Maemo's annoyances
 

- App Manager is slow - Why tell me that it's not slow and give me a reason why it is slow? THE APP MANAGER IS SLOW.
- Small list of apps - That's a fact and I'm not blaming devs who give their time to contribute. It's just stupid to rely on them to fill the software repositores especially when the OS only works on 2-3 devices.
- Music player sucks. - It's almost as bad as old Symbian versions of the media player. Where's the equalizer? (among other lacks)
- No real auto-focus feature - Pressing on the button half-way to get the focus is not what I call real auto-focus. I want to take a picture right after it auto-focuses like on normal cameras. I don't see whats stopping Nokia from adding that feature.
- Lack of support/updates - If the update isn't important, why are thousands waiting for it impatiently?
- Choppy UI - For example: Try scrolling through a long list of contacts or songs.
- Sync software full of bugs. "Will be fixed" still means that the bug is still there.
- GPS software lacking. I can't use it as a GPS replacement even if it was meant to be that.
- Time on recieved SMS is wrong most of the time. - Don't tell me I'm the only one getting these issues. I've read threads about this that were not resolved.
- Phone sometimes reboots when I plug the USB in it - This might not be Maemo but it still sucks.

...

More to come


P.S. To those who tell me to sell my phone if I'm not happy, I'd rather throw the brick on your face because the shattering effect gives me more for my money than to just sell it at a loss.

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

........and?

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

I feel so enlightened now

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

please fill in bugreports.

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

I can look at any device and bring to light all the issues it has, nothing is perfect. If the N900 annoys you so much, then sell it and buy something you'd like. If you like it deep down, but there are small annoyances, then help make it a better device by filing bugreports like Zehjotkah said.

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

Like the guy said if something doesn't work for you file a bug report, but i must take exception to 2 of ur points
-choppy UI, ive never noticed any problems and since instaling transitioncontrol its quicker and more responsive than my gf's iphone.
and -Lack of support/updates, we only recieved the last one a few months ago, in around 6 months we've had 3 updates, can you tell me another OS that recieves them that frequently.

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

Shh.... troll feeding in progress...


Someone obviously didn't do their research before buying their device.

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

you know that if something bothers you about anything it is still best to keep to a proper way of communication, which would imply using proper sentences (you know "subject predicate object" etc!) to express what is exactly the problems you are facing. just making a list that could also be your shopping list, will neither help you, the community nor Nokia to get a grip where the actual deficiencies lie.

so if you have a valid reason to complain about some part of the software or the OS in general, please feel free to file bug within the bug tracker system, but please also stop posting your personal opinion as facts.

just because a software does not include a certain feature, does not necessarily mean it is lacking anything. on the other hand if there is a valid reason for your complaint (manual or official statement by Nokia etc.) that promised a certain functionality which is not included, again I'd ask you to file a bug

thanks

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

This has got to be one of the most pointless posts ever.

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

Where can I find a list that contain these deficiencies if I were to research this properly?

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

How good are bugreports if the fixes are a myth - like PR1.2?

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

Here's one of many sources:

http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p=655215&postcount=1

:D

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

Here, of course, where we have it shoved in our faces every day and are insulted and trolled constantly because we like the device.

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

@tex, wmarone: well obviously :D

But any kinds of negative sounding posts have always been swamped with denials by the apologists. Especially earlier on in the past months closer to N900's initial availability.

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

...and any sort of praise has been countered vehemently by "haters".

Point?

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

@tex: the point is that 'research' is near impossible without having the hardware yourself, due to the 'apologist tendencies' to mask the true deficiencies.

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

I sort of agree - it's a vicious, evil circle in a way..

a) New user state some complaints they have about a device,
b) Fanboys shoot it down, ridicule the poster claims all is ok,
c) Potential buyer reads thread buys device as fanboys says all is ok

[repeat]

Open and honest discussions about a device flaws and goodness would probably cut down on the number of 'disappointed' users coming to complain about what they bought (and yes, of course doing more research, try it out in the store, check multiple sources, use your head, etc, etc are also tools that should be used - but since someone brought up that people should had read up here before they purchased it still sounds apt).

I wasn't around when the N810 was released - was there an equal amount of heated pro and con discussions back then?

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

- App Manager is slow - Seems ok here considering the amount of open applications it scans within the within the application catalogues
- Small list of apps - More than enough apps for my purpose agaisnt the reality of what the device is used for.
- Music player sucks - Music player plays at this end without complaint.
- No real auto-focus feature - The camera has an autofocus that real and works for me each time it's used in auto setting.
- Lack of support/updates - All the PR's before 1.2 have come downloaded & installed without problem. The open applications installed are available for update on a regular basis.
- Choppy UI - User interface not choppy here be it single tasking or multi tasking.
- Sync software full of bugs - Manage to sync mine without problem or hiccup.
- GPS software lacking - GPS work fine and applications are available for download that utilise the GPS. There's also GPS mapping applcations out there as an option.


:)

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

I still take issue with that.

When the N900 was first released, I found far, FAR more negative press on it than positive. I daresay it might actually be the same now.

And I'm still befuddled by what detractors expect here. I respectfully point to the url and all identity elements clearly showing this to be a Maemo-centric site. More people are naturally here to learn what they can do with the N900, not zero in on flaws.

So a little more pragmaticism, guys, please, and less disingenuity over the default tenor.

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

I'm not even going to bother replying to these threads anymore.

...Dammit!.

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

Yes, I'm fine with that; that is to be expected from a forum like this.

What I take specific issue with are the defences thrown whenever someone ask about (Maemo on) N900's deficiencies:

- You didn't do your homework, you should research it first

- The N900 is not a phone/smartphone; it's an internet tablet with a cellular phone (???)

- N900 is just step 4 out of 5 (Is that even still relevant? How can someone from the outside know about such obscure remark made on maemo-developers-only gatherings?

All those remarks would work if the person who voiced the complain is an active reader of this forum; of which case he probably won't be asking those questions in the first place.

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

ysss I won't defend responses on an individual basis. There are too many extremists on either side of this silly old war who refuse to exhibit any consideration for others.

But I respectfully submit that anyone coming to an enthusiast site expecting pure objectivity is severely deluding themselves. It's improbable. So while I won't defend certain incidents and aspects of the never-ending debate, I will vigorously defend the right of this forum in toto to operate as an enthusiast site where members shouldn't be made to feel guilty for overlooking shortcomings of a device they find mostly useful.

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

@tex: hey, i'm with you on that point.
Maybe I'll spend sometime to write up a 'N900 problems list' that could be useful to new users reading up about the unit. Then again, it's already quite late in N900's lifecycle..

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

I actually agree with that, on both counts. Heck that should have been on the wiki. But then, it still doesn't solve the problem of people dropping in here angrily and being surprised by "fanboy" defensiveness.

Ultimately I fault Nokia marketing (certainly not this volunteer-staffed forum) for continuing to present Maemo devices as more polished and consumer-ready than they actually are. That's bothered me ever since the N800 launch...

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

You are so eloquent Texrat.

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

Seriously, why can't moderators DELETE these threads?
Or, at least, merge them into the "N900 graveyard" thread?

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

I blame lack of alcohol.

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

As a new user myself, I can say that "do your homework first" is a valid point. I spent about a month reading this forum before I made my decision to buy an n900 and I couldn't be happier. I have yet to come across something I really wanted that the community doesn't have a solution for. That said, if you are not willing to get your hands dirty and learn some new things about computers this is not the device for you.

Btw, I think the Droid Incredible was the next best thing I handled in my research and even that felt like a toy compared to the n900 :)

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

One more quick point - any question I have will generate several useful responses within 5 minutes. How many other communities can claim that?

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

Speaking of... :D

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

Then don't use it. apt-get, aptly, et al are all available, even allowing you to install multiple apps at once.
Not really. If you mean maemo-specific, you could be right, and at which point I'd make the quantity vs quality argument. Otherwise, I'd say we have 250,000 apps available by using easydeb -- practicality is a different argument;)
Relative. Explain why it sucks and we may be able to improve it. Too lazy to find the posts right now, but some people have already made improvements to the default player by adding plugin support as well as equalizer support. Yet still, others are creating alternative players or porting pre-existing ones.
What is "real"?
Granted PR1.2 is delayed, but in a few months time we've already gotten 2 firmware updates. How many times has Android 2.0 been delated for say, the TMobile's Motorola Cliq for example?
Also, the community support is pretty stellar. Case in point being fmms, vertsms, forementioned mediaplayer mods, fm-boost, and a host of others.
Mine isn't. Alternatively, while it isn't recommended, some are overclocking there device with significant results. I seem to recall there being a thread on making desktop transitions smoother as well.
What software isn't? Can't say much other than that considering I don't user/need sync software. SSH FTW.
Perhaps this should be [included] GPS software lacking? There are already alternatives such as Maemo Mapper, Sygic, Navit, and browser-based google maps.
...

If the N900 was the original poster, I imagine it'd have responded as such about users:
- impatient
- too lazy to write apps for me but has enough time to complain about said lack of apps.
- complains about my current state, but not willing to report the issues so that I can become better.
- keeps comparing me to hardware that has been out for years.
- illiterate -- or ignorant in that they fail to read already available information about me -- that or thought the product box said IPhone

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

Why are you here? Haven't you sold your device yet and left? Or did you ever own one?

The App Manager is actually quite quick, especially when the list of apps is small. It slows a bit when you enable the extra repositories because you're adding thousands of programs. So, you can't have it both ways.

The music and media software has played everything I've thrown at it without a glitch. The UI has always been responsive and the auto-focus feature works well. It works a lot better than most other phone cameras, which have a fixed focus.

As for GPS software, yup, OVI maps suck. But there are plenty of alternatives (Maemo Mapper and Sygic to name two).

As for "Lack of updates/support", I ask you again: Name one other phone you've had that's had 2 updates in the first 6 months it's been on the market. This device has had 2 already, in under 6 months, with a 3rd looming around the corner any day now. Can you name one other device that's had that much support?

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

I was wondering the same thing. I must not have done my research properly -- how would I go about it?

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

I think this bit of woody14619's post is a great example of what the discussion between ysss and Texrat was all about.

And in an utter turnaround it has not once played an h.264 video (even low resolution) that I've made using handbrake, and its music handling capabilities are poor at best and horrible when dealing with non-Latin characters.

Well, I think the larger issue is that vendors like Apple have shown long term support for devices, and the out of box experience is superior. To the Internet Tablet division's credit, they aren't nearly as heavily backed by the parent corporation as Apple's iPhone group is.

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

The point is that "do your research" is a lame answer to this sort of complaint because the only way that I know of to "do your research" is to hang around here for a few years.

I know that one poster above actually suggested that customers should have known things that were mentioned at Maemo conferences. I remember another poster (at another time) actually suggested that customers should know something because it was mentioned in a speech on the radio once (a speech that I never heard, for one person).

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

Two years? A google search slashes that into a couple of minutes, assuming you're looking for certain things (portrait mode, MMS, etc). I myself took a couple of weeks and new what I was getting into.

That it should take you two years to figure out if a device is meant for you or not is lame...

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

Feh. I research using this new thing called "reading review articles". They're all over this thing called "the internet".

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

The complaints were lame as pointed out... non-specific, general...kinda like:

eggs suck;
egg slow;
egg gross.

perhaps I missed the point.

I spent 3-4 months doing re-search (which purely consisted of this forum and the maemo website)
Now: some people won't take advice (my lady told me to wait) and just spring out $600 to get the latest/flashy/coolest phone/tablet out there (@textrat: I agree about the marketing). By waiting I learned there were issues.

If you want to buy the latest. Then you get your hands dirty, or...just complain.

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

well sure no device does have 2 updates in a halve year But if there are such heavy bugs that i cant use the phone becouse i cant hear my call partner about the call silence bug, or i sit in a buisness meeting and my media player suddenly starts to play, or i use my phone for a whole day and suddenly the desktop doesnt response completly (hildon bug) then for me its a strange Problem.

And if ppl come to this Forum here and complain about the N900 and those selfcalled geeks just calling them trolls again and again without to know what background the writer has.

Maybe he is in the it buisness for years (just saw a thread where a geek called someone a troll and in the "whats your job" thread the "troll" was an developer for the apple OS then sorry guys i just can lough about you.

I dont know why those bugs dont disturb anybody in this forum maybe you use your n900 as little laptop and never did a call with it , or never used it to hear music just hacking code in the little terminal application all day and getting hard about wow its a real linux look top works ..

sorry for this angry words but i cant read about this stupid arrogant behavior anymore.

Re: Maemo's annoyances
 

I must admit, the hildon bug is a bit annoying as is the fact that when I go to "add shortcut" on the desktop, I get two Calendars, two Clocks, two Conversations, two Media Players, and two Photos - what's that all about?