Widget Proposals for Maemo 5

[zerojay]

Hi everyone.

I wanted to know if the community had some ideas for widgets that they would like to have on their N900s. Because widgets are generally smaller, you can bang them out quite quick with the right people working on it.

We'd like to see all the widgets being created carry a similar style so that they won't look out of place next to the default widgets as well as next to each other.

If you've got ideas for widgets or you would like to help with their creation, please let me know by posting below. I'll make a list of widgets and people working on them and we'll work on coordinating our efforts. I'll keep this post updated with the latest info.

So... what do you want/need?

Widget Requests
Cellular data use monitor (http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=32256) - Done, testing
IP address monitor (http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?p=338536#post338536) - Code works, awaiting icon
Countdown Timer (http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=31704) - Done, testing
Gmail Inbox/Nokia Messaging monitor
Mobile Banking (http://maemo.org/community/brainstorm/view/widget-bank_account_balances/)
Post-it notes
Show recent photos/sketches/notes/apps
CPU Use
Memory Use
CPU Load
Uptime
Remember The Milk
Battery monitor (http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=31279)
Screenlets (http://www.screenlets.org/index.php/Information)
Recent Calls
Favorite Events
Webcam monitor
Stock market
Doppler radar image
Location-Based GPS alarms/reminders
Package/Delivery tracking (https://junecloud.com/)
Tip calculator
Recent topics on Maemo.org
Dual LED flashlight
Local Search
Moon Phase
Photo frame/slideshow
Tide tables
Sports Scores
Horoscopes
Doorbell
Web slice
POI
Zip Codes
Repository Monitor
Lyrics

[Peter@Maemo Marketing]

Gmail inbox feed widget

[zerojay]

Gmail inbox feed widget

I assume you mean not just showing you how many e-mails you have in your inbox, but the subject as well as sender?

Good idea.

[Soulfarmer]

Gmail inbox feed widget

I would like one like this too. Does Nokia Messaging include anykind of widget showing inbox unread messages or something like that? Since Messaging supports Gmail too, so if this is the case, Messaging widget would suffice?

[code177]

I submitted a brainstorm proposal for a Mobile Banking Widget (http://maemo.org/community/brainstorm/view/widget-bank_account_balances/).

Here's the brief:

I think it would be really useful to have a widget on the desktop which shows an overview of your accounts and their balances, maybe updated once a day or on demand, or something. I figure it would be a simple text output:
CHQ1 $160.54
SAV1 $1401.76
RENT $600.00
BILLS $55.02

Most banks and credit unions these days supply a SMS based mobile banking system, where you text say, "bal all" (balance all) to their 5 digit (in north america) sms number. They then return a message like (example from vancity):

Balance
BAL1: $xx.xx
BAL2: $xx.xx
BAL3: $xxx.xx
Up to 6 in one message.
Theoretically you could have the device parse the incoming message and store the data for the widget. A timer could be run to send a "bal all" sms message to the specified number once in a while to retrieve new data. As most people have extremely high text plans (1000+) this shouldnt be an issue.

[Bratag]

My first project will probably be a postit note widget similar to the one I wrote for android (without all the crappy android widget issues). I am a forgetful guy and need the ability to put little bits of paper virtually all over my screen :)

[conny]

My first project will probably be a postit note widget similar to the one I wrote for android (without all the crappy android widget issues). I am a forgetful guy and need the ability to put little bits of paper virtually all over my screen :)

Would be cool if this would use Conboy as backend :) Maybe we could work together there?!

[lcuk]

recent photo/sketch/note/app

the recent photo is obvious and with a single click you can bring up the photo you took last time, the others work the same
they each require collaboration with the app developers themselves -
ie conboy could be used to show the notes,
liqbase or xournal for the sketching, and something within hildon to store/recall the most recent app.
would be nice to perhaps allow more than one, but the idea is there to quickly redo your history.

would be even nicer to open up into a graffiti wall type effect showing full history.

there are also the usual monitoring apps - cpu/memory/load/uptime - lots of techs like them.

how would a live map work?


the gmail one would be better suited looking at the inbox itself because then it integrates with multiple services

[elimoon8]

I've heard the Fremantle calendar doesn't currently sync to Google Calendar. Would it be possible to get a widget that shows upcoming Google Calendar Events (similar to the home widget for the N8X0s - I believe it's called mgCal). It may work on Fremantle, but I don't know if the style matches the Fremantle style.

[whaleyboy]

A few of widgets I'd love to see:


Google Calendar
Google/YouTube Search
Remember the Milk


I'm sure I'll think of more soon! :)

[zerojay]

I submitted a brainstorm proposal for a Mobile Banking Widget (http://maemo.org/community/brainstorm/view/widget-bank_account_balances/).

Here's the brief:

I think it would be really useful to have a widget on the desktop which shows an overview of your accounts and their balances, maybe updated once a day or on demand, or something. I figure it would be a simple text output:
CHQ1 $160.54
SAV1 $1401.76
RENT $600.00
BILLS $55.02

Most banks and credit unions these days supply a SMS based mobile banking system, where you text say, "bal all" (balance all) to their 5 digit (in north america) sms number. They then return a message like (example from vancity):

Balance
BAL1: $xx.xx
BAL2: $xx.xx
BAL3: $xxx.xx
Up to 6 in one message.
Theoretically you could have the device parse the incoming message and store the data for the widget. A timer could be run to send a "bal all" sms message to the specified number once in a while to retrieve new data. As most people have extremely high text plans (1000+) this shouldnt be an issue.

I have to say that sounds like a VERY scary proposition.

[lcuk]

zerojay
its not your kettle of fish, but for certain people I could imagine that being very important.
the text messaging API has been demonstrated already with the Nokia N900 Push! people with the radio and the speak & spell devices.
What is conceived is entirely possible and should not be ruled out due to it being something we personally may not desire.

[zerojay]

I've heard the Fremantle calendar doesn't currently sync to Google Calendar. Would it be possible to get a widget that shows upcoming Google Calendar Events (similar to the home widget for the N8X0s - I believe it's called mgCal). It may work on Fremantle, but I don't know if the style matches the Fremantle style.

Fremantle calendar can sync with Google Calendar thanks to the recent release of Google Sync. Just need to use Mail for Exchange for it.

zerojay
its not your kettle of fish, but for certain people I could imagine that being very important.
the text messaging API has been demonstrated already with the Nokia N900 Push! people with the radio and the speak & spell devices.
What is conceived is entirely possible and should not be ruled out due to it being something we personally may not desire.

I have no idea what you're referring to here.

[lcuk]

i cannot leave here without suggesting my graffiti based calendar ;)

I have discussed it with fiferboy and as long as technical issues can be managed would make a nice addition :)

[lcuk]

I have no idea what you're referring to here.

i mean to this:


I have to say that sounds like a VERY scary proposition.

[zerojay]

i mean to this:

Oh... you have no problem with your banking details and everything being accessable/stolen? :)

It's not that I don't like the idea. I just think it's *very* dangerous.

I've added it to the list anyways. (And in the cases that I haven't added them to the list, it's most likely because there already is a widget for that purpose.)

[lcuk]

the same details would be available whether in conversations SMS list or on a desktop widget.
if you use the service, you use it.

excellent @ listing all!

[nymajoak]

"Flashlight" -- press it to get a white screen at max intensity.. Could that be done?

[twaelti]

A ruler.

PS: Did anybody already mention screenlets.org (http://www.screenlets.org/index.php/Information)? I guess this could be a VERY nice upstream source, because according to the linked site:
* Easy to use, easy to develop
* Hundreds of Screenlets available
* Works with any composited X desktop (compiz, xfce4, ...)
* Included themeing-abilities (SVG, PNG or mixed)
* Fully scalable when using SVGs
* Embedded drag&drop-support
* Automated storing of options (using ini or gconf)
* Controllable through customizable DBus-service
* Free, open-source and released under the GPL
* Uses cairo and GTK2 for drawing and windowing

[twaelti]

"Flashlight" -- press it to get a white screen at max intensity.. Could that be done?

Easily. However, this might be more practical to be solved with a normal app for which you just add a shortcut on the desktop.

[joppu]

Battery meter http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=31279

(The graphics are already ready)

[lcuk]

liqtorch is already in extras-devel

[nymajoak]

I've heard the Fremantle calendar doesn't currently sync to Google Calendar. ...
Not meaning to go OT, but does anyone know if this is true?

[code177]

Oh... you have no problem with your banking details and everything being accessable/stolen? :)

It's not that I don't like the idea. I just think it's *very* dangerous.

I've added it to the list anyways. (And in the cases that I haven't added them to the list, it's most likely because there already is a widget for that purpose.)


If we were talking about page-scraping and HTTP requesting Online Banking websites, that'd be a different story (and questionably legal at best). But like lcuk said, if you're using the service you're using it. There's no more risk by having the data on my desktop of my n900 than there would be of having the data in my SMS inbox, which I'm going to have anyway.

I think I'm probably going to go ahead and start working on this anyway, assuming nobody else does. And if they do, I'll work with them on it :)

Once I get the n900 wallpapers and themes sites done.

[zerojay]

Not meaning to go OT, but does anyone know if this is true?

The recently released Google Sync solves that issue. You just have to set up Google with Mail for Exchange support on Maemo 5.

If we were talking about page-scraping and HTTP requesting Online Banking websites, that'd be a different story (and questionably legal at best). But like lcuk said, if you're using the service you're using it. There's no more risk by having the data on my desktop of my n900 than there would be of having the data in my SMS inbox, which I'm going to have anyway.


Wow... that's... quite shocking.

[code177]

Wow... that's... quite shocking.

Why is that shocking? You're not storing any login or password information. The details are tied to the cell number at the bank end, not the user end. You can't get account, branch or other numbers that could be used for identifying the account. All you get are the balances and a handful of functions. For example, the list from my bank (credit union), Vancity:


Text any of these commands to VNCTY(86289) and receive your account information on your phone.


ACT - To access the account activity of your primary account
ACT <account nickname> - To Access the account activity of a specific account
BAL - To access the balance of your primary account
BAL ALL - To access the balances of all your accounts
BAL <account nickname> - To access the balance of a specific account
DISABLE - To temporarily disable your phone
HELP - To access a list of the commands you can use
INFO - To access contact info about Vancity
STOP - To permanently delete your phone

I would imagine most online banking services use this same system, as I find it hard to believe that every bank would develop their own sms banking independently.

[somedude]

I've heard the Fremantle calendar doesn't currently sync to Google Calendar. Would it be possible to get a widget that shows upcoming Google Calendar Events (similar to the home widget for the N8X0s - I believe it's called mgCal). It may work on Fremantle, but I don't know if the style matches the Fremantle style.

well N900 supports exchange sync and google lets you do that too, so I dont see why you would not be able to use the google calendar in N900's calendar.

I like all other widgets except the banking I dont know I just dont feel safe in having my account disclosures in my desktop and anybody looking at my phone seeing that, I just want to keep that simple and keep it in clouds: go to the banks website and check my account. But this is just my opinion.

[nymajoak]

"Recent calls" -- one quick tap ro redial recent numbers (maybe configurable list length, incoming vs outgoing etc)

Not sure how useful this would be, but the most frequent phone calls I make are to a quite limited number of people. Might be smooth to have ultra-quick access to those. Also handy when repeatedly trying to reach someone.

[nymajoak]

"Recent calls" -- one quick tap ro redial recent numbers (maybe configurable list length, incoming vs outgoing etc)

Not sure how useful this would be, but the most frequent phone calls I make are to a quite limited number of people. Might be smooth to have ultra-quick access to those. Also handy when repeatedly trying to reach someone.

Actually, how about "Favorite events"? Configure a small collection of the stuff you do regularly, like call Jane, text Joe, toggle quiet mode etc..?

[pelago]

"Recent calls" -- one quick tap ro redial recent numbers (maybe configurable list length, incoming vs outgoing etc)

Not sure how useful this would be, but the most frequent phone calls I make are to a quite limited number of people. Might be smooth to have ultra-quick access to those. Also handy when repeatedly trying to reach someone.
I think this functionality will be available directly within the phone app - by default it shows you the recent calls. Although I appreciate your desire to have this as a widget, and to have configurability (I doubt the Phone app will be open-source).

[nymajoak]

I think this functionality will be available directly within the phone app - by default it shows you the recent calls. Although I appreciate your desire to have this as a widget, and to have configurability (I doubt the Phone app will be open-source).

Yeah, I am aware it is one click away from the desktop in the phone app, which is why I am also hesitant. Thought I should throw it out there anyway.

[munky261]

Definitely need a sticky notes app. Fiferboy, who ported the yellownotes applet to diablo said he will probably port it to fremantle , even if he doesnt , Im sure somebody will.

[YoDude]

Web cam (any webcam monitor)
Stock market
Doppler radar image
Remember the Milk


...to name a few

[jandmdickerson]

Location Based (GPS) Alarms

I need something to remind me to look at my to-do list, when I am at the applicable location.

[nikolajhendel]

The recently released Google Sync solves that issue. You just have to set up Google with Mail for Exchange support on Maemo 5.

True, but AFAIK it only syncs your primary calendar in google - so not so good if you have multiple calendars set up.

[Quindor]

Location Based (GPS) Alarms

I need something to remind me to look at my to-do list, when I am at the applicable location.
Absolutely Brilliant I second that this is a very very good idea. :) Would love to see that realized!

[jandmdickerson]

Absolutely Brilliant I second that this is a very very good idea. :) Would love to see that realized!

Yes, many a times have a forgotten stamps while at the grocery store, even though its on my to-do list.

This would make my wife happy also....:D

[zerojay]

Updated the thread with new suggestions. That GPS alarm idea is solid gold, by the way.

[Reggie]

Delivery status widget that keeps track of packages -- similar to this:
https://junecloud.com/

[bluehash]

A tip calculator. Two fields(total and %tip) and one result field.

[BrentDC]

I'm already working on a widget that allows you to search the web -- called TouchSearch. It's currently not working, but just needs a couple bugs fixed in python-hildon[desktop] to be fully functional.

http://maemo.org/packages/view/touchsearch/

I'm still trying to figure out how to have the widget look like the stock ones .e.g. partially transparent with a drop shadow, though :)

[r0eladn]

desktop stripper :D

[izzox]

how about a widget to use talk.maemo.org
i mean to follow the last posts(maybe with rss function),active topics search a topic, reply, thanks.etc......

[Jason404]

New items on RSS feeds.

I suppose the widget will also have to be connected to a main RSS application, and be part of that program.

I have not even used Maemo yet, so I do not know how feasible this is, or if it is there already.

[munky261]

I also second the webcam monitor and radar image.

[mobiledivide]

How about a Flashlight widget that instead of whiting the screen invokes the Dual Led flash. The led is behind the lens cover but slipping that open and hitting a small on off icon on one of the desktops would be awesome just like the Nokia 1100.

[qole]

BrentDC, your widget will work like the old Maemo search widget? A choice for each search that I'd like to perform... One for searching Google, one for searching wikipedia, one for searching talk.maemo.org, etc, etc... basically, a widget with a text field that sends a request to a webpage.

Also I want a translate widget. Let me choose my from and to languages, my translation engine (translate.google.com or babelfish or something else), and let me enter my phrase...

[Corwin_bg]

Not a big fan of Twitter myself, but I'm sure someone will appreciate a "Quick Tweet" widget.

Or maybe go a bit further and make it update the status on Facebook/Twitter/[insert your favorite social networking site here]. Now, this is something I can use.

[zerojay]

Not a big fan of Twitter myself, but I'm sure someone will appreciate a "Quick Tweet" widget.

Or maybe go a bit further and make it update the status on Facebook/Twitter/[insert your favorite social networking site here]. Now, this is something I can use.

You can use Pixelpipe for that. Send status messages through IM and it will update all at the same time.

[Corwin_bg]

You can use Pixelpipe for that. Send status messages through IM and it will update all at the same time.

Pixelpipe will make a great back-end for such widget. A quick search in the forums revealed that they're testing an application for N900. Perhaps, they'll provide a widget... or it is a widget.

Time will tell if there's a need for a stand-alone widget.

[nymajoak]

How about a Flashlight widget that instead of whiting the screen invokes the Dual Led flash. The led is behind the lens cover but slipping that open and hitting a small on off icon on one of the desktops would be awesome just like the Nokia 1100.
Doesn't the camera application start when you open the lens cover (the above was my initial flashlight thought as well but couldn't think of how it would coexist naturally with the camera app)?

[nikolajhendel]

desktop stripper :D

uhhhh - that got me thinking. What about a desktop widget that is like the old pens where you tilted it to one side and the girl went from having a black dress on to being necked - stripping pens!
http://www.sillyjokes.co.uk/p-jokes/fav/stripping-pens.html

That would be awesome ;)

[peio]

how about a "search" widget that search keywords in all the files of the phone (songs, mails, events, files etc) like the search fonction on iphone 3.0 firmware ?

[BrentDC]

BrentDC, your widget will work like the old Maemo search widget? A choice for each search that I'd like to perform... One for searching Google, one for searching wikipedia, one for searching talk.maemo.org, etc, etc... basically, a widget with a text field that sends a request to a webpage.

Also I want a translate widget. Let me choose my from and to languages, my translation engine (translate.google.com or babelfish or something else), and let me enter my phrase...

Yes, it works like the old Maemo search widget. There are only a few differences:

1) Entry fields are not possible on the Fremantle Desktop, so instead of tapping in the field you have to tap a button first to open a dialog.
2) There is no limit in the amount of sites to search. On the old applet, anything over 9 starting creating problems, but with TouchSearch, it is relatively unlimited.

[qole]

Just a warning, BrentDC:

You can put web page bookmarks on your desktop, too. So it is fairly straightforward to put bookmarks to your favorite search engines / reference pages on the desktop, and then just press the bookmark to get the search page. So you need to make something about your widget that is more compelling or convenient than that.

[code177]

Moon Phase widget, which shows the current phase of the moon with a really nice graphic.

[munky261]

Im wondering if activating the camera by sliding the cover can be turned off? I can see it sliding open/closed when taking in out of a holster case.

[kryptoniankid17]

how about a dining out widget. your out and u need to make reservation no need to waite in line to talk to the hostess. simply make your reservation via the widget. input how many are with your party and order your drinks. what time you will be there. the screen vibrates and flashes a certain color to inform you your table is ready.

[majsay]

text to speech widget to dictate all those pdf docs as u read!

[lcuk]

some of these are really innovative and cool!


Don't forget to say thanks to the widget ideas you like.
then we can work on them in some sort of priority.

[zerojay]

how about a dining out widget. your out and u need to make reservation no need to waite in line to talk to the hostess. simply make your reservation via the widget. input how many are with your party and order your drinks. what time you will be there. the screen vibrates and flashes a certain color to inform you your table is ready.

Is there some sort of backend we can use for this? If there isn't, this idea won't be possible.

[zerojay]

Doesn't the camera application start when you open the lens cover (the above was my initial flashlight thought as well but couldn't think of how it would coexist naturally with the camera app)?

Yes, it does. No, I don't think there's a way around it yet.

Im wondering if activating the camera by sliding the cover can be turned off? I can see it sliding open/closed when taking in out of a holster case.

Unless your holster case is super tight and your camera slider is severely worn, I don't see this happening. Ever.

[zerojay]

text to speech widget to dictate all those pdf docs as u read!

I don't understand this one... if the widget is on-screen, you won't be seeing the PDF... so... huh?

Probably better implemented in the PDF reader itself. Isn't there similar functionality in FBreader?

[sk299]

Im not sure if its just me but i would like a slideshow widget for selected pictures (Maybe simular in design to the one used by HTC (Stacked pictures sorta look)) pressing it could launch the photos app and maybe swiping up/down for next/last image.

[nymajoak]

Im not sure if its just me but i would like a slideshow widget for selected pictures (Maybe simular in design to the one used by HTC (Stacked pictures sorta look)) pressing it could launch the photos app and maybe swiping up/down for next/last image.
I have been thinking of this as well. With the always-connected mentality, I would like it to pull images from the web as well. Accounts on flickr or new images posted by friends on facebook for instance.

Edit: How about an accompanying application so you could pull up a fullscreen slideshow (think photoframe)? Screensaver for those not worrying about battery perhaps?

[sk299]

I would like it to pull images from the web as well. Accounts on flickr or new images posted by friends on facebook for instance.

Yeah i like that. Hope it wouldent be too hard to implament or too hard for the end user to set up; i.e having to enter multiple account details and refresh rates just for a desktop widget.

[zerojay]

I have been thinking of this as well. With the always-connected mentality, I would like it to pull images from the web as well. Accounts on flickr or new images posted by friends on facebook for instance.

That's going to be a very high bandwidth use. I hope that if anyone implements this feature, there's a major warning about it.

[nymajoak]

That's going to be a very high bandwidth use. I hope that if anyone implements this feature, there's a major warning about it.
I agree. Dataplans will hopefully get cheaper and cheaper however (or rather it will get more and more accepted and common to pay the prices perhaps).

[code177]

That's going to be a very high bandwidth use. I hope that if anyone implements this feature, there's a major warning about it.

Perhaps you could make it so it only polls for new data when it's on wifi, rather than cell?

[BrentDC]

Just a warning, BrentDC:

You can put web page bookmarks on your desktop, too. So it is fairly straightforward to put bookmarks to your favorite search engines / reference pages on the desktop, and then just press the bookmark to get the search page. So you need to make something about your widget that is more compelling or convenient than that.


I understand, but I've got a few things going for me:

1) Speed. It takes twice as long to load two web-pages as it does one. For example, let's say I want to search Ebay and have a shortcut on my desktop for ebay.com. I could click the shortcut and wait for ebay to load, then enter my query in the field and hit search. With the widget, I could select to search ebay and search it without having to load anything extra. This could also be useful if you are paying for data usage.

2) Convenience. It is all there. You don't have to create a bunch of shortcuts, just download the software and the functionality is there.

3) Space. Say there are fifteen sites I search on a regular basis. Well, 15 shortcuts take up a lot of desktop space, while my applet is always the same relatively small size (say, twice a shortcut) if it's fifteen sites I like to search or 50.

4) Finger-friendliness. How many websites have finger friendly search bars? Not so many. My applet is "designed with fingers in mind". :)

[sk299]

I wouldent mind a tide table widget maybe with some nice graphics. I know im a bit of a niche market but i work on boats so this would be usefull.

[munky261]

I tend to like my holster cases to be fairly tight, cause I dont use the flaps and the one I have now for my N810 I can turn it upside down and shake and it wont come out. But it pulls out very easily.

[VDVsx]

WoW so many good ideas, it's a shame that we currently don't have enough man power to implement all of them...but we can do something about it.

What about a Widget contest similar to the ones organized for Symbian[1] (http://www.symbian-freak.com/news/009/08/mobile_widget_wizard_contest_2009.htm) ?

If we have enough resources, we can have two categories, one for programmers and other for innovators/designers.

Thoughts ?

I can try to push this and arrange some prizes, if there's enough interest ;)

[sk299]

WoW so many good ideas, it's a shame that we currently don't have enough man power to implement all of them...but we can do something about it.

What about a Widget contest similar to the ones organized for Symbian[1] (http://www.symbian-freak.com/news/009/08/mobile_widget_wizard_contest_2009.htm) ?

If we have enough resources, we can have two categories, one for programmers and other for innovators/designers.

Thoughts ?

I can try to push this and arrange some prizes, if there's enough interest ;)

I like the idea but diddent allot of good concepts get pushed away and forgoten during that comp.

EDIT; what i mean to say is that i wouldent like to see people give up on good ideas due to loosing a competition.

[pelago]

Some of these widget ideas are fantastic, but a few should be, I feel, applications rather than desktop widgets. E.g. the location-triggered alarms could just be an app that runs in the background (which I assume is possible), and a separate app to configure it. Most of the time it would keep itself out of the way. I'm not sure what use it would be as an always-present desktop widget. What would it display? Similarly the text-to-speech idea...

Maybe we need a separate thread for app ideas.

[r0eladn]

Wife-attention meter

showing all kind of statistics on how much attention you have given to your wife or how the balance in your relationship is (she calling you, you calling her, texting, mailing etc.) so if you've been calling her but she hasnt called you in a few days, the meter displays an advice such as: Wait for her to call. or popularity by wife dropped by 30% in comparison to previous month.

[nymajoak]

Maybe we need a separate thread for app ideas.
I think that is a great idea. There are ideas and short discussions strewn around threads here and there just to (seemingly, maybe they aren't) be forgotten when the thread eventually dies (there was for instance a thread for which applications people want ported to fremantle, which I can't find now). Particularly with someone collecting the ideas in the first post (thanks, zerojay!) this is a good way to collect them. I am not sure why stickies aren't popular here (granted they are sort of in the way) but maybe these sort of threads might be suitable as such?

Another point, if I may. I am not sure if I can speak for all newbies, but for me the brainstorm system is a bit scary. It is up for public scrutiny by all these experienced guys and If I had an idea I would feel I had to think it through very carefully before posting it there. Also, I may have ideas but not the technical know-how to know if they are doable or the background to know if similar solutions already exist. Thread discussions are a bit less scary to throw ideas into even if they are not reasonable...

EDIT: added italicized parts

[r0eladn]

Maybe it should be called: Application Proposals for Maemo 5

?

(add this one for me:
cats gps-necklace location positioner)

[VDVsx]

I like the idea but diddent allot of good concepts get pushed away and forgoten during that comp.

EDIT; what i mean to say is that i wouldent like to see people give up on good ideas due to loosing a competition.

Well, my idea is actually try to implement the 'good ideas' in the competition, I think in the end we all win.

- The programmer delivers a piece of software and can won something, and also receives recognition and gratitude from the community,
- The community receives a bunch of new developers and widgets.
- The users and innovators can have his ideas implemented.

This is just a idea, if others don't see potential here, I'll shut up ;)

[zerojay]

I created this thread specifically for widgets that would be easy to create in the short run up until sales... stuff that people look for when they buy a new phone. Unfortunately aside from a handful of people, I haven't gotten any developers interested in working on these widgets. *sigh*

Full apps should be a separate thread, I feel.

[pelago]

Thread discussions are a bit less scary to throw ideas into even if they are not reasonable...
I agree forums are great for throwing ideas around, but things can get lost after a while. I don't think stickies are that great an idea (maybe just one sticky per forum for FAQs) as I've seen some sites with dozens of stickies, which is too much! Instead, I think once things have been discussed enough to keep for posterity, they should be put on a wiki or on brainstorm or similar.

[nymajoak]

Well, my idea is actually try to implement the 'good ideas' in the competition, I think in the end we all win.

- The programmer delivers a piece of software and can won something, and also receives recognition and gratitude from the community,
- The community receives a bunch of new developers and widgets.
- The users and innovators can have his ideas implemented.

This is just a idea, if others don't see potential here, I'll shut up ;)

I for one think it is a great idea (starting to sound like a parrot). With some twitter action it could bring lots of ideas, lots of attention and lots of PR. Widget ideas is something a lot of people, developers and users alike, can have. All good. Nothing is stopping non-winning ideas from getting implemented either.

[sk299]

Well, my idea is actually try to implement the 'good ideas' in the competition, I think in the end we all win.

- The programmer delivers a piece of software and can won something, and also receives recognition and gratitude from the community,
- The community receives a bunch of new developers and widgets.
- The users and innovators can have his ideas implemented.

This is just a idea, if others don't see potential here, I'll shut up ;)

Please dont get me wrong i realy like the idea and i would like to see it implamented just wasent so keen on the one run by nokia for the n97.

[nymajoak]

I agree forums are great for throwing ideas around, but things can get lost after a while. I don't think stickies are that great an idea (maybe just one sticky per forum for FAQs) as I've seen some sites with dozens of stickies, which is too much! Instead, I think once things have been discussed enough to keep for posterity, they should be put on a wiki or on brainstorm or similar.

Good point and I agree stickies can be a nuisance. What about a temporary moderated/maintained/whateveritscalledthatzerojaydoes sticky for widget proposals and one for apps (and absolutely one for newbie FAQs) now that maemo and n900 is hot-hot, just so the threads aren't lost and ideas are strewn all around again? When the thread traffic eventually decreases we non-stick the threads and do the above.

[VDVsx]

Please dont get me wrong i realy like the idea and i would like to see it implamented just wasent so keen on the one run by nokia for the n97.

Np, my idea is a bit different from the n97 widget contest, if I recall correctly they choose mockups/ideas and only the winning mockups/ideas were implemented.
My main proposal is a competition for widget creation, I.e we'll evaluate 'ready to ship' widgets, not mockups.
A good widget for Maemo5 isn't that difficult to make, Zerojay and fiferboy already proved it.

[sk299]

A good widget for Maemo5 isn't that difficult to make, Zerojay and fiferboy already proved it.

Im an engineer i wouldent know where to start with programing, i do like the idea and i would love to be able to contribute more.

[bbns]

Wonder if there is any sport widget ... my boss really likes to have NCAA one, while I am sure people love to subscribe their favorite sport channels as well. However, a RSS feed widget would not do much good job it seems.

[nymajoak]

Hm. Some people are big on horoscopes. Would a stand-alone (I am sure there are RSS feeds for such things but someone who are into it might want it separated from the RSS widget) daily horoscope widget be of interest to anyone?

[lcuk]

<pupnik> i want a n810 doorbell
* matt_c (n=mcroydon@95.118.124.24.cm.sunflower.com) has joined #maemo
<lcuk> pupnik, make one
* shdb has quit (Read error: 104 (Connection reset by peer))
<lcuk> grab a picture, grab a sample of a doorbell, make it ding dong
<lcuk> 20 minutes?
<pupnik> Push webcam to any phone otg also
* shdb (n=shdb@217-162-129-64.dclient.hispeed.ch) has joined #maemo
<lcuk> feature creep!
<pupnik> )'<
<lcuk> :D
<lcuk> keep it simple :)
<pupnik> lol
<lcuk> theres a thread on tmo at the mo for widgets
<pupnik> coughing
<lcuk> ask for a doorbell

[joshua.maverick]

I like that "wife notifier" one!

Image of contact + last called X hours ago, last emailed x minutes ago, last sms x whatever ago + some alarm type functionality?

[joshua.maverick]

Love Notifier Widget Mock Up

Things to note

1. pixel stroke around header portion of widget
2. shadow (black glow) around widget
3. gradient on bottom of header


She gets so mad when I don't call her...

[joshua.maverick]

Incase anybody wanted to make a mock up for their proposed widget, I've attached the psd I've been working on. I'm using 4px as the radius on the rounded corners for the small icon, and 6 for the large.

Loved One Widget PSD (http://www.mav-media.com/maemo5/lovedOne/lovedOne001.psd)

Enjoy! And good luck with all your widgets!

[kryptoniankid17]

Is there some sort of backend we can use for this? If there isn't, this idea won't be possible.

good question. I would say maybe a common restaraunt chain to support thiS WIDget. or even a small or individual bar or restaraunt. love the widget ideas people are comming up with

[zerojay]

good question. I would say maybe a common restaraunt chain to support thiS WIDget. or even a small or individual bar or restaraunt. love the widget ideas people are comming up with

No, I don't think you understand. We are not going to be able to get any restaurant chain to support the widget, plain and simple. For this to work, they have to be using a system that would allow us to tap into it. Do they? If not, this won't be possible, sadly.

[YoDude]

How about a simple POI search widget... it could eventually be used to open a map program but that would not be its primary purpose.

Its purpose would be to simply search a stored POI file and provide info from the file itself and/or additional info from a web connection.

Possible uses:

What was that restaurant we ate in when we visited (any city, zip code, or category) ?

My car broke down in West Jabip. Where is the nearest service center?

... yadda, yadda, yadda

***

Speaking of Zip Codes... years ago I had a simple JAVA app (B/W, small screen, pre MIDP, pre GPS and MLS) that pulled and showed the zip code of the cell tower that I was currently using.

Like most people I suppose, many of my mobile web searches are in towns that I have never been to before or I am obviously not familiar with. Adding the local zip code to a search provides relevance and certainly speeds things up, particularly if the the town name can be easily misspelled.

A zip code widget based on location would be handy. :)

[YoDude]

Incase anybody wanted to make a mock up for their proposed widget, I've attached the psd I've been working on. I'm using 4px as the radius on the rounded corners for the small icon, and 6 for the large.

Loved One Widget PSD (http://www.mav-media.com/maemo5/lovedOne/lovedOne001.psd)

Enjoy! And good luck with all your widgets!

I'm glad you didn't take up fishin'... http://www.clicksmilies.com/auswahl/ernaehrung004.gif


http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/huepfen/jumping-smiley-019.gif
ooh.. ooh... ooh. I just thought of another Widget. A smilies search that returns the smiley image [code] you can then paste into your mobile originated personal emails and forum posts. :cool:

http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/aktion/action-smiley-035.gif

[sachin007]

http://pixelpipe.com/item/6ea7834d-2acc-4230-89d5-63fafa2cf766

Does this mean that there is a lyrics widget which plays the lyrics on the desktop while playing music?

[Corwin_bg]

Just got an idea for a widget as I was driving home.

Inclinometer like the one you find on 4x4s... and planes, presumably :)

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/3185/inclinometero.jpg

It'll make a nice showcase for the accelerometer :)

[lcuk]

Just got an idea for a widget as I was driving home.

Inclinometer like the one you find on 4x4s... and planes, presumably :)

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/3185/inclinometero.jpg

It'll make a nice showcase for the accelerometer :)


grab attitude, its an app though not a widget

plus the eyes widget show orientation quite nicely.

[joshua.maverick]

So what is the process here of taking ideas/design, to development, do I just hunt for a developer who is interested, or do we vote on priority of development?

[lcuk]

josh,
there are some active developers watching this thread already.
what I guess would happen is the simpler of the widgets will get thrashed out and released as clean simple standalone examples.
once that starts to happen, it will be easier for other developers to take those templates and adjust them to their needs and the construction should accelerate :)

[joshua.maverick]

Are we fine with this method though? Is there some alternative organization / management method to make this more efficient?

[lcuk]

the SDK is available to have a go right now.

like i said though, there are developers working on widgets now who will lead the way with preconfigured packages and who will have ironed out many of the trickier aspects :)

[cduv]

Hello,

web slice widget

I read all the nice ideas and didn't find something like a web slice. I don't know if it is possible but will be nice to be able to choose a div or whatever of a web page and instead of opening the whole page could see only that web slice updated. Is not an original idea, is like the Internet explorer web slices and I think that iphone has something like that.
Will be handy to have something like that and get the update of the soccer matchs, your quotes, etc.....

Hope you like it and waiting to receive the N900 and looking forward to start helping this nice community.

[YoDude]

A widget, widget... :)

...one that can monitor a repository/category and report changes and additions.

[mikec]

A Bat Phone widget.
For that someone special to get hold of you, triggered by a text message that causes the n900 to beep morse code DOT DOT DOT DASH DASH DASH DOT DOT DOT:D

[mikec]

Shopping List Widget

Accumulates a list of text messages from your family to remind you (or mum) to pick up stuff at the supermarket

Mike C

[mikec]

A What would you like for dinner widget.

Randomly selects a a recipe from a long list of your wives fav and well known recipes. So when she next asks you what you would like for dinner, you are well prepared........:p

[nymajoak]

Shopping List Widget

Accumulates a list of text messages from your family to remind you (or mum) to pick up stuff at the supermarket

Mike C
Love it! Wonder if such text messages could be made to just pop up in the widget and not anywhere else (sms lists, notifications etc)?

[Jason404]

Dictaphone (voice recorder) widget. I have mentioned this a couple of times before, but I would find a quick-to-operate dictaphone app very useful.

[BrentDC]

the SDK is available to have a go right now.

like i said though, there are developers working on widgets now who will lead the way with preconfigured packages and who will have ironed out many of the trickier aspects :)

Since it is almost trivial to create a desktop widget with Python (as opposed to C), and Python Desktop Widgets are not currently completely working in Fremantle, it may be wise to do some good 'ole bug-voting.

Notable bugs: 5232* (https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=5232), 5226 (https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=5226).

* This one is a blocker..

[jandmdickerson]

Since it is almost trivial to create a desktop widget with Python (as opposed to C), and Python Desktop Widgets are not currently completely working in Fremantle, it may be wise to do some good 'ole bug-voting.

Notable bugs: 5232* (https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=5232), 5226 (https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=5226).

* This one is a blocker..

Okay I voted, but we are gonna need some more votes....:)....anybody?

[Thor]

Widgets for separate or combined Messenger programs. eg. show latest message, or when someone logs on or off, and how many people are logged on/off etc. And act as a shortcut to the program.

-MSN Messenger
-Yahoo Messenger
-GTalk Messenger
-AIM
-Skype (already done?)
-other messengers

[sachin007]

My request:

Instead of speed contacts i need online contacts showing all my contacts who are online. Kinetic scrolling should be enabled within the widget to scroll for more than 4 contacts....

[Laughing Man]

Maybe a Google Reader widget that shows you the latest unread RSS feeds in Reader.

[zerojay]

Okay, so we've got a lot of ideas... but is there anyone out there actually working on making some of these ideas come to fruition?

Are you interested in working on some of these? If so, please tell us so that we can avoid duplication of effort. Who is willing to put in some effort to benefit the community as a whole?

I'm sure fiferboy's source for the apps he's already worked on would be a wonderful starting point for a large amount of these widget ideas.

[fiferboy]

sachin007 - Unfortunately kinetic scroll is disabled for desktop widgets. I think this is so desktop panning can always be top priority with drag events on the desktop :|

[Branedy]

It might be a bit more than a widiget, how about a MiFi app, to share your 3.5G connection to WiFi. IPCop or something?

[zerojay]

It might be a bit more than a widiget, how about a MiFi app, to share your 3.5G connection to WiFi. IPCop or something?

Yes, that's more than what I would consider a simple widget.

[pelago]

sachin007 - Unfortunately kinetic scroll is disabled for desktop widgets. I think this is so desktop panning can always be top priority with drag events on the desktop :|
Is even vertical dragging disabled on widgets?

[fiferboy]

pelago: I remember checking, and I am almost certain even vertical dragging is disabled.

[jandmdickerson]

I saw this nice lyrics widget in an early n900 video. Is this already available in the extras repository? See here for video link:

http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p=339598&postcount=429

[pelago]

pelago: I remember checking, and I am almost certain even vertical dragging is disabled.
Interesting. Maybe they thought that vertical dragging might do something on the desktop, or have plans for it to do so.

If we ever get a portrait mode desktop, and if switching between portrait mode desktops is done with a vertical drag rather than a horizontal drag (personally I think I would prefer a horizontal drag with a potential portrait mode desktop), maybe that's why they decided to disable vertical dragging on widgets.

[zerojay]

I saw this nice lyrics widget in an early n900 video. Is this already available in the extras repository? See here for video link:

http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p=339598&postcount=429

No, it's not.

[Zelig87]

I always have my phone mounted in a car kit with the display on, so I am trying to think of some useful widgets to have running while driving.

I was thinking a "Shazam" widget would be good - allow you to identify the song being played on the radio, as these days I find the stations are hopeless at back announcing the tracks.

Not sure if this is more of an app than a widget. Also, I don't know how a developer could tap into the song database ???

Perhaps a GPS speedo widget might be interesting - show your speed as calculated by the GPS - I suspect this would be more accurate than my car speedo. Maybe also show average speed, distance travelled or distance to home/gps co-ords (as the crow flies - not using maps).

What about a Widget that shows the Traffic updates info that newer GPS system use ?

[YoDude]

I'm thinkin' the first widget that someone develops should be a dang widget that makes other widgets. :)

[rolfok]

More an app than a widget:
As pictures taken by the N900 are geotagged - perform a search for pictures based on a rectangle area defined by GPS positions.

http://www.digikam.org/drupal/node/318

[zerojay]

More an app than a widget:
As pictures taken by the N900 are geotagged - perform a search for pictures based on a rectangle area defined by GPS positions.

http://www.digikam.org/drupal/node/318

Definitely an app more than a widget.

[pelago]

Maybe this thread should be renamed "Desktop Widget proposals", in case people think a widget just means a small app or something.

[joshua.maverick]

I always have my phone mounted in a car kit with the display on, so I am trying to think of some useful widgets to have running while driving.

I was thinking a "Shazam" widget would be good - allow you to identify the song being played on the radio, as these days I find the stations are hopeless at back announcing the tracks.

Not sure if this is more of an app than a widget. Also, I don't know how a developer could tap into the song database ???

Perhaps a GPS speedo widget might be interesting - show your speed as calculated by the GPS - I suspect this would be more accurate than my car speedo. Maybe also show average speed, distance travelled or distance to home/gps co-ords (as the crow flies - not using maps).

What about a Widget that shows the Traffic updates info that newer GPS system use ?

hehe you said speedo.

[zkyevolved]

Hi. What about an app to close all open / active windows? This might be useful if you have a ton of apps / windows open, and you want to close them all. Just go to your desktop and click "kill'm all!" and bam! All the windows closed :) My-Symbian got more than 25 open, and I'd imagine it would have been easier to just kill them all off :P.

[lcuk]

Hi. What about an app to close all open / active windows? This might be useful if you have a ton of apps / windows open, and you want to close them all. Just go to your desktop and click "kill'm all!" and bam! All the windows closed :) My-Symbian got more than 25 open, and I'd imagine it would have been easier to just kill them all off :P.

that shouldnt be a desktop widget tho ^
it should be part of the dashboard itself IMHO ;)

[theflew]

What about a level widget? I'm so tired of my iPhone buddies showing me that application. It would be nice just to have it on the desktop in either horizontal or vertical orientation.

[no mercy]

a usenet newsreader and vnc viewer ;)

[joshua.maverick]

Love Notifier Widget Mock Up

Things to note

1. pixel stroke around header portion of widget
2. shadow (black glow) around widget
3. gradient on bottom of header


She gets so mad when I don't call her...

How do I get this pushed to the front page? Anybody else think this one is important? We can change the icon so its not just for relationships, maybe just a silhouette and an exclamation point? And then "clicking" it activates that persons contact?

[zkyevolved]

that shouldnt be a desktop widget tho ^
it should be part of the dashboard itself IMHO ;)

should'a, would'a could'a.... If they're not going to develop it into the OS, then I guess we* should! and if not, I'd settle for the desktop icon :P I'm not too picky. hahaha.

*we = you, as I'm not a programmer :(... I can only offer ideas ^^.

[Espen]

I very much want a desktop widget for entering expenses (amount and category) - but then I also need of course a larger expenses/accounting application underneat to handle the accumulated data, configure currency, the user defined categories list etc + budgeting .

I want a simple counter widget. It allows you to repeatedly tap the screen in order to count something, like e.g. number of people passing by, or or number of articles in a store, dispaying the accumulated figures. It should preferably have several (user selectable?) and configurable (labels) counters, so that the user simultaniously can count different types or subgroups.

Dictaphone (voice recorder) widget. I have mentioned this a couple of times before, but I would find a quick-to-operate dictaphone app very useful.
+1

[pelago]

I very much want a desktop widget for entering expenses (amount and category) - but then I also need of course a larger expenses/accounting application underneat to handle the accumulated data, configure currency, the user defined categories list etc + budgeting .

I want a simple counter widget. It allows you to repeatedly tap the screen in order to count something, like e.g. number of people passing by, or or number of articles in a store, dispaying the accumulated figures. It should preferably have several (user selectable?) and configurable (labels) counters, so that the user simultaniously can count different types or subgroups.



Both good ideas. The second one seems more in keeping with the original idea of this thread (to suggest widgets that would be quick for a programmer/designer to create). The first would also be useful, but as you say, would need a larger app to do the accounting side of things. Maybe gnucash or homebank?

[Xisdibik]

My request:

Instead of speed contacts i need online contacts showing all my contacts who are online. Kinetic scrolling should be enabled within the widget to scroll for more than 4 contacts....

I hope in the last 2 pages no ones mentioned something to go along with this but, instead of showing all the people online on various messangers, maybe a wigdet that you could add specific people to to know when they are online. I have several hundred people on my lists spread accross MSN, Yahoo, AIM, Skype etc. but only a few select people i talk to daily and care about when they are online.

[Zelig87]

hehe you said speedo.

????

Ok, I must be missing something here....... ????

[Laughing Man]

I very much want a desktop widget for entering expenses (amount and category) - but then I also need of course a larger expenses/accounting application underneat to handle the accumulated data, configure currency, the user defined categories list etc + budgeting .

I want a simple counter widget. It allows you to repeatedly tap the screen in order to count something, like e.g. number of people passing by, or or number of articles in a store, dispaying the accumulated figures. It should preferably have several (user selectable?) and configurable (labels) counters, so that the user simultaniously can count different types or subgroups.


+1

Both are good ideas, though the second is more what a widget can do reasonable. For the first idea, I can't imagine it'd be easy to design and program something that interfaces with a financial problem. Though there could be an easier method of just entering the form fields

e.g. $10 spent on Gas @ BP

Then all those entires into the widget are saved into a text file where you could later copy and paste them into whatever finance software you use.

[iKneaDough]

Both are good ideas, though the second is more what a widget can do reasonable. For the first idea, I can't imagine it'd be easy to design and program something that interfaces with a financial problem. Though there could be an easier method of just entering the form fields

e.g. $10 spent on Gas @ BP

Then all those entires into the widget are saved into a text file where you could later copy and paste them into whatever finance software you use.

Do you mean something like Quick Clip (http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=28359&highlight=Quick+Clip), except that it would have a text entry field straight on the desktop?

[Laughing Man]

Exactly like QuickClip, but as a widget on the desktop instead of in the statusbar applet area.

[zkyevolved]

I hope in the last 2 pages no ones mentioned something to go along with this but, instead of showing all the people online on various messangers, maybe a wigdet that you could add specific people to to know when they are online. I have several hundred people on my lists spread accross MSN, Yahoo, AIM, Skype etc. but only a few select people i talk to daily and care about when they are online.

Isn't that the point of having the few on your desktop and if they're online it'll be a green dot, and if they're not online it'll be a greyed out dot? And if idle or busy or whatever, orange?

I'm looking forward to keeping the 5 pepole with whom I talk to on my desktop and talking to them in 2 clicks, rather than going to the app, scrolling through a list of hundreds of people and then click them. (on a blackberry, take your pick of apps: IM+, Beejive, or RIMs OEM IM Apps. .... wow 3 acronyms in 4 words! hehe)

[munky261]

You dont get the comment about saying speedo? You know, a banana hammock. lol

[zkyevolved]

May I add another widget? What about an UPTIME widget?
It can have different modes:

Uptime since last restart.
Uptime since last battery charge.
What about time that the screen has been on? (total since last charge)
It can have arrows of a sort to change between each of those modes, and adding a final mode to reset each one of the counters? I Dunno :$ Just an idea!

[Jaffa]

What about a level widget? I'm so tired of my iPhone buddies showing me that application. It would be nice just to have it on the desktop in either horizontal or vertical orientation.

It should be straightforward to put Attitude (http://maemo.org/packages/view/attitude/)'s rendering code into a widget rather than a window.

[pelago]

I want a simple counter widget. It allows you to repeatedly tap the screen in order to count something, like e.g. number of people passing by, or or number of articles in a store, dispaying the accumulated figures. It should preferably have several (user selectable?) and configurable (labels) counters, so that the user simultaniously can count different types or subgroups.

Thinking about this one, can widgets react to keypresses, or +/- button presses? For counting people passing by (etc.) it would be nice to do this without having to look at the device, and so this would be easier if pressing a hardware button rather than tapping a particular location on the screen. If widgets can't react directly to keypresses, then this might be better as an app rather than a widget.

[zerojay]

May I add another widget? What about an UPTIME widget?
It can have different modes:

Uptime since last restart.
Uptime since last battery charge.
What about time that the screen has been on? (total since last charge)
It can have arrows of a sort to change between each of those modes, and adding a final mode to reset each one of the counters? I Dunno :$ Just an idea!

Uptime is already on the list.

[marclais]

I would like to see separate widgets for the day's agenda and tasks, each with user definable number of entries shown, and specific calendars (all, home, work, groceries, etc).

My daily to do list consistently hovers around 10 and it is important to me to see all, if not most of them at once on a desktop.

[Zelig87]

You dont get the comment about saying speedo? You know, a banana hammock. lol

I guess being an Aussie and "Speedo" swimming costumes being an iconic Australian brand, we don't have any hangups over the term speedo. Certainly, everyone here uses it when referring to the speedometer in their car.

As for male swimming cossies.............Banana Hammock - that is certainly a new one for me. We call them Budgie Smugglers :)

[peio]

How about a widget that shows the car traffic for a particular city, like this:
http://www.google.fr/ig/directory?type=gadgets&url=damien.couture.googlepages.com/mappy.xml
I think you just need to do a screenshot from a particular area of the mappy website

And you would tap on it to update the map traffic. I think widgets are really useful in car

(By the way, there are great ideas of widgets in the igoogle gadgets)

[jolo]

Hm. Some people are big on horoscopes. Would a stand-alone (I am sure there are RSS feeds for such things but someone who are into it might want it separated from the RSS widget) daily horoscope widget be of interest to anyone?

How about a biorythms widget ;)

[timsamoff]

Modest Widget:

Shows latest emails. Clicking one opens email in Modest.

Tim

[drm]

I would propose the following:
Multitrack audio recorder (using the microphone and the headphones you can in theory record track by track)
ebook reader
Labyrinth game
Tic tac toe game
Fifteen game
Solitaire game
Solo noble game
Flashlight
Paint pad
Step counter
Handwriting calculator
Level
Converter

[ysss]

Just a couple suggestions:

1. Time keeper: Stopwatch (w/ laps), Countdown Timer, Alarm, World Time

2. Medicine consumption logger

[Zelig87]

I saw this nice lyrics widget in an early n900 video. Is this already available in the extras repository? See here for video link:

http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p=339598&postcount=429


I think this is the Lyrics Widget you have been after: http://maemo.nokia.com/maemo-select/applications/tunewiki/

[pelago]

I would propose the following:
Multitrack audio recorder (using the microphone and the headphones you can in theory record track by track)
ebook reader
Labyrinth game
Tic tac toe game
Fifteen game
Solitaire game
Solo noble game
Flashlight
Paint pad
Step counter
Handwriting calculator
Level
Converter

Most of those sound like apps rather than desktop widgets.

I found http://wiki.maemo.org/Documentation/Maemo_5_Developer_Guide/Human_Interface_Guidelines/Desktop_Widget_UI_Guidelines is useful to see what can and can't be done in a desktop widget, and for advice on the design of them, which might be useful when making suggestions.

[Flandry]

Just a couple suggestions:

1. Time keeper: Stopwatch (w/ laps), Countdown Timer, Alarm, World Time

Yes, please. And please make several stopwatch "channels" and make them cumulative until reset.

Widget: Daily Tasks
Description: I'm not sure if it's the same as "Remember the Milk" or one of the other widgets on the list, but this would consist of a short list of daily tasks with a checkbox next to each that can be checked off with just a tap. Each task would automatically reset itself after a predefined interval of hours to days either since the task was assigned or since it was last completed (two different and equally useful cases).
Use case: pet feeding, plant watering, medicine taking, etc.
Bonus features: a simple "Hours since last completed" next to each task checkbox

Widget: Remote Control
Description: A grid of "buttons" that can be given a label and assigned to send specific signals. This would probably need to be associated with a full-fledged app--or two.
Use case: I have X10 modules set up for a lot of my lights and appliances and a TV/computer monitor with a remote control. I'd like to be able to control a number of functions easily from a single device.
Bonus features: able to associate buttons with IR, bluetooth, or network events.

[ysss]

Yes, please. And please make several stopwatch "channels" and make them cumulative until reset.

Widget: Daily Tasks
Description: I'm not sure if it's the same as "Remember the Milk" or one of the other widgets on the list, but this would consist of a short list of daily tasks with a checkbox next to each that can be checked off with just a tap. Each task would automatically reset itself after a predefined interval of hours to days either since the task was assigned or since it was last completed (two different and equally useful cases).
Use case: pet feeding, plant watering, medicine taking, etc.
Bonus features: a simple "Hours since last completed" next to each task checkbox

Widget: Remote Control
Description: A grid of "buttons" that can be given a label and assigned to send specific signals. This would probably need to be associated with a full-fledged app--or two.
Use case: I have X10 modules set up for a lot of my lights and appliances and a TV/computer monitor with a remote control. I'd like to be able to control a number of functions easily from a single device.
Bonus features: able to associate buttons with IR, bluetooth, or network events.

These are excellent.

It'd be great if the daily task widget makes use of existing todo\calendar apps as the backend, maybe culls the items from certain calendar\todo category (ie: daily chores) so it's configurable and usable for more usecases without ignoring the initial request.

[OVK]

I'd like to have a

Get Home with public transportation widget. First of all, the user would enter the location (adress) of user's home. This info would then be stored in the widget. When started the widget would get the GPS data and feed the users current location to a web service (provided by the public transport authorities of the city in which the user lives) which would then suggest a public transportation method to go home. (For example, I live in Helsinki and the site to get the traffic info is http://aikataulut.ytv.fi/reittiopas/en/ I am sure that all the major cities have similar web sites).

Well, why the widget and not just use the web service directly with the browser? Because sometimes you might not know where you are and also not be in a condition to write the two addresses...

[ysss]

@OVK : Wouldn't that be better implemented as an app?

I think widgets are either small apps that one uses multiple times daily, or displays certain infos that one would like to often see as she goes about\through the desktop.

[Kee]

I'd love to see Foxytag implemented on N900. (http://www.foxytag.com/en/presentation.html)

[OVK]

@OVK : Wouldn't that be better implemented as an app?


I don't think that an app would be needed. This would just launch the GPS and Browser and use their utilities. I see this widget as a small button that (after the first time when you use and choose the city you live in and feed the your home addres) you press and after some time the browser displays you a route home.

EDIT: But on the other hand I don't know where the line between a widget and an app is ;)

[nilchak]

Oh... you have no problem with your banking details and everything being accessable/stolen? :)

It's not that I don't like the idea. I just think it's *very* dangerous.

I've added it to the list anyways. (And in the cases that I haven't added them to the list, it's most likely because there already is a widget for that purpose.)

I know this is a top of paranoia to many - giving bank accounts to some online service - but I use MINT and I have actually provided all my bank account and trading accounts details to MINT and use MINT as an aggregator of my total finances. Its simply great !

Yes, can all my passowrd be stolen if MINT gets hacked - absolutely yes.
Maybe that day when all my money is stolen, I will setup a Paypal donation button guys :)

But till then I am throwing caution to the winds for the sake of convenience.

[Flandry]

From the link to the Widget UI design guidelines (http://http://wiki.maemo.org/Documentation/Maemo_5_Developer_Guide/Human_Interface_Guidelines/Desktop_Widget_UI_Guidelines#Widget_design) on the previous page, a widget:
* can only receive taps as input except in config mode
* should not resize
* should not occupy more than half the available display
* should present information in a manner that allow a user to take it in quickly

etc.

Re: using the calendar to populate the daily tasks widget. That's fine as an option, but i had intended it more as a place to keep those mundane things that don't even need calendar entries.

[Dragy]

A widget that runs flash player 9.4! :D
Think of the possibilities... I myself will port some of my vista-flash-gadgets to it.

[theflew]

Anybody notice the new widgets/apps on http://maemo.nokia.com/maemo-select/applications/

[Jack6428]

I'd love some "Notes" widget, something along the lines of:
http://i37.tinypic.com/1sxt9s.jpg
like in Win Vista/7

[Kusk]

What I would really really like, is an maemo version of OSX's Nerdtool/Geektool. Its basically a transparent xterm that displays the output of a command/shellscript on the desktop. There should be an option to make it update at certain intervals.

I use Nerdtool on OSX to curl a webpage, collect the data that I need, make it readable and then output it on the desktop.

I dont think it would be that hard to make... :)

Geektool in action http://projects.tynsoe.org/en/geektool/ecrans.php

[solideogloria]

please add a 2G/3G switch widget discussed here (http://talk.maemo.org /showthread.php?t=32648)

[allnameswereout]

I'd like to have a

Get Home with public transportation widget. First of all, the user would enter the location (adress) of user's home. This info would then be stored in the widget. When started the widget would get the GPS data and feed the users current location to a web service (provided by the public transport authorities of the city in which the user lives) which would then suggest a public transportation method to go home. (For example, I live in Helsinki and the site to get the traffic info is http://aikataulut.ytv.fi/reittiopas/en/ I am sure that all the major cities have similar web sites).

Well, why the widget and not just use the web service directly with the browser? Because sometimes you might not know where you are and also not be in a condition to write the two addresses...On iPhone this is implemented as app(s).

On Symbian I have application which just grabs current GPS location and sends thats to mobile site, asking me if I want to use that as starting location. This works in web browser... but I can rant for 10 minutes about the shitty interface...

Anyway, you can have the data offline (but its question if its allowed to grab all data from databases? license it?) or online. In any case, they do differ a lot per country, or even public transport corporation. So you're gonna end up with a lot of parsers.

[joppu]

please add a 2G/3G switch widget discussed here (http://talk.maemo.org /showthread.php?t=32648)

Maybe even a bigger switchboard with buttons for WLAN, Bluetooth, 3g and Cellular?

We really should have a brainstorm type page, one for widgets and one for apps. Then Everyone could vote for the most useful ones and the devs would know what to work on?

Edit:

http://imgkk.com/i/ouxxyZ.png

[allnameswereout]

What I would really really like, is an maemo version of OSX's Nerdtool/Geektool. Its basically a transparent xterm that displays the output of a command/shellscript on the desktop. There should be an option to make it update at certain intervals.

I use Nerdtool on OSX to curl a webpage, collect the data that I need, make it readable and then output it on the desktop.

I dont think it would be that hard to make... :)

Geektool in action http://projects.tynsoe.org/en/geektool/ecrans.phpLooks like Guake/Tilda and Conky with some JPEG.

[RevdKathy]

Can I echo the suggestion for a 'tide times' widget? Knowing whether it's a good moment to go walk on the nearest beach would be dead handy.

[EIPI]

Can I echo the suggestion for a 'tide times' widget? Knowing whether it's a good moment to go walk on the nearest beach would be dead handy.
That sounds like a fantastic add-on for OMWeather...

[jolo]

Can I echo the suggestion for a 'tide times' widget? Knowing whether it's a good moment to go walk on the nearest beach would be dead handy.

A "Surf's Up" widget sounds actually pretty cool.

[vvaz]

One of first fruits of leased 300 N900s :)

Looks like with little effort you can use Plasma widgets with Qt 4.6:

http://www.kdedevelopers.org/node/4078

Here is screenshot with basic ones:
http://93.157.1.37/~marijn/Screenshot-20091010-233039.jpg

List of more interesting (and N900 relevant) widgets available:

Analog Clock (visible on screenshot)
Binary Clock
Calculator
Calendar
Character Selector
Chemistry
Comic Strip
Dictionary
Digital Clock (visible on screenshot)
Eyes (visible on screenshot)
Fifteen Puzzle
LCD Weather Station
Leave A Note (Yellow Notes version)
Life
Luna (moon phases)
Magnifique (magnification glass for desktop)
Microblogging
News (RSS reader)
Notes (YA Yellow Notes version)
Pastebin (paste text/images to a remote location)
Picture Frame
Remember The Milk
RSS Now
Various system monitors
Timer
Trashcan
Twitter Microblogging
Unit Converter
Weather Forecast
Web Browser (simple WebKit based browser)
World Clock

[pelago]

Looks like with little effort you can use Plasma widgets with Qt 4.6

Excellent work! Useful for power users etc., although they obviously don't follow the Widget UI guidelines for native widgets, so maybe not to be recommended for normal end users.

[vvaz]

Video of Plasma widgets running on N900:

http://dot.kde.org/2009/10/12/free-n900

[Jack6428]

i like those moving eyes lol

[lcuk]

eyes widget is already in the maemo repositories
they use the accelerometer to look around, and blink occasionally too

[ARJWright]

For some reason, I'd not put my proposal into this thread, and so here it is: Time Tracker app and widget:

http://share.ovi.com/media/arjwright.public/ARJWright.10519

The widget aspect is on the bottom right of it. Not sure if that fits this or is too large in scope, but should be pretty neat as an app.

[rmoravcik]

I was missing a Nameday widget for Maemo 5, because I always forgot to wish someone. So I wrote a simple widget, that should be now in extras-devel repository. Version 0.2 include only czech and slovak databases, but it's very simple to define new databases for other countries.

[rafanto]

I'm trying to write a little widget for the generation of fiscale codes (for them Italian users)

;)

[qole]

Namedays are cool, I think every country should have them. Why have only one birthday, when you can have two?

[qole]

.... and "Speedo" swimming costumes being an iconic Australian brand...

Hm, one can hardly call a Speedo a "costume". Doesn't seem to even have as much fabric in it as the Lone Ranger's mask.

[RevdKathy]

From this thread (http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?p=349415#post349415)

It was a silly discussion, but the idea of using the front camera as a pocket mirror would make a nifty little widget. Limited use, perhaps, but more valuable to me than a widget to off-set co2 or see what's trending on amazon.

[RevdKathy]

Another one come out of the silly discussion that might be worth investing a few minutes in: a counter.

Lbt remarked here (http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=32985&page=6) that his wife wants n900 to count her knitting rows. I wondered how that might work, and I think a 'tap counter' widget might be a useful feature for other things as well as knitting.

Two modes: open and closed. When closed, it simply 'remembers' your number. When open, you tap the number square (or circle, ovoid, hexagon...) and the number increments by one. At the end of the count, close, and it remembers the number till next time. Keep a record of ... whatever. knitting rows, alcohol units, notches on your bedpost...

Is it possible?

[attila77]

It was a silly discussion, but the idea of using the front camera as a pocket mirror would make a nifty little widget. Limited use, perhaps, but more valuable to me than a widget to off-set co2 or see what's trending on amazon.

Mirror 'application' promoted to extras-testing:

http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?p=351158

[daveb70]

One of first fruits of leased 300 N900s :)

Looks like with little effort you can use Plasma widgets with Qt 4.6:


So I was going to request a Woot.com widget, with a configurable update threshold but it looks like one of the Red Fruit dashboard widgets already does this. Maybe someone can confirm it is HTML-based and thus can be Plasmasized and made to run on the N900?

Yes, I know, it's a website you can view since the N900 is always on, but it's nice to catch the current Woot at a glance, and during Woot-offs having something continuously updated frequently would be terrific.

[nymajoak]

Another one come out of the silly discussion that might be worth investing a few minutes in: a counter.
...


A "counter widget" was actually already proposed in this thread:

http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p=340701&postcount=137

Don't know why it didn't make it to the list in the first post...

[412b]

As I started porting Advanced Power and Advanced Power Monitor to Maemo 5 all the stuff from Diablo one's will be available.

[joshua.maverick]

Where are we at? What widgets need icons, I want to strip the backgrounds on all my icons too, I just noticed they are unnecessary.

[chemist]

I already started a brainstorm idea for it:
a run-a-script widget were you are able to define output (within widget, windowed, fullscreen and its size if not fullscreen) if there will be asked for input, cron like setup for updating if needed, dialog for file or direct script input
http://maemo.org/community/brainstorm/view/script_desktop_output

[Progger]

Doesn't the camera application start when you open the lens cover (the above was my initial flashlight thought as well but couldn't think of how it would coexist naturally with the camera app)?
Maybe. But: If you tip on the widget to start the light, the app could test, whether the lens cover is open (sounds like there is a such a sensor) and only enable the light, if it's open and prevent the camera app to start. ;)

I hope it will work like this!

[pczerwinski]

Live soccer scores and tables with auto-updating.

[joshua.maverick]

Would anybody be interested in building the "Loved One Notifier" to track last phone call, last sms and last facebook post?

[RevdKathy]

Would anybody be interested in building the "Loved One Notifier" to track last phone call, last sms and last facebook post?

Ohh Good call! Last sent tweet, too?

[hasselmm]

Easy to use pannable browser widget:

- GtkMozEmbed is portable and has halfway proper API, but doesn't pan
- microb-eal, neteal have confusing, propritary API and also don't pan
- BrowserRespView seems to pan, but its API is insulting

[fiferboy]

Easy to use pannable browser widget:

- GtkMozEmbed is portable and has halfway proper API, but doesn't pan
- microb-eal, neteal have confusing, propritary API and also don't pan
- BrowserRespView seems to pan, but its API is insulting

Unfortunately, nothing will pan when on the desktop. Any sort of drag/swipe motion (regardless of direction) is interpreted by the desktop as an attempt to pan to a different desktop.

That's not to say this will never be possible with software fixes (especially in the vertical direction) but it is not possible right now.

[fouro]

Not sure if this has been proposed before, but haven't seen it myself.

Desktop shortcut widget

Basically this would let you place normal looking shortcuts in the desktop, but when you select it, it opens a small group of shortcuts defined by you. It may be a circle around the original place or a rectangle to some direction. Then you could just select the shortcut you want to launch an application.

And perhaps if you click to any other place on the desktop without launching anything, it would close the shortcut group.

This could be like the circle dock: http://circledock.wikidot.com/. But just around the widget shortcut that you place on the desktop where you want.

I think this would be a nice way to save some desktop space while still enabling you to launch your favorite applications fast.

[lcuk]

Hey,
there is a chance for people to get together and have a go at hacking some widgets.
you want to have a proper discussion about widgets in an environment where people can do something about it?

Tentative: UX meets Code hackfest in December @ Barcelona
http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=33719

[DeeGee]

Anyone here doesn't happen to play EVE-Online (http://www.eveonline.com/)? It's just another MMORPG, but it has quite extensive (http://www.eveonline.com/api/doc/) API (http://wiki.eve-id.net/APIv2_Page_Index) for checking your characters skill training etc. out of game (skill training happens in realtime even when you aren't online playing). Would be nice to have a widget that shows that on the desktop.

[joshua.maverick]

Ohh Good call! Last sent tweet, too?


Yes yes excellent!

[MrGrim]

Hi there, just 2 things:
*maybe it would be a good idea to keep the list in the first post (which, iirc, is where good ideas are added) in alphabetical order, to make it easier to find things
*can anyone point me in the right direction for getting started on maemo widget programming? i have some programming knowledge and some spare time and i'd like to give a hand, but i know nothing about coding for maemo; a pm would be nice and easier for me to find. Thanks!

[Cinderella17]

There's no way to do a movie Upcoming Releases where it can b the pic of the movie an the countdown or something¿?¿¿ and amazon Widget where they put the bestseller from what tipe articule we want I don't know

[lcuk]

There's no way to do a movie Upcoming Releases where it can b the pic of the movie an the countdown or something¿?¿¿

perhaps have a tie in with Transmission client :D

[romanianusa]

How about a widget that show photos like they did on the iPod or iphone...you know the scrolling view?? Yea!

[archzai]

I'm interested in someone making an "Expenses Widget" for the N900 and was wondering who else would want this?
I was hoping if someone would be interested enough to make one. It would be really simple, with fields such as:

Date
Description: (Type what the expense is)
Money Spent
Group: (This would be an optional field to fill, so that maybe you can add up the specific group to see how much you spend on a certain category ie. transportation, alcohol, food). Symbian has an expense calculator app but I feel its quite shitty because it FORCES you to choose a group and that can get tedious.

Thanks a lot! If anyone would want more fields please feel free to add onto my suggestions.

[Cinderella17]

Hello can maybe somebody make a clock like the cell phonme HTC pro2 have+?? with some diferent size??? thanx

[parasight]

Hello, I'm new to Maemo development so I decided to make something small first. I've made a CPU and memory usage widget.

If someone wants to make icons(cpu,memory,application icon) for it that would be nice(current ones are kind of.. well bad). Feature/improvement suggestions are also welcome.

[jpaulwhite]

Hi everyone.

I wanted to know if the community had some ideas for widgets that they would like to have on their N900s. Because widgets are generally smaller, you can bang them out quite quick with the right people working on it.

We'd like to see all the widgets being created carry a similar style so that they won't look out of place next to the default widgets as well as next to each other.

If you've got ideas for widgets or you would like to help with their creation, please let me know by posting below. I'll make a list of widgets and people working on them and we'll work on coordinating our efforts. I'll keep this post updated with the latest info.

So... what do you want/need?

Widget Requests
Cellular data use monitor (http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=32256) - Done, testing
IP address monitor (http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?p=338536#post338536) - Code works, awaiting icon
Countdown Timer (http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=31704) - Done, testing
Gmail Inbox/Nokia Messaging monitor
Mobile Banking (http://maemo.org/community/brainstorm/view/widget-bank_account_balances/)
Post-it notes
Show recent photos/sketches/notes/apps
CPU Use
Memory Use
CPU Load
Uptime
Remember The Milk
Battery monitor (http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=31279)
Screenlets (http://www.screenlets.org/index.php/Information)
Recent Calls
Favorite Events
Webcam monitor
Stock market
Doppler radar image
Location-Based GPS alarms/reminders
Package/Delivery tracking (https://junecloud.com/)
Tip calculator
Recent topics on Maemo.org
Dual LED flashlight
Local Search
Moon Phase
Photo frame/slideshow
Tide tables
Sports Scores
Horoscopes
Doorbell
Web slice
POI
Zip Codes
Repository Monitor
Lyrics

An FTP CLIENT would be nice. I take a lot of pics I like to get on ym computer at home pronto and FTP would be shweeeet. Not sure if it's doable though.

[jpaulwhite]

An FTP CLIENT would be nice. I take a lot of pics I like to get on ym computer at home pronto and FTP would be shweeeet. Not sure if it's doable though.

Ok scratch that I already found several lol.

[ARJWright]

I'd like to see a reprisal of the Group Calendar Widget that Nokia's MWS folks worked on last year for Maemo 5 devices. Bonus points for it working with non-Maemo/Symbian devices.

[mikkov]

Ok scratch that I already found several lol.

I don't think there's any GUI FTP clients from Maemo5, or is there?

Anyway it would be real application, implementing it as widget would be silly.

[jakiman]

- Network speed monitor (for 3g data both up and down)
- Currency converter (1 currency to 1 or more others) (
- Google Search field bar (which launches browser upon search)
- Now playing Music bar with play/next/prev buttons.

[twaelti]

- Network speed monitor (for 3g data both up and down)
- Currency converter (1 currency to 1 or more others) (
- Google Search field bar (which launches browser upon search)
- Now playing Music bar with play/next/prev buttons.

The last two already exist.

[jakiman]

The last two already exist.

Oh. I see. Didn't know. Well, once I get my N900, I'll know more of what to list here. :D

[Rotkaeqpchen]

Not very useful even not for me, but there is a function in android that many user use:

A desktop FOLDER

[qole]

What's in the desktop folder? Files or applications?

I'm wondering what the folder actually is. It could be a link to the file manager that shows the files in a certain location, or it could be a custom application menu, showing a user-defined subset of the application icons...

I'm really hoping for a community replacement for the application menu. I think the Maemo 5 application menu is the weakest part of the interface. One way to implement a custom menu would be through "folders" that you can place on the desktops. These folders would trigger custom application menus.

These app folders will need custom labels on them.

[dormant]

I asked for this somewhere else, but maybe it is best as a widget.

I seem to waste a lot of time on my N800 repeatedly going into xterm just to run a single command.

I want a tool that can run any Linux script or command in my path and put the text output into a scrollable box where I can read it.

When closed (is that right?) it just needs a pull-down menu with the recent commands I have run, plus the option of entering a new command.

When it is open with the scrollable box, it needs a "rerun" button and a "close" button.

Still not sure if this is best as a widget or as an app.

[Rotkaeqpchen]

The folder pops up and shows a window of Shortcuts. For example: MyGames and then all games are there. Its a compromise, till the menu system is as customizable as the menu system in symbian. Creating and renaming folders, moving icons and so on.

In Android and iPhone its maybe ok to put all apps in one folder, but i dont think that maemo users want this too. :)

[peio]

I don't know if it'as already been proposed, but

- an email widget that shows the title/authors of unread emails (or at least the number of new mails for several accounts)

- a widget to rapidly switch the fm transmitter on/off

would be great

[Rashoodz]

How about a Currency Converter widget? like from xe.com

[qwerty12]

- a widget to rapidly switch the fm transmitter on/off


http://repository.maemo.org/extras-devel/pool/fremantle/free/s/simple-fmtx-widget/ (Not by me)

[EIPI]

- a widget to rapidly switch the fm transmitter on/off

would be great

I raised bug 6046 (https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=6046) recently as an enhancement request for the status bar. I think that is the logical place to access the FM transmitter, just like bluetooth already has.

[Laughing Man]

Does advanced statusbar (on the n900) work with the FM transmitter yet?

[RevdKathy]

How about a Currency Converter widget? like from xe.com

I was reflecting that one of the few things I use java for is a general unit converter: feet to metres, bariatric pressure (for inflating the tyres in the right context), Fahrenheit ro Celsius (for when I'm sick in old money) UK dress sizes to European (in time for 4th December :D ) - that sort of thing. Anyone up for that?

[qole]

One of our star community developers has already got something like that, Gonvert (http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=34403). Yeah. I didn't make up the name. :)

EDIT: Blame this guy (http://www.unihedron.com/projects/gonvert/) for the name.

[romanianusa]

An app that show album covers like the Iphone ...you know how the picture scrolls as you swipe it...

It'll be cool if u can do the same with videos.

[RevdKathy]

One of our star community developers has already got something like that, Gonvert (http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=34403). Yeah. I didn't make up the name. :)

EDIT: Blame this guy (http://www.unihedron.com/projects/gonvert/) for the name.

Perfect! Thank you. By the time I get my n900, this will be just about at Extras, yes? ;)

[qole]

If it isn't, you can add the Extras-testing repository, install it, test it, vote on it, and help get it to Extras. The beauty and wonder of the OSS Community :)

[romanianusa]

An app that let you password protect a folder so that no one can see it and open it unless they know the password.

[twaelti]

An app that let you password protect a folder so that no one can see it and open it unless they know the password.
We are not talking apps here, but widgets - small partscreen applications to be permanently running on one fo the four the desktop screens.

[nMIK-3]

Stock Market widget for me too

[amorek13]

how about currency converter with world currencies showing up to three and pulling from the internet something like worldmate 2009 does on symbian?

[sxr71]

How about a widget that doesn't just open up a web page when clicked? The facebook widget for example needs to open into a Facebook app not the Facebook website. The AP news widget goes into a custom web page made for Nokia but it is bad news. You don't even see the same news items that you saw on the widget - in other words cool but pointless.

If I see an interesting story let me click on it and take me to the actual story, not the whole AP news website so I have to run a search to even find the story.

Being completely forthcoming, the widgets are cool and nothing more.

[sxr71]

We are not talking apps here, but widgets - small partscreen applications to be permanently running on one fo the four the desktop screens.

It could very well be a widget. One where you click, a password box appears, and you then get access to your "secret" folder.

[Endri]

what about whole-page contact widget? my contact are very different to lineup without some sort of grid.
Then the must have twitter (I don like makau, even if it was working) and facebook. the one in the phone sucks worst than the webOS one... possibly

[JustCallMeJoe]

Hi All,

I've never developed anything for fun/free before but I'm going to give a currency converter a shot (because I can't find an existing one and I sort of want/need one). My background is pretty much function based programming (c, python, vb, perl) but no graphical programming. Wish me luck.

:)

[RevdKathy]

I believe there's a currency option in Gonverter. Do feel free to make a dedicated one though. :)

And definitely Good Luck!

[JustCallMeJoe]

The only currency I can see in Gonvert is Currency (UK), plus I'm not sure how to convert 100 USD to Euro for example. This is what I'm really after. An application where you can input the exchange rate and it will convert between 2 currencies. If you know how to make Gonvert do that, I'll be wrapped!

[RevdKathy]

The only currency I can see in Gonvert is Currency (UK), plus I'm not sure how to convert 100 USD to Euro for example. This is what I'm really after. An application where you can input the exchange rate and it will convert between 2 currencies. If you know how to make Gonvert do that, I'll be wrapped!

You are right. I had seen 'currency' and not looked at what it actually converts. It seems a bit odd for a brand new device to be telling me how much a tanner is worth! The last of those UK coins and terms went out in 1971 when most Maemo-users weren't born.

[dyce]

A quick widget that lets you turn 3G (UMTS) on or off would be great. 3G kills the battery quite well and might as well use 2.5G when idling.

[JustCallMeJoe]

....1971 when most Maemo-users weren't born.
Exactly!

I'm watching the Get started with Maemo 5 video thingy from Nokia now and I'm downloading the virtual ubuntu image as we speak :)

[qwerty12]

please add a 2G/3G switch widget discussed here (http://talk.maemo.org /showthread.php?t=32648)

http://imgur.com/XKR1h.png

Content needs left-aligning, I need to make it hide itself when the cellular radio is disabled and I need to get it to update its label when it's connected to a network. (otherwise - if you change it from the Control Panel, the modes will be out of sync.)

[fhofer]

I was missing a Nameday widget for Maemo 5, because I always forgot to wish someone. So I wrote a simple widget, that should be now in extras-devel repository. Version 0.2 include only czech and slovak databases, but it's very simple to define new databases for other countries.Thank you for the widget, works nice! :) Would it be possible to change its appearence to be better aligned with standard maemo widgets? that is: dark grey borders/background. Also, it could be smaller and optionally display the date.

[pety]

Thinking of creating a "family medicine alarm" widget. So you can add your family members and then "create and assign" medicine to them on a need to basis. For example, one of the kids may need to take 5 ml anti-biotics for a week every 12 hours starting today. Or cannot take cough syrup again until 4 hours have passed etc.
Maybe also keep a database of the different medicines with the use of each, e.g. what have I taken in the past for ear aches and so on.
Audible alarms for each reminder and perhaps sms notification to the family member or kid's mum etc.

Interested to hear peoples' opinion of usefulness for such a widget and open to suggestions on a catchy name!

Cheers
"

[xellvortex]

Daily Timer application would be nice integrated with camera. I am a technician and I'm constantly writing things down on paper so using my n900 to keep take a pic of the piece of equipment and add some notes to it and associate it with the current time and date would be nice. Also reminders of old notes you still want recurring incase equipment is out for repair.