Concept: battery widget
 

Since Maemo 5 supports desktop widgets I thought that one that would have a big battery icon would be really useful. For example you can quickly check how much battery life you have visually. I made a few mock-ups how it would look:

http://i28.tinypic.com/2colyev.jpg

Here are examples of various states:

http://i28.tinypic.com/154vyh0.jpg
http://i26.tinypic.com/204fm8.jpg
http://i32.tinypic.com/lgufq.jpg
http://i30.tinypic.com/efqbn9.jpg

I don't have much programming exprerience but I can make the graphics if someone decides to work more on this idea on the coding part.

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

Not saying this isn't a good idea because you can never have too many widgets, but there is a battery indicator in the status area already in the top left hand side of the screen. Also just so the graphic makes immediate sense you might want to add the little nipple at the end of the battery.

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

Yeah, but a larger battery meter would be very useful if you just take a quick glance on your phone, you can see the battery status much easier in my opinion.

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

An alternative would be to show the estimated number of hours one has left visually. This would enable you to follow this information without looking at the tooltip of the battery indicator. Of course, these could also be combined :)

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

Wouldn't this require some kind of programming to keep track of and calculate the remaining time based on average uptime?

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

Even if it does duplicate functionality, if it looks pretty and scratches someone's itch, all power to 'em.

Suggest the graphics look like something from: http://vector.tutsplus.com/illustrat...-battery-icon/ - indeed, since Maemo 5 supports semi-transparent widgets, you should be able to see some of your background through this style of icon.

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

Well, then how about this:
http://i28.tinypic.com/2vn19jq.jpg
I really want to kinda stick to the Maemo 5/Nokia style and not just copy Apple.

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

Will the widget have 'remaining time' display, maybe based the current power draw (if that information is available to the system) or preset database of power drain of the features in use (screen brightness, cellular, wifi, bt, gps).

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

joppu, that looks nice, and I like the idea of a large battery indicator - I'm sure that will be useful for some folks. I think it needs to be clear that it's a battery, so your second picture is better than the first, although I worry that the outline might be indistinct against a dark background.

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

Forgive my ignorance...

Is there support for python/ruby/perl scripting for widgets? A plugin 'wrapper' or something. If not, it would be GREAT to be able to rapidly prototype and roll out widgets.

(Yes, I know, perl is ugly, but it's light, easy to script, and %#*ing fast)

}8^)~

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

You could in Diablo: http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p...4&postcount=34

Given the final SDK isn't out for Fremantle, we've not seen the details on doing it for Fremantle - I assume it won't be too different.

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

Even if you don't want to copy that design, the reflections on the nipple help it be visible even against a dark background. I'd suggest adding at least something similar.

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

@Jaffa,

Thanks for that. I figured there was support. Do you have any idea how open the api is to the python interpreter? For example, can widgets have access to accelerometer data? Is perl supported too?

I'm thinking some virtual fish swimming about my display is impressive enough to get me laid.

I may try my hand at a widget for fun! I'd love to have a generic remote-control widget that can execute pre-defined shell commands to do whatever.

It's official, Maemo rox.

}:^|~

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

I know nothing of Python but I'm pretty sure that Perl isn't supported due to it lacking GTK+ bindings (for one) in the repository, forget Hildon ones for applications even. :)

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

A wrapper could take care of that (in a limited way), though it's probably far more trouble than it's worth for the majority of tasks. Thanks for the info!

};^)~

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

Well, the battery itself isn't solid black, it's more reflective. I tested and it seemed to be visible even on an black backround, or what do you think?:
http://i28.tinypic.com/sn2gy9.jpg

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

Personally, I'd rather have something similar to what my laptop has. IE, it shows the % remaining, and the estimated number of minutes/hours remaining based on current usage patterns over the past 5 minutes.

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

Black isn't the worst case. The worst case is a dark image with a pattern that blends into the nipple. I'd add stronger highlights. The rest of the battery is large enough to not really have that issue.

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

Percentage and/or timeleft or none (give the user options to configure it :)) on the battery widget looks nice. When I realese new AP and APM, I'll take a closer look at the fremntle's hildondesktop-python, but writting such widget seems to be not a hard thing to do.

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

The sad truth is that the power consumption varies so much depending on the use case that it's not really reasonable (imho) to give any estimate about residual use time.

What can be given - somehow - is the residual battery charge.

Of course it all would be much more simple if the battery had an integrated uC like most laptop batteries do.

P.S.
It's cool to be able to post again without having to worry of giving away something considered confidential.

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

Personally I'd prefer the battery to last long enough that I don't care to look at a meter. Secondly, I don't know about the rest of you but I have enough widgets on my desktop that I don't need another battery monitor taking up space on it. And really is it that hard to look at the built in one?

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

I was always a fan of a piece of software I saw that made a sound like ballbearings in a can when the phone was shaken. More balls - more battery.

Since maemo allows programs to be always active in the background I cannot imagine this would be that hard to do. Only problem I see is that it may affect other apps that rely on the accel

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

dont know the limitations, but how about the program only makes the sound when screen lock is active?

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

Sounds cool.

There shouldn't be any problem, AFAICT, with multiple apps reading the accelerometer data simultaneously.

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

Well I guess I was looking for a project to get into coding for this platform. This is as good as any I suppose. No promises but Ill give it a shot.

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

allow option for percentage... :)

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

Thanks! Just ask me for the graphics when you need them.

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

Sorry for bump, but here are the GFX if anyone decides to work on this:

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

We could make a widget where the device continually vibrates with a frequency proportional to the battery level. That way you wouldn't even need to glance.

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

Would't that kill your battery if it's always on?

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

I was only joking -- apologies if I came off as rude.

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

I'm sorry, i like the idea but i find your design too much power point like.
That tutorial with 3d battery and nice reflections is much better looking to me. It's just my opinion.
BTW if Apple is using 3d icons we should use 2d? What's next? If Apple uses some color you shouldn't use it too? Apple didn't invent 3d icons. I am sick of that - it looks nice = it looks like iPhone, we shouldn't use it...

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

But this isn't an iPhone, I suggest you to take a look at the overral design of the Maemo 5 Graphical User Interface.

Also I hate following tutorials or copying designs straight from somewhere. If you have Photoshop, feel free to reproduce the Apple's fancy battery design and propose it in this thread.

Sorry if I let you down, but everyone has their own taste.

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

I think this widget is useful, especially if it's on every desktop.

I would like it to show the percentage also, and when clicked a balloon with estimated time left.

With theme support, of course!

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

Ahem, that'd be another app... :p

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

please do that ;) like ion batterytimer on series 60 (http://www.capree.com/)

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

Actually it would be nice to have an addition to the battery meter that shows current battery draw (if that value is available). That way you can quickly see what the current power draw of the device is and if you maybe want to turn off some applications or hardware features.

No other way to see what kind of power you are really using at any given moment that I know of at least, so it would be greatly appreciated! :D

It could be as simple as a mAh text inside of the graphic for the battery level, nothing more needed. Users will learn themselves what is normal for them or not.

What do you guys think? Usefull for you too?

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

hello people

just started on something in QT to display the progress of the battery level.
need some help/suggestions to carry on.... this is just a start for me.

post is here ==>

http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p=435484&postcount=2

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

Hello guys! :)

Can u provide me information where is config files are?
I want to do my own theme of your widget but i need a vertical one, and i think i need to fix smth in config like widget sides.
Thank you!

Re: Concept: battery widget
 

It will be good to have a picture when battery is charging....
need this update to be perfect !