New Firmware and Skype for the Nokia N800 is finaly here!!!

It lo0ks like that the new firmware for the Nokia N800 is out. It’s called ‘OS 2007 edition v. 4.2007.26-8. This has got the following changes (from the Nokia N800 Support site):-

Skype client support

After downloading the new software for the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet and installing Skype, users are ready to make free Internet Calls to other Skype users and low cost calls to landline or mobile phone wherever there is a wireless connection. From coffee shops to offices, to hotels or even on the beach, users will now be able to make Skype calls anywhere they can find a wi-fi hotspot. The Skype user experience familiar from desktop includes also chat, presence, contact details and account management features. The feature upgrade includes easy and quick installer for Skype client.

Adobe® Flash® 9 browser plug-in

Adobe® Flash® 9 browser plug-in has been one of the most wanted features requested by the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet users. The upgrade to Adobe® Flash® 9 browser plug-in opens the door to many rich media websites and considerably improves web usability. It also improves substantially the media performance when using video streaming services.

Up to 8 GB memory card support

More music and more videos imply more memory resources. Memory card support has increased from 2 GB to up to 8 GB, covering most part of the range of memory cards available in the market nowadays.

With two memory card slots the devices memory capability is extendable up to 16 GB. Over 2 GB SD memory cards must be SDHC compatible.

Other Improvements

A lot of work has been done into increasing the battery life of the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet. Most of the improvements have been done around the wireless connection, resulting in remarkably longer online usages.

The new Internet Tablet OS brings some improvements at an application level as well. The most visible change is clarification of Now Playing and Library modes for Media Player. The contents of the cards are also scanned faster than before.

Touch screen sensitiveness has been improved through software enhancements. Now the screen areas with most intensive use register events more efficiently.

Nokia Internet Call Invitation (BETA) application

Nokia Internet Call Invitation (BETA) trial period has ended. The invitation mechanism has been removed and service will not be accessible after 31.8.2007.

New pre-installed content

• Tableteer info applet
• Updated Internet radio channels
• Real Rhapsody player easy installer (available for US. residents only)
• Piquant new web sites

You can download the new firmware now from here. I am just starting Windows now (as the firmware updater doesn’t work on a Mac), so I will post an update later on today when I’ve loaded the update.

Source: Nokia N800 Support Site

Skype on a Nokia N800 update

I’ve been following some of the post on InternetTabletForum again, and it appear they Skype is back again on the Nokia N800.

After updating the Application List (I went into Application Manager, then into Tools/Refresh Application List), then went into ‘Browse Installable Applications/Multimedia’ you can see several Skype installation packages, all with the version number 1.7.23.27.4. The packages won’t install, as there are about 15 missing libraries.

We will see what tomorrow brings.

Reference: Previous Post

Skype coming to the Nokia N800 really soon ?

There has been some chatter on the InternetTabletTalk website today about Skype finally being seen (and them promptly removed again) from the Application Manager on the Nokia N800 (when the local packages were updated). I don’t think anyone has got it to work yet (as the files seem to have been removed very quickly), but the fact thet it appears to be have seen, might mean that a Skype release is coming really soon. Some people are indicating that the new firmware will be a requirement too.

Also in the forum thread, it mentions that the new release will be called ‘chinook’ (all the internal development has code names – the current one is ‘bora’, and the previous one was called ‘mistral’) and that files are starting to appear on the Nokia site. I checked this site last week, and all that was there was an empty folder called ‘chinook’, now there are files in there!!! One of the posts seem to mention that the firmware update may be out as soon as tomorrow (5th July), and to keep fressing F5, but the post seems to have been deleted now… hmm…

Source: InternetTabletTalk Forums

Skype on a Nokia N800 ?

The latest rumor to hit the net today is that Skype for the N800 is comming really really soon. Kevin C. Tofel from the JKonTheRun website has been to Digital Experience show in the US, and when Kevin was at the Nokia booth, he managed to see a N800 running Skype. Looks like a July release for the Skype software finally (which mean the Q2 release date mentioned in the InternetTabletTalk forums will be miseed – well there is only one working days left to go before we hit the start of Q3 – and it is iPhone day). The next thing to wait for is video camera integration!!!

Now all we’ve got to do is to get Google Gears working on the N800 so I can get my calendar offline (well this is supposed to be an internet tablet), and Plaxo so I can see all my contacts.

BTW, the podcast that these guys do is really good if you’re into your mobile technology (which I guess you must be of your reading this!!!)

Source: JKontheRun

Podcast: Subscribe to the Mobile Tech Roundup using iTunes

Two Weeks with a Nokia N800

Pros

• Great battery life, even with Wifi turned on (although I am turning it off automatically after 5 minutes of non use.
• Great web browser (Opera Mini I think), and you can load Minimo on too (with is Mozilla based)
• Loads of 3rd party apps can be downloaded OTA, and a very active open source development ecosystem.

Cons

• No built in calendar application
• The calendar apps you can download, don’t seem to support two way sync’ing
• No Google Docs support
• No Google Gears support
• No Skype client. Yes I know that it does GTalk and SIP, but most people I know are using Skype.

Is there anything you think I might of missed on either the Pros or Cons ? If there is, please post it!!!