Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

@ christ

Posts like yours above make me want to look for the 'block all posts by this user' button. I am already doing it mentally. Please keep it a little more reasonable or you risk that people will stop reading anything that you print.

Epi

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Both apps that really need portrait, already support them:
ebook reader (FBReader)
shopping lists (Shopper)

Of course, I am not against making it bog simple for these two apps to do this. From what I can see in the code, it is a bit of a trick to get it done in maemo 4.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

I guess a lot of us would breath easier if we were to have an official statement from Nokia saying that they also consider portrait mode important and are working to support it.

Call me cynic, but from what I have seen so far, not gonna happen. At least, not soon.

*sighs*

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

They've said that Maemo 6 will be a lot more portrait friendly.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

One of the reasons I will not buy the N900 right now. Waiting on Harmattan.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Indeed it has, and I don't think anyone is arguing that more universal portrait support, when it comes, will be a negative development for Maemo. However, Fremantle won't bring it, at least initially, as that would have delayed its release by (a probably roughly estimated) six to twelve months.

That further delay would have left maemo.org something like a ghost town, and killed any momentum Nokia has built with the tablets.

On the other hand, it's clear Nokia has heard the demand for better portrait support here and elsewhere. They've dropped strong hints that Harmattan is the place for that, but they've also hinted that they'll be investigating what can be done to add better support to Fremantle down the line, through SSUs.

Certainly not. I only mentioned I'd done it as someone, possibly you, stated it wasn't feasible.

I apologize, but I'm unfamiliar with the term, and none of the top Google hits make sense in context.

I've never seen, much less used, an N97. In fact, the only Symbian devices I've ever seen (beyond Internet photos) were in the Nokia store in Heathrow. I should have stopped to look at one, but, well, I've never been interested in phones.

I apologize for offending you. I had thought that "Don't buy what doesn't suit your needs" was a fairly innocuous statement, but I clearly need to rethink that.

You've presented yourself here as a pillar of the Symbian community, a well respected voice of knowledge there, and one who, through his insightful and well researched articles, provides valued recommendations to the Symbian user base. I've no reason to doubt any of that, so I've accepted you at face value.

You've also said you know the Symbian users, and they will not accept Maemo 5, as is, without universal portrait support. I have no reason to doubt your knowledge, so I accept this too.

It was with these givens in mind that I made my, I'm sorry to say, offensive statement. For now at least, Fremantle does not have what Symbian users need. However, as you say, they take portrait support such for granted that they might never think to question its existence in another OS. You're in a position to educate them on the issue and explain that, for those who need more portrait support than Fremantle brings, sticking with Symbian may be the wisest choice, at least for the time being.

There's no time left for Nokia to make fundamental changes to Maemo 5 now, and the delay required for inserting such would be too large to be beneficial. So while we can attempt to assist the Maemo developers and mangers by proposing select, priority pieces for possible, future "portraitization", having Symbian users (or others) show up simply decrying Maemo 5 for its lack of portrait support isn't productive. Please note I'm not denying that universal portrait support would help Maemo 5 and the N900 succeed in the marketplace. I'm sure it would. I'm simply pointing out what is, and how we can move forward productively.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

What I was trying to say in my limited English is, we (who are those we anyway ? No Nokia folks in this particular subthread) are listening to people's needs, but are you, Symbian users listening ? Do you realize what Maemo brings to the table, how does it work both as an OS and a community ? Maemo is able and willing to change in it's own pace, but are you, Symbian folks able to change and adapt or do you just see a technically improved Symbian alternative in it and want the same features, same philosophy (and same limitations) you had, just in a shiny, modern package ? 'Cause that would be a shame, as Maemo is so much more.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Ok, anyone who owned a Nokia N-Gage, raise your hand! :D

If you did, you shouldn't have any problems with the N900 at all (atleast i won't really, had a N-Gage 1,5yrs)

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

The whole idea of migrating from Symbian to Maemo is to, at least, preserve the same features and to forget about its limitations.

Maemo, being feature-wise identical to Symbian would be a no-brainer decision because it wouldn't have said limitations, however, losing features makes that decision harder.

Either Symbian addresses its limitations, or Maemo adds the features it lacks. If Symbian does it first (and they are working on it), then Maemo won't gain new users from this platform and will have to look for them elsewhere.

The reverse, of course, can also happen and that would be more desirable for Maemo's future.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Automatic Screen Rotation, afaik. :)

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Thanks! That sure fits the context better than Automated System Recovery or American Sociological Review.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

I have been using many s40 and s60 phones, my N810 and other small devices (also cameras and SLRs) a lot. I was shocked to see and read this thread through. The way I see it, Nokia has made all the right choices with the screen orientation and usability in the N900. To defend ones inability to accept a natively landscape-oriented, new device with one hand usage, symbian development, or just habit/the-others-have-it-too, is just plain childish to me.

So, some people want portrait-orientation on a phone, some need it. As it stands, and this is expressed many time in this thread, the N900 isn't the right device for those users. A differet phone will have to do, or they need to wait for the next Nokia phone that will have the same speed with a portrait orientation.

I have been using all the beforementioned devices with one hand to my satisfacton. And as said, YMwillV. If one needs to use a certain device at a certain (uncomfortabe) time, one will find a way to do it. And here's the catch: how the **** the users threatening here, who apparently have single arms, cannot suddenly use a landscape-oriented phone? Already I can see an ultimate elite forming: those who can use their N900s the way they like, as it was designed. ;)

Well anyhoo, this discussion has very little to do with the N900 specifically, I hope that everyone understands this. Other devices (phones for one-hand-usage) will come. Symbian will get the hardware it needs to perform, whether the speed will come from optimizing the os or raw powaaaah, I really don't care. I will be satisfied with the N900 as it is now, and with future improvements it will be even better.

Nowhere does it say the N900 will be the only device using maemo 5. But it seems apparent... This thread is under 'platform > maemo 5' and to me seems specific to the N900. Should it be kept more strictly with N900 or be bent towards 'step 5'? I thought the 'problem' is already solved in maemo 6.

Just my 2c.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Au contraire! :)

http://www.humanfactors.com/downloads/nov02.asp

The average novel is about the right width for optimum reading. Putting it in portrait means you can maintain that width and have more on the page. The particular width is for specific font sizes etc of course.

In the case of reading in a mobile digital format I would argue that the reduced scrolling requirement is in favour of portrait.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

I dunno. I've heard that early books were tech support nightmares.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

You reminded me that I used to own a Nokia 5510 :D Funny thing, during that time It didn't even come to mind that I was limited to landscape use only.
http://img.gsmarena.com/vv/pics/nokia/no5510_00.jpg

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

I don't think the purpose of Maemo is to copy Symbian.

For Nokia it's a bit pointless. It already owns Symbian, and it is doing well, there is no need to replicate it. Symbian is not going away.

No feature is free. Every feature you add makes the entire package heavier and makes future development slower. Maemo is in an advantageous state because it doesn't have much legacy right now.

Things like MMS are legacy. Legacy features are features that people still use, but are generally on their way out. People were still using C cassettes a long time after CD discs came out. Irrespective of if and when MMS support comes for Maemo, adding something like MMS support creates a lot of legacy baggage. MMS uses WAP protocols, and it is burdened with several kinds of oddities, service-specific exceptions etc.

Once a feature, any feature, is there, stripping it away becomes very hard. And as long as something cannot be stripped away, it takes time and effort and man months to develop and maintain, and it creates links and hooks and limitations to the UI and the SW, making it increasingly harder to remain agile and making it increasingly likely to slow down future progress.

You surely realize that there is a correlation between how features Symbian has and how long it takes to develop for it. And there is a correlation between how many features you have, and how many 'limitations' the sum of the features then create.

What Symbian is is defined by the features it has and the process in which those features have been built. Projects like "there is application X, I hate the application. Let's try to do a better application Y with all the features of application X." can often end up with Y being just like X. (The Netscape story comes first to my mind.)

So, and this is just my personal viewpoint, if Symbian is for smartphones and Maemo is for mobile computers, I'm happy if it turns out so that Maemo does not try to get every feature that Symbian has, but rather develops a whole bunch of features that Symbian does not have. Naturally there is some overlap, but there are also some quite distinct use cases and use case prioritizations between a "smartphone" and a "mobile computer".

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Replying to myself, for those interested in the story (it is a very good story to remember):

http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articl...000000069.html

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

I'm sorry, unless Nokia adds diagonal mode and sidetalking, I will be forced to buy a fax machine.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

"Oh, that new phone from Nokia.. I heard it's pretty good, except it's not powerful enough to do portrait mode" :D

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

You're right. I get heated sometimes. But those familiar with me know why I'm here, and know I'm a fire soul. I'm passionate about mobiles, and do everything I do to further the industry, nothing more. I'll still be broke and depending on dog breeding and recording music to feed myself. This is what fuels me, not pays me.

I'm not what I'd consider self righteous, just more of an advocate for mobile users. I think some users get ignored because of attitudes like some I've seen and heard in these forums, and I don't think it does Maemo or mobilism any good acting that way. All should be welcome here, in the spirit of open source and crowd source initiatives. Unwelcome behavior invites the rebel dissident in me. I think all should be welcome, and opinions should be respected. And I think that "stick with Symbian if you don't like Maemo" attitude was just snobby, and I hate snobs. Sue me. BLOCK ME! But don't direct it at me. I don't play that, sorry. I know how powerful open source ideas and sharing can be, just as much as speaking with tact, so I'll take everyone's advice. I hope some of mine is taken as well.

That's totally fine. What I have to say as far as furthering the development of Maemo and making it appeal to a wider audience may not apply to you in the first place. I notice some Maemo users aren't big proponents of change or progress, and anyone willing to suggest such is stepping into territory already staked as their own. I wouldn't want to waste your time either.

I'm surprised no one has stepped forward and called out whoever it was that suggested to me or anyone else that Maemo wasn't for them. The fact is the true OS I envision doesn't exist, but this is the closest. That I may have an idea to improve it is a good thing in my book. If ASR improved S60, and it did, it should be as good for Maemo. In fact, I don't see how it would be a disadvantage on any level. I understand Maemo 5 was released before they had time to do something like ASR in time, but I also bet Nokia can see the value in it. Too bad others can't, and I'm ridiculed for believing it can. I will say I'm not the only one feeling like I do.

I keep hearing others say "The apps that need to be in portrait..." Its not that simple. Some want apps in portrait, others in landscape. Why have to choose? PC users, smartphone users, point and shoot cameras, even PMPs support allowing users the choice to decide what's best for them. Maemo positions itself as the device you "use as YOU wish". Will it live up to that, or be the "use as WE think is best" device? We'll see...

Thanks for the nicer reply, sjgadsby. I understand where you come from. But when someone says something in the OS is cumbersome, listing an extreme use case of using the device sideways as a viable alternative gives the impression that acceptable support already exists, when I know the iPhone minions will eat Maemo alive with bad PR if we don't take new users seriously. And finding out you've never used a Symbian device, you've probably had little experience with ASR. I suggest you use an N97 or 5800 for awhile and then realize how ASR can improve the Maemo experience. It is actually a big advantage. That they are phones is moot. I use the N97 as a web tablet, and SIM free, depending on Google Voice and Wifi. The two OSes are more alike than you realize, and we should use the ground broken by Symbian to grow Maemo.

The "don't buy what suits your needs" thing was rude, but its over. I know now you weren't trying to be an ***. But what if nothing suits me? Shouldn't an FOSS OS be agile enough to adapt to more people's needs? I think what I want fits Maemo MOSTLY, but the future has yet to come.

Don't think Symbian users won't accept Maemo as it is. Its just that Nokia has placed Maemo as an upgrade to S60 at the moment. I don't want to downgrade anything from S60 in the process. I am just predicting what the Symbian users migrating to the OS will be saying, and its best we know and prepare for it. It may not be productive, but it will happen. How do you handle bad press, tell them to go back to Symbian?

ASR isn't a big philosophical move, and not much to ask for. As a whole, Maemo rocks, but its not as ubiquitous as Symbian for a reason, and it will only be held back or advanced by us. Fremantle has what S60 users need, just not ASR. It wasn't in the original N95 except by slide action, but now its everywhere. Maemo can be the same way.

I'm sure Maemo users said they don't need a high end camera module either at one point. Well, you'll see the advantage of it soon, and realize you don't know what you need until you've either tried it or lack it. Progress is usually good.

atilla77, Symbian users are definitely listening. We're aware of what Symbian brings to the table. My Symbian community is one that operates devices on the extreme end, hacking and modding and whatnot. We aren't much different, I keep saying. We've always seen Maemo as our big brother. We DO want the same features and functions of Symbian for Maemo, but that's a good thing. Symbian was built upon 10 years of mobile research, and Maemo has an opportunity to build upon this. We see room for growth, at least I do. Symbian was getting too bloated for this growth, but Maemo is fresh with standard stuff we need.

Jack6425, don't forget the old Ngage didn't survive, and today's Ngage has grown from that limited platform, great as its sidetalking was. LOL As mrojas said, the migration from Symbian to Maemo should be about preserving the past great experience while growing new ones. We already have a landscape only S60 device, and it held back an otherwise great device (E90). Maemo shouldn't remind us of past mistakes, but future triumphs.

I'm glad mrojas said what he did about Symbian. Its totally possible that Symbian will become an alternative to Maemo, and its better adaptability makes it easier to fit more shoes. It could become a Maemo 2.0 quite easily. But Maemo's Linux framework makes it better to me, and I shouldn't have to lose that just for ASR. Screen size and resolution maybe, but not something like ASR.

Said Mandibela:
"So, some people want portrait-orientation on a phone, some need it. As it stands, and this is expressed many time in this thread, the N900 isn't the right device for those users... who apparently have single arms, cannot suddenly use a landscape-oriented phone? Already I can see an ultimate elite forming: those who can use their N900s the way they like, as it was designed.
"

Will this be the statement going forward? Or is there any traction to adding it to the Maemo 5 platform in the future? Because Symbian users are used to buying devices now and waiting on features expected in the future. But to simply say "Go try another OS" isn't what most Symbian users imagined an OSS OS would bring. We imagine something like our PyS60 devs on steroids. Ask for a feature loud enough in a large enough group, and watch it come to life. But 30 pages later, its a "do it our way or bounce" way of life. Sad, IMO.

Also, remember not all mobile users have even one hand or fingers. Accessibility is a major thing with Symbian, and I speak for many disabled mobile use groups. One of those is Amir Solemani, a great Symbian user who happens to be legally blind, and others that have missing limbs and other maladies. What do you tell them?? Get another hand or an HTC Hero?! I hope not. Being an FOSS developer means filling the needs of consumers. Which ones do we leave behind, those that want one handed usage and accessibility features? Maemo 6 is a year away. So we just say "wait" and not serve our base? Because by default, flagship and premium Symbian users just became a big part of it.

ragnar, MMS is legacy to you, but to people with no data connection in emerging markets, its the only way to send images. Not everyone has email, though Nokia and Ovi are trying. So some technology is good for some people, and killing features because WE don't need them is alot like the mistake Jobs made with the iPhone. He claimed it wasn't needed, then trumpets when he adds it to the iPhone.

right now, maemo and Symbian are alot alike, only lacking support for Linux tools and apps, and that will somewhat change soon. Maemo needs to be ahead of Symbian by a mile, not a block. rangar, I'm interested in these supposed distinct use cases of smartphones and mobile computers, and how you even differentiate the two.

To end this short reply, I'm like a pit bull sometimes, and need my chain yanked to calm me down. Sorry.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

christexaport, I never thought there could be so much use for portrait mode. Call me ignorant, but I've always thought it's just some people finding the excuse for wanting to use the phone or texting while driving.
You have opened my eyes and I am amazed by the way people use phones nowadays.
I definitely would wish for a phone wide portrait mode usage, if not during launch, then later through firmware upgrades.

Bravo!

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

The thought came to me as the few individuals expressing their wishes were quite definitive in their needs for a device that clearly was designed as something different, that maybe in the future could support those needs. I'm defending the Nokia folks as they of course have the understanding of different peoples' needs, as they have clearly stated many times that they will have different platforms for different needs. The N900/fremantle is a transitive device between internet tablet and a 'flagship smartphone'.

In todays world it's perfectly fine to say that 'you must go look elsewhere, this device will not be suited to your needs'. If someone comes here with demands for something that is ideologically so far (in design, application, practice and what not) from the N900's purpose, I think that it is fair to comment even harshly that 'we won't do it'.

I, personally, want a device that is (from Nokia =) clear in its purpose, simple and functional. To me, the N900 is already that. As the iPhone is to others, and 1101 to others. You all see where I'm going with this...

And I do feel silly for writing all this. But I'd rather explain these things and maybe even get resposes, and pointers too so I can help friends in their purchases.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

That may be true for MMS, but clearly not true for Portrait support.

Adding portrait support, having API calls that deal with it, software keyboard built-in, is essential for the opposite reason - it SAVES development time.

Personally, I do not mind so much if most of the built-in applications are landscape only, although I too would prefer to be able to send IM and SMS with one hand (but it would not stop be buying the N900). My personal objection, is as a developer I would expect at least a soft keyboard available via an API, even if none of the stock software actually uses it.

As for ASR (which kinda assumes ALL stock applications support it, a big request at this point) there are other issues too. For example I often watch YouTube and iPlayer in bed on my iPod Touch and ASR is a real problem there - it rotates the wrong way because my head is at 90 degrees to where it would normally be. So there is another example of "one size does not fit all" and personally, I would need applications to have a "temporarily disable ASR" option if it was implemented.

Ironically, the latter makes it pretty clear that the N900 will be extremely useful for me if I want to use it in bed with it being locked to landscape. But as others have said, its still not a good excuse to make it less useful for when trying to IM people on the bus where I may be stood up or have shopping bags in one hand.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

I can tell you've never worked in software development and have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. You aren't backing up your claim of how adding portrait support from the start would have saved development time. Nokians themselves earlier in this thread have said that it would have added almost a year to the N900's development time.

Adding more features adds more overhead to development time.

Adding more features adds on an exponentially greater amount of testing time.

These are facts of development life. Anyone that's worked in software development before will tell you the same thing.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

When that happens, try flipping your iPod another 180 degrees. It's funky (and clever), but here's how the iPod's ASR logic works:

For example, if the home button is on the right and I rotate counter-clockwise, the screen will stay in landscape mode. If the home button is on the left and I rotate counter-clockwise, the screen will rotate to portrait mode.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Here's an idea... What if we made a phone keypad in landscape mode, that could fill either the right half of the phone (for right handed users) or left half of the phone (for left handed users). I've already seen a picture of such a phone keypad in use in the landscape phone mode... All it takes is to add T9 to this and we can type our messages one-handed... Yay! Of course there is a danger of dropping the phone because its CG isnt centered at our hands unlike in portrait mode.

The other thing that concerns me is that the the all-too-important multi-task icon is at the TOP LEFT HAND corner. Sheesh... that means I wont be able to tap that button with ease when I'm holding my phone in landscape mode with my RIGHT hand :(

Perhaps nokia should learn from the mistakes of microsoft mobile (small 'x' icon on the top Right corner, and small start button on the top left') which were inaccessible with one hand, and take a leaf from iPhone (an accessible button at the bottom of the phone) which optimizes one-handed use :)

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Crustie hit the point perfectly. If you insist on landscape mode then put the important buttons near the bottom. I imagine thumb usage will be most common in landscape modee. My other interest in landscape mode is holding onto it. (grip with hand vs. grip with fingers) But with a wrist strap it seems that worry is gone.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

I believe his premise is that if there are going to be portrait mode applications, then they will most likely need a similar toolset (virtual keyboards, etc.). If this toolset is not supplied by the OS, then each portrait mode application developer will have to reinvent the wheel. And they will probably reinvent the wheel with their own flavor, and thus UI consistency could go out the window. This would not only be a waist of time, it would be a waist of time with the side affects you were talking about.

So, I disagree with you, whether or not he has ever worked in software development, he knows what he's talking about if I interpreted his premise correctly. He may not have backed up his claim, but some of us who are in software development understood what he meant.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

I read in another thread how you want to integrate new users and get blogs to link them this way but after reading last 10 pages this is not a place for new people like me b/c old users all just gang up and pat each other on the back and belittle the opinions of newbies who are giving serious feed back.
some old users are taking the critiscm way too serious, this is thread for people to give opinions on improving the portrait support not for you to defend why its not needed.
this is not on attack on anyone in peticular and i must add some old users here see how important it is to have portrait mode but others just go all out defensive

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

If he was talking about just an API, sure... of course it makes sense that Nokia has one for everyone to use. Even still, that API will take time to develop if there isn't already one available (if one is even needed to begin with). That time isn't free for Nokia.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Nokia developers should read this article:

http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articl...000000052.html

And realise that it's only by eliminating all barriers to entry for newcomers to adopt the maemo OS, such as the lack of MMS, no voice over 3g network, no portrait support, no one-handed support, newcomers will continue to have a lot of reservations about investing so much money and time in learning a new OS. Compound that with the lack of good app market, this ham-strunged maemo is almost condemned to be a niche tool until the next reiteration can address some of the potential newcomers' reservations.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

And you can't think of any recent examples from history, say of a new OS, without things like MMS support, VoIP support or universal UI rotation support, that have been at least fairly successful?

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Yes I do, but that phone does now :) Keep up! Switching to this phone should feel like a step forward, not a step back...

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Well, but it sold n millions copies without having MMS, for instance. Do you think there has a been a horde of consumers, on the fence, thinking that "if only it would have MMS support, then I would buy it in an instant!" :)

I think not.

It is not so much about having any individual feature than it is about the overall experience. Naturally there are different market segments: once exhausting/fulfilling the segment of "the tech leaders / early adopters", so to say, then if you plan to target the "middle segments", then adding features like MMS comes more important.

But you have got to start somewhere. And somewhere is not trying to target everyone at once. You can start with a smaller set of features and sell that set to the segment willing to buy it, then at the same time winning time to build up more features. Surely that should be plain to see.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

I have not used MMS since 2004 theres free ways to share media these days, why throw away money ;)

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

What is MMS? Is this some '90's retro thing? :D

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

I got 3000 free MMS per month - and the receiver pays nothing. Clicking a link or checking your email goes on your dataplan and will cost you in the end thou, which is why I mostly MMS funny pictures I take with my n95 camera instead of posting online/emailing from my phone.

Each to his own thou - I've preordered anyway and I expect to learn about the MMS standard unless someone else implements it.. ;)

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

nothing is for free you pay one way or another the only time you get supposedly free MMS is if you subscribe to a monthly price plan or long term contract, its never actually free its just bundled in with other stuff and said to be free, its modern day dishonest marketing
btw it costs nothing to use WIFI and it also doesn't actually make a dent in your data plan if your on a decent 3G tariff

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

AMEN! I've never felt more ignored in my life. Public relations with the new users sucks, to put it lightly. I don't care though. I'm here to shake things up and move Maemo forward. You should just ignore the closed minds and focus on those willing to see the vision of Maemo's future users.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

We already know portrait mode isn't used in most of the apps at this point and Nokia knows there's a decent amount of you that want it. There's not much point in rehashing all that (whether or not I agree with you on if it's needed/important/etc...)

What those of you that want portrait mode should do is try to organize yourselves so that you can get what you want.

Those of you that are programmers can start looking at the open sourced default Nokia apps and start working on patches that can be given back to Nokia for integration in later updates.

Those of you that are designers can start looking and UI ideas for existing apps and see what designs and ideas the portrait users seem to like best. (There's a chance that I can put you in touch with a few people that can help with this in a few weeks.)

Those of you who are end users without those specialized skills can offer your services for testing and giving your opinions on what the programmers and designers are working on. Also, get in touch with the people behind some of your favorite 3rd party apps and tell them how important portrait mode is to you. (Those of you that want to help with testing and are new to it, don't be shy. Ask and we can help you learn how to use Bugzilla, proper testing procedures, etc...)

If you want portrait, be proactive about it. Just posting in this thread isn't going to be enough alone. Make it happen. And even if you think some of us old users are trying to put you down, I think you'll see quite a lot of us will be more willing to help than you might think.