Wow. Talk about a splash page.

Sorry, I'm not a Symbian user. Is portrait/landscape switching pervasive on an S60 device? The only time I've seen an N97 being used, it was primarily being used landscape.

This "portrait mode isn't supported on the N900" meme is wrong. The problem is "portrait mode isn't automatic, and as a consequence isn't supported on many of the built-in apps at this time".

Personally (and this is my choice), I'd rather not have waited another 6-12 months for the N900 whilst Nokia sorted auto-reflowing or adding it to all the built-in apps. Yes, I'd like it if it was there (for the calculator, PDF viewer and browser[1]); but OMG, I haz wants for P0NIES too!

[1] Interestingly, I thought the lack of one-handed SMS sending would bother me: I often send a short "I'm on the 18:33 [train]" message home as I'm walking down the platform. But having used the N900 for a while, this omission hasn't bothered me at all and I can happily do it landscape.

full use and power of the accelerometer should be utilized while navigating the device like all others with accelerometers like the n97, 5800, g1, etc. it would be a huge let down and a turn off for alot of buyers if just calling profile is portrait.

I need portrait mode for reading & writing quick e-mails and text messages, checking Facebook & other websites, for RSS feeds, for calling, retrieving data from the phone book, for the calendar, for media/music player, for the camera... All in all: for the apps I want to be able to use on the fly, for instance while standing in a crowded bus, where I need to hold on to something and therefore only have one free hand.

I want to be able to choose when I use a device in landscape mode, and when it's more convenient for me to use it in portrait mode. Landscape mode is OK for long e-mails and text messages and for browsing the web - but portrait mode is essential when you're in a hurry or can't/don't want to use both hands!

I was very eager to buy a N900, until I heard that portrait mode is only available when making calls (which actually is a function I rarely use)!

I too would prefer that option.

It makes sense that if you start in landscape you are probably going to spend more time doing something so keep your heavy-duty applications on the landscape desktop. Portrait would have more informative "quick use" widgets and applications.

For example I would probably have the weather on portrait and perhaps a large digital clock so I can see at quick glance. Whereas on landscape it would probably be more cluttered things I would spend a lot of time on.

But being able to IM in portrait is essential. I love the idea of IM staying connected all the time, but its not very useful if every reply I have to use both hands, especially as sometimes you only need to reply "yes" to someone. A simple calculator is even more essential to be in portrait - who uses two hands for a calculator?

As others have said, there are issues with having to stand still and reveal your phone to the world when working in landscape. That gives people time to see you and mug you. If you are still walking you are not drawing as much attention to yourself. So there are very important real-world reasons for portrait to be in there.

That said, the N900 is still at the top of my "next handset" list due to developer friendliness. I was happy with my Xperia X1 and learning C#, but quickly I realised Windows is just overly complicated and a mobile OS needs to start from scratch with simplicity in mind. It seems Maemo is exactly this.

what if nokia is listening to our rants and including portrait mode as soon as possible? Does anyone think that may be the reason for delaying the release by a couple of weeks?

HEY SACHIN007!!!

This is the second time you've said it's been delayed by a couple weeks (and the second time I've asked you what you're talking about).

Where is that news? Please answer this time.

I can tell you haven't been paying much attention.

Nokians from earlier in the thread said that for them to have every app work in portrait mode it would likely delay the N900 between 6 months to a year, so no... there's absolutely ZERO possibility that any sort of two week delay is going to make that happen.

@sachin: lol dude, why do you have to work so hard to raise your own expectation to unrealistic levels..

i mean, sure that would be really nice.. but i don't think that's likely

hey ysss,

Sorry i did not reply earlier because i was not sure as it was a one off twitt from a twitter user. But i confirmed it to myself because i saw another twit confirming the same thing. I am currently on my n810 so cannot provide the links.... will do later.

And regarding my expectations.... the way qgil and ragner have been asking for portrait use cases i thought nokia will definitely work hard to sort that out as soon as possible. Of course i understand it wont be don in 2 weeks.... but just wanted to discuss with u guys even if that was a remote possibility. I assume to get n810 like rotation support without any re-alignment of widgets wouldn't take much time.