Forum Descriptions

[TrueJournals]

It appears that what I originally drafted for the sticky threads would be better suited as the descriptions that show up on the main page. So, here's what I came up with... Feedback welcome (I think everything under the "Software" category could be tightened up a bit)

Talk
General -- Anything pertaining to all tablets, independent of OS version, or application.
Newbie -- Any questions that seem to be easy to solve, but that a beginner can not solve.
(Pre-purchase -- All questions regarding the device, while you don't actually own one yet.)
maemo.org -- All discussion related to content on maemo.org, including the wiki.maemo.org, talk.maemo.org, bugs.maemo.org, and garage.maemo.org
Off Topic -- Anything that isn't related to the Internet Tablets. An "other" of sorts.

Software
Applications -- Each application should have a thread in this forum. Please use the search function to look for an application's thread, before creating a new thread. If you are not the author of an application, but notice that an application does not have a thread, please make note of this when creating the thread.
Multimedia -- All media applications. Media can be defined as audio, video and pictures. Any application that pertains to audio, video, or pictures should have a thread in this forum. Again, if you do not find a thread for a multimedia application, create one noting that you are not the author.
Games -- All games for the tablets should have a thread here. The rules for this forum are the same as that of the Multimedia and Applications forums.

OS / Platform
Maemo 5 / Fremantle -- All discussion of the future release of the Maemo 5 platform, including the alpha/beta SDK (and possible hardware), should go here.
OS2008 / Maemo 4 / Chinook - Diablo -- All discussion of OS2008 for the N800 and N810, or OS2008HE for the Nokia 770 should go here. This forum pertains to OS software versions (version list).
OS 2006 / Maemo 2 / Mistral - Scirocco - Greagle -- All discussion of OS2006 for the Nokia 770 should go here. This forum pertains to software versions (version list here)
Developers -- All discussion of application development should go here. This includes general SDK questions, along with any questions pertaining to the development of an application for the maemo platform.
Alternatives -- All discussion of alternative operating systems for the internet tablets should go here. This includes Mer, Debian, Android, Palm (GarnetVM), and alternative window managers such as KDE.

Devices
Nokia N810 -- Any hardware-specific discussion/questions about the N810 should go here.
Nokia N800 -- Any hardware-specific discussion/questions about the N800 should go here.
Nokia 770 -- Any hardware-specific discussion/questions about the Nokia 770 should go here.
Accessories -- Any discussion of accessories, including bluetooth GPS, bluetooth keyboards, batteries, chargers, cables, etc. should go here.
Competitors -- Any discussion of potential internet tablet competitors should go here.
Buy & Sell -- This forum is reserved for setting up a sale of hardware between members of the Internet Tablet Talk/talk.maemo.org community.

Old
All -- This forum should be considered closed for archive purposes. No new posts should be made in this forum.

Any forum under the "Old" category would have the same description.

[racky]

It looks very good. Great idea.

[qgil]

Good first approach. The descriptions that are simply descriptive and have one short sentence work better. It would be better to do the same for those forums like Applications where you have added more details. Such details can be explained in the sticky topic of each forum.

The more we put, the less people will read it. This is why those descriptions need to be as concise as possible.

A good detector is the word "should". :) The sentences having it probably need to be cut and simplified.

About "(and possible hardware)" in Maemo 5, I would remove that since then we break the clear rule of leaving the Software forums clean from hardware threads. Before a device is announced any threads are just speculation and can be put in General. After a device announcement we have a device name and we can create a new forum for it.

[Matan]

N800 and N810 forums look redundant. There are a few hardware related questions which are specific to one of the devices (look at the content of those forums). A lot of time it is not obvious whether the question relates to software or hardware. I think having a "Current devices" forum which includes the N800/N810/OS2008 forums and an "Old devices" forum that includes 770/OS2006 will be better.

Developers forum should be named Development.

[qgil]

N800 & N810 don't look redundant to most of its owners. Yes, the insights are very similar but who knows that? We can expect owners of the N810 not following the N800 forum and viceversa.

Yes, sometimes software and hardware are mixed (and OS / Apps can be mixed as well). Reality is dirty and we just need to accommodate to that. In case of doubt let's just leave the thread where it was posted.

"Current devices" forum. When a device is not current anymore? Also, what do you do with the existing posts, moving them to the "Old devices" forum? Will you stop the flames of the owners of those devices?

> Developers forum should be named Development.

Good point.

[qgil]

N800 & N810 don't look redundant to most of its owners. Yes, the insights are very similar but who knows that? We can expect owners of the N810 not following the N800 forum and viceversa.

Yes, sometimes software and hardware are mixed (and OS / Apps can be mixed as well). Reality is dirty and we just need to accommodate to that. In case of doubt let's just leave the thread where it was posted.

"Current devices" forum. When a device is not current anymore? Also, what do you do with the existing posts, moving them to the "Old devices" forum? Will you stop the flames of the owners of those devices?

> Developers forum should be named Development.

Good point.

[qgil]

Proposal based on TrueJournals', shortening the descriptions as much as possible.

Talk
General -- Relevant topics not tied to a specific program, OS or device. Post here if you can't find a better place.
(Newbie -- Any questions that seem to be easy to solve, but that a beginner can not solve.)
maemo.org -- Website and community discussion.
Off Topic -- Totally unrelated but still worth discussing. An "other" of sorts.

Software
Applications -- Anything about the programs pre-installed or available to download. See the specialized subsections below.
Multimedia -- Applications strong in audio, video and pictures.
Games -- Playing just for the fun.

OS / Platform
Maemo 5 -- The future release, codenamed Fremantle.
OS2008 -- Basic functionality and tweaks for the N810 and N800. Also related: Maemo 4, Diablo, Chinook.
OS 2006 -- Basic functionality and tweaks for the 770. Also related: Maemo 2 - Gregale - Scirocco- Mistral.
Development -- Discussion and support about official and community suported developer tools.
Alternatives -- Other operating systems powering Maemo compatible devices e.g. Mer, Debian, Android, Ubuntu, Palm (GarnetVM)...

Devices
Nokia N810 -- Hardware-specific discussion about the third generation of Internet Tablets.
Nokia N800 -- Hardware-specific discussion about the second generation of Internet Tablets.
Nokia 770 -- Hardware-specific discussion about the first generation of Internet Tablets.
Accessories -- Any complements you can plug, insert, pair, wrap...
Competitors -- Similar mobile devices shipping with alternative operating systems.
Buy & Sell -- Pre-purchase questions, offers and personal sales.

Old
All -- Archived.

Any forum under the "Old" category would have the same description.

[Reggie]

Most excellent! This will surely make the forums look better on the new theme! :)

[qgil]

Forum descriptions are implemented now. Thanks!