I think the Maemo community and Extra's repo is excellent, but Maemo and all future and past devices need a single source for all applications.
Like for the Iphone you have itunes where you can get all applications and even in the jailbreak community you have cydia you can easily install new repositories to Cydia via one of the many existing repositories.
What i propose is that Maemo does the same, have a new category listing only the repository, company name and what is included in it. So it can be added easily to the application manager list.
The would give all users the bonus of:
1. Finding great repositories such as Firefox, Fring etc
2. Users like me (i am a techie and those not familiar with what a repository is) would know they are safe and approved by the huge maemo community. It would help keep good stuff in and infected repo's from phishers out. Increased security !
3. It would create a one stop shop for all app's. Maemo and non-maemo. Since apple have adopter this practice (on non-jailbreak devices) Maemo must have a simple and easily place to find all applications, even non maemo ones like fring and firefox, if there is the ability for big organisations like Firefox to have their repo's added to Maemo so users dont need to search the web but can easily find everything in one place you would get a more streamlined interface, easier to use and people would find applications they might not know about.
I am sure there are many N900 users who dont come here like us and just look in the N900 application manager for app's.
If we allow other repo's to be installed from there it would make it easier for developers. Just look at Cydia and how that works. The N900 needs to be like that. Now im just saying add any repo, naturally organisations like Firefox are better than any tom-dick & harry but this is something i feel is lacking.
Legitiate organisations like firefox (and im sure many more to follow) should have their repo's listed in a repo directory for easy install.
PS i am an Iphone 3G 16GB convert to N900 32GB, i have used it for 18 Months so i know the ups and downs of apple and i want to see the up's brought across to Maemo.
I believe in the N900 and can see a future, if we make it easier for everyone we will get more converts.
