Neonode N1m

Package:

• Handset
• 1 GB SD card SanDisk
• Stereo headset
• Charger
• USB cable
• Short manual

Probably, there is no more famous long lasting device in the World than the Neonode N1. Announced more than three years ago, it was much discussed, delighted, was forgotten for some time, remembered again and discussed once more.

After the announcement the device didn't appear on the specified date, the interest to it gradually decreased and the device became a phantom not fated to reach the shop counters in the customer's eyes. The Swedish company roused the interest by recurring press-releases. Thus, in 2003 the company issued a special press-release telling it wouldn't announce a new launch date and the device would get into sale as far as possible.

In the end of 2004 when the phone finally got to sale there were little people who believed the product was real and it would reach the counters. Though, a "counter" is rather relative - the device is free to order only via the Internet and only in Europe, the full list of the countries is available on the company's site. The Commonwealth of Independent States form exception, the phone will be sold not via the Internet but in retail there since the summer.

Neonode announced the Neonode N1m in the first quarter of 2005 - the smartphone differs from the previous one in triple GSM band instead of the double, the presence of a vibracall, a megapixel camera, a new Windows CE 5.0 core. This very version got into our hands for tests, so, sharing the impressions.

At the time the Neonode N1 was only planned on the very early stage (2001 - 2002, most likely) the technologies and operating systems present for that moment prevented from creating a miniature device with a touchscreen. The MS Smartphone 2002 perspectives were rather hazy and also the support of a touchscreen was absent. The Series 60 platform also didn't support it. And touchscreen devices were too large, had some technical restrictions and were oriented on working with a stylus for that time. Something different both in technical and software meaning was necessary for a miniature device with a touchscreen that one would work with a finger. And mainly because of this the developing process got so long.

The Windows Compact Edition (Win CE) operating system is a cut version of a desktop OS (basing on an old Windows NT with a seriously remade code) and also called built-in. As one could have already guessed, it is intended for integrating into various devices - fridges, cars, ATMs, various terminal devices. As we all see, there are no strict demands from the final device, which may be a coffee-machine connected to the Internet. Windows Mobile (earlier - MS Pocket PC and MS Smartphone) operating system bases on the Win CE core (the way the Nokia Series 60 is based on the OS Symbian core) but only having another user interface (Shell) and a different system library. Some extra information may be found on a Microsoft site.

The Windows CE core, over which a personally developed by Neno interface was built, was chosen for Neonode. Thanks to that a question of the touchscreen functioning at a close distance and one hand control was solved. On the other hand - the software is not compatible with Pocket PC and too little to go with Windows CE (some programs still run). That would be more logical to call the Neonode N1m a phone and the company positions it this way. But the third party software present, open and available software for program developing coming with a limited list of preinstalled applications doesn't allow calling it a phone. It is like balancing between a phone and a smartphone. We'll return to the software question in a corresponding part.

Source : http://www.mobile-review.com