The 500 fortunate applicants to the N810 maemo device program

Ok, I understand that this program was mostly a nice gesture from the Maemo team to help boost development/uptake of the N810 and whatnot, but this is absolutely ridiculous.

The entire point of this program was to enable developers and bloggers to get their hands on the device quickly and at lesser cost, so that applications could be developed, reviews written, and general word of mouth to boost the product. That meant that we "The 500" needed to get this device BEFORE the public, or at least as quick as possible.

The device hit shelves in Nov/Dec. It has been on the shelf in the Nokia Flagship stores for over a month, and other online stores have had them, as well.

We got the first email that said the codes would be active soon. OS2008 was updated and officially released for the N800, and that whole process was a complete joke. Both times (the beta and the first official release) the download servers were completely hosed FOR DAYS, to the point that some lucky few who had the patience to leave the download going for 8 hours were forced to set up torrents so that the rest of the community could GO ELSEWHERE to get the update that should have come from Nokia.

Then the main Maemo repositories were hosed for DAYS, again, until some wise soul figured out that someone at Maemo had misspelled the darn things and posted them to 'repostory'. Seriously?

And now back to the discount codes. We were told that mid-december they'd be active, and then told that they would be active on a specific week in december. The week goes by with nary a peep of an update.

Last week we get an email that the code is active in 20 or so countries, will be ready in Canada next week, and not a single peep about the U.S., even though consumers here can walk into the store and buy one off the shelf (I can't speak for stores outside the U.S.)

The thread concerning all of this: http://www.internettablettalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11618&page=31 is up to 300+ posts, including people in France who are being asked to RETURN their discounted N810s, and others having the order cancelled and the unit retrieved from the shipping company.

This morning we get an email that the U.S. code is active, but yet when we try to use it, it says the gift card has no balance. We call the distributor (LetsTalk.com) who is able to see the code, and see that the code should provide a sizable discount, but yet they can't honor it, and must transfer us to Nokia's Customer Care. I spoke with Andre at Nokia Customer Care, and he was unable to even find ANYTHING about this discount.

I've used Nokia handsets for several years, and use my N800 constantly. I operate Symbian-Guru.com, and more recently, Tablet-Guru.com, a blog that I setup specifically for the Internet Tablet series, to help promote it to consumers and help people get the most out of their newfound toy.

I have never, ever, been this embarassed for Nokia. This whole ordeal has been the most poorly handled 'program' that I've ever encountered.

The biggest problem, Maemo, is the disorganization and LACK OF COMMUNICATION. There was NO formal apology or explanation or even ACKNOWLEDGEMENT that the servers were down for the update, or the repositories being hosed, or the issues with the discount codes.

THAT'S is what is frustrating and annoying and embarassing. No one at Nokia/Maemo has had the courage to stand up and say, look, we messed up, this is why, this is how we're going to fix it, thanks for sticking with us. That's what embarasses me.

The N810 seems to be avaiable on nokia.fr. That is, the online Nokia store available from nokia.fr allows users to order a N810. This web page also allows users to type in a promotion code. I have tried the code we have received but it is refused by the server (it answers illegal code). Did I miss something? Thanks in advance for your help.

Virgina there is no santa!! there will be no miracle on 51st street this year!!

a watched pot never boils!!

however this year I have been playing with bugs. now you can too while we wait for the event that seems to always be tomorrow. http://buglabs.net

-shawn

today's the day, no?

Are we supposed to already have the code to get the device when available in the Online Store? I do not have mine yet.

I found this Announcement today (17.12.2007): The N810 codes for maemo contributors, next week The N810 discounts for maemo contributors will be ready to be used in the online Nokia shops taking part of this program… next week. http://flors.wordpress.com/2007/12/15/the-n810-codes-for-maemo-contributors-next-week/

Live long and prosper -V- Greg

They said the code would be turned on the day the devices became available, but it seem they did not account for the local stores allowing the devices to be pre-ordered. Ideally, they would turn on the code to allow us to get on the list. I'd hate to have to wait for the second shipment.

Have not seen anything in a while or any new mail about using the code - are there any updates?

I lost the code cause I got my macbook's disk completely messed up and dead few hours ago... :// Maybe I can solve using a data rescuing tool, but could you send me my code again? Thanks...

Now if only the device would hit the Nokia online store so we could buy it.

Some chat about that on Jaiku:

http://zerojay.jaiku.com/presence/18544679

I'm little eager here, the n810 went up for sale on Nokia's website earlier today and yet the discount codes appear to have not yet been activated. Rest assured I do not mean to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I'm very eager to know if the codes will be activated before the (from what I've heard) limited stock of the first shipment are all sold old.

the code i was given doesnt work, wtf?

this gift card has no balance... how do i order it?

:-( I am very new in this, so I guess there were a reason not been choosed.

Heads up to say a thank you to Nokia, congratulations to all, and commiserations to those who didn't get through.

I'll be sure to update project proposals when the time comes.

Sergio: OpenGL yES please ;)

It'd be very interesting if Nokia decide to implement hardware accelerated 3D using the onboard PowerVR MBX in the future.

I can only speculate that the reasons are: 1) Licensing issues. 2) Device/OS limitations e.g. memory bandwidth? [Don't think it'd be the screen since the E90 happens to do very well with 3D ... see http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=F3YVIEVOyvk ] 3) Possible that the OMAP2420 in the N8x series happens to be a special cut-down edition that doesn't have the necessary hardware? 4) Access to the hardware may destabilize/brick the system? 5) A future 'sales' trump card to be pulled out at the end of line. 6) It's just not worthwhile investing the resources at this stage as there are more important things to be getting along with.

Quim: Any insider info/roadmaps you could disclose on what's going on [if anything] with the MBR? The hardware works wonderfully well on the Symbian series of phones; there's been speculation that the MBR powers the iPhone. I'd imagine access to it on the N8x would open up a wealth of "user friendly" and "pretty" applications to the system. :)

I'm 17, then I'm a student and I was accepted too... This sriticism is unnecessary in my opinion...

In regards to your complaint that no young students were accepted I would like to point out that I was accepted and am a first year student.

IMO: well done to Nokia for doing this program at all, and well done for doing it so transparently; and also with much improved administration since the N800 one.

From my participation in the relevant forums and mailing lists, this looks to me to be a well chosen list, and I expect that the Internet Tablets' app-sphere will be rich and exciting as a result.

i would like to express my big disappointment about the selection of the "happy few 500 " . As always were choosen people that just own 770 or n800 or even both !! also people that surely have enough money to buy it by themselves .... i am sad to see that there are no space for young student that want to give contributions but they aren't admit to your closed caste ... P.S. if there is anybody that feel to not deserve the discount .....i am honored to receive it . Thank you maemo for NOT having accept me .

I can't wait to test my ports to the N810. Only a question, IT2008 will suport 3d accelleration?

Sergio

Thanks Maemo.

I have already installed the development environment. Works nice with the new installer scripts. I shall sort some webspace out for my projects and link it asap.

Thanks again and congratulations to everyone else.

But you can put a public/private flag next to each own proposal, so that each "fortunate applicant" can choose to make it public.

I will make a draft of mine and put it in the wiki asap, but still...

Because we never told users about the possibility of publishing them and now we can't publish them just like that.

If there is another program we will ask for open and public submissions.

Thanks for selecting me and congrats to others. Commiseration to those not selected, if it was up to me I would select everyone.

why isn't possible to see them?

As you can see the wiki .. I have already started working! And soon fill the maemo garage with my projects Thanks again Maemo Team

Thanks maemo team and Nokia thanks for having made my dream, as I promised I will bring with my ideas and my plans to improve and make known maemo to all users Italians and the world. My carry forward projects and wiki software in Italian for Italian facilitate users to use maemo and nokia Internet tablet