Brainstorm

Brainstorm-talk: http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=50022

Profiles for not only ringtone settings:

• Set Bluetooth
• Set 2G/3G/Auto
• Startup/Stop OpenVPN or other tunnels
• Set IM states
• Set Volume
• Set Geolocation for IM
• Startup/Stop geotracking
• Startup/Stop FM Sender
• ...
• (ringtone/vibration settings of course)

(all of these settings at a time with profile change or groups of them)

triggered by events like:

• Menu  entry like the classic profile selector
• Defined WLAN is existant
• GSM state (if set to auto)
• Geolocation
• DBUS trigger
• ...

These MetaProfiles should be extendable (to create new modules for triggering and action)

There exists a protocol named ANT+ which is touted as a low power wireless sensor network. Many devices use it, in particular bicycle computers and heart rate monitors. It apparently uses frequencies in the 2.4GHz band. I know there are many transceivers in the N900. I was hoping one of them could be made to work with ANT+. Even though I am a developer, I have never worked with wireless protocols or RF in general, so I thought I would ping on others here before going on a wild goose chase.

ANT+ homepage

Some Linux software already works with the protocol using a USB adaptor that is basically an ANT+ to serial adaptor:

Garmin ANT+ data downloader

another ANT+ utility

Garmin ANT+ decoder

Talk thread here.

As we all know the N900 has no electronic compass, but for some applications like astronomy apps and augmented reality it could be very useful to have the possibility to determine in which direction the device is facing.

Especially for astronomy programs like stellarium it would be advantageous that the compass also works if the device isn't in line with the horizontal level (or if it's possible the accelerometer data has to be used to calculate the right data)

An additional device must have a clamp etc to fixate on the N900. A electronic compass needs to be calibrated, with a clamp that asserts same alignment every time it is used the calibration process must be done only once.

Thread in the forum

I know N900 will never support real multi-touch functionality because of resistive screen. But I would like to add some ideas how to implement it with almost same comfort by one touch at the time.

Multi-touch functionality, like zoom and turn, is the only thing where the iPhone is still better than N900. Why not mimic these actions where it is possible and make N900 more attractive for iPhone users? Let say that one finger touches the screen always before the other. You can perform same actions if the first touch position is fixed. It does not make any difference if hold your finger on this position or you rise it. So you can raise it before making the other touch. The only trick is how to recognize the first touch.

Discussion thread: http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=41837

I really was hoping to get my main GPS navigator out of N900. Usage in car would greatly enhanced by voice commands, no text/tscreen touch needed. Same use of voice commands for e.g media player music would be welcome too