One of the coolest devices being touted at last week's CTIA (Cellular Telecommunication Industry Association) conference had nothing at all to do with cellular. In fact, the only calls you can make on it are web calls, as Nokia's pocket-sized N800 (guys, when are you going to get over those antiquated alpha-numeric naming conventions?) is a pure Internet device.
But quite the device it is. As a wireless industry vet at eight years and counting, I come to hand-held web-browsing with skepticism; I've dealt with the early disappointment over cellphone WAP, live through a reasonable facsimile of it via my BlackBerry, and long for the promise of the iPhone.
But this is here and now, and I tested it with my own hands, and Surprise, Surprise...this Wi-Max baby delivers the goods. The touchscreen keyboard changes size as it senses your fingers or a stylus, its stereo speakers punch above their size, and invisible web camera gives it added video-conferencing functionality. The browsing? Impeccable, and the hi-res widescreen replicated things like this lil' blog crystal-clearly (see below).
It sho' nuff doesn't replace a phone, but may allow folks like me to leave our laptops at home.
You can check out more here, or look for the Nokia's two-page spread in this month's Wired Magazine.
And to think this company got its start in the 1800s producing toilet paper and rubber boots... (see what I mean about that never-ending race?)
