Secretive Swedish smartphone start-up Neonode has now taken the wraps off of its N1 Neonode, smaller than the Nokia 3650 and running a Microsoft OS - but not Smartphone 2002.
Since Swedish start-up Neonode first hinted that the company was working on a Windows-based smartphone product earlier this spring, nothing but silence has been heard from the company. The reason? They've been busy - very busy, and just presented the results of their work; a smartphone smaller than Nokia's 3650, based on Windows CE - but it's not running the Smartphone 2002 platform on top of it.
 | Neonode's N1 smartphone is based on Windows, but not Smartphone 2002 as one might think
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Instead, the N1 Neonode runs a combination of Windows CE and a proprietary shell developed by Neonode to provide an entirely new interface to a Windows-based smartphone - although clearly inspired by the Smartphone 2002 platform in terms of screen resolution and capabilities. By implementing a touch-screen instead of key-only navigation like Smartphone 2002 and Series 60 platforms do, Neonode has opted for an approach both Microsoft and Nokia have chosen to avoid for the time being.
The initial version of the N1 is equipped with a 900/1800 MHz GSM radio and support for GPRS, while there is still uncertainty tied to whether a 1900 MHz version will arrive. The processor powering the device is a 76 MHz ARM core based processor, while the 2.2" 18-bit TFT color display with a resolution of 176 x 220 pixels provides the visual interface.
Sporting 16 MB of RAM, the phone also has an SD/MMC card expansion slot for additional storage - a move future users will likely approve of as it enables storing a much larger of pictures taken by the phone's integrated digital camera with VGA resolution and 24-bit color depth. Software for recording video is also present, allowing users to record video with a resolution of 160 x 120 pixels directly to an SD card with a frame rate of 15 fps.
Among the applications the N1 will offer users is a media player, a file manager, a contacts manager, a notes application, an e-mail client, a WAP/web browser and support for sending and receiving SMS and MMS messages. Information stored in several applications can be synchronized with a PC using ActiveSync, either by means of the built-in infrared port of the N1, or through its USB connector.
The functionality of the smartphone is crammed into a space smaller than any Windows-based smartphone - or handheld - device to date; 88 x 52 x 21 mm, and the weight is a mere 93g. In other words, smaller and lighter than Nokia's 3650. The N1 also sports a hefty 1100 mAh battery, which according to Neonode should provide for 250 hours of standby time, 4 hours of talk time and 10 hours of functionality not directly related to its phone capabilities.
An additional hi-res picture of the N1 Neonode is available on the following page.
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