Nokia N900 Necromancy

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

The discussion revolving around older Nokia devices, particularly the N900 and N800, highlights three primary themes:

1. Nostalgia for Open, Hackable Linux-Based Mobile Devices (Maemo/MeeGo)

Users frequently express deep affection for these older Nokia devices because they ran a genuine, accessible Linux stack, allowing for extensive modification and learning, which contrasts sharply with modern, locked-down smartphone ecosystems.

Supporting Quote: "Favorite device ever! Eventually moved to Android smartphones but the ease of hacking, the amazing community (internettabletalk.com, looks like its gone now :( unfortunately...)" attributed to "thesandlord".
Supporting Quote: "What made them interesting wasn't the hardware... but the fact that it was Linux phone based on Debian complete with the ability to apt-get install whatever the hell you wanted." attributed to "jillesvangurp".

2. The Superiority of Early Desktop-Like Web Browsing on Mobile

Before "responsive design" became standard, these devices were praised for attempting to render full desktop websites, a capability that users felt was lost or abandoned in the subsequent era optimized for smaller screens and apps.

Supporting Quote: "In those days though, browsing the web as though you were on a desktop was thought to be the goal to aspire to." attributed to "xp84".
Supporting Quote: "It truly gave you a desktop experience on a phone... You could open a terminal and ssh into a server or do whatever you want." attributed to "specialp".

3. The Sunset of 2G/3G Networks Rendering Old Hardware Obsolescent

A major immediate limitation discussed is the rapid global deprecation of older cellular networks (3G and 2G), which effectively transforms these once-powerful devices into Wi-Fi-only gadgets, regardless of their functional battery status.

Supporting Quote: "I would have used it still if it was not for the fact that after 3G disappeared it was useless. The battery could be replaced (as others have mentioned), so it was perfectly fine still." attributed to "Tor3".
Supporting Quote: "It soon won't be. 3G and 2G network are being depreciated quickly around the world" attributed to "j16sdiz".

🚀 Project Ideas

Maemo/MeeGo Linux Driver & Firmware Repository Aggregator

Summary

A centralized, curated repository tool/service designed to aggregate, version, and manage the fragmented open-source drivers, firmware blobs, and patches necessary to run modern (non-deprecated) connectivity stacks (4G/5G, modern Wi-Fi/BT) on aging but powerful Linux-based mobile hardware like the Nokia N900/N810.
Core value proposition is enabling modern connectivity for cherished legacy "cyberdeck" hardware by solving the "impossible to run normal upstream Linux stack" problem due to missing or proprietary drivers.

Details

Key	Value
Target Audience	Hobbyists, Linux tinkerers, former Maemo/MeeGo enthusiasts, and users of devices like PinePhone/Librem 5 looking for better hardware compatibility curation.
Core Feature	Automated scanning of old community wiki pages, GitHub repos (like defunct Neo900 projects), and forum archives to build dependency trees for specific hardware components (e.g., modems, Wi-Fi chipsets) and present them as easy-to-install, pre-compiled packages or configuration overlays for modern mainline kernels/Debian derivatives (like Maemo Leste).
Tech Stack	Python/Scrapy for web crawling; PostgreSQL/S3 for structured data storage; simple web interface built with Django/Flask; tooling based on `dpkg`/`rpm` for package generation.
Difficulty	Medium (Data aggregation and dependency mapping is complex, but the output is standardized tooling).

Notes

Why HN commenters would love it (quote users if possible): Addresses the core frustration expressed by shmerl: "no one provides open drivers for a whole bunch of stuff." and the ongoing issue cited by Tor3 about old devices becoming "useless" after 3G disappearance without modern stacks.
Potential for discussion or practical utility: Highly practical for users attempting to revive these devices and sparks debate on hardware accessibility and open-source driver ecosystems.

Power-User Focused "Pocket Cyberdeck" Form Factor Search Engine

Summary

A highly specialized search engine/aggregator focused exclusively on finding modern, actively maintained hardware that fits the specific 'pocket computer with a full physical keyboard' niche, largely defined by the Nokia N900/N950, Psion 5, and Blackberry Passport.
Solves the unmet need/desire expressed by users for a modern replacement that retains the physical input mechanisms of the past.

Details

Key	Value
Target Audience	Users specifically missing the N900/N950/Blackberry/Psion form factor (`antran22`, `devmor`, `henearkr`).
Core Feature	Aggregates product listings (Jolla, GPD, smaller CNC/3D-printable kits, custom PCBs like Hackberry/Neo900 updates), cross-references them with compatibility metrics (Linux support, modern SoC, active firmware branch), and provides direct links for purchase or project files.
Tech Stack	ElasticSearch for fast faceted search; React frontend; robust API scraping against niche electronic vendors (AliExpress, specialized hobbyist sites).
Difficulty	Medium (Requires constant maintenance due to the fluid nature of niche hardware availability).

Notes

Why HN commenters would love it (quote users if possible): Directly responds to antran22: "is there any real modern pocket cyberdeck with the form factor of those old phones, with a slide out physical keyboard." and validates the desire for an alternative to walled gardens (xyzzy123).
Potential for discussion or practical utility: It fills a clear product discovery gap where mainstream search engines fail to categorize devices by form factor and openness simultaneously.

Legacy Mobile Power Stabilization Utility Layer (For Electrolytic Component Replacement)

Summary

A software/firmware tool (potentially a custom kernel module or U-Boot patch) designed to dynamically manage power delivery and transient load spikes on aging mobile devices where the original battery's low ESR has degraded, but a user wishes to replace it with static capacitors or a much lower-impedance third-party battery.
Solves the critical boot/operation failure problem where high impedance sources cause voltage droop under sudden load.

Details

Key	Value
Target Audience	Owners of N810/N900 attempting battery replacement with supercapacitors or low-C-rating batteries, or modifying other vintage devices with strict onboard power requirements.
Core Feature	Injects logic into the power management subsystem to aggressively throttle CPU/GPU clocks and reduce current draw during critical initialization phases or high-demand spikes, compensating for inadequate transient energy buffering from non-standard power sources.
Tech Stack	C/Assembly (kernel-level modification for Maemo/Debian); cross-compilation toolchains; relies heavily on understanding the specific hardware's PMIC specifications (which would require hardware analysis, similar to the supercap modification discussion).
Difficulty	High (Requires deep access and understanding of embedded kernel power management, voltage regulators, and hardware schematics).

Notes

Why HN commenters would love it (quote users if possible): Directly addresses the electrical engineering nuance discussed by picture and jsmailes regarding high ESR batteries causing failure even with adequate DC power input. It turns a hardware hack into a software-manageable solution.
Potential for discussion or practical utility: High utility for the vintage tech repair community, offering a software counterbalance to component aging, potentially preventing devices from needing external barrel chargers (theshrike79).