Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

I too want a combined inbox, but I want something that matches the BB inbox view which is truly combined. The usual meaning of combined inbox is the BB inbox, not modest.

Meanwhile my multi-tasked apps:
1. Instant messaging: Skype, Facebook, SIP (Gizmo), The One Ring
2. MyContacts
3. qgvdial (sometimes open window, other times backgrounded)
4. Phone app (alongside MyContacts and qgvdial)
5. Browsers: MicroB for those times I need heavy Javascript (gmail) or Flash (youtube). Opera when I just want something quick.
6. OpenVPN applet

And for a more advanced usage:
7. ssh in xterm that does X forwarding from my home server across OpenVPN
8. Google Chrome running across forwarded X from #7 above. Multiple tabs with heavy pages running in chrome. Linux FTW!!

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

I have File Manager and Notes running all the time (I have lots of Notes files and use File Manager as a "launcher" for them, among other file management tasks). When I'm actively using the device I may have a Terminal window or web browser window or Panucci open, but I generally close those before I put the device in my pocket.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

Yes! That's the whole reason I bought the phone and the whole reason the people I've showed it to are jealous of it!

I rarely have less than 3-4 apps constantly running. I agree completely, however, that if you over do it on memory you're very likely to miss phone calls. You need to be careful, but it's ability to multitask is a godsend. It becomes most useful when combined with applications that are pulling data over the net and you want to use which ever one is the "currently ready for reading" app, be it a web page, a twitter account or a email folder.

I very frequently do web-research when out and about and am taking notes in conky and switching back and forth between multiple web pages and whatever I'm taking notes in (which is sometimes just a wiki in yet another open page).

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

I would say that I only have about 1 - 3 open usually. But it is better to have the option to, than not have the option. Web browsing and listening to music playing in the background is a regular of mine.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

Very valuable feedback. Not unexpected but good to hear from you.

Remember to vote!

PS: You earned yourself the first THANKS here... ;-)

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

(email + media player) constantly open, all other stuff opened as needed and closed as soon as no longer actively in use.

I'll often open (browser + maps + notes) or (photo viewer + camera) concurrently.

occasional (speakerphone + calendar + contacts + conversations + web) in addition to email while conversing.

For me though the killer multitasking scenario is for remote support: I'll have a call on speaker, I'll then fire up VNC and/or RDP to connect over ssh to client computers to have a look. Sometimes I'll also need to point microB at a client website while doing this. I may also need to open a command prompt (ssh again) to a Windows box concurrently in some cases and/or copy remote code and audio samples to N900 for later use, and all the while I have either a client (or a test call to a client telephony system) ongoing via cell or skype. Pretty neat from a pocket sized device - and I have to admit, not a scenario whose viability I had any faith in before actually buying N900 & trying it.

Multitasking is the phone's biggest USP and for 'sensible' use it works pretty well for me - however I'd say 4-5 open app's would be the most I'd generally attempt if I wanted both 'foreground' & swap performance to remain acceptable, and I'd always close them down as soon as they were no longer in use.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

Thank you peter for your PM response. I appreciate it.

This is how I typically use the N900.

I usually have 1 or 2 browser windows open, sometimes Conky, an Sms or IM conversation. But I usually close apps when not needing them and reopen them when I need them.

This is an example of when multitasking was useful:

2 browser windows, 2 IM windows, one SMS window, conky, email, file manager, media player, 2x pdf reader and wordtogo.

I was doing an assignment on my N900 for school, while reading the assignment and the reference books on pdf, writing my research in word to go, listening to some songs, researching the web, talking to fellow students on im and smsing my girlfriend, checking email and conky for fun.

To be honest I had to overclock the N900 because it was lagging badly after some time.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

I tend to just run what I need on my desktop computer and close apps that I don't. I use my N900 in much the same way.

My use cases/apps are mostly:
1. Browser,RSS and e-mail when catching up with news (and Mauku until it stopped working) and mail
2. many browsers windows when just surfing
3. when out openstreetmapping, Mapper and Camera or if I'm also geocaching then I also run gpxview.
4. notes or maepad when taking various notes
5. media player when walking, gym (watching series episodes when on the cycling trainer makes it much less painfull and a waste of time :)

Then of course I have plenty of background/desktop applications, calendar, email, weather and facebook, IM networks online, etc.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

I usually open 1-6 apps while I'm using the N900, depending on my needs.
Example, while I'm in class, I usually run
- Elements touch
- MathJinni
- Notes
- PDF Reader
- Web browser/Opera Mobile
or while I'm on traveling, the apps will be
- GPS Recorder
- one of
> Ovi Maps(Just for locate myself because the feature allow only this...)
> Sygic(For nav, but I don't much like the interface...)
- Media Player or FM Radio
- Conversations for IMs & SMS
- Email app
- A browser

PS: running more than 6 apps doesn't affect the N900, but affect me!
maybe my brain's "RAM" is less than the N900's.
:D

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

Also very important feedback supporting our message on mobile computing experience on MeeGo. Use it like your desktop on the go.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

To be honest the question scares me. The question in the poll is:

The "keep open" scares me. Obviously when a company such as Nokia asks questions like these they are gauging interest and usability of a particular feature. The primary reason for such would be to determine if including that feature in future projects is worth the effort.

Deductive reasoning seems to give the implication that Nokia is wondering how to handle Multi-tasking in their UX for say, MeeGo.. just throwing something out there ;).

The problem is that the way the question is asked gives a rather, skewed, answer pool that actually isn't reflective of the "feature" itself.

Multi-tasking is not beneficial, usually, because of having 100 apps at the same time all the time.. which is implied by the "keep open" part of the poll. Multi-tasking is beneficial in having the ability to open those 100 apps, at the same time, when you need them.

So again.. the wording and possible implications of this poll scare me. For example:

The apps I typically keep open (always running):
XChat
1-2 Xterm windows
Active Conversations windows (after I stop talking to someone for a while though I close them)

I also have a few widgets on the desktop such as Calendar and Email. I consider those uses of Multi-tasking as they periodically check for new mail and keep my calendar for the day readily visible. As such, I chose 4-6 apps.

The problem is.. technically if we only look at that specific usage of my phone, Android even fills that gap. (Well.. I had issues with android maintaining an actual, constant, all day IRC connection but we'll talk theory here).

However... when I actively need to use my phone, especially for work, I keep my IRC window and Conversations open from above.. but I also wind up with something similar to Khertan's screenshot. I end up with several Xterm windows SSH'd into multiple servers, with some editing python files or the like, maybe have some music going, still keep my conversations with my buddies going, add a couple of browser windows googling whatever problem I'm currently working on - and all this while seemlessly transferring from browser window to browser window, copy/pasting text from terminals to conversations to browsers... etc.

Doing all that on something like Android would be more difficult, if at all possible, than the interface of the N900.

So, the point is: The power of multi-tasking is not what you typically keep alive on your system - but what the most you have used in any given situation that would not have been possible (or harder) on any other device.

That is where the N900 truly shines.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

Thanks! Rest assured that multitasking remains strong also in MeeGo devices. Recent screenshots from the MeeGo project confirm the multitasking strength in the UI.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

if it doesn't impact noticeably battery life nor performance in general, i would be willing to run a prog int he background to gather statistics of how many and of which app i keep open at any given time

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

I typically have a few browser pages open. I have mainly used the N900 as an almost-computer, and haven't consistently used it as a phone as well, but when I DID use it as a phone I found that I typically also regularly had a conversation window or two open for texting.

Beyond that, I often find myself having XChat open, FreOffice in order to take notes in class (college student), and when working on my books (was waiting for FreOffice in order to be able to do that for a while). Typically I try not to have too much stuff open if I use VNC or RDesktop to connect to my home machines, but I never had problems having ~4-6 other apps open at once in the background with it. I would run SSH is I was better with it as well, but for the time being I only use it occasionally.

I don't know why people complain about the 256 RAM - yes it's a bit slower than a typical laptop for things like heavy browsing with all the swapping it does, and the occasional hang-up while you tap at the screen wondering why nothing is happening is annoying, but over-all I feel the multitasking holds up really well.

One thing I want to emphasize, that this poll may not necessarily show at a glance: What's great about the N900, and I think a lot of users would agree, is that even if you don't typically use more than 1-3 apps at once, when you do want to pop open 10 browser windows or various apps at once, it can handle it, and it does it conveniently and smoothly. Because I suspect that while a lot of people (myself included) do close all or most of their apps when they are done with them, what makes the N900 experience enjoyable is that you don't really feel trapped or impeded when a situation comes up that does make you want to use 10-15 different apps and/or browser windows. I don't 'typically' use more than 6 windows at once. But sometimes, I want to open a handful of new links, without having to stop using what I am using, and what's great about the N900 is that it lets me do it easily.

Just thought I should say that in case someone at the head of future Maemo/MeeGo developments decides to assume that just because most users use 1-3 apps regularly, that they don't greatly enjoy having the opportunity to use 10+ when they want to.

- Edit -

I see this was already somewhat addressed (somewhat in more direct terms, as well), by the time I had finished typing and posted my reply. The screenshot of MeeGo do indicate multitasking is going strong. Just hoping no one at Nokia takes the poll results to be indicative that making multitasking beyond the first 3-6 apps convenient or workable would be something that wouldn't impact the quality of the multitasking feature.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

What I want to know is indeed how much apps are typically open, not at maximum when you need it. It's also important to know the max but for the sake of marketing and usability testing, it's more important to know right what you typically in your own view do and need. And no worries, this is not a question on whether you need the feature in the future but how you use it now and with which apps. We have lots of consumer research and usability research, but very often the depth is missing in this research such as which and how many community apps you are using. The posts here give a lot of insight.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

most of the time, i multitask with 4-6 programs open. whenever i browse, i always open a new browser for a thread / article that i want to read after i finish what i'm currently reading. there are other apps open too for daily checks like feedingit, email, tweego, and etc.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

About 9 months ago over 100 people voted via a bug report for the most useful, simple addition of multi-tasking, and it's still missing. And yes, for the amount of time, energy and battery that gets wasted, I still consider this a bug:

Where is the "Open Link in Background" popup-menu item for microb?

I'm writing this from one of my 9 windows; 5 of which are transient browsers that I have to visit more than once because there's not enough multi-tasking.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

I usually have 3, 4 web browser windows open. Throw in email on occasion also or xchat.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

This feedback can be taken into account for testing and confirm the UI layout, no doubt. More important from use case point of view is that a lot of you guys are actively managing the amount of apps. Sometimes consciously few apps, sometimes a good bunch when needed. So, an average is never representative but only you know what you consider typical.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

Then really the question has very little to do with multitasking in the N900 and more to do with some of the other threads around here about "Your favorite N900 Applications" with a slight twist of: "Your favorite N900 Applications you leave running."

So, the question really had me confused. The only 2 apps (not including desktop widgets and Queenbeacon stuff) that are almost always 100% up on my phone are a single XTerm window and XChat.

Everything else is entirely situation dependent.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

Hey, I'm a member too. ;)

I use multitasking to keep track of what I'm currently doing. Sometimes I open apps or browser windows to new windows even though I do not go to them right away. They're there to remind me to read them later. Especially on a mobile device the use is very sporadic. When I have some time, I go to the task, do what I was supposed to do, then close the task: out of sight, out of mind. It works as a nice "to-do list" in that fashion.

Still I rarely go over 6 windows. I like to keep it as clean as possible, giving the satisfaction that I don't have tons of things that I should be doing. :)

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

I'm going to describe my usage pattern here but I predict mine will be quite outside the typical usage patterns compared to most users.

I typically have the following open:

1. Browser (3-4 sites/windows), Opera or Web
2. Conversations (2-3 chat windows)
3. Email (Exchange and Ovi Messaging both set up)
4. Media Player or MediaBox running.
5. When I'm on the road, I've also got the Sygic or Maps up and running as well.

Having said that, the usage I'm describing still falls a bit short for my personal tastes. I actually switched from my (at the time) 4 month old N97 to the N900 specifically to do heavy multitasking. While it's significantly better than the N97 due to greater RAM and the swap, I find that I have to manage my open apps aggressively on the N900 or I'm unable to answer phone calls, which is a big problem in my line of work. Ideally, I would like to be able to have more browser windows open, a podcasting app, and a Twitter client running in the background, and occasionally open an Office/PDF editor to look at email attachments.

Funnily enough, the last device that was able to multitask to my satisfaction was the N95-3 (US version). I loved the fact that I could have Web with 5 windows open, Garmin Mobile XT, Music Player, Podcasting, Mail 4 Exchange, and Fring/Nimbuzz all running simultaneously with nary a hiccup. I could even answer phone calls in time, too!

For those of you that are interested in why such heavy multitasking (all one of you, I'm sure), the main reason has to do with the fact that I travel a decent amount. As any road warrior knows, you tend to have a decent amount of free time, except it's divided into many small increments. You have 5 minutes here, 10 minutes there, etc. So when I'm waiting in line at the airport or seated near the gate, I bring out my phone and pick up where I last left off reading the news, listening to a podcast or music, and chatting with some friends.

Anyways, hope this helps. I apologize if I rambled there for a bit.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

Sounds just like me - I always have email and Conversations as the first apps running.

In fact I wish the app windows could be re-arranged in the task view - if email crashes or closes unexpectedly I have been known to close down all other applications just so that I can restart email as the first application, followed by Conversations and then usually Contacts.

4-6 apps for me.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

usually four to six when i am using heavily for browsing twitter etc. but when i am done i close all tabs usually not sure if its a reflex or if its from fear that it would hurt performance.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

Besides having some apps simultanious open (2x xterm for latest autobuilder inspection and fast program installation) I have these 2 multitasking scenarios which need real multitasking:

1. RSS offline reading and online browsing
   I have several RSS feeds and twitter searches registered in the defaut RSS feed reader. When calling a link from within the reader microb is called. Then I switch back to the RSS reader and continue reading the feeds while let microb render the web page in the background. After a while I return to microb and read the web page.
   
   
2. Simultanious speech navigation and podcast listening
   Listen to a podcast while listening to the navigation system running in the background (and coordinate an incoming phone call or notification as well)

Hope that helps,
asys3

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

Your priority applications differ from my own, but It is comforting to learn I'm not the only one who will close all open applications just to reopen them in the right order after accidentally closing or otherwise losing one.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

Same here. Me too.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

Hi Peter. You're my favorite (and probably the only capable) person in the Maemo department at Nokia. How are you?

As to your question... I use multi-tasking pretty often and usually I have around 4-6 apps open at the same time. Most of the time I have open:

- Forenco weather
- Browser (the default one, Firefox sadly sucks)
- Media Player
- Calendar
- Contacts
- Conversations
- Notes

When I focus strictly on web browsing, I open up usually around 5-10 pages/windows and start up the media player to listen to some music. In addition to that, I open also Docs To Go/PDF Reader.

Can I ask you something though, which bothers me a little? Why is Nokia ignoring lately the N900? We need Flash 10.1. We need one more major fw update. The current head of marketing and sales (Mr. Niklas) doesn't really care about us it seems, judging by his behaviour on the recent twitter chat session he had. Nokia needs to be more active in supporting their customers. If it weren't for you, the N900 would have been dead a long time ago. I hope you can help out fellow Maemo buddies :)

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

Usually web browser frontpage, mailbox, phone, TweeGo, music player and conversations.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

i have only had my N900 for about 5 days, but i am already fkinding that I have at least 5 apps on the dashboard.

They are usually gpodder, media player. a couple of conversations windows, email, a couple of browser windows, some sort of twitter feed (oauth making that fun at the mo), and xterm into my mythtv media centre.
oh, and i am usually signed into gtalk, msn, facebook chat, skype and ovi.

This is one beast of a device, and i haven't tweaked, tuned, or overclocked in any way, and I love it.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

I second this. Another thing I'd love to see is the OS grouping windows of the same application into a single window or object after passing a certain threshold, similar to say, what WIndows does with applications when the Start Menu runs out of space. Having something like 6 chat/SMS windows open makes the multitasking view extremely cluttered, especially if you've got other apps running.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

I always close everything when phone is not in use. When I do some work on the phone I usually have the following:

E-mail
Xterm with ssh session running
Web-browser
Docs 2 Go

And I am constantly switching between these copy/pasting and reading data between the windows.

Some times with above load call have difficulty to come through smoothly, which is not a nice thing....

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

Thanks, Jack. But to be honest there is large bunch of great minds in our Maemo now MeeGo team. I'm just one of the talking heads earning credit or dismay for other people's work.

No, we are not ignoring you or the N900. But yes, we are busy we plenty of things around Maemo 5 and of course mostly around MeeGo 1.1 for Handsets. Flash 10.1 obviously ain't a trivial piece of software as you can see from some examples of our fellow competitors. Claiming that you have it doesn't mean it runs smoothly...

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

Remember, you overclock it, you loose warranty...no free speed lunch as tempting it may be.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

How about we toss in the ability to switch between programs via the keyboard? I understand this was possible in Maemo 4, and would be extremely nice to have in Maemo 5 (maybe hildon-desktop mods are in order?)

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

Sadly, there is no 3G down here + very (I mean, VERY!) slow GPRS, so while out of home, there is no point on having more than 2 or 3 apps running at the same time (Contacts, phone, music player and ocassionally notes/PDF/etc).
However, when browsing at home I tend to have 5-10 web pages (specially talk.maemo.org), email and communication).
It is true that, when having all this open, receiving a call is almost impossible!

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

Actually I'm the "close application after you're finished" type of guy, even on my desktop. But I find myself using multitasking on the N900 even more than on my desktop PC. One reason is that compared to a full-blown PC with DSL-connection, my N900 on a more or less reliable 3G/2G-connection is relatively slow. So whenever I start doing something that I know will take a few moments, I use the time doing something else... Start writing the next mail when a website refuses to load instantly... Check RSS feeds while application manager is busy... and so on. It's less that I really need to do 2 things at a time - I just use this strategy to avoid having to wait. (And yes, I know that both activities are being performed by the same CPU, making me wait even longer... it's a psychological thing.)

Of course there's other situations when I do "real" multitasking, like when I copy part of a web page, send it by mail, then read on... (did that just a few hours ago)... Or that other occasion when I had a chat going on and looked up the café the other person was at on Ovi Maps (satellite image was useful), then getting the time table and directions from the fahrplan application. That was a nice example, btw, as it really didn't interrupt the chat experience at all and I could just say "Oh, sure, I know where that is. It's right at Augarten park, isn't it? Could be there in 35min or so."

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

I am another that closes apps after I am finished with them.

However, when the phone is not at rest:

-Conversations - IM enabled
-phonebook (as a way of quick firing SMS)
-Media Player (with FM transmit when in car)
-Email
-Some game or other (when not in car!) This will stay open if level is not complete.
-I'll flick in and out or Phone App and Conky as and when I need/am interested
-Same with web - one or two browser windows checking links from email and facebook.

Plus others will come and go so I guess 3 Permanent and up to 6/7 one I get going.

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

I went from maemo to android... and I must say among the thing I miss the most is the "well-thought" multitasking I had on the N900. I would definitly have keept my N900 if it wasn't for the battery...
My point being, Maemo was great and especially the nice multitasking implementation! I do hope meego will keep that feature at least as good!

Wake

Re: How do you use multitasking in N900?
 

Difficult to answer, as I'm not quite sure on the definition of 'open'.

The clock is always running (obviously), and has several alarms permanently live.
Modest checks my email every half hour, whether I have it 'open' or not (unlike the email programme on my laptop).
The phone and conversations components are receiving, and presumably checking into the network provider, and will simply 'open themselves' if there's something I ought to know.
The calendar widget collects data from my calendar and displays it on one of my homescreens, and I can access the calendar at a single touch if I want more information.
Desktop command execution widget displays my battery level constantly.

This is all happening all the time, is it multi-tasking?

In terms of things I actually interact with when using the device, (over and above the things mentioned) I'd say I don't mutli-task a huge amount but it is incredibly useful to be able to.

To click a link in an email and open the browser automatically, then return to the email where I left it.

To recieve a sms while doing something else (playing, browsing, reading etc) and be able to read it and reply wthout losing my place.

To check my diary while writing an email, surfing the web, replying to a sms or talking on the phone without having to stop what I'm doing.

To be able to listen to music or internet radio (cricket!) while doing other things.

To be able to check the lectionary for a date weeks ahead (via the browser) and then read the relevent lessons in katana one at a time.

There are probably more instances I could think of if I sat here all evening. The point is not that I have 20 windows open at once, but that I can easily open as many as I might want or need for a specific situation simply and without the device throwing a hissy fit.