sjgadsby | # 11 | 2009-11-10, 19:52 | Report

I was clarifying terminology for you, as you seemed confused as to what a widget is. That out of the way:

• It's already possible to place a shortcut to the File Manager on the desktop.
• Shortcuts simply open applications. They don't offer any configuration options that allow a user to specify a particular action (such as going to a given directory) an application should take when it launches.
• Depending upon what command line arguments and D-Bus signals the File Manager accepts, if any, it may be a simple matter for a developer to create a widget that tells the File Manager to launch and display a particular folder.

dormant | # 12 | 2009-11-10, 19:58 | Report

Thanks.

But I don't think that was what the OP* was after. He wanted to have his widgets inside folders on the desktop - at least that's how I read it.

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* I may be confused as to what an OP is - Original Poster?

sjgadsby | # 13 | 2009-11-10, 20:18 | Report

OP is Original Poster. You've got it.

As you replied to my reply to Laughing Man, I thought your interest lay with the tangent he had begun regarding the File Manager. I responded with that frame of mind. Sorry for missing that you were replying to the tangent but asking about Rushmore's original request.

As for that, I'm still not quite sure how "a folder of widgets" makes sense. The entire point of widgets is that they are active, running, mini-applications that display on the desktop. Conceivably, one could create an application that's a work-alike for the desktop, thereby providing additional space in which widgets can run. A shortcut to that application could then be placed upon the desktop. However, the balance between gains and work involved seems off to me.

An easier task would likely be to modify the desktop to support more than four screens, an idea that's been discussed previously. I rather expect someone to bring this idea to reality in the not too distant future, though I personally don't anticipate a need for it.

I am curious as to which traditional desktop environment(s) promotes grouping widgets in folders. While grouping document and application icons that way is common, I'm not familiar with widgets being treated in the same manner.

dormant | # 14 | 2009-11-10, 20:25 | Report

Ta muchly.

I, and maybe the OP, didn't fully get the concept of Widgets. I agree that a folder of widgets is a strange concept.

Another day, another smatter of knowledge. Beats working anyhoo.

Rushmore | # 15 | 2009-11-10, 20:25 | Report

Correct on the folder issue. I appreciate widgets, since I have them with Android (battery and resource hogs most of them).

Still, in regards to shortcuts to programs or other links:

Example is with my desktop or even Android, I can create a folder and place shortcuts into them. Exmaples of folders that I have that helps to reduce clutter and make it easier to find the app I want to run:

Media folder has Tunewiki, Shazaam, Youtube, Jetflicks, Netflix, gallery
Game folder has all of my games and emulators
Tools folder has calculators, stop watch, drawing tools
Call folder has all of my direct, one press calls

I am not listing all the apps in the folders, but point is this method seems far more clean and orderly rather than sprawling stuff over four desktops.

This issue and the lack of portrait mode will be big issues to almost everyone but most on this board.

Linux desktop gives the ability to create folders just like other OS's including mobile ones like WM and Android.

Respectfully seems an obvious feature to have unless scrolling amongst four desktops and locating the apps seems cleaner and more effiecient.

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Last edited by Rushmore; 2009-11-10 at 20:28.

qwerty12 | # 16 | 2009-11-10, 20:28 | Report

The file manager can be opened via DBus (http://www.mail-archive.com/maemo-de.../msg20998.html - written by me as a response as to how it can be done; make the required modifications to use it with dbus-send yourself if you wish to try it out on the command line) but it hangs if you give it a path with characters it does not like which kinda makes this sort of widget pointless (unless you're really careful about the paths you want it to open...).

Rushmore | # 17 | 2009-11-10, 20:38 | Report

Thanks to everyone.

What is the advantage of widgets over shortcuts to apps? Seems that both options would be better than only one. Folders allow the ability to organize better, unless you plan on not having many apps, contacts, etc. UPDATE: The manual says we can add app, bookmark and contact shortcuts, so why not allow folders to put them in to save desktop space and make more orderly? Seems better to have option to create contact, bookmark and app folders rather than have all directly on the desktop.

Kind of devil's advocate here, since this question, portrait mode while texting, FM radio, etc will be very common questions here in less than two weeks.

Must admit I am surprised there is no ability to make folders and place shortcuts in them rather than a bunch of icons everywhere.

Still getting the N900 for web and media, but the current set-up does not seems very desktop space friendly. Nor the most efficient to access the app or info you want (contacts, etc).

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Last edited by Rushmore; 2009-11-10 at 20:51.

sjgadsby | # 18 | 2009-11-10, 20:55 | Report

In the image above, "Dataplan Monitor" is a widget. It is a small, running application that appears on the desktop. As I use my cellular data connection, Dataplan Monitor updates in real time to show current information. Tapping Dataplan Monitor launches nothing.

The three icons on the right side of the screenshot are shortcuts. They are simple, static images. Working from top to bottom, tapping them launches the Conversations, DialCentral, and Phone applications respectively.

The advantage of widgets is that they do things on the desktop. The advantage of shortcuts is that they launch applications. They're different beasts with different jobs.

You can place a mix of shortcuts, contacts, bookmarks, and widgets on each desktop screen as you like.

I expect people will write some innovative application launcher widgets & applications for Maemo 5. Personal Launcher was certainly popular on Maemo 4, and there's already work underway on a Gnome Do port to Fremantle. You'll likely have something that suits your needs soon, it's just not there out of the box.

I'm probably unusual, but I find I almost never see my desktop. I bounce between applications quite often, but that just has me playing with the application switcher. I haven't found much use for the desktop screens.

dormant | # 19 | 2009-11-10, 21:00 | Report

Agreed. But I actually prefer a good menu system for finding apps. Personal Menu on the N800 is great for commonly used apps, with the normal Maemo menu to find obscure apps.

Rushmore | # 20 | 2009-11-10, 21:03 | Report

Thanks again! I do grasp widgets, since I used to have weather, twitter and Google Reader running on my Android G1 and got rid of them due to them being a battery and resource hog. I hope Maemo 5 is a lot better in those regards.