New Nokia phone shows off Game Boy, NES and more emulation

[Zeus]

Nokia has released a promotional video for its N900 SmartPhone and it seems as if it has emulation support for the likes of the GBA, Game Gear, Spectrum and a whole lot more. But here's the big question, is this 'legal' for them to do?

<blockquote>
In a surprising – and arguably illegal – move Finnish mobile giant Nokia has chosen to highlight the emulation functionality of its N900 smartphone on its Nokia Conversation blog.

The promotional video, which can be seen here, shows a dedicated emulation menu sporting buttons for the likes of the Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, NES, SNES, Spectrum, MSX and Game Gear.

Gameplay clips of both Super Mario World and Super Mario Bros 3 are also shown in the video.</blockquote>

News Source: <a href="http://www.mcvuk.com/news/36669/Nokia-peddles-N900-emulation" target="_blank">MCVUK</a>

[Xenogears V]

Maybe is unofficial video or nokia has licences for them.

[IJTF_Cinder]

Why wouldn't it be? There's nothing illegal about an emulator on it's own...it's the software run on it that comes into question.

[crypysmoker]

My G1, Iphone and windows mobile phones can do this...........

[tech3475]

You can still run abandonware roms and in the US at least only the roms are the legal problem.

[Neglefarot]

Bold move from Nokia.

[Cue]

It's a real shame nokia botched up the release date. I ordered from their flagship store and have to wait till the 3rd Dec before I can play me some Mario on it :(

[msanchez]

Don't license holders need to pay a fee every certain amounts of years to hold on to the rights of their ips/designs? or does this only apply to hardware and not software?

[iLLNESS]

emulators and cell phones do not mix. why do people not see this?

[ThreeDog]

is nokia still the only company to have put a d-pad on a phone?

[chizzer]

Why wouldn't it be? There's nothing illegal about an emulator on it's own...it's the software run on it that comes into question.

True true, but you need a legal rom, remember.

[[ACF]Umax]

is nokia still the only company to have put a d-pad on a phone?

Man, I remember the N-Gage! I had the first version (yes, the 'taco') with stereo MP3 player. It was so good for emulation. I still consider it the best cellphone I ever had. You could do anything with it.

[Cue]

Don't license holders need to pay a fee every certain amounts of years to hold on to the rights of their ips/designs? or does this only apply to hardware and not software?

not sure but don't think so. I think in some countries after 30 years your rights are gone but I don't think you have to pay anything during those years.

[msanchez]

not sure but don't think so. I think in some countries after 30 years your rights are gone but I don't think you have to pay anything during those years.

But this is for software only right? because those NES/SNES clones are being sold in a lot of places.

On a side note, anybody have one of those things?

[Cue]

But this is for software only right? because those NES/SNES clones are being sold in a lot of places.

On a side note, anybody have one of those things?

not sure but in the UK I think it applies to all IP hardware or software.

Some people have theirs, they got theirs from NYC, it was released at the Nokia store early. In the UK if you ordered from their Nokia website you got it early too but you had to pay an extra £90 or something, and there were no contracts so everybody else has to wait till the 3rd.

The manager of the flagship store had one so I had a chance to play with one at the flagship store. It's a very nice phone but it's not for the faint of heart, it's still very much a tech heads phone until maemo5 picks up some pace.
The multitasking looks amazing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7emvUBpEkbU

[msanchez]

Pretty cool stuff Cue. Although I've stayed away from Palm and Symbian I gotta admit for smartphones these were the faster OSs that I've dealt with, but it's been at the expense of features and diversity of applications.

Also £90 to get it faster? OUCH! Personally I would wait.

[GT-RRR]

emulators and cell phones do not mix. why do people not see this?
Actually they go quite well, Nokia N97 + Emulators = Win.

[Cue]

Nokia flagship store just phoned this morning (and woke me up :D), those who ordered from them should receive it on Tuesday. oh and here is a video of it using a wiimote and tv-out which appeared on another blog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0wbLaMXeu4&feature=player_embedded

[frankmax]

This phone looks like a better version of the PSP GO...maybe even a replacement. Would rather get this phone than the Go or that stupid Pandora thing.