Re: When we will start writing in vertical position :(
 

I appreciate that this seems a simple solution but what about animated widgets and non-square furniture? The initial idea indeed deceptively simple but then things start to get messy. I am sure a solution will be found but that would also require a number of messages (additional to current framework I believe) in order to manage this information. Whilst not impossible it would certainly involve a not inconsiderable amount of work to take it beyond a hack ala N8x0 days.

The SDK hack was getting Xepher to display on a different orientation so I am still not sure that this would work for real as is. There was a bug in the initial release that allowed for some functionality like this as a bug but certain parts of the system didn't cope very well.

Re: When we will start writing in vertical position :(
 

Man, this thread is making me have to rework everything I've been doing. And I like it!

Re: When we will start writing in vertical position :(
 

I'm sorry. I don't get what you mean. What do you mean the hardware is Landscape by default due to the keyboard?

There are may devices out there that have a keyboard and still operate well in Portrait.

Maybe I should elaborate.

Portrait will be the defualt mode for everything. Menu, Task Manegaer, Home Screens, Virutal Keyboard. There is no need for the widgets to be re-aligned for landscape. Cause the Home screens need not be in Landscape at all. They can be only portrait

The instances for use of landscape are the countable ones. not the other way around. So. Landscape simply takes effect when the keyboard is slid out in the following apps:

Sms, browser, Email.

Other applicatins can choose to be landscape by default or switch with the acceloromter. Like Media Player

Only drawback I see is perhaps less real-state for Big widgets. but we can jut add more screens.

This is how it's done in so many devices with and without keyboard.....

HTC Touch Pro. E75, iPhone, Droid, Nexus...........

Re: When we will start writing in vertical position :(
 

If you guys need somthing really practical. I already made this suggestions a while ago.

Just make a virtual keyboard app in Portrait Mode. Allow one to copy and paste, via a button lets say,.to other apps. Acheivable due to the n900s mult-tasking. but then, the conversations App is still in landscape. so pasting might be awkward.

Re: When we will start writing in vertical position :(
 

Corso85, the reason why the N900 and Maemo 5 is predominantly in landscape mode is due to its heritage from the previous Maemo systems (which were all landscape). I also believe the GUI of the OS and many of its default apps are created using GTK. So it requires more time and effort to create a portrait mode. Hence the reason why most if not all apps and built-in apps are landscape only. Combined with the hardware keyboard (and again it's history as a Maemo tablet) landscape was chosen as the predominant mode.

Meego seems like it will be built predominantly in QT which has much better support for portrait mode. Hence it's better for switching being portrait and landscape.

To sum it up, will you see a virtual keyboard from Nokia in Maemo 5, and portrait mode across built in apps (3rd party apps do support portrait mode, especially the ones using QT since there's better support for them). Probably not (especially not from Nokia). If you do see it, it's likely going be the result of a community provided xrandr hack (which won't be pretty, parts of the screen will be cut off and inaccessible) and a keyboard app. Which I believe the keyboard app is being made.

This is how portrait mode was accomplished in the n800/n810. Though it wasn't pretty.

Re: When we will start writing in vertical position :(
 

That was my understanding of the situation. That is why I kept saying over and over. It's a Maemo 5 limitation. and it was decided that it wouldn't be addressed for this release. due to the things you mentioned. but to no avail :p

Thanks for explaining though, :)

Re: When we will start writing in vertical position :(
 

how many threads are out there whining for portait mode and other "missing features"?? why he had to open a new one??

these people are killing the forum structure...

Re: When we will start writing in vertical position :(
 

So basically everyone should use portrait because you think that the N900 should follow the lead of devices that don't have a pull out keyboard? So you are basically not arguing for both modes but portrait only and landscape (the only way to use the keyboard) as the abnormal use case? I think you're obsessing here beyond the point of reason!

Re: When we will start writing in vertical position :(
 

I think there's a reason that most handheld devices with similar form factor (elongated rectangular shape + slide out landscape keyboard) defaults to portrait orientation with the 'optional' or secondary landscape mode that gets triggered when the keyboard is slid out.

I'm no ergonomist specialist, but there's something about the default orientation that you'd get when you put that form factor in your hand, and how that is just one step away (one click, one swipe, one whatever) to activating the device to interact with it without having to involve your other hand.

Re: When we will start writing in vertical position :(
 

DUUDE. Read what I'm saying. i gave examples of both keyboard and non-keyboard devices.

HTC Touch Pro 2 and Droid and E75 have keyboards and their default operations are in Portrait!.

Yes Landscape should be the abnormal use status. That's how it is done on all devices. You're saying everyone is wrong? and the n900 is the only one that got it right??

Forcing people to use landscape for everything IS the unnatural way.