Hacks ,Tricks and Tips
HowTo: Install Ovi Store apps from the command line on the N900
Jan 14th
Disclaimer: If you are not comfortable with the command line, do not try this.
If you have installed an app from the Ovi Store web portal, you would have noticed that the process is not fast. Clicking the Download link opens the Application-Manager which takes anywhere from 30-40 seconds to prepare the system before actually starting the download. For those who don’t like to wait, the apt-get command is a great alternative to speed up things and also allow installing multiple apps (at least the ones that are free) in one go.
Prerequisites
There are two things required before starting the download. Setting up the Ovi Repo and creating an Archive folder. You need to do this only once.
Ovi Repo
If you have never used the Ovi Store, you would need to have the repo installed first. Downloading an app from the store automatically adds the repo the first time but you need an Ovi account. So if you want the apps but don’t like signing in, you can add the repo manually:
Name: Ovi
Web: https://downloads.maemo.nokia.com/fremantle/ovi/
Dist: ./
Archive Folder:
In order to save space on the root partition, create a download directory for the downloaded packages. Instructions here
Installation
For installation, all you need is the application’s package name. The apt-cache command can be used to find it. The following command will search and list all packages with the word ‘offscr’ in it:
# apt-cache search offscr
This will display the 31 nifty apps by Offscr currently available. This also searches descriptions.
Next, install the desired package using apt-get (as root of course):
# apt-get -o dir::cache=/home/user/MyDocs/apt-archive-cache install offscr-discs offscr-backgammon offscr-watch
This will start the installation process for all 3 apps which will take about the same time it takes for one install from the website. Enjoy!
Popularity: 13%
HowTo: Fix the annoying ‘Unable to connect via USB. Device storage in use’ error on the N900 without rebooting
Dec 28th
If you connect the N900 to a computer via USB frequently, you will sooner or later encounter this error where the N900 will refuse to be used as external media.
This is because a program (or programs) is accessing files in the /home/user/MyDocs folder. To fix the problem, the program(s) in question needs to be found and stopped. To find the program(s), open a root terminal and type
lsof | grep MyDocs
This will display the programs accessing the MyDocs folder something similar to this:
Nokia-N900-42-11:~# lsof | grep MyDocs
sh 3474 user cwd DIR 179,1 65536 4326 /home/user/MyDocs/tmp
The second column displays the process-ID of the program (in RED above). Now, terminate the program with this command (repeat for multiple programs):
kill 3474
Now, run the lsof command again (press UP arrow to go back) and make sure the program is not displayed. If it is still running, execute this:
kill -9 3474
Reconnect the USB cable and you should now be able to use the N900 as external media.
Popularity: 15%
HowTo: Launch a terminal app from a shortcut on Nokia N900 (Part 2)
Dec 19th
This tutorial will show you how to add an icon to the topx shortcut in Part 1.
- Find/create a PNG image of dimension 48×48. (google this)
- Name the file topx.png
- Save file to /usr/share/icons/hicolor/48×48/hildon/ (you will need root access)
- Modify the topx.desktop file to include the following line. The right side should be the name of file without the .png
Icon=topx
The topx.desktop now looks like this:
[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Version=0.1
Type=Application
Terminal=true
Name=topx
Exec=/usr/bin/osso-xterm top
Icon=topx
X-Osso-Type=application/x-executable
Save topx.desktop and reboot to see the icon for the shortcut in the Application Menu. If the icon does not show up, install a couple of apps from the Application Manager. This should update the icon-cache and display it.
Popularity: 22%
HowTo: Launch a terminal app from a shortcut on Nokia N900
Dec 6th
On the N900, it is possible to run a terminal program like ‘top’ directly from the Desktop/Shortcut. The following example creates a shortcut to launch the system monitior program ‘top’.
1. Use a text-editor like vi or Leafpad to create a file with the following text:
[Desktop Entry] Encoding=UTF-8 Version=0.1 Type=Application Terminal=true Name=topx Exec=/usr/bin/osso-xterm top Icon= X-Window-Icon= X-HildonDesk-ShowInToolbar=true X-Osso-Type=application/x-executable
2. Save the file as topx.desktop.
3. As root, copy the file to the ‘/usr/share/applications/hildon/’ directory. This will create an ugly blue application icon in the Application list called ‘topx’.
Launching ‘topx’ will execute ‘top’ directly in xterm. You may now put a shortcut on the desktop for quick access. The not-so-great part of this desktop-shortcut is that it displays the default icon.
Popularity: 31%
Nokia N900 Showing it can function on Portrait Mode – Pictures and Video
Nov 29th
Now we have some interesting news for you all
Here are the pictures showing N900 can be used in portrait mode too, So it seems like they have already implemented and now taking their time to make it work flawless on accelerometer
It just matter of weeks to get the portrait mode working.
Popularity: 35%
N900 Handy Keyboard Shortcuts
Nov 22nd
Hello folks,
The N900 running a linux os so there are many keyboard shortcuts available to us.Lets have a look of all the keyboard shortcuts and various light notification used in N900 for notifying and to start various process.
Notification lights colour:
1.Blue Color light is meant for Application notifications such as an IM or Text Or Email.
2.Orange Color light indicate the battery is getting charged
3.Green Light denotes Battery charge is full Read the rest of this entry »
Popularity: 27%
HowTo: Create a shortcut to a file on the N900’s desktop
Nov 21st
Being able create a file-shortcut on the desktop is a standard feature of all desktop environments like XP, GNOME, KDE, OS X etc. Unfortunately, the N900’s desktop doesn’t allow putting any kind of link on the desktop except if its a bookmark. So if you like having quick access to certain files from the desktop, there is a workaround through the browser.
In the following example, I will create a shortcut to the agenda.pdf file. Open the file-system from the browser (see my previous post) and navigate to the folder of the file’s location.
Popularity: 32%
HowTo: Browse the N900’s File-system using its Web-Browser
Nov 21st
The N900’s Web-Browser can be used to browse its entire file-system. To list the root directory, enter file:/// in the web-address field.
File-System on the N900 Web-Browser
Popularity: 27%
Welcome To TheMaemo.com
Nov 16th
Hello folks !
Our Maemo team will be posting about latest news, rumors, reviews and hacks . we will soon open a download section where you can download or submit your applications , wallpapers and themes.
Enjoy your Stay !
Popularity: 14%
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