I personally prefer touch websites myself IF (there's a big if there) it's properly optimised, coded and designed (Facebook touch being one of them).

As computer like as it may be, the screen's still smaller than 4 inches and staring too long at fonts a few milimeters high strains my eyes, though TV-out helps.

Any news on Meehgoh?

More importantly, any news regarding the resin case lol...

Just found out why when you install packages (especially huge ones) and uninstall it, you still lose quite a bit in the rootfs (say, 100-300kb for each package, depending on it's size) - it's the dpkg cache in /var/. It keeps track of EVERYTHING you install, even ones you've uninstalled IINM.

Moved the dpkg cache (for those interested it's the whole /var/lib/dpkg directory and everything in it) to /home/var_lib_dpkg/ and symlinked. Instantly freed 9MBs from root and everything's still working fine. Hopefully no more "ghost files" filling up my root.

Plus the fact that if ever I manage to fill up rootfs to the max, I could still access dpkg to uninstall stuff as a last ditch effort. IINM dpkg WILL not work with a full rootfs if the cache is left in /var/lib/dpkg.

CAUTION: This is a dangerous move, especially when the eMMC can dislodge itself in a big fall. Thus why I'm not gonna provide easy cut-and-paste instructions on how to do it. Don't want it to turn into a noobtrap later.

Losing your dpkg cache is no fun, folks.

Also, wonder why AppMan is crapshit slow now after PR1.2? It's because Nokia moved /var/lib/apt/archives (or something) to the eMMC. So rather than installing from the speedy rootfs, you're downloading stuff to and then installing stuff from the slow eMMC.

WHY? Because then you'll have less chances of accidentally filling up your rootfs while installing HUGE stuff like OpenArena.

I also think Nokia moved a few other things AppMan related (the repo cache namely) to the eMMC. Hence the lag and CPU spike during refresh and install as operations that need heavy writing/reading to and from eMMC has always been slow to begin with (e.g. Transmission locks up the N900 in use due to this).

IINM anyway. Nothing we can do about it, and it seems to be better (or at least safer) this way. At least we have HUGE amounts of root space now.

Sorry about the tl;dr public service announcement though. Carry on.

This post has been edited by Eiraku: Jun 30 2010, 12:05 PM

It's the high AppMan CPU usage due to the move of AppMan files to the slow reading eMMC lol - it slows down everything with it. I baru realise today, but how else would they wanna free up root?

Not sure, just move 'em to /home/ (or /opt/) and symlink like I did. Frees up root nonetheless.

Must be a reason why dpkg keeps a list like that.

I'd move /var/lib/apt too but I think Nokia already optified that in PR1.2 (and giving us the slow Appman we have above) and left only the most important files behind.

I wonder why they didn't optify /var/lib/dpkg... Fear of eMMC tercabut maybe?

You CAN actually do this you know.

Provided you're comfortable with xterm and editing config files, fcron does this very well and with minimal impact on system resources. It does a whole lot of other stuff too (like scripts to autoconnect to check email and autodisconnect after).

Thinking of installing it again and setting a simple 5am every day reboot (it does support per-day and per-week intervals as well). I reboot the device every morning anyway, a habit formed from living with Symbian for too long lol.

AlarmeD does this through GUI, but it's a bigger and more complex program.

Just choose a scheduling app, pick a script and GO!

The primary reason for the slowdowns is - like these fine people have stated - running apps from swap. It's the very same case with Windows virtual memory and why your computer lags down after a few weeks uptime. A restart clears things and makes them run in RAM again = fast weh.

I wonder why they didn't just use the fast rootfs chip for swap lol (current swap runs from the eMMC, sigh). Adding 3 more chips wouldn't hurt much now, would it?

PS: I don't really do the whole turn off electronics thing, as I'm surrounded with electronics that I would rather not shut down. I actually feel restless and naked when I'm NOT surrounded by an EM field of some sort lol. The buzzing sound of electricity calms me down.

Hope it doesn't do crazy things on my brain, though mutation = able to receive 3G/Wifi straight through my brain would be way cool.

Also, most of the SAR and electronic wave/health studies have been inconclusive so far to begin with. Though, just to be safe, I keep a distance of about a meter between my brain and transmitting electronic devices when I sleep (I don't put phones under the pillow/on my bed).

This post has been edited by Eiraku: Jun 30 2010, 03:46 PM

It does happen from time to time. Just go to a place with better (preferably 2.5 or better, 3.5G) coverage and try again.

For me it usually won't work with 2G connections and works best with 3G.

Anyway, managed to re-install fcron and also whipped up a better script to restart then then one on the Fcron Maemo.org wiki - with a flashy notification telling me I better save my work in 60 seconds or risk data FUBAR-fication lol.

The original script given restarted without warning lol, caught me off guard sometimes when I forgot I even set it to autorestart in the first place. Then set the thing to run every day at 4.30am, and it will run autonomously even without user input.

Ah, the beauty of desktop grade scripting and the dbus interface. Although there is the remote chance that the N900 would fail to boot back up, leaving me alarmless in the morning (like today lol).

Oh well, can't have everything now, can I?

Also testing battery life under heavy-ish loads (constant 3G with autodc, 1 hour plus of anime with mediabox, some calls, a lot of web surfing, some restarts to debug fcron) and I'm now at 10% after 5 hours of use. Not bad.

Now testing the USB battery pack and it seems to be working fine, charging the N900 battery (very slowly) even with a 3G connection. Gonna turn 3G off now and go into idle to see how long it takes to charge the device from 10% to a more usable state.

Though seems almost confirmed now that the N900 needs a 1000ma/5v output capable battery pack (aka. iPad compatible battery packs) for fast battery charging under heavy use scenarios.

Just Mobile Gum Pro bulk anyone?

EDIT: About 1 1/2 hours later = about 900mAh in the internal battery, according to BatteryGraph (though I doubt the accuracy of BG) - 3 bars out of 4 still left in XP2000 pack. Not bad at all... Continuing experiment...

This post has been edited by Eiraku: Jun 30 2010, 07:03 PM

Lol, we will semak the forums that's why. 1 thread for N900/Maemo5, N900/Meego, N900/Nitdroid... you get my drift.

It means your battery is konked... Lol.

But really, BME (Maemo's power management daemon) doesn't really do the batt meter well to begin with, as it calculates percentage through voltage IINM rather than a true capacity reading.

That's why you have spikes and drops with the battery meter, so unless it's too unreliable and crazy (which means you have a flunky battery), the readings are normal.

And where got I expert... Noob only maa.

This post has been edited by Eiraku: Jun 30 2010, 09:29 PM

There's always the STRAP ON way lol...

And there's always the Mugen 2400mah battery if you don't care about accurate readings (the thermistor's wanko), extra ultra thickness and the sky high price.

I'm wondering the extra battery sensor, the one we have to modprobe, is it taking readings from the battery contact area OR the battery itself?

It's normal. No issues with autodc and PR1.2 here.

Root/swap cleaner? Root can be cleaned with scripts from the "free space from rootfs" wiki at Maemo.org (though most of the stuff there is for PR1.1). As for swap, a reboot is the best way IMHO if it gets too bad.

Meego? I quite like the design direction actually, although the app launcher needs work. I'm not gonna rush out to install though, still too pre-alpha for my tastes.

And this is actually the Meego ref UX release = BASE form of Meego without the Hamattan/Maemo6 bits IINM. It's not even "Meego 1.1", that one's coming August.

This post has been edited by Eiraku: Jul 1 2010, 02:31 AM

FAP-FAP-FAP-FAPMAN!

Extremely unfortunate name choice, even if its the Faster Application Manager. FAM woul be better lol.

Excuse me as I go Fapmsn lol.

Just get ori, peace of mind if anything happen as Ipoh asso got Nokia Care.

Easier. Mine's AP, but I wasn't the one who bought it lol. Would've gotten ori if it was my call.

Agreed, though I'm edi used to the overall smoothness of my current default - 850 with Starving voltage settings.

But that kind of lag at start is abnormal. What widgets do you have running jloi?

It's all about the money people. Bigger userbase = more commercial interest = more commercial apps. That's all there is to it. As for the N900, yes it's purely Nokia's fault for doing a dang ass job at:

1) Marketing the phone - YOU NOT GO AND SAY YOUR PHONE IS A NICHE DEVICE. YOU JUST DON'T. Big companies run like the plague is coming down on them at the MERE mention of this, unless you have a healthy working relationship with them (Dataviz - which, btw, is STIILL late to the party to begin with), they like your device (Secret Exit) or they the fact that your platform is niche (lol, no idea who would). This results in crappy interest and thus limited commercial support.

2) Providing a decent DRM infrastructure - Sure, it's an open phone and DRM is not really something you'd want to have on something supposedly open. But the lack of DRM = increased chance of lost sales due to piracy (as Sygic or Joikuspot has proved by marely existing). And the distribution system available on the N900 and Maemo in general just makes it worse by making it SO FREAKIN EASY. No hacking, no cracking, no signing, no nothing.

3) Abandoning the platform AND MAKING IT OBVIOUS - Who wants to beat a dead horse? But NOT providing an official upgrade path to Meego is even dumber, even for Nokia. Sure, if you did, thousands of people are gonna decide on NOT getting your next Meego device - but they ARE gonna buy apps.

Also Nokia, if you want a platform to die, don't make your customers feel like shit while doing it. NO WORD on PR1.3, Flash 10 (or even WebM support for gods sakes weh), complete compatibility with Ovi Suite and 64-bit flasher support. At least tell us something, lie even if you have to - like Apple does. GIVE US HOPE DARNIT.

And consumer loyalty actually means something in the real world, and if they did give us official Meego and/or support (even if it's half-assed) - we are gonna love them more = buy more of their products = reccomend their products to other people. Look at Apple, with their roving mad legions of budak-lelaki-kipases.

I want to like Nokia, I really do. They make great hardware - workhorses, which love you long time and work well without giving you nasty surprises. But on the software side - at least for the N900 - we do more on our own (aka with the Community) with the than what Nokia does for us and that is NOT a good way to make your customers happy. And NOT making app Companies happy = no apps = no happiness.

In the end, I guess it's hard to expect that the N900 will be given adaquate commercial support and backing, being the niche nerd machine it is. It's not a cash cow and will not be treated as such. The more you expect from the N900 in that respect (ie. commercial support/apps), the more you are gonna be disappointed.

Really. Enjoy your hardware and lets learn to write/port our own apps lol That's the only real way out left now, at least until our hacker Meego (or even NITdroid) matures into a proper OS (or better both).

That's when the N900 will shine (and I prolly need to buy a new one by then lol).

This post has been edited by Eiraku: Jul 3 2010, 12:41 PM

Regardingt the guys who ordered the Otterbox, where did you buy it from? Ebay? Amzaon?

My final EpikCase is dying edi, and the resin case is nowhere in sight.

This post has been edited by Eiraku: Jul 3 2010, 12:54 PM

@ahtiven: I get the feeling, but there's one more thing the N900 has over everyone else - the crap covered gem called Maemo. If only anybody could polish it to its fullest potential, that is.

It's the source of our misery and yet it's the greatest thing the N900 has going for it. How's that for ironic.

Like andy said, it's no common smartphone OS, and for that same fact (and the fact that the money-hungry idiots at Nokia decided that nobody needed a desktop OS on a phone, and thus left it to die) it will only appeal to a niche market.

I mean, can you do on-device QT development on any other device, I mean, fully? Write, debug, compile AND test. Can you emulate Debian on any other device? Can you run network testing (aka hacking) tools as efficiently on any other device? And not forgetting the old favourite: can you multitask better on any other device (and BTW, I HATE the Pre-aping card view task switcher style of S^3 and Meego). Can you draw with pressure sensitivity with any other device?

All these things make the N900 special. And sadly all of them ain't worth shit to the everyday smartphone user. Some of them aren't even worth crap to me lol.

My greatest hope is for the entire Source Code of Maemo could be made available (including the closed bits) so that finally, I can have a phone I have dreaming of for all my life - a phone that I can tinker with totally and fully, and make truly my own and nobody else's.

With that said, the Galaxy S Pro is very, very juicy device indeed. When OpenMaemo becomes a reality (and Android has still not achieved desktop class levels) I might just dual boot on the GSP.

And even worse, Samsung support/firmware updates have been known to surpass Nokia in terms of ineptitude.

Though by that time NITDroid would be fully mature and it could just dual boot Android 3 on the N900 lol.

This post has been edited by Eiraku: Jul 3 2010, 06:50 PM

Well, unless they make it more accessible, easy to use and apptastic - it really doesn't stand a chance in the mass market.

Hence Meego.

A shame that the solution to Maemo's problems actually killed it off lol.

Nokia Malaysia either thinks we don't have enough geeks per capita, or we're too smart to be misled by poor marketing lol.

Lol.

Mmmm, this sparked something in my brain and I went back to Transition Control and found out somehting interesting. Animations on the N900 is actually needed, to a certain point, to mask app loading and make everything look smoother. Sans animations everything just feels wrong.

Though things can be tuned so that it's pretty fast and still not jarring and not smooth.

I propose the above be stickied as the penultimate answer to xterm related questions lol.