Essential and recommended applications
 

Hi all, my N900 is due to be delivered today/tomorrow and I thought it may be nice to have a thread for people like me; new to Maemo and open to suggestions and hints for applications.

I'm thinking along the lines of "Essential" applications- e.g. maybe better file explorer apps if the original is restrictive(?) and recommended ones; for example, is the Nintendo GBA emulator good enough to use as the main gaming app?

Ratings and warnings would be handy too; I.E. if you had a bad experience with it crashing the device after install.

Please feel free to post your suggestions here for us to fill our new toys with!

Re: Essential and recommended applications
 

I would greatly appreciate some recommendations on this thread too.

Re: Essential and recommended applications
 

I'm sure this has been covered somewhere or in many places, But a 'Master list' made sticky for the n900 would be awesome. Wiki?

Re: Essential and recommended applications
 

Yes a master list would be greatly appreciated with links, ratings and pricing information.

In the meantime: I should recieve my device tomorrow evening & will install a few and post feedback on this thread.

Re: Essential and recommended applications
 

I think wiki would be quite optimal for this sort of listing. Well, there could be other better things, but taking into account there aren't many other viable options currently than to use either this forum or wiki, wiki is my suggestion.

As for myself, the most essential program is OpenSSH client. It is a client for (text based) encrypted remote usage of other (mostly linux) computers. Can be found from the default application manager listed repositories. Not sure if it is on the 2 enabled by default or in the third 'extra' category. (To enable third one, click catalog selection from menu opening on clicking the top text 'application manager' once the app is started.)

Re: Essential and recommended applications
 

I think a wiki is a great idea - and happy to help write it - to be fair it's just a tidied up list of what is available - but a single place would be useful :)
Unfortunatley bit busy until tomorrow night :(

Re: Essential and recommended applications
 

You generate the list, with a brief description of the 'recommended apps for beginners' and why you recommend them. Uploading/editing or the wiki will get done. ;)

Re: Essential and recommended applications
 

I'm a little confused. Even though I am all for this idea, couldn't this be integrated into the Application Manager? Rate the software on the device, then you can sort through the highest rated apps.

I know that the Ovi Store on S60 allows you to both rate and leave comments on applications. Isn't that what we are trying to accomplish here?

If we put this on a wiki it will only be usable/findable by these forum members. We can't assume that every Maemo user will come to and read/scour the forums. The more information that is available on the device directly the better the overall user experience will be, agree?

Re: Essential and recommended applications
 

Well, everyone's essential applications will differ depending on what you like to do.

I've installed everything in Maemo Select/Extras and nothing is *really* essential. There are some nice things there like Xournal. Hermes is great for pulling in contact info and pictures from Facebook. Recorder is great to test if your microphone works.

One thing I would say though, is stay away from Rootsh unless you are prepared for the possibility of bricking your phone.

Re: Essential and recommended applications
 

(Sorry for the dup with jsuggs -- I posted before I saw his.) I really like how Ubuntu's application manager has the star ratings right inside & you can sort by them. However, assuming the N900's doesn't do that (I don't have an N900 so don't know), another option is to sort the Extras apps by rating. You can click "Downloads" above and click "Popular" or just go here:

http://maemo.org/downloads/downloads/downloads/25

Also, I'd encourage all fair-minded folks to contribute star ratings and reviews to this site.