Nokia Skype-ifies The N800 Internet Tablet

Fans of the Linux-based N800 Internet tablet from Nokia rejoice! Nokia recently published an update to the device's operating system and one of the upgrades includes support for the Skype client. But that's not all...The update includes a number of improvements and enhancements for the N800 Internet Tablet, which is essentially a hand held UMPC-like device for surfing the Web. The operating system is based on Linux, though, not Windows.

The Skype client will let users make nearly-free calls to other Skype users, landlines and mobile phones whenever they are connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot. The client includes an experience that mimics the desktop, complete with chat and presence controls.

Nokia also added an Adobe Flash 9 browser plug-in, which make the Interwebs a whole lot more fun to browse. Any Flash-driven media embedded in Web sites will be supported.

The storage capacity of the N800 has been boosted as well. While it accepted microSD cards up to 2 Gigabytes before, it now supports the SDHC standard and can handle cards up to 8 Gigabytes. That means a 4x increase in the amount of media you can bring with you while on the go.

Lastly, some software tweaks to the way the OS works when connected to Wi-Fi hotspots are helping to improve battery life of the device.

These all add up to a richer experience on the N800.