IPhone 3GS vs Nokia N900
| iPhone 3GS | Nokia N900 | |
|---|---|---|
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| http://www.apple.com/iphone/iphone-3gs | http://maemo.nokia.com/n900 |
The iPhone 3GS and Nokia N900 are high-end smartphones that benefit from performant hardware and graphics acceleration. The iPhone 3GS is the third iteration of the iPhone, while the N900 is a phone-enabled branch of the N800 series, which was an internet tablet series, not a mobile phone series. The two phones are strikingly similar in their hardware specs, while completely different regarding software.
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[edit] Software
The software for the iPhone and N900 are incompatible with each other. Although the processors are the same for both phones, the software platform running the phones are completely different.
[edit] Operating System
The iPhone 3GS runs the proprietary iPhone OS developed by Apple on top of the Darwin kernel which is open source and, in it's majority, derived from the BSD UNIX family systems. The N900 runs the Maemo v5, which is based on the Linux kernel which is also open-sourced.
[edit] Multi-tasking
The N900 has a distinct advantage over the iPhone in that the Maemo 5 OS supports running multiple programs at the same time. This allows the N900 to behave more like a traditional PC and might provide for more creative interoperations between programs in the future.
[edit] Multilingual Support
Both the iPhone and the N900 have multilingual support. Both can display Unicode characters and input CJK via input methods. The iPhone comes with Japanese, Korean, and Chinese inputs by default, while the N900 will need to install the input method packages separately. The N900 has potential to support more than just CJK languages since its platform is open sourced.
[edit] 3rd Party Applications
The iPhone 3GS and N900 both have SDKs to enable developers to develop applications against the phone. The N900 has the distinct advantage in that the Maemo OS itself is open to community development and enhancement. Applications for the N900 can be installed however you like, while the iPhone must install all its apps through the App Store. There are no restrictions for how you develop and sell an application for the N900, while iPhone applications can only be distributed by compliance with Apple's App Store policies and pricing.
[edit] Hardware
The iPhone 3GS and the N900 both sport high-end mobile hardware and are comparable, if not identical, in many specs:
| Spec | iPhone 3GS | N900 |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | OMAP 3430 (600 MHz) | OMAP 3430 (600 MHz) |
| RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Internal Storage | 16/32 GB | 32 GB |
| Battery | 1219 mA | 1320 mA (Replaceable) |
| Screen Size | 3.5" (88.9 mm) | 3.5" (88.9 mm) |
| Screen Resolution | 480 x 320 | 800 x 480 |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive | Resistive |
| Bluetooth | Yes (2.1 Profile) | Yes (2.1 Profile) |
| GPS | Yes, Assisted | Yes, Assisted |
| WIFI | 802.11b/g | 802.11b/g |
| GSM/EDGE | 850/900/1800/1900 MHz | 850/900/1800/1900 MHz |
| UMTS/WCDMA/HSPA | 850/1900/2100 MHz | 900/1700/2100 MHz |
| Accelerometer | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | Yes (3 Megapixels) | Yes (5 Megapixels) |
| Flash | No | Yes (dual-LED) |
| Video Recording | 640×480 @ 30 FPS | 640x480 @ >30 FPS
848×480 @ 25 FPS |
| Graphics Processor | PowerVR SGX SGX535 + | PowerVR SGX SGX530 |
| FM Transmitter | No | Yes |
| FM Receiver | No | Yes |
| Multi-touch screen | Yes | No |
| Screen Usage | Finger Only | Finger & Stylus (Includes Stylus) |
| QWERTY Keyboard | No | Yes |
| MicroSD Card Slot | No | Yes |
| Video Out | Yes | Yes (Includes Cable) |
[edit] Dimensions
The N900 is slightly bulkier than the iPhone due to the presence of a full QWERTY keyboard:
| Dimension | iPhone 3GS | N900 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 115.5 mm | 110.9 mm | |
| Width | 62.1 mm | 59.8 mm | |
| Thickness | 12.3 mm | 19.55 mm | |
| Weight | 135 g | 181 g |
The N900 has two cameras: one in the front and one in the back. The iPhone has one camera only. |
