Increase number of desktops? More than four possible?

[code177]

So I was thinking last night, I seem to recall seeing on a video at some point there was a preferences/settings screen which someone flipped through and there was a discreet setting for changing the number of desktops from 1-4. It's possible I dreamed this or made it up, but that's fairly irrelevant since it's just to serve as background information :D

I'm figuring that somewhere in the fremantle code, there must be a setting that tells the system how many desktops to display. Surely we could just change this and add as many desktops as we want? Say, another 4... or 8.. or 16... :rolleyes:

Seriously though. That could be really useful. I can see myself running out of screen real estate pretty quickly. Another 4 desktops would be A++.

[timsamoff]

This might sound like a good idea -- and I thought about it after I started playing with the N900 myself -- but even with four desktops, one can begin to get confused.

There really shouldn't need to be a way to add more desktops, as applications are their own desktops in a sense. So, you can open up several apps and switch back and forth between all of them via the multitask button. Then you can go to the desktop and flip between 1-4 of them...

Once you start adding more, you are really impeding the speed of operations by having to find, then select what you want.

Imho, of course.

Tim

[romanianusa]

Rather than desktop..how about different OS for each desktop. You got iPHONE desktop and then Adroid and Palm pre. All in different desktop?

[code177]

There really shouldn't need to be a way to add more desktops, as applications are their own desktops in a sense. So, you can open up several apps and switch back and forth between all of them via the multitask button. Then you can go to the desktop and flip between 1-4 of them...

Once you start adding more, you are really impeding the speed of operations by having to find, then select what you want.

Ahh yes. Good point. I hadn't thought of that.

[allnameswereout]

Hmm, I don't know, I find 4 virtual desktops on GNOME both enough and almost confusing already. And those are 2x2 grid instead of 1x4 grid. In the 1x4 grid of Maemo/Panorama the desktop of preference is always max 2 swipes away. However if you'd want say 6 virtual desktops a cube model might be an option. In such case, it is also max 2 swipes away, and the 3D model helps to envision people what is where. Except such costs quite some time to implement, and one can swipe the wrong way which is not possible with 1x4 grid.

[munky261]

True, but we should be able to have more than 4 if WE want them, not what someone deems we need. What is it on the iPhone, you can have like 11-12?

[UCOMM]

i'd rather like it to limit it to 3 screens that wrap around, instead of adding more

[code177]

i'd rather like it to limit it to 3 screens that wrap around, instead of adding more

I was under the impression that the 4 desktops wrap around so you can keep scrolling sideways forever. Did I imagine this or is this true (if you can't, then that's number one on the fix list for me as far as I'm concerned) ?

I think it would be neat to be able to scroll up and down aswell as left and right, although that'd be a logistical nightmare. And honestly, I can't think of any good reason other than it being pretty cool.

[code177]

Anyhow, regardless of whether or not we should or shouldn't, or how crazy and idea it is.. we should theoretically be able to add more desktops. I can't imagine this is coded in any more than in a config file somewhere?

Anyone have any insights?

[livefreeordie]

to be able to scroll up and down aswell as left and right, although that'd be a logistical nightmare. And honestly, I can't think of any good reason other than it being pretty cool.

Not necessarily. It wouldn't need to represent any real object. I would personally like a system where you always swipe in a certain direction to get to a specific desktop, no matter which one you're on. Just always swipe left for desktop A and always swipe down for desktop D etc. 4 desktops would never need two swipes.

The panoramic desktop looks much more cool, though :D

[code177]

I'm just going to go ahead and say it would be awesome if we could enable this ( http://betalabs.nokia.com/betas/view/nokia-photo-browser ) for the desktops :D

[pelago]

i'd rather like it to limit it to 3 screens that wrap around, instead of adding more
I'm pretty sure you can do that, by only ticking three out of the four screens in the preferences.

Regarding extending to more screens, I believe qgil said the desktop would be open source, so it could presumably be extended by the community. There are probably other limits you would need to tweak, such as the total number of widgets allowed on the desktops.

[timsamoff]

I was under the impression that the 4 desktops wrap around so you can keep scrolling sideways forever.
This is true. The desktops "loop."

Tim

[munky261]

Would it be possible to be able to tag one of them as your primary, and have some sort of hardware button shortcut to get back? Or, to fix it so that doesnt endlessly loop, making it like the iphones desktop setup?

[timsamoff]

Would it be possible to be able to tag one of them as your primary, and have some sort of hardware button shortcut to get back? Or, to fix it so that doesnt endlessly loop, making it like the iphones desktop setup?
You guys need to try it out before making all of these suggestions! :D

Tim

[nilchak]

Would it be possible to be able to tag one of them as your primary, and have some sort of hardware button shortcut to get back? Or, to fix it so that doesnt endlessly loop, making it like the iphones desktop setup?

The whole point of multiple desktops is to have multiple user space where you can add shortcuts, widgets etc.
Why have a primary desktop ?

Instead its better to be able to recall the desktop with a keyboard shortcut - say Fn+Ctrl+1 for desktop 1 and so on ...
But seriously with 4 desktops, it isnt that difficult to scroll anyways (in case the key shortcut is missing feature for now).

[ragnar]

Having more is also a performance issue. Anyways, as most people here say, even 4 is plenty. The more you have, the longer it will get to to get to any desktop (because it's 1d navigation), and the more you need to remember.

But yes, there is a setting for 1-4.

[range]

Rather than desktop..how about different OS for each desktop. You got iPHONE desktop and then Adroid and Palm pre. All in different desktop?

And ponies! There has to be some ponies!

[range]

True, but we should be able to have more than 4 if WE want them, not what someone deems we need. What is it on the iPhone, you can have like 11-12?

Ummm. More like None. It has "unlimited"(?) screens for your installed applications, but those aren't virtual Desktops.

[allnameswereout]

Having more is also a performance issue. Anyways, as most people here say, even 4 is plenty. The more you have, the longer it will get to to get to any desktop (because it's 1d navigation), and the more you need to remember.

But yes, there is a setting for 1-4...but in Maemo 6 with OMAP4 we see cube right :o ;)

Great feature though since this allows comfortable full screen usage.

[Nazrax]

On my computer, there's a widget on one corner of my screen that displays all of my virtual desktops (I have 5), highlights the active one, and lets me click on any desktop to jump to it. Does such a widget exist for Maemo?

[benny1967]

The more you have, the longer it will get to to get to any desktop (because it's 1d navigation)

... even if it's 2D (which I assume) - hey! where's the cube (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ubuntu_Feisty_Compiz_Cube.png)! linux always has a 3D cube! :D

[hartti]

On my computer, there's a widget on one corner of my screen that displays all of my virtual desktops (I have 5), highlights the active one, and lets me click on any desktop to jump to it. Does such a widget exist for Maemo?

Currently no.

Hartti

[ruskie]

Hmm I'd like to see a:
2x4 desktop setup myself.

Why shouldn't it be possible?

Roll up/down/left/right... hell even something unusual like

==
==|==|==
==

Could be doable. So you have the center one for whatever you want and the rest for aps you want there. Could probaly even do scrolling between them in a nice circle :)

[Venomrush]

Mine is full already..
Is this possible with Fremantle?

[AndrewG]

Why not create a brainstorm? I'm sure theres others who want more also.

[maxximuscool]

would be nice to have 8 virtual desktops :D like on Ubuntu, Fedora, Yellow Dog Linux :D

[tuminoid]

Mine is full already..
Is this possible with Fremantle?
There was a discussion about this somewhere, I recall its hildon-home limitation, and backgrounds/theming problems being reasoning. I wouldn't be surprised if fixed eventually, many of us including me would like to see more desktops.

[rapante]

I agree, personally I would just need one or 2 more, but if I can get 8 i'll take that as well :D

[kopte3]

Well, think about it. If you have 8 desktops what happens with a main advantage of your current desktops (and that is your personal shortcuts maximum two swipes away from you)? Your shortcuts are going to be 1-2-3-4 swipes from you, and that equals going to menu and choosing it in normal way. ;)

[ragnar]

Well, think about it. If you have 8 desktops what happens with a main advantage of your current desktops (and that is your personal shortcuts maximum two swipes away from you)? Your shortcuts are going to be 1-2-3-4 swipes from you, and that equals going to menu and choosing it in normal way. ;)

Yes, that's true.

Or then you would need to do like the "Google Phone", i.e. Android 2.1, have a button to show thumbnails of all the home screens. With this you could switch between any of those screens with two clicks.

[tissot]

Well, think about it. If you have 8 desktops what happens with a main advantage of your current desktops (and that is your personal shortcuts maximum two swipes away from you)? Your shortcuts are going to be 1-2-3-4 swipes from you, and that equals going to menu and choosing it in normal way. ;)

Exactly. I already noticed this with 4 desktops and always used the menu. Now with 3 it makes more sense. Thought when we start getting more quality widgets that show what you need or you can enter to some function faster more desktops make more sense.

If it's up to me there can be option for 16 desktops as long as we can adjust how many is in use.

[casper27]

A programme like Personal Menu with just one icon and a popup list of executable shortcuts on the same screen would be perfect as the icons don't have to be that big.

[gavinmitchell]

alternatvely you could have 9 desktops and use both horizontal and vertical scrolling. then any desktop would only be 2 steps away ?

[tissot]

alternatvely you could have 9 desktops and use both horizontal and vertical scrolling. then any desktop would only be 2 steps away ?

*included in Maemo 6/harmattan* :)

[Glasswalker]

alternatvely you could have 9 desktops and use both horizontal and vertical scrolling. then any desktop would only be 2 steps away ?

Actually it would max at 3 steps. For example: from middle top row to corner bottom row or vice versa... but enough nitpicking ;-)

Personally I'd think that this would not be a very useable solution. Hard to describe.... it would "feel" more complicated to search for a specific screen vertically and horizontally... something along the line of: "Heaven where am I know? top row? middle row?"
I think that it is more practical only to move in one direction in an endless loop.

Sorry if this reads a little strange but english is not my first language und expressing vague feelings or concepts is a little hard on me in english.

Regards,
Glasswalker

[choubbi]

Actually it would max at 3 steps. For example: from middle top row to corner bottom row or vice versa... but enough nitpicking ;-)

The current way allows to loop from extreme left to extreme right by trying to go 1 more step left (and vice versa).
The vertical and horizontal arrangement should allow looping too, making top-left to bottom-right doable in 2 steps (left, up).

However I agree with you, as cool as 2D would be, I think that would challenge an important part of the basic users. If there's only one dimension to browse through, the dumbest users should eventually find the desktop they're looking for. With a 2D arrangement, that could become problematic.

A solution would be to have it as an option, maybe even let the user choose the number of dimensions. Accelerometer to browse forward/backward, anyone ? a 3x3x3 desktop arrangement would allow 27 desktops each 3 steps away from each other, probably more than enough for the basic geek.

I would love to browse through a N-dimensional arrangement too, swipe up/down for dimension 1, left/right for dimension 2, push/pull the n900 for dimension 3, move the n900 left/right/up/down for 2 more dimensions, pan on 3 axis to add 3 more dimensions, maybe even more. I think I would totally be lost after dimension 4, but I know some people would have no problem with that.
That would probably be more of a cool proof of concept than a really useful tool though.
Maybe I could use some sleep, too...

[x61]

Only activated two Desktops so far... Two on reserve. Or don't need them at the moment.

[hex900]

*included in Maemo 6/harmattan* :)

Heh - is there anything else headed to Fremantle? Geez - sorry, but this is getting old quickly for a 1-month old device that is not complete and still isn't fully shipped.

Having ranted on the usual Harmattan response, I have 5 desktops on the Cliq in portrait mode and it is not full. How can I do that with much lower resolution and so many more apps? Lots of ways.

Oh, before I go on, maybe I haven't found it, but the equivalent of Quicksilver on OS X (Command + Space - or whatever combo) pops up a box that allows you to start typing the name of the app, it pops up before you're done and learns what you use most to display first and press enter to launch. Now you just need 1 or 2 desktops.

1) Don't need to put contacts on desktop for easy dial - mark them as favorite. If we could do that in Fremantle, that would spare a lot of real estate (I have 8 I call enough and want easy access that I had to place them on 1 of my desktops). Don't tell me I should use the log either - that's full of other incoming/outgoing calls - idea is a quick, direct access. Or, make those contact shortcuts half the size or make a widget.

2) Where can we have the N900 go back to the "main" desktop? I haven't figured it out and is something I've been used to doing with a simple key press on [you name the device]. Swipe, swipe, swipe, oh shott, I missed it, swipe, swipe...

3) Give us the *option* of portrait mode. Much easier and more convenient to swipe with one hand so whether 4 or 20 desktops, it's easier to get to them.

4) I agree with Android 2.1 comment - that should be done as well.

5) More desktops == more resources/memory so that should be user definable. I don't need more than 4 with a few other simple changes like not having to plaster very large contact shortcuts all over. More reliable rotate to activate phone and give us a 'favorites' or 'speed dial' functionality - that frees up another shortcut to get to the phone.

6) Better contact integration within the phone - get rid of having to press a button, wait a few seconds for contacts to pop up, go through hundreds via scrolling/selecting letters on side OR using keyboard to type so wait for landscape (again), type, select contact, then select one of their numbers. Use tabs: one all contacts, one favorites OR make contacts default rather than phone log (kinda useless - I normally want to see call times if I look at the log, but don't need it as often as contacts). And allow contact editing from the contacts in phone (nice to have more than one way to do this) - this drops another shortcut on the desktop.

7) Smaller shortcuts in general. About 1/2 the size, with a different way to delete them than clicking the 'x', which I constantly already do accidentally.

I know I got a bit off base and I could go on a bit, but just some thoughts that I know would make 4 desktops just fine for me w/out needing the additional resources more would require. The option would be nice, but I can think of quite a few things I'd rather see sooner (you just heard of some of them :-)

Think Open Home on Android if you want more desktops with more customization options. Seems that could be done quicker than waiting for Maemo 8 or 9 :-)

[Venomrush]

Is it possible to have more than 4 desktops for the N900?

I can't figure out any hardware nor software constraints that stopping this.

[MrThunderfield]

I suppose... but why?

More desktops = more widgets = less battery.
Besides, four desktops provide plenty of space for everything!

[Matan]

There is a limit in the code for 4 desktops.

[R-R]

How are widgets affecting battery while in the background if coded properly?
(except maybe the amount of ram?)

[Venomrush]

I suppose... but why?

More desktops = more widgets = less battery.
Besides, four desktops provide plenty of space for everything!

4 desktops isn't enough for me at the moment
add contacts and widgets and apps shortcut -> you fill them up pretty quickly

i guess you haven't found Extras repo yet?

[sjgadsby]

The following threads have been merged into this thread:
"Allowing more than 4 desktops?" with fifteen posts
"Having more than 4 desktops?" with five posts

[Matan]

Modified hildon desktop (version 1.05) supports up to 9 desktop views. To add a view, use the commands (for example):

gconftool -s /apps/osso/hildon-desktop/views/5/bg-image -t string "/path/to/background.jpg"
gconftool -s /apps/osso/hildon-desktop/views/active -t list --list-type int [1,2,3,4,5]


Still arranged in a cycle.

To install, see my signature.

[srodin]

Great work Matan! works perfectly :)

Does it seem possible to make it with up and down desktops in the future or is it not possible program wise..?

[Matan]

With the arrows, it should be easy. With touch screen dragging, I think it is a bit harder, but I am not going to try.

[MrThunderfield]

4 desktops isn't enough for me at the moment
add contacts and widgets and apps shortcut -> you fill them up pretty quickly

i guess you haven't found Extras repo yet?

Lol yeah I've found it! Testing and devel too. I filled one screen with 10 of my most important contacts, one with calendar, ip widget and a grid of shortcuts. The other screens I filled with random widgets that I don't really use :P So I guess I could do with 2 desktops :D

But seriously, having 4 desktops is a great thing. I'm really angry with myself for not putting all of them to good use :P

[fatalsaint]

Modified hildon desktop (version 1.05) supports up to 9 desktop views. To add a view, use the commands (for example):

gconftool -s /apps/osso/hildon-desktop/views/5/bg-image -t string "/path/to/background.jpg"
gconftool -s /apps/osso/hildon-desktop/views/active -t list --list-type int [1,2,3,4,5]


Still arranged in a cycle.

To install, see my signature.

Someone should write a GUI for this :D.

That's a pretty cool upgrade.

[mrrg]

What happens if Nokia releases a new version of hildon-desktop ?

Is it not possible to add more destops with existing hildon-desktop somehow?

[Matan]

If you install an upgrade that includes a new hildon-desktop package (as PR1.2 will), it will overwrite the binary installed by my package, and you won't be able to use all enhancements, including more than 4 desktops.

Then you will be able to reinstall modified-hildon-desktop which will restore all enhancements, but might miss new features and bug fixes in the new hildon-desktop. Or you can wait until I adapt the modified-hildon-desktop patch to the new version of hildon-desktop. Depending on how much time in advance I will know which version of hildon-desktop is in PR1.2, that wait might be as short as no wait at all.

You can't use more than 4 desktops in standard hildon-desktop, since there is hard limit of 4 desktops in the program. You can use less than 4 if you want.

[mrrg]

Is it possible to make a small program that overrides the hard limit..in default and future updates of the hildon-desktop package?

[El Amir]

Someone should write a GUI for this :D.

That's a pretty cool upgrade.

Definitely a good idea. Wish someone would pick up the idea!

[mikebravo]

N900 comes with 4 main desktop pages. Does anuone know if that can be increased?

[jakiman]

Search for Matan's "modified-hildon-desktop" in this forum.
You can have up to 9 desktops.

[mikebravo]

Thanks. Could not find it yet but keep searching -;)

[mikebravo]

Found it! How do you install that file?

[Matan]

The easiest way is by using my repository - follow the link in my signature.

[sjgadsby]

The thread "How to increase desktop pages N900" with four posts has been merged into this thread.

[mikebravo]

Tanks will start it up trough my N900.

[maurelio79]

Modified hildon desktop (version 1.05) supports up to 9 desktop views. To add a view, use the commands (for example):

gconftool -s /apps/osso/hildon-desktop/views/5/bg-image -t string "/path/to/background.jpg"
gconftool -s /apps/osso/hildon-desktop/views/active -t list --list-type int [1,2,3,4,5]


Still arranged in a cycle.

To install, see my signature.

Amazing!!!!! 6 desktop for me is perfect!! Thanks very much for you work!!

There's some trouble about using modified hildon desktop?

Regards

[dexteruk]

Of course you can add more desktops its open source for crying out loud you can do what ever you want.

But could i say that the N900 is NOT an iPhone its much much more and rather than copying the ideas of iPhone and continuously comparing it to the iPhone that people should come up with more constructive ideas on how to improve it and make this great peace of engineering with a fantastic open source Linux OS do a lot more that iPhone could only dream of...

[maurelio79]

I'm agree, but i think that have more desktops does not mean be like iPhone... it's totaly different: more desktops because there are a lot of widget, so...

In iPhone is not possible put what you want on desktop... :-)

[emorej]

is it possible to revert it back to default 4 desktop?

[b666m]

is it possible to revert it back to default 4 desktop?

uninstall the modded desktop or make:
gconftool -s /apps/osso/hildon-desktop/views/active -t list --list-type int [1,2,3,4]

[geneven]

Of course you can add more desktops its open source for crying out loud you can do what ever you want.

But could i say that the N900 is NOT an iPhone its much much more and rather than copying the ideas of iPhone and continuously comparing it to the iPhone that people should come up with more constructive ideas on how to improve it and make this great peace of engineering with a fantastic open source Linux OS do a lot more that iPhone could only dream of...

I had no idea that iPhones have multiple desktops; you are assuming that the idea of having more desktops is lust for emulating iPhones! Having lots of desktops is fun, and so is having lots of backgrounds is even funner. How do you know about what iPhone is doing? Why do you care?

[felbutss]

I had no idea that iPhones have multiple desktops; you are assuming that the idea of having more desktops is lust for emulating iPhones! Having lots of desktops is fun, and so is having lots of backgrounds is even funner. How do you know about what iPhone is doing? Why do you care?


heard the saying
" To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy"

or

"to beat your enemy you have to know your enemy"

[geneven]

heard the saying
" To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy"

or

"to beat your enemy you have to know your enemy"


Touche, I guess, but I think that the N900 has enough of a dynamic going that constantly saying that it should or shouldn't emulate the iPhone has become passe. The N900 is like the N900 and should emulate the N900. I think you actually agree with that.

BTW, wasn't it Pogo that said something like, "we have become the enemy and he is us"? If not, he should have.

[uncleboarder]

If you install an upgrade that includes a new hildon-desktop package (as PR1.2 will), it will overwrite the binary installed by my package, and you won't be able to use all enhancements, including more than 4 desktops.

Maybe you could add a section in your repository so that we can tell what OS version your current Modified Hildon-Desktop is based on?

Thanks for a great mod!

[geneven]

WHY ART GALLERIES ARE BAD

1. Most art galleries are mostly rooms with things hanging on walls. That's a lot of wasted space!

2. You spend a lot of time in rooms already. If you go to an art gallery, you are spending energy you need in rooms where you don't need to be. That leaves you less energy to live your life in the important rooms.

3. People shouldn't be spending their lives on art when they could be doing important things like writing programs, and you shouldn't encourage them by looking at the stuff they created.

4. The further you go into an art gallery, the more rooms you have to go thru to get back to where you need to be. This makes it more difficult to get back to the rooms where you should be doing important things like writing programs.

5. Why does anyone want to create these big empty places with art on the walls anyway? There is no reason for them. We should make it more difficult for them to create the rooms and to get to them. The only people who can create rooms like that should be people who understand how to do important things like writing programs.

PS. Thanks for the new repository, and the added rooms!

[b666m]

hey matan.

first of all: great mod! :)

but:
i can't change the background of my additional desktop.
it doesn't work if i set it before i activate it with the second command you posted and even doesn't work afterwards.

so i have to workaround with setting the background of my first desktop, then activate the fifth which will set this image there too and then change the background of my first desktop back to the normal one.

but when i have to shutdown/reboot the background changes back to the image of my first screen. ;(

anything i can do!?

[Matan]

See in this thread: http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?p=570811 .

Summary: you need to replace hildon-home package and use newer modified-hildon-desktop package. Even then I am not sure that the GUI method for changing background works. I use gconftool.

[raedn900]

Amazing!!!!! 6 desktop for me is perfect!! Thanks very much for you work!!

There's some trouble about using modified hildon desktop?

Regards

will this cause ANY Kind of Trouble?slow performance? any ..::cool.? and should this be typed in z terminal ( im quite ignorant on those codes and where they should be? so i could copy and paste it in the terminal?:p...Thanks 4 ur efforts!! :D ,, FEAR GOD and Be GOOD GUYZZ<<we will die and we will be asked wt we did in our lives,, death is ceratINNNN>>

[ctl]

This is not working now..i just try to install it on my n900 and it wouldnt let me anymore i get this error: "Package mmodified-hildon-desktop is not available , but is refferd to by another package. this mean that the package is missing, has been obsolated, or is only available from another source."