Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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 - Done, testing
IP address monitor - Code works, awaiting icon
Countdown Timer - Done, testing
Gmail Inbox/Nokia Messaging monitor
Mobile Banking
Post-it notes
Show recent photos/sketches/notes/apps
CPU Use
Memory Use
CPU Load
Uptime
Remember The Milk
Battery monitor
Screenlets
Recent Calls
Favorite Events
Webcam monitor
Stock market
Doppler radar image
Location-Based GPS alarms/reminders
Package/Delivery tracking
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

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

Gmail inbox feed widget

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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.

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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?

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

I submitted a brainstorm proposal for a Mobile Banking Widget.

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.

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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 :)

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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.

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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! :)

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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.

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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

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

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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 :)

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

i mean to this:

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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.)

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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!

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

A ruler.

PS: Did anybody already mention screenlets.org? 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

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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

(The graphics are already ready)

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

liqtorch is already in extras-devel

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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

Re: Widget Proposals for 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.

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.

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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

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

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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:

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.

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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.

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

"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.

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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).

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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.

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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.

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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

...to name a few

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

Location Based (GPS) Alarms

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

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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

Re: Widget Proposals for Maemo 5
 

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