Created 2011-01-01   Modified

N900

Fantastic computer/phone. Needs a technical person because of power management and configuration issues.

I purchased this phone because it was a Linux phone and partially open source. (Can install Debian).

The scrolling is difficult. The apps management is a dogs breakfast. OpenSSH is not in the main packages! Why not? This product proves that interfaces are difficult because the iphone is much more friendly to use, but so much more locked. The OVI store is disapointing. While it looks on the surface good it is functionally difficult to use. Why are packages not appearing? Why is there not a condensed list form for fast access? Where is there a simple firmware update structure?

It is perhaps unfortunate that Nokia are discontinuing Mamento as I believe Debian are better than Fedora from a usability perspective. It would be great if the Open Source community could continue to develope Mamento on its own. This may be the real loss of not having the platform fully Open Source.

The web pages that provide instructions and download links are invaluable and go a long way for helping the technical user.

Install Easy Debian, save your sanity and treat as a Unix box. Don't respect repositories as I do not believe that they are user friendly or production quality. No feedback when things go wrong.

Issues

• Power managment
• keyboard in Easy Debian and really input as a normal keyboard has not been achieved. Tab and escape keys are critical to Linux management. I use ` when programming bash. Other users suggest ssh and so can use computer keyboard but this is a cumbersome solution for working as a portable device but good for development.
  tab in terminal
• Power management: disable keyboard back lights to conserve power
• backup with ssh TODO
• Optus internet slow particularly compared with wifi
• Profile managemnt i.e. connected to power supply and wifi different from travelling.
• OVI store requires login to download wall paper. What happened to the concept of being anonymous? Why is there a need to make the software updates a restricted download when they fix bugs! Do you not believe in your own software? Why am I constantly asked for automatic log in. I did not buy the phone to be abused by it.
• Shortcuts from inside Easy Debian to outside program. I wish they had have taken integration to running a window in Memento which was actually a Debian application. e.g. Parallels for Mac has this sort of integration(+issues with shared file system).

Application Manager

Application Manager > Download > Application catalogues > New >
maemo.org extras testing
http://repository.maemo.org/exxtras-testing
http://mynokiablog.com/2009/12/18/getting-more-apps-to-your-n900-adding-application-catalogues-to-app-manager/
Maemo Extras
http://thenokiablog.com/2009/10/27/maemo-extras-nokia-n900-applications/
http://wiki.maemo.org/Extras
mis spelt fremantle
http://repository.maemo.org/extras/dists/

Negatives

• Userbility issues - numerous.
• scrolling is terrible
• Power management - this should have been on a larger phone (with larger screen) and using the larger battery.
• keyboard not full
• No usb support. Why do I have to go out and purchase a wireless router to access my phone? e.g. should just plug in usb and connect to the net through other computer. What were they thinking?

Links

Flasher   tablets-dev.nokia.com Software Authentication   Update The Firmware  

Power

The N900 has worse power consumption than the iphone which says something. I got less than 5 hrs doing nothing. Clearly Nokia did not learn from Apple's mistakes, but had to repeat it for themselves.

The N900 needs power management strageties

dim display, turn Bluetooth off, 2G/3G applet as 3G consumes more power: turn GMS for 2G to save power, turn WiFi off when not in use
side switch to turn off screen

Apps to manage different settings. (e.g. disable wireless internet) App to change between 2G and 3G and off altogether.

Misc

Ring tones - Settings > Profiles > select ringtone

Easy Debian

• ctrl + backspace to get out
• vi Shift+Left for Esc

My setup

Two batteries. PDair case so I have phone not automatically locking, display dimming after 10s. WiFi switcher to turn off wifi. Disable bluetooth unless using.

Easy Debian, Maxima

Links

keyboard xmodmap OpenSSH on Nokia N900   SSH   linuxtogo.org  

Logs

Log 2011-02-05

Broke image with apt-get. Lost ssh, user login .....
PYY allocation request failed on channel 0
gcc On Device Development in C/C++?
Looked at /etc/init.d/ssh start/stop which is I believe sshd
/etc/ssh/sshd_config
/media/mmc1 -memory card
vim :sh to shell to /usr/home sees /media/mmc1
very angry with a linux that does not work. The two systems while protecting the phone make it difficult. And if the debian image was reliable this would have turned a frustrating experience around. The gui settings should be better and application integration looks difficult - visually superb but shit. Downloading Maemento image corrupts - why is the image there if it is corrupt?

Log 2011-01-31

Firmware Update

How to update the firmware on the Nokia N900 How to Flash Nokia N900 Using Mac
Uncompress *.7z files

Downloaded image and flasher-3.5 tool. tablets-dev.nokia.com restricted downloads

Uncompress - latest gave .vdmk file 6.03 GB.

MAEMO SDK VIRTUAL IMAGE TUTORIAL

$ flasher-3.5 -F ~/Downloads/RX-51_2009SE_20.2010.36-2_PR_COMBINED_MR0_ARM.bin -f -R
rebooted maybe holding down a key as instructed. Backed up and then imported previously backed up settings.

2011-01-23 ssh'd into box

As user in sodu'ers file $ sudo su to root, set password # passwd then set users password # passwd user
From computer on same network ssh'd in with password

Logging in from computer to phone I mounted the phone as a tssh file system and backed up user. Approx 3.8G

error - could not read a file!!!

Set up ssh for rsa authentication instead of password.
from remote computer ~   $ scp .ssh/id_rsa.pub user@192.168.1.121:/home/user/.ssh/authoria=zed_keys2