Nokia N900

Christo · 18 Jan 2010 at 00:07

How to install and download iplayer programmes (for the moment until a proper programme is created/Flash Player 10 is released):

Add the following repository (in App Manager)

Name: kaspernj.org
Webaddress: http://maemorepo.kaspernj.org
Distribution: fremantle
Components: main

Then open terminal and enter the following commands:

Code:

sudo gainroot

Code:

apt-get install iplayer-dl

once installed (I copied and pasted this command in):

Code:

echo "alias iplayer='iplayer-dl -d /home/user/MyDocs/.videos'" >> /home/user/.profile

close terminal for the last code to activate. Then you can use the programme - ie type in:

Code:

iplayer URL

("URL" being the TV programme URL)

Bob's your Aunty.

rsatd · 18 Jan 2010 at 01:26

Wow Christo, I love you... but I assume your a guy, so no hugs

.

Though this won't work for n810, it did made me go and read about the iplayer-dl, and lo and behold there is one for normal linux systems as well!

http://linuxcentre.net/getiplayer

Oh how happy I am after getting the perl script, its a bit late so il play with it tomorrow after work, but after going for an episode of Top Gear, I am loving the xterm driven "interface", the script is somewhat heavy and by default grabs smaller iphone sized videos, but that just means that maybe there is a chance for them to work from n810 as well (After initially attempting to run the script on n810, it complained about something it couldn't find).

Slight concern is the cpu usage, 30% constantly while downloading on my 1.2ghz box, but after my failed attempt at getting n810 to be a security cam, this is a very very welcome discovery that I no longer need to boot my windows dual core something box just to watch Iplayer!

On a side note, how good are N900's cameras? The one in N810 (single face facing one) is totally rubbish in anything but daylight, hence a failure. But if someone wants to try, I can post the 3 liner script that *should* work for N900 as well, grabbing an image and uploading it to your webserver somewhere.

Christo · 18 Jan 2010 at 01:42

rsatd said:
Wow Christo, I love you... but I assume your a guy, so no hugs .

Though this won't work for n810, it did made me go and read about the iplayer-dl, and lo and behold there is one for normal linux systems as well!

http://linuxcentre.net/getiplayer

Oh how happy I am after getting the perl script, its a bit late so il play with it tomorrow after work, but after going for an episode of Top Gear, I am loving the xterm driven "interface", the script is somewhat heavy and by default grabs smaller iphone sized videos, but that just means that maybe there is a chance for them to work from n810 as well (After initially attempting to run the script on n810, it complained about something it couldn't find).

Slight concern is the cpu usage, 30% constantly while downloading on my 1.2ghz box, but after my failed attempt at getting n810 to be a security cam, this is a very very welcome discovery that I no longer need to boot my windows dual core something box just to watch Iplayer!

On a side note, how good are N900's cameras? The one in N810 (single face facing one) is totally rubbish in anything but daylight, hence a failure. But if someone wants to try, I can post the 3 liner script that *should* work for N900 as well, grabbing an image and uploading it to your webserver somewhere.

No hugs but Ill accept penetration.

(joke)

Maybe the N810 will get a flash 10 plugin (when it comes out..)? That way you'll not even need this downloader. The n900 camera is barely used strangely - theres only 1 app out there that uses it so I have no idea what its like. If you posted your script on the Maemo.org forums, Im sure they'd love you. You could put it in the maemo repositories too..

rsatd · 18 Jan 2010 at 08:08

Well, its not really tested on 810, let alone 900, and so far sometimes it seems to lock up the device. I am thinking its the driver, as the camera application yu can download seems to do so as well. So if 900 can take pictures without locking up, it might even work better. After looking in the wiki, the face facing camera looks to be pretty much identical to 810.

For now, lets just try capturing some images with mplayer.

Code:

mplayer -cache 128 -tv driver=v4l2:width=640:height=480:outfmt=i420:device=/dev/video0 -vo jpeg -frames 7 -loop 1 tv://

For the bigger cam, try this:

Code:

mplayer -cache 128 -tv driver=v4l2:outfmt=i420:device=/dev/video1 -vo jpeg -frames 7 -loop 1 tv://

Run that from the terminal and see what happens, /dev/video0 should be the face facing cam and /dev/video1 should be the 5mp one. No idea if the "exteral" one is using the same or different driver. Lack of a 900 prevents me from playing with it

.

If that works, il post the rest of the shell script, which basically will take a pic, and upload it to a web server somewhere, so you can access it remotely to see it. Would be a bit of an expensive "security" camera for 900 though

teh_captain · 19 Jan 2010 at 08:00

Has anyone got or is anyone thinking of getting an N900 on contract from Vodafone direct? Reason being is i'm uber tempted to port my number over and get one, but are they 'unlocked' i.e. can they be used on other networks, and do Vodafone gimp it with custom software and logos on the phone itself?

I'm torn whether to do this or just stump up the however much it is up front and get one SIM Free, i'll sell my N95 8Gb either way to put towards it for £100 or so. Really loving all the positive feedback on here though

Kitchster_uk · 19 Jan 2010 at 08:08

Mine is on Voda and is unlocked and not gimped, though there are so many apps around, you can even remove the 'Nokia Hands' at start up should you so wish. You'd be updating Maemo as a first port of call which would likely remove anything Voda had added.

rsatd · 19 Jan 2010 at 08:30

Well, I really want the 900 now, and did a bit of google shopping. Found 2 shops that sell it for £416, with delivery and from what it looks like, including VAT, I went to checkout and there was no mention of vat.

Though it is a good £100 more expensive then I would want it to be, but the main reason for not going through, is that there were two practically identical shops just the website had a slightly different name. Which got me thinking might be a scam, and the nearest other site I would trust ended up sim free for £470... But for £416... it did tempt me greately...

Also, most expensive one I found was sim free for £674

Darryl_1983 · 19 Jan 2010 at 17:15

I know most people have problems with the FM transmitter strength, well i tried installing the FMboost app that increases the signal strength didn't make any difference at all. Anyway else tried this app with any success?

Darryl_1983 · 19 Jan 2010 at 17:18

teh_captain said:
Has anyone got or is anyone thinking of getting an N900 on contract from Vodafone direct? Reason being is i'm uber tempted to port my number over and get one, but are they 'unlocked' i.e. can they be used on other networks, and do Vodafone gimp it with custom software and logos on the phone itself?

I'm torn whether to do this or just stump up the however much it is up front and get one SIM Free, i'll sell my N95 8Gb either way to put towards it for £100 or so. Really loving all the positive feedback on here though

Cheapest contracts availible currently are from nokia directly (phones direct) which come sim free and with a vodafone sim. Vodafone therefore have nothing to do with the phone, it's all done through nokia/phones direct.

teh_captain · 19 Jan 2010 at 17:27

Darryl_1983 said:
Cheapest contracts availible currently are from nokia directly (phones direct) which come sim free and with a vodafone sim. Vodafone therefore have nothing to do with the phone, it's all done through nokia/phones direct.

Whoa

free phone, 600 mins, unlimited texts and unlimited internet (well, 500Mb), 24 months - £35 p/m. I am hovering over the buy button right now!!!

As this technically has nothing to do with Vodaphone what happens with regards to them getting all my details, and more importantly porting my existing number over?

Cheers

rsatd · 19 Jan 2010 at 17:32

teh_captain said:
Whoa free phone, 600 mins, unlimited texts and unlimited internet (well, 500Mb), 24 months - £35 p/m. I am hovering over the buy button right now!!!

£840 phone... compared to sim free for £470 from a trusted source, then some standalone contract if you really want the minutes and texts, if not just web bolton with o2 on payg. £7.50 I belive a month.

teh_captain · 19 Jan 2010 at 17:45

Yeah...I just worked that out

Well my N95 8Gb will get £112 from Mazuma/Envirophone so that would go towards it in any case. I'm already on O2 Simplicity £20, but would be looking to go to Voda for better 3G coverage/reception etc. They also do a SIM-only £20 p/m rolling contract with similar minutes and 'unlimited' internet.

£470-£112 - £358 and then however long I decide to keep the contract etc.

I'm guessing the most sensible thing to do would be to fork out for the phone and think of it as an 'investment'!!

rsatd · 19 Jan 2010 at 17:55

Depends purely on your usage. While I want an n900 badly, and have seen it for £416 from a little bit dodgy looking website, I still think its about £100 too much then it should be for what I will use it for. But obvisouly I am not everyone.

I currently on £10 a month with o2, and if I would have got my grabby hands on n900, id still go payg but might be tempted to get the web bolton, afterall it is still good for non 3g data as well for when you are outside coverage, or was when I used that bolton a year and a half ago...

Flare · 19 Jan 2010 at 21:10

teh_captain said:
Whoa free phone, 600 mins, unlimited texts and unlimited internet (well, 500Mb), 24 months - £35 p/m. I am hovering over the buy button right now!!!

Go into a Nokia store, i got 300 mins, unlimited texts and unlimited internet for £30p/m with putting £60 towards the phone. For an extra £5 p/m i can upgrade to 600mins.
Online deals aren't the same as in store! I think they are more expensive.

Flare

Darryl_1983 · 20 Jan 2010 at 10:05

I got that deal on a 12 month contract for £35, but paid £140 for the phone. total cost is £560, which works out much cheaper than going sim free with the o2 sim only contract i had which was costing me £20 a month, to get the same minute/text/web.

Once my 12 months are up, i'll be going back to o2 however, as the network coverage is much better where i live and work for 3G connectivity.

Ronaldo · 20 Jan 2010 at 10:14

Darryl_1983 said:
I got that deal on a 12 month contract for £35, but paid £140 for the phone. total cost is £560, which works out much cheaper than going sim free with the o2 sim only contract i had which was costing me £20 a month, to get the same minute/text/web.

Once my 12 months are up, i'll be going back to o2 however, as the network coverage is much better where i live and work for 3G connectivity.

which plan is that mate and where from? i have o2 which ends next month but very good tarriff but want n900!!!!

Christo · 20 Jan 2010 at 10:34

rsatd said:
Depends purely on your usage. While I want an n900 badly, and have seen it for £416 from a little bit dodgy looking website, I still think its about £100 too much then it should be for what I will use it for. But obvisouly I am not everyone.

I currently on £10 a month with o2, and if I would have got my grabby hands on n900, id still go payg but might be tempted to get the web bolton, afterall it is still good for non 3g data as well for when you are outside coverage, or was when I used that bolton a year and a half ago...

£349

http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=41488

rsatd · 20 Jan 2010 at 10:47

!!!

So if I buy from nokia after using that website, I get
Discount:
-£49.90
Discounted Sub Total:
£449.10

In nokia checkout, and then buying there before 25'th Jan, I would get the 20% cashback sent with the phone or how does it work, for 350, I think its very reasonable buy!

Ronaldo · 20 Jan 2010 at 11:10

rsatd said:
!!!

So if I buy from nokia after using that website, I get
Discount:
-£49.90
Discounted Sub Total:
£449.10

In nokia checkout, and then buying there before 25'th Jan, I would get the 20% cashback sent with the phone or how does it work, for 350, I think its very reasonable buy!

no mate its 10% off via nokia site but you have to register @ https://www.quidco.com and nokia will pay them £20% which they give to you minus £5

in order to do this you have to goto nokia site via quidco

rsatd · 20 Jan 2010 at 11:17

Yeah, that is what I done and when I enter the discount code from quidco, it only shows up as -£49 on nokia site, guess I am doing something daft o_O.