Why have a "swipe to unlock" if the side button overrides this?

[Rushmore]

N900 has a very logical locking system to avoid activating the device when not intended, but the swipe to unlock is negated with the side switch. It is VERY easy to turn the device on and then discover multiple apps turned on and the battery drained by accident. Did Nokia not consider that the side unlock is a "button" too?

Is this an intended feature or a bug?

[casper27]

Swipe function looks cool :-) Working on inproving the UI maybe trying to add animation if anyone is interested?

[phreck]

seriously?

they put it there for your convenience/preference.
if your having issues with your phone becoming unlocked in your pocket i suggest you stop smushing it around in there so much. just sayin.

sigh.

[naabi]

I use the power button to take a look at the clock. If I remember correctly, you can also use some kind of password based locking for N900. In this case power button is used to when you want to unlock your phone. The side switch just toggles screen of/off. Too lazy now to verify this...

[sadfist]

The passcode doesn't go on immediately unless you press the power button and 'secure device'. Doubletapping the power button or using the slider just shut off the display and the device will lock based on your setting in Settings->Device Lock. Once the passcode is on you'll have to enter it whether you hit power and slide to unlock or just use the slider button.

EDIT: Sorry misread your post. I've never had the slider button go off accidentally, it doesn't seem easy to do. Setting a passcode to go on immediately would keep apps from launching and stuff.

[Brunorange]

Side switch is to unlock and start using device right away, power button is if you just want to check clock... then you can put back in pocket and it will turn off screen after a while... but if you check your clock and then decide to start using device you have the option to slide to unlock. Very nice with different options for whatever you want to do.

Would be nice to get an indication of received messages and/or emails :-)

[zfarooq]

i think the screen with the power button should show give a summary of no. of calls, smsz, emails etc missed (we already know there are some through the colored LEDS) and maybe confifure the wallpaper and in addition to the time etc, show the weather .

[Rushmore]

seriously?

they put it there for your convenience/preference.
if your having issues with your phone becoming unlocked in your pocket i suggest you stop smushing it around in there so much. just sayin.

sigh.

It is in a case and I am not the only one having the problem. First device I have had the problem.

[GeneralAntilles]

Why do have any buttons at all. You can do everything with the touchscreen, right?

It is in a case and I am not the only one having the problem. First device I have had the problem.

Sure you're not just forgetting to lock it? :)

[Brunorange]

Sure you're not just forgetting to lock it? :)

Yeah check that bit m8 (OP)... I don't think it's hard to unlock with side switch but, I do think it's quite hard to accidentaly unlock by just having it in your pocket :)

[msa]

i dont see a problem with this.

same goes for a lot of other phones, so what?

on my samsung jet i have 3 ways to unlock the phone once locked:
- hold the lock-key until phone unlocks
- push any key to activate the screen and touch the lock-button until the phone unlocks
- push any key to activate the screen and draw gesture to unluck

and i dont even have a favorite way to unlock it. i always use another way to do it.

[Rushmore]

Why do have any buttons at all. You can do everything with the touchscreen, right?



Sure you're not just forgetting to lock it? :)


I lock using the icon that says lock screen and keys, but every case I have tried somehow moves the side switch and unlocks again.

[lancewex]

I started a thread with the same issue a couple of days ago and got called a complainer. Do not second guess Nokia!

I think the slider lock should actually secure the device--meaning require a password. (Or at least have the choice of it doing this.) Otherwise, if you just want to turn off the screen then double press the power button. To me this would make sense by giving each its own purpose, instead of duplicating one.

On a semi-related topic--the ONLY thing I miss from my Android HTC G1 is the unlocking screen where you have to draw the correct shape (that you choose) in order to unlock. I very much hope something like that can be adapted for the N900.
If you have not seen it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1HsLRBGvdw

[GeneralAntilles]

I lock using the icon that says lock screen and keys, but every case I have tried somehow moves the side switch and unlocks again.

Ah, a case, well there's a useful bit of information. Considering that there aren't really any N900 cases available as of now I'm not particularly surprised that random aftermarket ones might cause trouble.

Note that you can just press the powerbutton twice to lock.

[Rushmore]

Ah, a case, well there's a useful bit of information. Considering that there aren't really any N900 cases available as of now I'm not particularly surprised that random aftermarket ones might cause trouble.

Note that you can just press the powerbutton twice to lock.

Yep, but that pesky side switch unlocks it too. Be nice if it either did not do this or was configurable in the menu.

The odd thing is the case I use is not tight rubbing against the device, but obviously must do so at some point.

[Rushmore]

I started a thread with the same issue a couple of days ago and got called a complainer. Do not second guess Nokia!

I think the slider lock should actually secure the device--meaning require a password. (Or at least have the choice of it doing this.) Otherwise, if you just want to turn off the screen then double press the power button. To me this would make sense by giving each its own purpose, instead of duplicating one.

On a semi-related topic--the ONLY thing I miss from my Android HTC G1 is the unlocking screen where you have to draw the correct shape (that you choose) in order to unlock. I very much hope something like that can be adapted for the N900.
If you have not seen it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1HsLRBGvdw

I just would use the middle button that is the default. Never had this problem on my memory deprived G1.

[hanh]

Does your case have a magnetic latch? I've been having trouble finding good cases for mine because the magnetic latch on many of them activate the screen and bypass the swipe to unlock screen. My guess is that you need a case with a different closing mechanism, not that the side switch is easy to flip.

[masaokun]

Personally, my choice would be just add the ability to hold the screen lock switch for longer in order to "secure device" and "lock screen" together. That way, if I just wanted to save some power while I'm not using the phone sitting on my desk, I can do that as I do now, and if I want to put the phone in my pocket and keep it from calling China (as my last phone did - the N900 hasn't - yet), I just hold the lock switch at little longer.

[Bacco]

I particularly would like an option to unlock ONLY BY the unlock hard button. It would be logical to have options for this, so one could for example choose:

[ ] Allow swipe to unlock
[ x ] Unlock by hardware button
[ x ] Unlock by opening keyboard
- [ x ] Re-lock when keyboard closed

[Joseph.skb]

I particularly would like an option to unlock ONLY BY the unlock hard button. It would be logical to have options for this, so one could for example choose:

[ ] Allow swipe to unlock
[ x ] Unlock by hardware button
[ x ] Unlock by opening keyboard
- [ x ] Re-lock when keyboard closed

I agree,
[ ] Allow swipe to unlock
[ X ] Unlock by hardware button (maybe the power button could double as lock and open with double press)
[ X ] Unlock by opening keyboard
[ X ] Re-lock when keyboard closed

[gabby131]

why? so you wont need to unlock the n900 just to check the time.....:)

[qwazix]

I really think the unlock switch is the best feature of nokia phones. I hate having to click a button and then swipe the screen to unlock my phone. It's slow, awkward and requires two hands some times.
________
The Cliff Condominium (http://pattayaluxurycondos.com)

[Bacco]

[ X ] Unlock by hardware button (maybe the power button could double as lock and open with double press)

Even in this case, the option should be split then.
[ X ] Unlock by Unlock hardware button
[ X ] Unlock by Power double press

I probably would use only the defalt hardware Unlock button and keyb open.

[mattbutsko]

I really think the unlock switch is the best feature of nokia phones. I hate having to click a button and then swipe the screen to unlock my phone. It's slow, awkward and requires two hands some times.

That, and of all of the "Swipe to Unlock" enabled devices, the N900s is kinda slow and low FPS. Actually, damn, that's the whole OS.

[Bacco]

I really think the unlock switch is the best feature of nokia phones. I hate having to click a button and then swipe the screen to unlock my phone. It's slow, awkward and requires two hands some times.

You're right, but this issue requires another solution. I think seriously that maemo could have an option to leave the LCD on, even with backlight off. I even started a thread about this.

This way one can have e.g. a big clock and status of calls without even unlocking the phone, and who prefers the swipe, woudn't need to click the power button.

That, and of all of the "Swipe to Unlock" enabled devices, the N900s is kinda slow and low FPS. Actually, damn, that's the whole OS.

You should send your phone to repair. Mine isn't neither slow neither low FPS.

[mattbutsko]

Nah, it's just the lack of V-Sync, you know the story, lack of Nokia support.

[Bacco]

Nah, it's just the lack of V-Sync, you know the story, lack of Nokia support.

By coincidence, I turned on the vsync directive in PowerVR yesterday to test it. It's still running fine (PR1.3), although there are reports by other members that it cause some hangups.

The FPS drops a little indeed with vsync on, but the overall apearance is a little better. Let's see what happens in some days, without reboots, so I can report my experience in the proper threads.