Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

You're right, I'm a complete a*shole. A thousand trillion apologies. Have an excellent weekend.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

To continue beating this topic to death, I'd like to mention something that I haven't seen addressed in much detail yet.

The music player is one of the most obvious candidates for vertical usage in my opinion. Look at the layout of this application. The play/pause/fwd selections are at the bottom-left of the landscape screen. Considering that most people are right handed, and that the headphone jack will be plugged into the right side, it isn't very convenient or ergonomic to use with one hand. For righties, it's pretty much required to use both hands for even the simplest navigation.

Being the owner of several portable music players over the last few years, I am used to portrait navigation of albums, songs, playlists, etc. and I'd bet this is true for most consumers. Holding in one hand, flicking/selecting with your thumb just makes sense. Not to mention--how most of us are conditioned.

The media player, browser, maps, chats and ANYTHING which utilizes a 'list' format would benefit greatly from having a portrait mode.

Ultimately _not necessarily immediately_ I would love to see a platform-wide portrait option.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Of course 600 or 800 pixels is too narrow for a desktop, I was referring to 4:3 and 5:4 monitors like mine which is 1280x1024 and is great in portrait , no horiz scrolling.

That's beside the point though, what I'm saying is portrait is optimum for reading, which is why books are portrait.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Careful with those book analogies. Books have a lot of history and many of the properties we take for granted are there because of technological requirements of centuries past and not some fancy ergonomy studies.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

From my point of view this looks pretty good ;) .....no need to flick the button http://www.slashgear.com/wp-content/...ashgear_24.jpg

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Just a quick note..

I think some of the less text-oriented apps can be made single-hand-friendly just by repositioning their buttons to the lower 1/4 of the screen. For example:

- camera
- music player
- timer\clock (stop watch, etc)

So it's not all about making 'portrait mode', but rather making them 'single hand' friendly.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

If I may just reiterate a point that was brought up by a few forum members previously, I would really really prefer a T9 phone keypad with predictive input over a mini-qwerty keyboard in portrait mode. The keypad that I have in mind is something similar to what is already found in symbian s60 v5, except.... please take away the obtrusive interface that fills up the entire screen, and let the keypad slide up from below in an iphone or htc winmo style to occupy the lower half. I think a phone keypad is excellent for short quick inputs with one hand when I reply an sms or add a new calendar event, while the dedicated hardware keyboard is optimal for typing an email with both hands. :)

I think an elegant solution to the non-uniform UI problem with the support of both portrait and landscape modes is to make everything landscape by default, and rotate to portrait only when keyboard is closed AND the phone is rotated such. It is an interesting take of the conventional phone with hardware qwerty whereby the phone is portrait by default and turns to landscape when keyboard is slid out ;)

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: 29 Pages discussing about:

> Portrait mode use cases

One reason. One hand handling. Nothing to discuss (for a phone).

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Thanks Tommy. Although ideally we'd need that screen to also work in portrait mode, if this isn't getting a bit self-referential!

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

This is important for Symbianers because our OS has been optimized for one hand, and it is a selling point that many can't ignore. The ability to choose which aspect ratio to use for viewing the device is an option many don't wish to give up. We are all different, and the choice needs to be there soon, or it will be an Achilles heel for Maemo, IMO.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Wow. Talk about a splash page.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Sorry, I'm not a Symbian user. Is portrait/landscape switching pervasive on an S60 device? The only time I've seen an N97 being used, it was primarily being used landscape.

This "portrait mode isn't supported on the N900" meme is wrong. The problem is "portrait mode isn't automatic, and as a consequence isn't supported on many of the built-in apps at this time".

Personally (and this is my choice), I'd rather not have waited another 6-12 months for the N900 whilst Nokia sorted auto-reflowing or adding it to all the built-in apps. Yes, I'd like it if it was there (for the calculator, PDF viewer and browser[1]); but OMG, I haz wants for P0NIES too!

[1] Interestingly, I thought the lack of one-handed SMS sending would bother me: I often send a short "I'm on the 18:33 [train]" message home as I'm walking down the platform. But having used the N900 for a while, this omission hasn't bothered me at all and I can happily do it landscape.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

full use and power of the accelerometer should be utilized while navigating the device like all others with accelerometers like the n97, 5800, g1, etc. it would be a huge let down and a turn off for alot of buyers if just calling profile is portrait. :(

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

I need portrait mode for reading & writing quick e-mails and text messages, checking Facebook & other websites, for RSS feeds, for calling, retrieving data from the phone book, for the calendar, for media/music player, for the camera... All in all: for the apps I want to be able to use on the fly, for instance while standing in a crowded bus, where I need to hold on to something and therefore only have one free hand.

I want to be able to choose when I use a device in landscape mode, and when it's more convenient for me to use it in portrait mode. Landscape mode is OK for long e-mails and text messages and for browsing the web - but portrait mode is essential when you're in a hurry or can't/don't want to use both hands!

I was very eager to buy a N900, until I heard that portrait mode is only available when making calls (which actually is a function I rarely use)!

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

I too would prefer that option.

It makes sense that if you start in landscape you are probably going to spend more time doing something so keep your heavy-duty applications on the landscape desktop. Portrait would have more informative "quick use" widgets and applications.

For example I would probably have the weather on portrait and perhaps a large digital clock so I can see at quick glance. Whereas on landscape it would probably be more cluttered things I would spend a lot of time on.

But being able to IM in portrait is essential. I love the idea of IM staying connected all the time, but its not very useful if every reply I have to use both hands, especially as sometimes you only need to reply "yes" to someone. A simple calculator is even more essential to be in portrait - who uses two hands for a calculator?

As others have said, there are issues with having to stand still and reveal your phone to the world when working in landscape. That gives people time to see you and mug you. If you are still walking you are not drawing as much attention to yourself. So there are very important real-world reasons for portrait to be in there.

That said, the N900 is still at the top of my "next handset" list due to developer friendliness. I was happy with my Xperia X1 and learning C#, but quickly I realised Windows is just overly complicated and a mobile OS needs to start from scratch with simplicity in mind. It seems Maemo is exactly this.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

what if nokia is listening to our rants and including portrait mode as soon as possible? Does anyone think that may be the reason for delaying the release by a couple of weeks?

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

HEY SACHIN007!!!

This is the second time you've said it's been delayed by a couple weeks (and the second time I've asked you what you're talking about).

Where is that news? Please answer this time.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

I can tell you haven't been paying much attention.

Nokians from earlier in the thread said that for them to have every app work in portrait mode it would likely delay the N900 between 6 months to a year, so no... there's absolutely ZERO possibility that any sort of two week delay is going to make that happen.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

@sachin: lol dude, why do you have to work so hard to raise your own expectation to unrealistic levels..

i mean, sure that would be really nice.. but i don't think that's likely :(

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

hey ysss,

Sorry i did not reply earlier because i was not sure as it was a one off twitt from a twitter user. But i confirmed it to myself because i saw another twit confirming the same thing. I am currently on my n810 so cannot provide the links.... will do later.

And regarding my expectations.... the way qgil and ragner have been asking for portrait use cases i thought nokia will definitely work hard to sort that out as soon as possible. Of course i understand it wont be don in 2 weeks.... but just wanted to discuss with u guys even if that was a remote possibility. I assume to get n810 like rotation support without any re-alignment of widgets wouldn't take much time.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

@sachin: you mean it's a twit from a nokia employee?

Hmm I thought they've been rather lukewarm (at most) about this whole portrait issue. I'd imagine if it's to be taken (more) seriously, there'd be more discussion on their part than it's been.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

So has Apple resorted to stick guns at people's heads now?

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

I really don't understand that one. My SLR has no portrait mode either, yet I am able to shoot portrait mode pictures. What keeps you from doing so with the n900?

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

@range: you shoot single handed with your SLR?

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

If adding proper portrait mode to the device would take only a couple of weeks, believe me that this thread wouldn't exist.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Ummm. No. But in both cases shooting portrait mode pictures is just turning the camera 90° to the left or right. And then pressing the shutter release button (which is there in hardware - on my SLR as on the n900).

I do the same on my phone, although I hold that in landscape normally, when taking pictures :)

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

@range: ok.

This use case is based on single hand use, as mentioned previously, when you have your other hand preoccupied with holding an object, person, etc.

And, yes, there are ways to hold the device single handedly and still get access to the side button or whatnot, but that means you have to take it out with that sole purpose in the first place. By putting shutter\primary buttons near the 1/4 bottom of the screen, you can still possibly switch between different programs and maek use of them, single handedly.

Well, at least that was the aim anyway, if we want to have usability parity against most (90+%) other handheld device\phones.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

From personal experience of using the device for n months now (and YMMV), I don't find the lack of portrait mode in most apps a major problem.

Perhaps I'm wrong, but I have a suspicion that many people automatically equate portrait mode with one hand usage. However, if you look at for instance iPhone users and their usage, the vast majority of the use is two hand usage. One hand holds the device, the other operates the finger. That's 'no better', really.

Something like my E71, I can do a lot with one hand, because it has the rocker, i.e. Scroll and select UI style. The key control are located below my thumb. There i can operate the device with the same hand that is holding it, because i don't need to much move the fingers around.

But on most touch UI's the control are all over the place. Yes, in theory you can reach them while holding the device, but it isn't very comfortable anymore. You'll drop the device sooner or later, trying to press a control in some bottom corner of the screen.

(Anyways, this isn't to say that portrait mode support isn't still a good thing. Just a viewpoint.)

I.e. I can switch songs with one hand on my n900 by holding it in portrait orientation. It's painful, partly because the UI is 90 degrees around, but then again, that's not the main problem: I recognize the prev/next buttons just the same. The operation wouldn't be much less painful if the icons would be rotated 90 degrees around, if they're still the same size and in the same position on screen.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Yep. That is because of the capacitive touch screen, which requires that you operate the phone with your finger and not with the tip of your nail (skin leds electricity, nails don't). And since few of us have thumbs which are small enough we have to use, for instance, the index finger of the other hand. That is, as you so correctly stated, ”no better”.
I would never buy an iPhone, because to me it's imperative that the phone can be operated with one hand.

Now, the N900 has a resistive screen, which means that you can operate it using the tip of your nail - even your thumb nail. But that doesn't do you any good if it only works in landscape mode, since in that position it's impossible to hold and operate the phone with one hand...

Sadly enough.
Will have to stick to my HTC's...

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

I hope all the Maemans here realize how important one handed usage is to Symbian and its users. S60 was designed with it in mind from day one, and it is something that keeps Symbian in demand in half of all smart devices sold in the world.

FYI, ALL apps work in portrait or landscape on S60 3rd AND 5th Edition. On the N95, it was activated with the slide before the accelerometer was used to do ASR. And the preferred mode of text entry with Symbian is T9, not QWERTY (top S60 devices of the last few years: N95, N82, 5800, all feature one handed usage), though this may be changing thanks to the Americans. Like many others, I am able to type 40+ wpm with T9, nearly as fast as my full size typing skills. I had the N97, and hardly ever opened the slide, and mostly used it in portrait mode. It takes less hands, is easier, and makes people with one hand and active lives more happy and productive.

With all due respect, Jaffa, you have to listen to the new users, not try to outsmart them. New users, and any users that have been using ANY touchscreen smartphone of recent note, EXPECT automatic screen/UI rotation out of the box. The fact is portrait mode IS NOT SUPPORTED by the device via the UI, just the developer. That will hurt the N900, and if 30+ pages and various articles on the web and in print about it isn't enough to show how important it is, the Maemo community won't have much success appealing to new users.

The N900 has widgets, and is set up so you don't have to alway launch an app to get the data you want. Well, if I have to use two hands just to whip my device out and check the NBA scores, we have a big problem! Before I joined the Symbian Freak community, I had a blog with all of my content created while walking my dog, and most of my Symbian Freak content was created in the same manner.

Portrait mode is for saving time and increasing productivity. If I can't look at the screen while driving, shopping, burping the baby, or holding a hungry tiger at bay, I'm just using a laptop/netbook. Isn't the N900 supposed to be good enough to leave my lappy at home? If I need 2 hands, I may as well get a baby netbook with 3G and run Gizmo with Google Voice. Where is the advantage, pocketability? Is that it? Why not add to the advantage that smartphones have of one handed usage?

Nokia and the Maemo community have to take the lead on this and provide the things users want or need. Part of that is learning from Symbian, which is still the world's favorite mobile OS. We have alot of knowledge about mobiles to teach Maemo, evidently. By not having a totally rotating UI, it is on the developers to do it, and that's unacceptable. Remember Mobitubia, the Forum Nokia Champion app for viewing YouTube? Remember the UI was landscape only? I loved everything about the app except that, and most people preferred the no longer in development emTube app, which supported ASR along with the UI. Had he stuck with the normal UI of S60, he'd have had a much better app.

Try that while putting your baby to sleep, checking a map for directions while driving, walking the dog, or texting while cooking

It isn't portrait mode that makes people think one handed usage. It is S60, which was designed for one hand usage in most cases. However, when using a device in one hand, expecially one as large as the N900, portrait is the preferred mode. Landscape is too unwieldy in one hand, and try entering text with one hand in landscape. It is almost impossible on the N97 with the on screen T9 pad in landscape, and I doubt anyone does it.

Landscape is for when you have time to stop and get down to business, but for someone on the go, portrait it the best. Don't use the iPhone for an example. While many of the users here have them, many Symbianers hate that device because of the way it has set back hand computing. Using an iPhone with one hand is nearly impossible because of the screen and multitouch gestures, and even still, it had ASR out of the gate so you could get some one handed usage out of it.

Don't use the iPhone for comparisons much unless you're ready to hear how immature that platform is. It LOOKS slick, but its far behind Symbian in most aspects. Why not look to the N97 or N95 for inspiration? Those platforms have over 10 years of development, and it shows when you use the device while active.

I hope all the Maemans here realize how important one handed usage is to Symbian and its users. S60 was designed with it in mind from day one, and it is something that keeps Symbian in demand in half of all smart devices sold in the world.

FYI, ALL apps work in portrait or landscape on S60 3rd AND 5th Edition. On the N95, it was activated with the slide before the accelerometer was used to do ASR. And the preferred mode of text entry with Symbian is T9, not QWERTY (top S60 devices of the last few years: N95, N82, 5800, all feature one handed usage), though this may be changing thanks to the Americans. Like many others, I am able to type 40+ wpm with T9, nearly as fast as my full size typing skills. I had the N97, and hardly ever opened the slide, and mostly used it in portrait mode. It takes less hands, is easier, and makes people with one hand and active lives more happy and productive.

With all due respect, Jaffa, you have to listen to the new users, not try to outsmart them. New users, and any users that have been using ANY touchscreen smartphone of recent note, EXPECT automatic screen/UI rotation out of the box. The fact is portrait mode IS NOT SUPPORTED by the device via the UI, just the developer. That will hurt the N900, and if 30+ pages and various articles on the web and in print about it isn't enough to show how important it is, the Maemo community won't have much success appealing to new users.

The N900 has widgets, and is set up so you don't have to always launch an app to get the data you want. Well, if I have to use two hands just to whip my device out and check the NBA scores, we have a big problem! Before I joined the Symbian Freak community, I had a blog with all of my content created while walking my dog, and most of my Symbian Freak content was created in the same manner. I expect the screen to show my data as it orients to me, not as I orient myself to the device.

Portrait mode is for saving time and increasing productivity. If I can't look at the screen while driving, shopping, burping the baby, or holding a hungry tiger at bay, I'm just using a laptop/netbook. Isn't the N900 supposed to be good enough to leave my lappy at home? If I need 2 hands, I may as well get a baby netbook with 3G and run Gizmo with Google Voice. Where is the advantage, pocketability? Is that it? Why not add to the advantage that smartphones have of one handed usage?

Nokia and the Maemo community have to take the lead on this and provide the things users want or need. Part of that is learning from Symbian, which is still the world's favorite mobile OS. We have alot of knowledge about mobiles to teach Maemo, evidently. By not having a totally rotating UI, it is on the developers to do it, and that's unacceptable. Remember Mobitubia, the Forum Nokia Champion app for viewing YouTube? Remember the UI was landscape only? I loved everything about the app except that, and most people preferred the no longer in development emTube app, which supported ASR along with the UI. Had he stuck with the normal UI of S60, he'd have had a much better app.

Try that while putting your baby to sleep, checking a map for directions while driving, walking the dog, or texting while cooking

I hope all the Maemans here realize how important one handed usage is to Symbian and its users. S60 was designed with it in mind from day one, and it is something that keeps Symbian in demand in half of all smart devices sold in the world.

FYI, ALL apps work in portrait or landscape on S60 3rd AND 5th Edition. On the N95, it was activated with the slide before the accelerometer was used to do ASR. And the preferred mode of text entry with Symbian is T9, not QWERTY (top S60 devices of the last few years: N95, N82, 5800, all feature one handed usage), though this may be changing thanks to the Americans. Like many others, I am able to type 40+ wpm with T9, nearly as fast as my full size typing skills. I had the N97, and hardly ever opened the slide, and mostly used it in portrait mode. It takes less hands, is easier, and makes people with one hand and active lives more happy and productive.

With all due respect, Jaffa, you have to listen to the new users, not try to outsmart them. New users, and any users that have been using ANY touchscreen smartphone of recent note, EXPECT automatic screen/UI rotation out of the box. The fact is portrait mode IS NOT SUPPORTED by the device via the UI, just the developer. That will hurt the N900, and if 30+ pages and various articles on the web and in print about it isn't enough to show how important it is, the Maemo community won't have much success appealing to new users.

The N900 has widgets, and is set up so you don't have to alway launch an app to get the data you want. Well, if I have to use two hands just to whip my device out and check the NBA scores, we have a big problem! Before I joined the Symbian Freak community, I had a blog with all of my content created while walking my dog, and most of my Symbian Freak content was created in the same manner.

Portrait mode is for saving time and increasing productivity. If I can't look at the screen while driving, shopping, burping the baby, or holding a hungry tiger at bay, I'm just using a laptop/netbook. Isn't the N900 supposed to be good enough to leave my lappy at home? If I need 2 hands, I may as well get a baby netbook with 3G and run Gizmo with Google Voice. Where is the advantage, pocketability? Is that it? Why not add to the advantage that smartphones have of one handed usage?

Nokia and the Maemo community have to take the lead on this and provide the things users want or need. Part of that is learning from Symbian, which is still the world's favorite mobile OS. We have alot of knowledge about mobiles to teach Maemo, evidently. By not having a totally rotating UI, it is on the developers to do it, and that's unacceptable. Remember Mobitubia, the Forum Nokia Champion app for viewing YouTube? Remember the UI was landscape only? I loved everything about the app except that, and most people preferred the no longer in development emTube app, which supported ASR along with the UI. Had he stuck with the normal UI of S60, he'd have had a much better app.

Try that while putting your baby to sleep, checking a map for directions while driving, walking the dog, or texting while cooking

MOST touch UIs, but not the good ones. N97 may be "clunky" as they say, but it works with one hand just fine. Well thought UIs don't have to always be cute, but if they aren't thought out well, they are counterproductive. Think about all of the S60 devices and think which one CAN'T be used with one hand...

Notice your choice of words: "PAINFUL" If a device pisses you off using it, you use another. Don't make the N900 my home device and the N95 8gb my mobile when I'm away. I'm fine with that, but I don't see why Maemo isn't capable enough. Nokia has equipped the N900 with the necessary hardware and software. WE need to get Nokia and the Maemo team to get it where we need it to be so it becomes a standard for computing, not just another choice.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Yes, that is no better.
But I'd have to say that most people who've used the iPhone for more than a few days would already be able to use it one handed, even for typing. Yes, for typing of course it's slower than using 2 hands, but for most other uses (browsing, rss/ebook reading, music player control, viewing calendar, contacts, sms and emails) using it 1 handed is just as fast.

From all the iPhone users I know around me (more than a dozen), I've never seen them use the 'grip and point' method past the first week of use. And many of them are female (non techno geeks), with small asian hands.

The 'grip and point' method that you mentioned is the posture used in most Apple demos and marketing materials and I guess most people may copy that method to try it for the first time. The advantage of that method is that it's easier and more accurate to point with your index finger, so this would be a good method to use for most people new to capacitive screens.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

We went through this with S60 5th Edition. Its important to users. Accept it. Why not just add it in instead of trying to act like it won't matter? If it matters to some, it will become an issue that will get trumpeted, and create fodder for the iPhans and Android heads that already have ASR.

http://www.symbian-freak.com/forum/v...ic.php?t=21546

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

What does Nokia's marketing research say?

You're right about the first part, but you're wrong about the second part. The general rule is real simple:

Regardless of the application, portrait mode is for one-hand use, landscape mode is for two-hand use.

But you have to break it down per application, and sometimes for location. For example:

95% of the time I browse in landscape mode
100% of the time I talk on the phone in portrait mode
100% of the time I watch videos in landscape mode
80% of the time I take pictures in portrait mode
100% of the time I text/email in portrait mode while standing up on the subway
95% of the time I text/email in landscape mode while on the toilet
100% of the time I remote control in portrait mode
95% of the time I play games in landscape mode
etc

A good portrait mode UI has an applications frequently used controls at the bottom whether they're on or off the screen.

Yeah, a viewpoint from a Nokia employee that has known the hardware and software capabilities for a long time. Are you telling us that the designers and developers didn't know there was a 3D accelerometer?

The bottom line is this: There is no doubt that the layout is beautiful, but the question is how useful is it. Some of us think it can be much better and we're a little confused why Nokia needs convincing.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Listen or obey ?

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

I've done that, every night for months with my third child. She lay on the Boppy in my lap, my right hand held the bottle, and my left held and used my N800. I browsed the web, checked email, and read RSS feeds. So, that's one-handed use of a landscape device that is "friggin' huuuuge" compared to the N900.

I imagine I'm an outlier.

Nokia hasn't killed Symbian. It's still there, being developed. If Maemo 5 doesn't suit you, you don't have to buy a device that uses it.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

I'm guessing that you have the bottle in your right hand because you use your left hand to manipulate the dpad and the buttons around it?

Unfortunately this is no longer possible on N900. And I'm not sure if Maemo 5 will be as keyboard-friendly as the previous versions (will it have keyboard control in the app selection screen, for example?).

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

That's a pretty lame response. You underestimate the Symbian users, and you and some of the others in this forum need to decide if you want to remain a nich market of a few hundred thousand or tens of millions. You came off like a jerk, though I doubt you intended to. I've merely stated that one handed operation and ASR in the UI will be something most users will expect. We've already been without it, and now that we've had it, we don't want to go backwards.

I get the impression Maemo users and developers are aloof and don't really want the Symbian guys here, but without us, you won't remain a relevant OS. Maemo and Symbian have more in common than many expect, and it could possibly continue to be the mobile standard for hand computing.

You should think of what's best for Maemo and hand computing as a whole. ASR is one feature, and it will help millions enjoy and maximize the OS. Its a good thing, and no one is making you add it. I just thought this thread was about explaining how it can be helpful. Plenty of evidence has been submitted. Should we ignore that evidence? You certainly can, but I bet RIM, Android, Microsoft, WebOS, LiMo, and Apple won't for too long. They've already poached enough features to be attractive. Will Maemo follow or lead?

Would you say it was as easy as using it with two hands? For S60, the experience for most touch apps is no different in portrait or landscape. With the size of the N8xx, I doubt it was easy or enjoyable. Also, does the UI of the N8xx have ASR? I don't have any experience with that device. But I expect it wasn't an enjoyable experience, and without that baby, you'd relieve yourself using another hand. And I doubt you'd compare the one handed usage of the N97 to the N800 regardless of size. As long as the data on the screen is not rotated, its just a workaround, and the fact you try to use it one handed is proof there is a need for ASR in the UI. I hope you agree.

You have alot of nerve, audacity, even! That's the second time I've had to listen to an a..hole today. :rolleyes: I see the M in Maemo isn't for "manners", but I guess the web has spawned the age of disrespectful cowardly men, brave enough to speak to real men in a manner they'd never choose in a face to face conversation. I'll keep my gloves off, but I gotta put you in check a little.

I've made my device choices on my own for years now. I'm well aware of the Symbian OS development, and intend to continue its usage from a personal standpoint. I'm here as an advocate of mobilism, and thought our input here would help in an open source ecosystem, where ideas are supposed to be implemented if they help make the platform easier to use.

I'll continue to use what I please, no matter how much you like it, and if I see areas I can contribute to its improvement, I'll do just that. No one said I HAD to buy anything, just like I don't HAVE to listen to you, either. You're free to reply to any comments I make, but you will respect me, and I'll choose to ignore idiots like you that only have their own interests at heart.

I'm here as a promoter, and want Maemo to appeal to as many people as possible. If one of those people is you, great! If you're already happy with Maemo, great as well! I'm not, just as I wasn't in Symbian's case all of the time. I speak for users that want more out of their device. If you don't, just shut up, play wallflower, and let the innovators do our thing.

I pay full price for 90% of my devices, and get $0 for my participation in the Symbian and Maemo communities. I'm here because I love mobiles and mobilism. Why are you here? To stifle innovation and progression? I won't invite you to an Apple forum, but you might fit well. Pick your own device, and worry about you. I got this, bro.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

@christ: Take it outside or get a room, please.
None of this self righteous, I'm holier than thou, and name calling crap..

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

You won't see me shed a tear at the loss of the D-pad. I've been the president (a sole member) of the Hardware Button Elimination and Device Size Reduction Society since I bought my N800. I don't speak of my ideas on those matters often though, because I don't see why anyone else should care.

I used (and use) my left hand to manipulate my tablets one-handed for the same reason I use my left hand for dialing phones, typing one-handed, turning keys in locks, entering the passcode in the lock on my office door, using a calculator, using my cellphone, and most anything else requiring small, precise movements: my right hand is useless for such tasks--even though I'm "right handed". It's terribly inconvenient that numeric keypads are on the right sides of most computer keyboards, I tell you.

FUD?

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Sounds good to me :)

Ok, my point was that the N800 is highly usable with a single hand for non-typing tasks due to: the D-Pad, hardware buttons and OS2008's controls\menu that are concentrated on one side. In this case the left side.

Not an intentional one. It's just a question in my mind, since I've seen 10 or so N900 videos so far and none of them have shown the use of the keyboard to navigate.