I decided it was time to do an entire post using my bluetooth keyboard and my Nokia N800 internet tablet. Last night we had some friends over for dinner and everyone was amazed with both the clarity and size of my Nokia’s screen. Obviously that is the key point … my ease of viewing web based content as well as upgrading when new software is created for the Nokia’s Linux based operating system.

One change in my web browsing habits is that I’ve split up my RSS feeds. My work focused feeds remain on my PC; but my leisure based feeds are now on my Nokia. It’s nice to sit on my bed after a long cross-country ski with my feet up and read for fun. It’s just plain comfortable! Thus attached to this posting are eleven screenshots taken on my Nokia N800.  They demonstrate how easy it is to use and read RSS feeds via the Nokia. In my case I was leaving the frozen Northland for a trip via the NY Times Travel Section.

• Screenshots
• 00: Nokia Desktop
• 01: Web Applications Menu
• 02: RSS Application Start-Up
• 03: RSS Menu – Feed
• 04: RSS Menu – Edit
• 05: RSS Menu – View (and zoom)
• 06: RSS Menu – Tools
• 07: NY Times Travel Section Feed
• 08: Toggle to NY Times "Full View"
• 09: Web Page Link / Galapagos Islands
• My Earlier Nokia N800 Review (demo screencast)

I’ve yet to find an application out there which allows me to edit jpg files. More than likely, I’m not looking hard enough! Oh yes, one final point  … the RSS Feed Reader that came with my Nokia had no problems importing an OPML file. Thus, I was able to import feeds in mass via a file transferred over from my PC.
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Stanford Professor Larry Lessig has led the charge to insure that basic access to scientific and other kinds of research are available without charge. His book on this subject, The Future of Ideas, is available for free download. You may also wish to watch his talk given at TED which was titled How Creativity Is Being Strangled By The Law. Obviously I resonate with these concepts, and my blog is focused upon that goal. Thus, it is with great interest that I learn via Rafael Sidi’s blog (Really Simple Sidi – RSS) of Google’s entry into this domain:

Quoted from Wired Magazine – January 18, 2008: "Sources at Google have disclosed that the humble domain, http://research.google.com, will soon provide a home for terabytes of open-source scientific datasets. The storage will be free to scientists and access to the data will be free for all. The project, known as Palimpsest and previewed to the scientific community at the Science Foo camp at the Googleplex last August, missed its original launch date this week, but will debut soon."

This initiative will be worth monitoring …
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Even though the temperature at 8:30 a.m. this morning is -18F (-28C) at my house … with a windchill that is down in the -35F (-37C) range, the National Pond Hockey Championships march on (skate on?!). Take a few moments and enjoy Minnesotas at play … and actually teams from around the United States and Canada.  This is the kind of hockey that we all played as kids (at least us Minnesota folk).

• Slide show with audio
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• Expand the attached photo

There are no prizes for winning this game, except increased knowledge!

Late yesterday afternoon I had to laugh at myself. I truly demonstrated that I was the "Northstar" Nerd. Here was the situation:

• I had just finished a hard cross-county skiing workout (see Loppets for LindYun)
• Upon finishing, I discovered that the lanyard from my thumb drive had been around my neck during my entire ski!

You may ask … why? Well, I was listening to the Car Talk podcast via my FM modulator in my car while driving over to the park where I ski.  As the podcast was not finished when I arrived, I left the thumb drive connected to the modulator, and started my workout … compete with disconnected lanyard around my neck!

Now how can this be educational for you? Do you time shift by listening to podcasts in your car? Although I was listening to CarTalk, lots of other knowledge based podcasts are available … for instance Harvard Ideacast. I’ve attached a few photos to give you a better understanding, but link to my Drivetime podcast post to watch a tutorial, and view some of my podcast links. The cost of an FM modulator is under $25 U.S.
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This past Christmas I bought myself a new toy, the Nokia N800 (a handheld internet tablet pc). When you consider the fact that both of my boys purchased an iPod Touch, here at the Hoegs … we’re in the middle of a handheld war!

I’ve created a short screencast which demonstrates many of the features found upon the Nokia N800. However, here are a few of the reasons I chose the Nokia over the iPod Touch:

• Open Source Platform and Software
• Bluetooth and Wifi Enabled
• Embedded Microphone (Skype anyone?)

The practical result of these three facts is that the capability of my Nokia N800’s is constantly expanding as developers create new software for a platform which is not locked down (i.e. like Apple). The fact that is was cheaper than the iTouch did not hurt either (about $220 U.S.). The screensize for both handhelds is similar, with the Nokia’s display being just a tough larger. However, even though I can listen to MP3’s on my Nokia, if your goal is listen to lots of music, the iTouch may be a better choice.

My thanks to Santtu Lakkala and his MH Screenshot Application. Without this open source tool which I easily installed to my Nokia, I could not have created my demo.

Update on Feb. 29th. Did you find this screencast useful?. If the answer is "yes", link to my latest Nokia N810 screencast … Spot Takes a Walk (a dog, her master and GPS)!

Here are a few other Nokia N800 sites:

• Nokia N800 Official Site
• Nokia N800 Review by Jon Lee: Part 1 | Part 2
• Nokia OS2008 (operating system)
• Maemo.Org Open Source Site
• Rich Hoeg’s Nokia Tablet Posts (your blog host)

and once again …

• The Northstar Nerd’s Nokia N800 Demo