I am working in the port of wxWidgets and wxPython to the Maemo platform.

My last try did not manage to get a proper look and feel in the Maemo environment. But this time I copied the files from /usr/share/themes from my Nokia 770 to the scratchbox environment on my computer (just click here if you are wondering what the hell is a scratchbox), and added this to .gtkrc-2.0 to my home directory

include '/usr/share/themes/default/gtk-2.0/gtkrc'

After that, without recompiling the libraries, all the applications got the Hildon look and feel, as the following screenshots evidence:

The Minimal sample (wxWidgets)

A sample showing the wxGrid widget (wxWidgets)

The menubar is not yet integrated with the Hildon look and feel (wxWidgets)

A sample showing some buttons and a tooltip (wxPython)

The different kind of buttons available in wxWidgets (wxPython)

As the GNU/Linux version of wxWidgets is developed with GTK, it seems that the applications are very well integrated. For example, they are responsing to maximize to full screen events (with the hardware button). There are still some minor issues, as the menu bar, which is a window placed over the main window. Instead, it should use the Hildon functions for menu bars. Also the virtual keyboard annonyingly appears each time you click in the bottom part of the screen. I don’t know yet why.

So I think as soon I have a couple of days, I will manage to port these libraries to Maemo. And so applications will be to able to be developed in C++ and Python for the Nokia 770.

I have been testing how to use a digital certificate with the Nokia 770. First of all, go and get a free digital certificate. After creating a client certificate, download and import it using the Certificate Manager in the Control Panel:

Set the Trust options to everything, so you will be able to use the certificate both with the browser and the e-mail application.

I first tested the browser, and I could not identify with the certificate. I only obtained a Unable to complete secure transaction:

I tested the same certificate with Mozilla Firefox in GNU/Linux, and it worked without problems; so it seems the browser can not work properly with user certificates.

Then I tried the e-mail application. I created a new message, and set up the Digitally sign option:

When sending the message, a pop up appears and asks you for the certificate password:

Then I checked that the message can be correctly read when downloaded using the same e-mail application:

So the conclusions are clear. Certificates are not properly supported in the web browser (it is a known and reported bug), and correctly supported in the e-mail application.

A month ago I received a new linux gadget for my collection, the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet. I bought that device because I was looking an affordable ebook reader device and I found on N770 the best choice.

It finally arrived to my hands I had been greatly impressed with its screen, was exactly what I wanted.

I’ve started to install my required software. First I installed xterm that let me investigate internals of that gadget. After I installed fbreader, this was my primary target after all. Now I finished read two books since then. The third piece of software that I’ve installed was nethack and that was my first deception, because I couldn’t execute the game on my device, two days after I discovered on the author’s port page that something was wrong on latest firmware.

That was a perfect introductory challenge to learn about maemo development. I’ve started downloading latest ubuntu and installing it. After I followed maemo’s tutorial steps for install development tools and “hello world sample”. Next step was download nethack port sources from Ralf Engels and started to solve compile and execution problems that I found. When main problems solved and obtained first functionally version I started improve it according my interface preferences.

Here you can download binary and source packages.

This is my colection of devices running Linux:
- Dreambox 7000S Sattelite TV receiver
- Laptop DELL Latitude D600
- gp2x portable console
- Nokia 770 Internet tablet

This is my nethack port running on maemo. I've done some customization on GUI acording to my preferences.

That's my first atempt of porting VideoLanClient to Nokia 770. I will work on it the following months. Porting VLC to maemo platform will be my graduate project on computer science at Universitat Oberta de Catalunya.

By now I followed guidelines of "Cross compile VLC for ARM-based platforms".

That's my build script:

mkdir src
cd src
rm -rf *

echo Uncompress
tar -jxvf ../paquets/ffmpeg-20040520.tar.bz2
tar -zxvf ../paquets/libmad-0.15.0b.tar.gz
tar -zxvf ../paquets/libogg-1.1.tar.gz
tar -zxvf ../paquets/flac-1.1.0.tar.gz
tar -zxvf ../paquets/libdvbpsi3-0.1.4.tar.gz
tar -zxvf ../paquets/a52dec-0.7.4.tar.gz
tar -jxvf ../paquets/vlc-0.7.2.tar.bz2

echo Building ffmpeg
cd ffmpeg-20040520
./configure --prefix=/usr --cpu=armv4l \
--disable-mmx \
--enable-shared \
--enable-pp \
--enable-gpl

gcc -O3 -g -Wall -I. -I/home/jep/vlc/src/ffmpeg-20040520 \
-I/home/jep/vlc/src/ffmpeg-20040520/libavcodec \
-I/home/jep/vlc/src/ffmpeg-20040520/libavformat \
-D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64 -D_LARGEFILE_SOURCE -D_GNU_SOURCE \
-I/usr/include/SDL \
-I/usr/X11R6/include \
-D_REENTRANT -c -o ffplay.o ffplay.c
make
make install
cd ..

echo Building libmad
cd libmad-0.15.0b
./configure --enable-release --prefix=/usr --host=arm-linux --target=arm-linux \
--x-includes=/usr/X11R6/include \
--x-libraries=/usr/X11R6/lib \
--disable-video-opengl
#--enable-fpm=arm
#--enable-fpm=arm
export PATH=/usr/bin:$PATH
make
cd ..

echo Building libogg
cd libogg-1.1
./configure --prefix=/usr --host=arm-linux --target=arm-linux
make
make install
cd ..

echo Building libflac
cd flac-1.1.0
./configure --prefix=/usr --host=arm-linux --target=arm-linux
make
make install
cd ..

echo Building libdvbpsi3-0.1.4
cd libdvbpsi3-0.1.4
./bootstrap
./configure --prefix=/usr --host=arm-linux --target=arm-linux
make
make install
cd ..

cd a52dec-0.7.4
./configure --enable-release --prefix=/usr --host=arm-linux --target=arm-linux
make && make install
cd ..

echo Building vlc
cd vlc-0.7.2
./configure --target=arm-linux --host=arm-linux \
--disable-wxwidgets \
--disable-skins2 \
--enable-release \
--prefix=/usr \
--disable-plugins \
--enable-gtk \
--enable-gtk2 \
--enable-pda \
--enable-ncurses \
--enable-x11 \
--disable-gnome \
--disable-qt \
--disable-kde \
--disable-qte \
--disable-xosd \
--enable-dummy \
--disable-fb \
--disable-sdl \
--disable-oss \
--disable-alsa \
--disable-httpd \
--disable-libcdio \
--disable-xvideo \
--disable-dvd \
--disable-dvdread \
--disable-vcd \
--disable-cdda \
--disable-mkv \
--disable-maxosx \
--disable-xosd \
--disable-freetype \
--disable-flac \
--disable-libmpeg2 \
--enable-mad \
--enable-ffmpeg \
--enable-familiar \
--disable-dvbpsi \
--x-includes=/usr/X11R6/include \
--x-libraries=/usr/X11R6/lib

# --with-gtk-config-path=/usr/bin \
# --with-gtk-prefix=/usr \
# --with-ffmpeg-tree=../ffmpeg-20040520 \
# --with-a52-tree=../a52dec-0.7.4 \
# --with-dvbpsi-tree=../libdvbpsi3-0.1.4

# --with-mad-tree=../libmad-0.15.0b \

make

just read it on the developer list and tried it right away, and yes it works. So since firmware 51-13 (should be the latest) we have working monitor mode.

Since you need the Linux wireless tools to set monitor mode (iwconfig wlan0 mode monitor) and the 770 comes without them I complied and packed them. Download them here.

so here is dsniff for the 770. Warning the package is BIG.

Oh Crap

Over at Engadget they have an article about the next version of the Nokia 770. It says that the next version will have a full QWERTY keyboard. That was the one thing physically that I think the device needed for me to love it even more than I do now.

Link

I uploaded a new version, with some changes on maximized view that some people asked me.

During next weekend I will work on player dialog issues.

Here you can download new binary and source packages.

Thomas King has made a comparison between DejaPIM and GPE also. Go check it out.

Link

I finally made my about me page. I had some time since the freeway to work was closed and I couldn't get to work. So I made the about me page and fixed the menu so it works when the comments page is loaded. I put up a picture of Kevin Rose and myself at a taping of TWIT.

I've been working on VLC port this weekend, this is the result on my laptop.

Build script.

This is a new build of my nethack port. I believe that my last upload was wrong sorry for inconveniences.

I made some interesting changes, almost some according my preferences.
- Added a new button on toolbar for cast action(spell book icon)
- Left margins as I announced last week
- Now only role and race is needed to start a game, random choices will be done when are set

I would like receive some feedback about the port. What would you like to see in next build? Ideas to improve playability and interface, etc.

I wish you good luck in the dungeons of doom.

P.S. I added permanent links to binary and source packages on blog sidebar

I uploaded a new release of my nethack port. Now you can set your preferred tileset.

I don't packaged any alternate tileset to keep it small but is easy find some tilesets on google.

To add a tileset you need download it and copy to /user/.nethackdir using xterm.

Edit /user/.nethackrc setting tile_file, tile_width and tile_height values.

I would like receive some feedback about the game in order to improve it.

I have tried out MaemoBlocks and I have to say that it is fun. I have played Tetris a lot and I thought that I had enough. But being able to grab the blocks with the stylus is just fun. I find it interesting that there were problems with the 4-way directional pad so using the stylus was the alternative. I think it should be the rule for all handhelds. So great job and keep up the good work.

Link

Good night, new release uploaded.

Now I packaged two tilesets, 32x32 selected as default.
I add a symlink to ~/.nethackdir/saves at ~/MyDocs/.documents/.games/ . Using N770's file manager it's easy backup your save games to memory card.

TODO:
- #twoweapons menu entry
- multiselection item dialogs
- bind one or two new toolbar buttons to interesting actions according to role
- discover how to put "direction dialog" in lower left corner directly

I only played wizards an valkiries, I don't know what actions are wished in relation to role, comments on that will be appreciated.

This weekend I will work on VLC port. I only could test it on laptop and I don't know how package everything to be installed on N770.

That's all for now, good nethacking.