Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

Well I was looking for a solution to change my default search engine from google to something else and remove the single sign on for Ovi by nokia add on/ext. After a very long search for answers I notice what seemed to be a deliberate lack of answers.

for example this thread; http://www.gossamer-threads.com/list...s/55907?#55907
in which someone seemingly avoids directly answering problems 1 and problems 7, my exact problems.

So after searching for where it "might" be in xterm and failing, I pop open a browser window and type in about:config I am then greeted by a I can void my warranty message. Having recently read a thread in which it was mentioned something about flashing n900 could void warranties I was completely duped. I was almost ready to sling the n900 across the room.

I've been searching for a long time and I'm tired so very tired, it feels as if something is being avoided intentionally. In that thread it talks of nokia obtaining your user names and passwords to your email account. They have a unremovable add on, this led me to read through the privacy policy and it seems quite invasive.

It seems as if the n900 is on a leash, we buy it but we can only use it according to the "rules" and that doesn't seem too open or unlocked to me. If I wanted a leash I would have bought a droid

forgive me if I'm in anyway incoherent I've been up all night

Re: Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

Well, at least N900 is most open device you can actually buy. Surely it can be better and more open. And yes, Nokia is annoying with overzealous pushing of their services. But can you just show any better option? iPhone is completely closed. Android is designed with restrictions in mind and generally you're restricted to non-standard JVM environment. OpenMoko is good but it's hardware is 2 generations older than it should be: GPRS even without EDGE is an epic fail for sure for communicator class device! So, any better choice for reedom lowers, geeks and those who want to have a real computer in their phone?

Re: Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

Also.. pull open Firefox on a desktop Linux or Windows and go to about:config. Right from my windows desktop at work:

Right... like I'm going to void the warranty of my company laptop by changing firefox settings. It's a long standing "joke" in firefox that is meant to make users aware they could break firefox... not their computer. As is described in the next paragraph on that page:

So no... changing crap in about:config is not goin to void your Nokia devices warranty in any way. I can see how that is confusing on a device like this, however... the default Nokia browser should probably be recompiled with a more friendly about:config message.

Re: Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

Consider to report the 'joke' as a bug as I think there might be some people who won't be happy about that :)

Re: Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

About reporting it as a bug... or about having your browser say it'll void your warranty?

Re: Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

I think the about:config warning even comes up in Firefox by default when you first run it as a warning that you can mess things up kind of easily and break the browser.

Things are way more open on N900 than most every other device out there, but there are still many key parts that are closed which totally sucks. The browser is very open though. You can grab the full source code to it if you want and do whatever you like with it.

You are right though about the browser. It's not a place to enter a URL, it's a google search. I don't see how to disable it either. I checked about:config and didn't see anything (could have missed it) and didn't see a plugin/extension for it either.

Perhaps it's due for a rebuild with those things disabled.

Re: Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

Ah, I should also point out that Mer is getting ready real-soon-now for N900 (well "soon" being unknown of course). Then you can use a "completely" independent distro which doesn't have to have any of the OVI crap or things like that.

http://wiki.maemo.org/Mer

Re: Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

Will it include support for the phone stuff? I might just have to try and load Mer on the N900 when I get one..

Re: Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

Yes, it will include support for fone stuff, but that part will be closed, unfortunately. Long term, the fone free software solution will be ofono:
http://ofono.org/

Re: Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

To disable the OVI stuff:

Go: options, add-ons, extensions, tap ovi, disable

Re: Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

Disabling the add on seems strange to me, you'll allow me to disable the add on but not remove it. Why would they force me to keep the add on but allow me to disable the add on ?

Maybe the add-on has dual functionality or some other hidden functionality, so I don't think, though I can't prove it that disabling it does anything.

I am excited about mer I wasn't aware of it so that does give me something to look forward to.

regarding about:cofig the way it pops up in the n900 combined with the lack of sleep and over sensitivity to the words "void warranty" from reading this http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php...light=warranty thread. This is what allowed me to be duped especially with the lack of information on how to change the google search bar and remove the ovi add on.

Re: Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

There is a google search extension if I remember it correctly now (or maybe it was fennec) - write your own and install it and you will be able to use Bing too if you like it.
As for ovi addon - maybe you can rip it off or it could be integrated into some Nokia closed source parts. Google forbidden to distribute some of their Android apps with a custom firmwares too.

Re: Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

but those key parts are very much understandable. nokia isn't a charity company and I myself concider maemo a major contribution to opensource -stuff.

if there weren't any closed parts, what would stop chinese companies from implementing straight the os free of charge to their cheaper devices? that would mean that nokia pays the bill for everybody for real costs occuring when developing maemo. (of course community makes part of the work free but there are paid professionals at nokia working completely with maemo)

Re: Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

Oh that other thread. That went a bit off topic in my view.

I don't think trying to remove the search bar or a browser plugin is sufficient for voiding your warranty. Those are things that can be, in the worst case, returned to factory settings with a reflash. Different if you go messing with things in the hardware level and break something there.

There are options for the browser too, Midori and Firefox Mobile (Fennec) at least.

The good part, is that you came and presented the problem in a clear manner, the folks on this forum usually can help when given a clear issue :-)

Re: Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

You can remove Ovi stuff easily:
apt-get remove hildon-desktop-application-shortcuts-mr0 - ovi store shortcut,
apt-get remove ovi-promotion-widget sharing-service-ovi

There might be others as well. As for getting rid of google I'd like that as well.

Re: Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

Yeah, so we're paying a reasonably large amount of moneys for our nXX0's. And we have all reasons to expect our expectations are fulfilled and annoyances are missing or at least could be removed.

As for chinese, some chinese company created device based on Maemo. But you see, chinese companies are nothing in R&D. So while it cheaper, you would also receive much less polished device and would have much worse experience and more troubles. And even for Nokia, device like n900 is a challenge. So, good luck to chinese companies to displace Nokia, even with fully opensource software. Just take a look on D-Link and other taiwan or chinese vendors. Their devices are plagued with bugs and they're unable to fix them in anyhow acceptable time frame. Hence quite sucking user experience. Sources are only a half of job. Another half is to create something actually usable and that's a challenge.

Re: Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

Red Hat isn't a charity either and they open up everything they have the right to open up.

Along those lines, then why is Nokia somewhat encouraging Mer? "The Chinese" could do the same thing with that. Same for ofono.

Closed software makes bricks:
https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=7019

Perhaps with their hardware expertise and a very good open OS, they would stay far ahead of everyone else....

Re: Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

This seems to work, pop open web:
type in about:config
click the I'll be careful link
In the search type in keyword
Two things should pop up keyword.URL and keyword.enabled
Select keyword.URL and press enter
you'll get a javascript prompt then replace google.com with the search engine of your choice. This seems to get rid of google, if you want it to work like a normal url just erase everything and click done.

Thanks for the ovi tips I'll try it now

Re: Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

Open source is suppose to be free, a company withholding software they developed for the platform or drivers for certain hardware is normal in opensource. If Maemo is truly opensource then you'd want companies in china installing and using maemo, they would just need to do their own driver aside from community developed/donated ones. If maemo has any closed source parts other then drivers or nokia developed software(security software and etc) for it then it's not truly open source. Why would it be a bad thing if all of china used Maemo or better yet the world ?

edit:
Is this really a bad thing ?
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/...-optima-op5-e/

Re: Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

I'm running Mer now and I can't even charge the battery because that part is closed. Arg.

Re: Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

Slick: Does your search engine change "stick" when you reboot the N900?

Re: Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

nope, I guess I need to keep searching for a solution when I restarted both ovi and google were back.

Happy New Year everyone

Re: Regarding the n900 is it really a open source OS and unlocked device ?
 

Any luck finding a solution?