Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

True, but not all same HW keyboard. The HW keyboards are optimized for certain usage patterns since each provide different functionality.

Good point, although there is also something such as touchscreen with OSK, which is simply not an option on non-touchscreen devices such as Nokia N95/E70/E90/Communicator_Series.

Like someone mentioned: T-Mobile G1 could initially not use OSK in portrait mode, so you'd need to use the HW keyboard in landscape mode for a few simple words. Instead, the HW keyboard is rather meant to be used for 'heavy text input'. Anyway, G2 ditched HW keyboard.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

OSK with T9 would actually be just the thing I myself would be most happy with in portrait mode. I like to be able to make short answer/question kinda SMS with portrait mode, and anyway who in their right mind would write anything over 160 chars with OSK when there is HW keyboard available in landscape.

I hope that Nokia, with time permitting later, will bring the portrait mode up to speed the way people who are not accustomed to heavy tablet use are used to. I still want N900 sooner without it and have it later than have the device later with it so I am not whining about it. I whine about it if it never comes :)

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

This would need to be thought out pretty carefully though.

Imagine I am planning to take a photo, and trying out whether portrait or landscape crop works for this case. It would be confusing if for example the shutter button switched places depending on the camera orientation. Also, what if I wanted to shoot a photo with 45 degree horizon angle? ;-)

// t

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

There's HW button for the camera, what stops you from using it regardless of orientation? I must be missing something here...

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

fwiw we are dragging the attention of tghe related product managers. The Brainstorm ideas are still empty and this thread is approaching 500 posts. I have no idea anymore whether there are good proposals for solutions in this looong thread that could be summarized and voted in the Brainstorm.

By now I can only tell to them "the community would like to have more support for portrait mode". Which is not bad, but after all this discussion...

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Too true, and its bloody annoying.

Also note that the YouTube app also dictates how you use it which is really REALLY annoying.

You are forced into portrait for navigation and listing videos then forces you into landscape to play the video. Movies do the same in the video section, you choose it in portrait then BAM you are forced into landscape. Oddly, if you choose a music video they happily play in portrait or landscape, which is how all video playback should work in my opinion. Sure there is a 99% chance I will watch a movie or YouTube in landscape, but at least let me start watching it in portrait then thanks to ASR I can quickly switch to landscape or back at any time if it becomes more comfortable.

How the iPod/iPhone currently handles videos really does get on your nerves and is exactly what the N900 is going to do by allowing developers to CHOOSE rather than saying "all apps should work both ways". At the very least, if an app works best in portrait without using the keyboard at all, that is how it should be. Being forced into portrait is a lot less annoying than forcing into landscape, unless you need the keyboard of course.

The iPhone/iPod is a prime example of why not supporting both is annoying for the end user. The fact people put up with it is not a good excuse to do the same. That said, I still do not consider it a deal breaker (in fact, I ordered my N900) but it will still sometimes get on my nerves.

Thing is, its rather hard to brainstorm an idea when you do not have the current version of the device sat in front of you to SEE what is missing.

That is the difference between an end-user and the people who are in product development. We can't just imagine how it will work, we have to try it for ourselves.

I find it hard to believe you need brainstorm ideas anyway. As others have said, just look at your own devices. Surely the N97 has a nice media player interface in portrait? I know how the iPod/iPhone media player works is quite nice, although I am not a huge fan of coverflow - I find it easier to stick to portrait mode for browsing tracks/artists.

Surely, task manager could just rotate the thumbnails? Or rotate and shrink them down really small and have a text description at the side, one per line. Again, as I do not have a device with a 3.5" 16:9 ratio screen, I cannot comment on what would be legible.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Video camera mode should DEFINITELY be in portrait mode.

Phone call - portrait mode

Email and IM messengers should be portrait and landscape so users can have their choices. You can always use the on-screen keyboard in portrait mode.

Viewing pictures and videos should also be both portrait and landscape.

Web browsing should ONLY be landscape since it is too small in portrait and don't give you the best experience, plus mulitples browers open best in landscape anyway.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

If Email and IM should be in both orientations U]to give a choice[/U] why not browser too? I like portrait browser to check public transportation timetables which have PDA versions too etc. And portrait not giving best experience? Isn't that completely up to each individual? Tell that landscape-only to Mozilla Fennec devs while you are at it?

Again, limiting orientation mode based on what designer thinks is best experience is one thing, another thing is keeping in mind the development priorities. If at all possible, option should be the keyword.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

I really do not see how portrait can work in video camera mode.

Surely the camera aspect ratio would be a problem there if you are implying that you can hold it portrait and shoot landscape video. That I expect would require rotating the camera data as it comes in, possibly needing to use the CPU to do it, which may either eat the battery or not even be possible.

Video playback, sure, but video capture is the one mode I would argue should be locked to landscape as video cameras always have a specific position you hold them in for operation.

It would be nice if the information on screen rotated when taking a portrait photograph though.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

I would believe you if it weren't for the thousands of posts around here about the N900, what it has and what it's missing.

If you believe the community can influence our priorities, we are willing to pay more attention to proposals that gather more activity and votes.

Yes, we know our own devices and also what the competitors are shipping. But what kind of layout would you like us to follow? Or do you think you could do better than any model that exists?

One problem about threads beyond the 100th post is that only few people know what ar the jewels they contain. Most of them will be forgotten.