Nokia E900

On Thursday, Nokia unveiled its first phone using a Linux OS. The N900 uses Nokia's Linux-based Maemo OS, but for the first time in an actual cell phone as opposed to an Internet Tablet that requires wi-fi or cell phone pairing.

The N900 runs Nokia's new Maemo 5 software. Nokia makes sure to emphasize the device's ability to run "dozens of applications simultaneously." Size-wise, it compares favorably with the iPhone 3GS, at 110.9 mm x 59.8 mm x 18 mm vs. 115.5 mm x 62.1 mm x 12.3 mm. Yes, yes, it loses out by about 50% in the thickness category, but otherwise, it's pretty similar. Why that extra thickness? A slide-out QWERTY keyboard, of course.



Unlike other recent smartphones (Android, iPhone, Pre) the N900 uses a Mozilla-based browser, instead of a Webkit-based one. The N900 has a TFT 3.5" resistive touchscreen, with 16M colors, 800 x 480.

Additional specs: 32GB of storage, with microSD card expansion, and a 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics. Also, A-GPS, an FM receiver / transmitter, compass, accelerometer and up to 9 hours of talk time (emphasis on the "up to").

Clearly, Nokia wants this to be an iPhone killer, but what it doesn't have, naturally, is the App Store.