is the same as that on the N95, but the flash is of a higher quality with two bright LEDs instead of just one. The lens cover is square and slid open with a finger, and in my opinion, much nicer than the N95.
The N97 can record in 640x480 4:3 and 640x360 16:9 widescreen at 30 frames per second. Some refer to this as DVD quality. It is quite good for a phone, and even produces better quality recordings than some 8mm Handycams, but is not quite DVD quality. Digital zoom capability is present in both picture and video mode. All features you're likely to find on a standard digital camera, such as red-eye reduction, exposure settings, colour adjustment, white balance and contrast control are present, although macro mode is missing, naturally.
With 32GB of internal mass storage memory, you are likely to never need an SDHC card, but a slot is available if you choose to use one.
Just like the N95 and previous Nokia models, the Phone Switch application is present allowing you to copy all contacts, notes, SMS messages, calendar appointments and To-Do lists in a single step from one phone to another.
The back battery cover, unlike nearly all other phones I have encountered, does not slide open. It instead clicks in at several positions around the base. To remove the cover, you tear it off starting from the bottom of the phone. I don't particularly like the way the back cover clips on, but i'm sure i'll get used to it.
Near the earpiece is a proximity sensor. This stops the phone from registering taps if it rubs against your ear during a call.
A nice improvement on my previous N95, is the ability to charge the phone via a USB connection. This makes travelling a lot easier. The box comes with a USB wall charger, standard USB cord to charge via computer or for accessing data, and an adaptor that converts 2 different styles of Nokia chargers to USB. The adaptor is useful for already existing Nokia car chargers.
The stylus or a wrist strap can be attached to the base of the phone, though having the stylus permanently attached may scratch the screen (protector) when carried around in your pocket or handbag.
The Nokia N97 has the ability to read e-mail messages and SMS messages aloud, in a robotic, yet non-monotonous voice. It seems like a gimmick, but could be useful for some people.
A new feature (since the N95) is the ability to set up Access Point zones called "Destinations". When selecting an access point, no longer does the phone list choices such as "VF AU Internet", "Optus Streaming" or "Telstra MMS" etc.. Instead there are zones such as "Internet", "WAP services" and "Multimedia msg.". Each zone can have multiple access points, in order of priority.
As an example, when opening the web browser, the "Internet" destination will be used, and depending on where you are, it may use your home WiFi or 3G connection, depending on the priority chosen for that destination.
The phone also seems to play nice with SSIDs of the same name. If you and your friend both have the same SSID but different security settings, it should not cause problems to configure both networks in the phone.
A digital compass is also present, for use with Nokia Maps. After calibrating the compass by rotating the phone in a figure eight motion, the compass icon turns green, and the map will rotate as you rotate. This is useful, as you no longer have to calculate a route to have the map rotate for you when walking or driving. Unfortunately the compass needs to be calibrated every time Nokia Maps is loaded.
I must talk about the negative aspects of the phone. One beloved feature of the N95, E71, 6220c and many more is the built-in VoIP client which works over SIP. Though the SIP settings can be configured in the N97, the VoIP client is no-where to be seen, forcing you to use applications such as Fring or Nimbuzz instead. Hopefully the VoIP client will come in a future firmware update.
Answering calls while the phone is locked is rather annoying. Pressing the green answer button does nothing, and tapping the answer button also does nothing. Both work when the phone is unlocked. You can either unlock the phone while it is ringing, or otherwise the only way to answer the call is through a swiping motion, left to right, over the "Answer" button on the screen. An animation shows you what to do, but it is unclear unless having read the manual.
Transitional effects are disabled by default, but once turned on in the theme settings, are limited to a fading effect when rotating the phone and sliding motion when moving up and down in menus.
With transition effects enabled, and 5 widgets running, the phone has little memory left. After a couple of applications are opened, such as the web browser and GPS software, the phone will automatically close non-system software to free up memory.
At this time, I have not tested the earphones and TV-out feature. The review may be updated shortly to include a review on those parts of the phone.
In summary, a worthwhile purchase for the QWERTY keyboard, touchscreen, large viewing screen and access point priorities. I expect the price to fall starting next year. $1129 RRP is a bit steep, but the phone can be found for $999 at Telechoice.
So what is this Naked DSL thing anyway?
Naked DSL refers to having an ADSL broadband connection, without a standard PSTN telephone service.
PSTN stands for "public switched telephone network", which the POTS (plain old telephone service) runs on. In basic terms, the POTS provides your dialtone and telephone line power from the exchange to your house, and the PSTN routes your call to the destination based on the phone number you dial.
With Naked DSL, you are disconnected from the PSTN and receive no dialtone. You are left with an ADSL service only. Contrary to some somewhat misleading newspaper and TV advertisements, you do need a "land line". The land line is simply the telephone cable that runs from your house to the exchange; ADSL and thus Naked DSL still uses this cable.
Naked DSL is not a new technology. It is simply a term for what you get when you disconnect from the standard telephone network.
As you no longer have a dialtone, in order to make calls you must have a VoIP compatible phone, router or software capable of making internet telephone calls. Software such as Skype is able to make telephone calls from the internet over the PSTN.
There are many providers of a type of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) called SIP. SIP is a protocol built into all VoIP routers, and these routers or modems allow you to connect your already existing telephone into it. The dialtone is provided by the router, and any calls you make go over the internet via the VSP (VoIP Service Provider) of your choice.
Most Naked DSL providers have a SIP service. Some examples being Adam Internet, iiNet & Internode. Most VoIP providers that are also Internet Service Providers, will let you make a VoIP call without your download/upload quota being affected.
There are many benefits, and some cons to Naked DSL.
Some of the benefits are as follows:
* May violate the terms of service for your provider.
Some cons are as follows:
If you have a VoIP capable router, making a phone call is as simple as picking up the phone and dialing any number as you normally would. Unless there is a major issue with your internet connection, the quality of the call is indistinguishable from a normal telephone call.
More information can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naked_dsl
Linux is an umbrella term for a variety of free operating systems that use the Linux "kernel". The "kernel" in basic literal terms, is a program or set of programs which operate the hardware in and connected to your computer. If a program wants to draw a line on the monitor, it is the kernel that knows how to communicate with a monitor. The Windows kernel is ntoskrnl.exe. It is unimportant for an end-user to learn about the kernel, as the kernel works in the background without you needing to be aware of it.
There are many flavours (distributions) of Linux operating systems. Common ones include openSUSE, Ubuntu & Debian. Each one looks and behaves slightly differently and comes with a different set of programs, but for the most part, they're the same.
These operating systems are being updated every day, and major releases happen once or twice a year. Most of the updates are for more hardware support, to add compatibility for new wireless devices & sound cards etc, and to fix up bugs.
Linux does not require a steep learning curve if all you want to do is write documents, print, browse the internet, play videos/DVDs and send emails.
The benefit of using Linux instead of Windows, is that 99% of the software you use and download is completely free, including the operating system itself. It is most commonly used in server environments for hosting websites and linking computers together at universities because of it's very high reliability and security. Don't let this put you off; Linux is very suitable as a desktop operating system to replace Windows, so long as you are not a gamer.
Linux also runs on more hardware than any other operating system. From mobile phones to game consoles. If you do not have a computer but you have a Playstation 3, you can turn your PS3 into a fully functional computer by installing Linux on it.
People with minor eyesight problems will also find Linux easy to use. Magnifying the screen and enabling high contrast mode is as simple as pressing a couple of keys on the keyboard.
Frequently asked questions
Q) What can I do with Linux?
A) You can play/stream video from the internet from sites like YouTube, chat on MSN/Yahoo/AIM, write Office documents, PowerPoint presentations, Excel spreadsheets, print, view PDF documents, listen to music and rip CD's to MP3, catalog your digital photos in a virtual photo album, view digital high-definition TV through a DVB-T stick, play and burn DVDs, etc.. The only real limit in Linux is you are unable to play most games designed for Windows.
Q) Can I use my iPod or other MP3 player?
A) Yes, but "iTunes" is not available for Linux. You instead use a program such as "Amarok" which has similar functionality. In order to use your iPod in Linux, you need to simply copy the audio files to the iPod like you would for a USB Flash Drive, and run a program called "reTune" or "shuffle-db", which tells the iPod where the songs are. Other MP3 players don't require that last step. Some distributions of Linux such as openSUSE have built-in iPod support to simplify this process.
Q) What are the requirements for Linux?
A) Linux runs on a lot of hardware, both old and new. As a rule of thumb, have a least 512MB of RAM, 40GB Hard Drive & 800mhz. It will run on lower specifications, but is not recommended. There are specialised Linux distributions to run on 64MB of RAM and earlier Pentium I/II machines, but the programs you can run on it, are limited to those that will run with a small amount of memory.
Q) Can I run Windows programs?
A) There is a program called "wine" which provdes the ability to run some, but not all Windows programs. The less complicated the program, the more likely you will be able to run it successfully. Do not expect to rely on running any Windows programs.
Q) Can I play Windows games?
A) Some games do work under "wine". There is a commercial version of "wine" called "Cedega" which is specifically designed to run Windows games, however it has been stated that "wine" is now more compatible than "Cedega". Linux is not an operating system suited to gamers. Some Windows games get a Linux version. Notably games from ID Software.
Q) Will my USB Thumb/Pen/Flash Drive work?
A) Yes. They all work.
Q) Can I connect an external Hard Drive to back up my data?
A) Yes, as above, virtually any data storage device connected via USB will work. If you are connecting an external Hard Drive for backup purposes. Many Linux distributions have full read/write compatbility with NTFS filesystems. If you run an older distribution, you may need to format the hard-drive as FAT32. You cannot do this with XP/Vista's standard format tool as it limits FAT32 to 32GB, which is not a FAT32 limitation. XP/Vista will still read FAT32 partitions over 32GB.
Q) Can I use my digital camera?
A) Yes. In some very rare cases, you may be required to purchase a card reader.
Q) Will my printer & scanner work?
A) Epson, HP and Brother are best in terms of Linux support. Other brands may not have any drivers for Linux available. You should check your hardware for compatibility before installing Linux.
Q) How much does Linux cost?
A) It is free, except for handling charges. Charging for it is frowned upon and may break some license agreements.
Q) How hard is it to install Linux?
A) If you have installed Windows from the CDs, then you will be able to install Linux. However, setting up printers & wireless devices may require further help. You may also need help if you want to select between Windows and Linux when you start your computer up. This is known as dual-boot.
Q) Can I try Linux without installing it?
A) Most Linux distributions have what is called a "Live CD/DVD", which can be downloaded and ran prior to install for you to try out and see if you like it, without risk. If no option to download a Live version is available, it is most likely part of the standard installation disc.
Q) Do I need to install Anti-Virus software?
A) Linux is in orders of magnitude more secure than Windows by default, and therefore most people don't run Anti-Virus software in Linux. Viruses/Spyware as you know them on Windows (popups/error messages/website redirection) are virtually non-existant on Linux. The most common form of attack is hacking into the "root" (Administrator) account and accessing your files, though this is very rare and you are not vulnerable if you keep your system up-to-date. These flaws when found are fixed up almost immediately. Anti-Virus software is available should you choose to use it. Grisoft provide a Linux version of AVG Free. Keep in mind that Anti-Virus software on Linux is mostly only going to find Windows viruses that will not affect you on a Linux system.
Q) Will it cook my breakfast?
A) Though you may expect the answer to be no, you can infact buy a USB BBQ Grill and use it to cook your breakfast.. Weirdo.