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-   -   What's your Maemo device's killer app? (https://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=43697)

wmarone 2010-06-03 00:10
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nosa101 (Post 696884)
Complex and nerd looking
There's no such thing as "intuitive" in computing. Don't mistake what you've learned for "intuitive" and disregard other UIs because of it.

Vinh 2010-06-03 00:13
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
On an N770 with OS2007HE...

browser - for booking tickets, researching and booking hostels/hotels
Gizmo5+Google Voice - to chat with people back in the States
Skype - for calling friends overseas and dealing with lost luggage

nosa101 2010-06-03 00:13
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by wmarone (Post 696886)
There's no such thing as "intuitive" in computing. Don't mistake what you've learned for "intuitive" and disregard other UIs because of it.
Intuitive = sh*t even my grandma can use

Are you saying Midnight Commander couldn't do with a better GUI?
Be objective here.

rm42 2010-06-03 00:17
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
Easy debian is fully usable. It is very easy to install. For me the best part of Easy Debian is that it brings a full powered word processor and spreasheet application to my device in the form of OpenOffice.org. However, I have to agree the MicroB is the king of all mobile applications anywhere.

The thing is, the N900 doesn't just have one killer app. It has many, on several different categories. The media player has some great features, but it is probably the weakest aspect of the device. However it does the job acceptly well for me.

Any way, these are my personal killer apps:
  1. MicroB
  2. EasyDebian/Oo.o
  3. Garnet VM (Palm OS on the N900
  4. Python

wmarone 2010-06-03 00:20
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nosa101 (Post 696889)
Intuitive = sh*t even my grandma can use

Are you saying Midnight Commander couldn't do with a better GUI?
Be objective here.
You're basically bashing something for having a UI you aren't familiar with. It's like criticizing people for using (and enjoying) a console instead of a GUI, claiming it's inferior to a point and click interface because your grandma can't use it.

Fortunately, *nix and the N900 give us all options, instead of only one.

nosa101 2010-06-03 00:22
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by wmarone (Post 696899)
You're basically bashing something for having a UI you aren't familiar with. It's like criticizing people for using (and enjoying) a console instead of a GUI, claiming it's inferior to a point and click interface because your grandma can't use it.

Fortunately, *nix and the N900 give us all options, instead of only one.
C'mon
Are you serious?

It is not about being familiar with the UI, are you saying that is the best it can do? You don't wish it was any simpler to use?

wmarone 2010-06-03 00:28
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nosa101 (Post 696900)
C'mon
Are you serious?

It is not about being familiar with the UI, are you saying that is the best it can do? You don't wish it was any simpler to use?
Why would I wish it was "simpler" to use? Necessarily with simplicity you give up capability. It's like suggesting that regular expressions are too hard, and we should "make grep simpler."

But you know, you don't have to use it. So get off it. If you have an issue with people using such tools, go to a platform that flatly denies people the capability.

rm42 2010-06-03 00:28
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nosa101 (Post 696900)
C'mon
Are you serious?

It is not about being familiar with the UI, are you saying that is the best it can do? You don't wish it was any simpler to use?
The command line and many of its programs *are* simpler to use. They just happen to be harder to learn. But once you learn them they reward you handsomely.

nosa101 2010-06-03 00:34
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
I don't have an issue with people using CLI. But it could be better.
So Midnight Commander is at the best it could be? If everyone thought like this then there'd be no innovation.

Look at this example, using CTRL + SHIFT + P for taking screen shots (I know it isn't CLI). If this was reduced to one button, wouldn't that be a more intuitive solution?

Simplicity doesn't mean less capable. It's all about working smart.

wmarone 2010-06-03 00:40
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nosa101 (Post 696915)
Look at this example, using CTRL + SHIFT + P for taking screen shots (I know it isn't CLI). If this was reduced to one button, wouldn't that be a more intuitive solution?
Sure, but you either lose a button or go through the extra effort and resources to add a hardware button. Whereas with CTRL+SHIFT+P you neither need additional hardware, lose functions, nor do you need to load extra software. You have to look it up to use it, but once you know it, you're done.


You don't use emacs/vim, do you?

Quote:
Simplicity doesn't mean less capable. It's all about working smart.
Which is why I installed the system monitor applet that gave me a screenshot button with a 20 second delay :) I could also install scrot, I suppose...

nosa101 2010-06-03 00:44
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by wmarone (Post 696918)
Sure, but you either lose a button or go through the extra effort and resources to add a hardware button. Whereas with CTRL+SHIFT+P you neither need additional hardware, lose functions, nor do you need to load extra software. You have to look it up to use it, but once you know it, you're done.
You are missing the point.

Look at this way, there two options to take screenshots.
a) you press a button, lets say the camera button (with the lens shut)
b)CTRL+SHIFT+P

WHich is the more intuitive option?


EDIT: Having the command line is good, no question about that. Look at the App Manager*, for instance. Using it download apps is a lot more intuitive than the apt-get option. It is easier too look through apps and find which ones to download. SOmetimes, I go to the app manager with no app in mind. I just hope something catches my eye. The command line can't do that.




*Ignore the fact that it is slow

Nipperoid 2010-06-03 00:58
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
MicroB (no other browser compares)
easyDebian

PradaBrada 2010-06-03 01:01
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nosa101 (Post 696922)
You are missing the point.

Look at this way, there two options to take screenshots.
a) you press a button, lets say the camera button (with the lens shut)
b)CTRL+SHIFT+P

WHich is the more intuitive option?


EDIT: Having the command line is good, no question about that. Look at the App Manager*, for instance. Using it download apps is a lot more intuitive than the apt-get option. It is easier too look through apps and find which ones to download. SOmetimes, I go to the app manager with no app in mind. I just hope something catches my eye. The command line can't do that.




*Ignore the fact that it is slow
100% agreed with nosa101

There is a saying we physicists have:
"The most simple solution is always the best solution"

An excellent example of this would be the concept of a simplified formula
Eg. for day to day use what would you prefer:

p = m*a/(pi*r^2)
and then arbitrarily fill in each variable or constant

Or simply:

p = F/A

Simplicity might be limiting, but complexity is only useful if it is specifically required.

wmarone 2010-06-03 01:04
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by PradaBrada (Post 696941)
100% agreed with nosa101

There is a saying we physicists have:
"The most simple solution is always the best solution"

An excellent example of this would be the concept of a simplified formula
Eg. for day to day use what would you prefer:

p = m*a/(pi*r^2)
and then arbitrarily fill in each variable or constant

Or simply:

p = F/A

Simplicity might be limiting, but complexity is only useful if it is specifically required.
Holy crap, a reasonable, sarcasm and spite free response from PradaBrada. You should do this more often.

gabby131 2010-06-03 01:23
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
i was having trouble that my symbian devices has docs editor and viewer and my maemo doesn't.

but EasyDebian was installed and killed all my troubles. :D

alienhead 2010-06-03 02:23
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
Alarmed, it does all the things i had to do on my own, everyday. :cool:

YoDude 2010-06-03 02:35
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nosa101 (Post 696922)
You are missing the point.

Look at this way, there two options to take screenshots.
a) you press a button, lets say the camera button (with the lens shut)
b)CTRL+SHIFT+P

WHich is the more intuitive option?


EDIT: Having the command line is good, no question about that. Look at the App Manager*, for instance. Using it download apps is a lot more intuitive than the apt-get option. It is easier too look through apps and find which ones to download. SOmetimes, I go to the app manager with no app in mind. I just hope something catches my eye. The command line can't do that.




*Ignore the fact that it is slow
It does look like something you used to get on a 5 1/4 " floppy glued to the inside back cover of a 3 ring binder that held 40 pages of double spaced, mimeographed instructions.

But that is part of its charm. :)
It's just missing that mimeograph smell, that's all.

Simple and powerful are not mutually exclusive and for people who were trained on programs that were distributed the way I mentioned, it is very intuitive. Intuition isn't magic, it is the sum total of all conditioned responses an individual has learned IMHO.

For some reason I'm reminded of how Scottie "intuitively" picked up a mouse and tried to speak to the computer in one of the Star Trek movies. :D

MC does what it does well. If you want slick just cruise on in from the computer console and file manager of your choice. :)

BTW, Openssh v5.1p1-6.maemo5 is my nominee for killer app.

maacruz 2010-06-03 10:06
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rebhana (Post 696751)
Great! Hopefully it will soon appear in Extras!
Someday will appear, but it isn't a priority
Quote:
For me, Easy Debian brings the full power of Linux to the N900. In particular, it allowed me to combine zim with Latex and run it with versioning control - things that probably will be stripped for the native app, no?
No, but dependencies have to be satisfed for a feature to work, that is, if there is no latex package for maemo then the latex plugin can't work. Same for control version, although there exist a svn package so eventually the plugin could work once svn is supported
You can follow zim development in its own thread
http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=46123

rm42 2010-06-03 13:53
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by maacruz (Post 697384)
.
No, but dependencies have to be satisfed for a feature to work, that is, if there is no latex package for maemo then the latex plugin can't work. Same for control version, although there exist a svn package so eventually the plugin could work once svn is supported
I think his point was that those do exist within Easy Deabian. That is why he was able to implement them on his Maemo device.

RobbH 2010-06-03 14:41
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by PradaBrada (Post 696941)
...There is a saying we physicists have:
"The most simple solution is always the best solution"

An excellent example of this would be the concept of a simplified formula
Eg. for day to day use what would you prefer:

p = m*a/(pi*r^2)
and then arbitrarily fill in each variable or constant

Or simply:

p = F/A

Simplicity might be limiting, but complexity is only useful if it is specifically required.
I've got to admit, I'm very puzzled by this. It's not really a matter of choosing between the complex equation or the simple one, is it? If the single, somewhat complex equation

p = m*a/(pi*r^2)

is too difficult for you, don't you have to do not one, but three simple equations?

F=m*a
A=pi*r^2
p = F/A

Either that, or you depend on someone else to do the preliminary calculations for you. And that means you have to take the accuracy of those preliminary calculations on faith. The complexity is still there, just not on display.

Still, that's certainly a valid choice, and if your killer apps are the ones that hide as much of their complexity from you, there's no arguing with that. For myself, there are many occasions when I can do what I need to do more readily with mc than with a graphical file manager that prettifies the interface, and in doing so hides elements that I need. That's what makes it a killer app for me.

cjp 2010-06-03 15:59
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
For me its always been the integrated IM into the core. It has saved me from sendinh countles txt messages and calls, and so my dataplan has been pretty much the only fee on my phonebill!

But the best thing about Maemo5 is MicroB. As someone already said, it saves us all from having a gazillion dedicated apps. It has also changed the way I surf the web, as the N900 is now my primary browsing device.

PradaBrada 2010-06-03 16:44
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by RobbH (Post 697783)
I've got to admit, I'm very puzzled by this. It's not really a matter of choosing between the complex equation or the simple one, is it? If the single, somewhat complex equation

p = m*a/(pi*r^2)

is too difficult for you, don't you have to do not one, but three simple equations?

F=m*a
A=pi*r^2
p = F/A

Either that, or you depend on someone else to do the preliminary calculations for you. And that means you have to take the accuracy of those preliminary calculations on faith. The complexity is still there, just not on display.

Still, that's certainly a valid choice, and if your killer apps are the ones that hide as much of their complexity from you, there's no arguing with that.
Yes, and yes. No clutter, no recalling or using of code, just a simple "click and play"

Quote:
Originally Posted by RobbH (Post 697783)
For myself, there are many occasions when I can do what I need to do more readily with mc than with a graphical file manager that prettifies the interface, and in doing so hides elements that I need. That's what makes it a killer app for me.
As I said complexity is only useful if it is specifically required, which seems to be so in your case then.

tobylee 2010-06-04 06:39
Re: What's your Maemo device's killer app?
 
killer app must be any of my emulators and the ability to use my PS3 controller. as a person that spends a lot of time travelling, killing time by playing a bit of sonic 2 or 3 definitely helps and also brings back a lot of nostalgia.

i also like media players ability to play any video files without having to convert. i can just drag and drop any programs or films i have on my computer and watch them straight away.

awesome :D


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