Most folks are probably familiar with Linux, the open source operating system that is loved and embraced by hard core geeks and is the platform for many website and services you use every day (this blog is one of them).

For the last few years, Nokia has developed and coordinated Maemo, a Linux-based operating system for their Internet Tablets (reviewed on this site before).  Separately, Intel has been shepherding the advancement of Moblin, another Linux based project that provides a fast operating system for Intel Atom-based Netbooks

MeeGo is the unified project where Maemo and Moblin are combined, creating one operating system for portable devices of all types (including Intel’s netbooks and Nokia’s N900 and future Internet Tablets).

Interview Time!

Looking to find out more, I interviewed Peter Schneider, a marketing director with the Maemo team inside Nokia.

Q: How did MeeGo start…what brought Intel and Nokia together?

At Nokia, we have been involved with the Gnome Foundation because Maemo was build with cooperation from this group.   During Gnome related activities, our Maemo-involved team members got to know the guys from Intel.

After casual conversations and getting to know each other, we realized Moblin and Maemo share many aspects of the OS stack of the softwares.  We agreed it’d be best to not use separate branches of Gnome any more and decided to unify our code bases.

Q:  So who ‘owns’ MeeGo – Intel or Nokia?

We (Intel and Nokia) purposefully set up MeeGo under the hospices of the Linux Foundation.  So the MeeGo project gets technical contributions from both Intel and Nokia, but the project is ‘owned’ by the Linux Foundation itself.

Q: What are the benefits of MeeGo for both developers and consumers of portable devices?

For developers, the implications are huge.   Developers of mobile apps will now have a common framework in which they can develop and distribute their applications and services.  They’ll be able to aim their products are more people in various markets.

With programming languages such as Qt (pronounced like the word ‘cute), application developers can distribute an app on a Meego enabled laptop, Nokia MeeGo phone, and any Symbian devices.  That’s pretty powerful.

And for consumers, this benefit is present as well.  Presumably, you can run the same app on multiple platforms..look at Firefox as an example.

It’s now possible to run Firefox on your desktop, then sync your bookmarks and tabs over to your N900 for on-the-go surfing.  With the new framework..this can be extended to many other applications when they’re developed.

Q: What are the next steps with the MeeGo project?

In time, we’ll be rolling out the first version of MeeGo for a limited number of supported devices.  Keep an eye out – there’s cool stuff coming.

(As we have since learned, since my interview with Peter, that the N900 *might* be supported by MeeGo.)

Thank you to Peter for talking to Techcraver.com about the MeeGo project.  This open source project has quite a bit of promise and I’m interested to see how this all unfolds.

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[Interview] MeeGo: The Inside Story

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Test post from N900

I’ve been using the Nokia N900 now for a month or so and I am finding so many cool uses for this phone.  You see, I do a lot of Skype calling throughout the day because I work with folks up and down the West coast of the U.S. and folks in the UK quite a bit as well.

The other day, we needed to do a Skype conference call with 3 other folks – 1 in San Francisco, 1 in Denver, and 1 in London.  I didn’t have my computer with me, just my mobile phone: that is, the all powerful Nokia N900.  We fired up a Skype call with between one other participant and myself…then added the 2 other folks.

It was awesome, I was doing a cross-country and cross-Atlantic VoIP call over Skype on the N900.  Oh and also, this was over T-Mobile’s 3G network, not over Wi-Fi!  This phone is amazing!

Also, the sound quality was excellent…no cut-outs or anything.

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An N900 Amazing Feature: Group Skype Calling

Truphone Anywhere is a unique service where a person can buy a SIM to use their unlocked mobile phone in more than one country, without expensive mobile roaming fees.

With the addition of Australia, Truphone Anywhere now works in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.

This is good news if you’re an international traveler or business person.  I would keep an eye out for more announcements soon – probably centered around adding more western European countries to the list of Truphone Anywhere geographies.

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Truphone says G’Day to Australia

Last year AT&T had a nightmare as the high quantity of iPhone users brought down their network in the downtown Austin area.  AT&T brought in trucks with temporary cell sites, but it was a huge deal.

Earlier today I saw a post from Stacey Higginbotham, where she outlines how AT&T is beefing up their network in anticipation of the iPhoners and their data heavy usage.

However, I would imagine that AT&T will *still* have issues come March 12-16th (the length of SXSWi).  So, what is a travelling geek supposed to do?!  Get a Boingo account!

Boingo, for those unaware, is a network of Wi-Fi hotspots…much like T-Mobile’s hotspot network, except that you can use Boingo in a lot more places.  If you can sign into your Boingo account in and around Austin, you can use your mobile if/when AT&T’s 3G network fails you.

I have used Boingo all over the globe for years now and it’s a service I would highly recommend.  There’s a great iPhone/iPod Touch app that automatically signs onto Boingo-affiliated networks.  Also, an app exists for other platforms too including Android, Nokia and Windows Mobile.  Boingo works for laptops too – Mac and PCs!

With Boingo, mobile Wi-Fi accounts start at $8/month and have no long term contracts.

And NO, I don’t work for Boingo..I’m just a fan of their service and I wanted other SXSWers to know about it.

PS: if you get Boingo up and running and thereby have a working Wi-Fi connection, you can easily make calls on your iPhone via Skype or arrange a meetup with your friends using Facebook or your favorite Twitter application.

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Worried About AT&T/iPhone Working At SXSW? Get Boingo!

I use a Sprint 4G/3G combo card many places I go…and this is the first time I’ve seen 4 bars on a 4G connection.

So, the connectivity nerd in me was very curious to see what kinds of broadband speeds I could get under 4 bars.  The numbers below speak for themselves!  Wow!

9MB down and 1MB up is amazing. Other times I’ve been on 4G by Sprint, I get about 2-2.5Mbps down.

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Sprint 4G Speedtest: Rockin’ Speed in Beaverton!

I was impressed with the selection I saw and was blown away because this American company makes cases for many popular Nokia models!  (For those unaware, Nokia has about 10% US market share, so for a US company to make accessories for Nokia phones is rare).

I requested a few samples to write up and here’s the skinny on OtterBox:

OtterBox is a small business who specializes in more rugged cases for devices.  They have cases for many brands of devices including Apple iPhone, BlackBerry, Nokia, HP, HTC and countless others.  Pretty much every popular model on these brands is covered.  Head over to OtterBox.com and use their phone selector right on the home page for more info.

The cases look really good – most are a flat black.  Some of the cases, like the Defender series, have a more rugged look, something you’d find in an REI.  OtterBox apparently wants their cases to give a sense of protection as well as accenting your mobile phone.

I received a case for a Nokia E71 in the Commuter model.  Along with the physical case for houses the phone itself, the Commuter also includes a screen protector, for even more protection.

Easy to Install

The cases I received only took about 1 minute to install my phone into.  In contrast, I’ve used some rubberized cases that take a shoe horn to wedge your phone or device into.  Not so with the OtterBox…you can easily tell when you utilize the Commuter or Defender series that the company has thought out the devices for an ease-of-use like no other.

I have dropped my E71 a few times on purpose to see how well the device is protected.  Granted, the E71 is pretty tough on it’s own, but the case ensured I had no dings or scratches on the device, even after dropping onto concrete, wood floors and onto a desk.

Quality Across the Line

I received samples for the Nokia E71, BlackBerry Storm, and Apple iPhone.  I did this so I could test ease-of-use, fit, and protection across these consumer and business phone lines.  In each case, the OtterBox cases performed wonderfully.

OtterBox cases give protection without adding too much bulk, and they look good for both business and personal use with your mobile phones.

Bottom Line

OtterBox makes very sharp and well constructed cases that add awesome protection to your beloved mobile devices.  Considering many of us pay many hundreds of dollars for our phones and want to help preserve their looks for years to come, I would recommend getting a case ASAP after you buy said device.

Whether you have an iPhone, Nokia, HTC, or Blackberry, give OtterBox an evaluation when you seek protection for your phone.

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Have a Mobile? OtterBox Cases Are Excellent

In the past few months, I have received many requests for reviews on bags for carrying this type of gear.  Today’s post kicks things off with a review of a bag from Booq, a company that carries many types of bags for all kinds of needs.

Introduction

I am pretty needy when it comes to the type of bag I’m willing to call upon when I travel.  I carry a lot of gear that comes with a lot of accessories including: chargers, memory cards, cables, tripods and more. Therefore, I need a bag with all types of compartments and pocket types.  Oh, and it doesn’t hurt if all this functionality is combined with a bag that looks good too.

The Booq Boa Flow is an all black bag that has a stylish color to it with orange as a trim color.  The Boa Flow has a ton of padding and pockets of all sizes for all your accessories.

One unique feature on this Booq bag is Terralink, a cool little barcode that makes it possible to retrieve your bag should you ever loose it.  If a bystander picks up your bag, they go to a link on the bag and enter in a code unique to each bag – then you get a call/email with the finders email.

The main laptop compartment will carry a laptop that is 13-15″ in size, or 13-17″ if you carry a Mac laptop.  The special compartment that holds the laptop is separate from the main pockets, a feature I really like – the laptop sits directly against your back (with full padding), protecting it even further.

Pockets and Sleeves Galore

There are so many types of pockets and mesh compartments in the Boa Flow, this bag is perfect for almost any situation.  The main cargo area has two pockets that I use to hold lenses for my Canon, but could hold anything from power supplies to mice.  Side pockets in this main compartment can hold pens, business cards, or any smaller item.

Also, there is a fancy compartment on the front of the bag for a mobile phone or iPod.  This is perfect for when you have headphones that need to stick out.

On the underside of the Boa Flow is a specially sized compartment for a DSLR camera.  It is very padded and is the perfect size for a camera body and a smaller lens.  One criticism: I wish the compartment for the camera wasn’t on the bottom of the bag..this means any time you put your bag down, you run a small risk of damaging your valuable camera.  It seems padded enough, but this factor is in the back of my mind.

Conclusion

The Booq Boa Flow M is a very practical bag for hauling around all your digital gear.  It’s large enough to handle multiple devices and all the accessories that go with them; but the bag isn’t so big that it weighs you down or makes you feel like you’re dragging it.

The Boa Flow is exceptionally well built and I’m confident that I could use it for years without any worry.

This sharp looking bag is stylish, durable, and highly practical.  It’s ‘cool’ enough for a student and even styled for the casual business professional too.  To me, this bag is a blogger or social media person’s best friend for toting around all our gear and looking good in the process.

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Booq Boa Flow M: Techcraver Review

One facet of the N900 that I love is the messaging and IM capabilities.  You see, on the N900, there is an app called “Conversations”.  This Conversations utility, out of the box, supports SMS (text messages), Google Talk, AIM, MSN, Skype, and many other messaging utilities.

What this means is, is when a message comes in to you, whether it’s from a text message, Skype contact, AIM contact, it all goes into one facility. Therefore, there’s no messing around with multiple applications to manage all these messages.

Well, today I got a notice to update Conversations…now this app has the ability to manage Twitter!  This is an amazing tool, for me. Now I can access my Twitter timeline, Twitter direct messages, and my @ messages.  This brings a whole new level of utility for me..all my communication needs are handled in one app.  So cool!

To put in in practical way: when I want to contact my pal Ricky Cadden, all I do is pull up Conversations on the N900 and now I can either: send him a regular text message, Skype IM, Google Talk message, Twitter direct message, or Twitter @ message…all from one application!!

Here are some screenshots of the new Twitter capability of Conversations:

Setting up the the N900 to access your Twitter

How the Timeline looks in Conversations:

To find this utility, you must enable the extras-devel repository in Application manager.  To do this, check out Mark Guim’s excellent guide.

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Nokia N900 Now Natively Supports Twitter With Update

It may sound silly, but it is a fun game that adds a bit of entertainment to your daily travels.

The best way to utilize Foursquare is via a mobile app.  In fact, the app on iPhone and Android are both stellar! However, for my Nokia phones, there is no official Foursquare client.   There are two ways that I’ve been doing check-ins with.  The first is with the Waze client on Symbian via their app.

Yesterday, via a post on Symbian-Guru, I saw that the latest alpha builds of Gravity, a popular Symbian twitter client, is now allowing you to check in to Foursquare.

The Gravity client works well while outdoors…it gets the GPS coordinates from the on-board GPS and lists venues near you.

However, I’ve come across one major problem. If you happen to be indoors, GPS won’t work (because GPS doesn’t work at all while indoors) and therefore it can’t find you to give you nearby venues.

For comparison, Barriosquare on my N900 and the official Foursquare iPhone app will give best guess while you are indoors based on the cell tower you are connected to.

I’m hoping a fix exists that may just be a preference I need to set.  If anyone knows of one, please comment below and educate me.

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Foursquare and Gravity Problem: Can’t Check-In Indoors