For the past few months since the Nokia 770 has been released we have been trying to find a way to customize it for our clients. After much searching, we have come to the conclusion that there is no way to achieve the functionality we need on the Internet Tablet using the Nokia firmware. Since creating kernel builds of Linux is beyond the scope of our knowledge, we would like to contract a Linux developer to create a special purpose firmware firmware build for the Nokia 770 which we can roll out to our clients.

Basically we need to create a kiosk-mode build of the Nokia Firmware, something that is locked down into a fullscreen web browser. We will then build web applications in Macromedia Flash and host them on a local webserver for the Nokia to access.

The build should have the following functionality:

Fullscreen Web browser startup: I need to have the unit boot up and launch a web browser in fullscreen mode with no toolbars or menu bars. It should automatically launch to the homepage set in the browser preferences, and automatically connect to the default wireless access point. I don’t care what browser you use as long as it has Macromedia Flash 6 enabled.

Wifi Power Profile: Basically, I like how the LCD screen power works, after a few minutes of inactivity it turns itself off, then with a touch it pops back on. I would like the WIFI to do the same thing. In fact the wifi should be tied to the screen 100%. If the screen is on, it should connect to the default wifi access point, when the screen goes to sleep it should disconnect the wifi to save battery power.

Easy Upgrade: If by some miracle there is a way to do all of this without compiling a custom firmware, then we can create a script that will take a stock Nokia device and modify all of the required settings to make it a ‘kiosk-mode tablet’. Otherwise, we need a firmware file that is flashable using the Nokia provided loader application.


While not required, the following functionality would be nice if it’s easy to implement:

Changing Boot Logo: We have been able to replace all of the startup graphics except for one. It is the Nokia logo when the unit first powers on. I suspect this logo is contained in the bootloader, and is not loaded from a PNG file like the others.

Lockdown Mode: It would be ideal to have the user stuck in the browser with no way of returning to the desktop or accessing settings. There should be a hidden way of exiting the browser to access the system configuration. It should be protected by a password or certain key-combo which would exit out of the browser back to an ‘admin’ mode where it would be possible to change the wifi settings, IP address, homepage, etc.

If you have the knowledge and experience to help make this happen, please respond to this thread, send me a pm, or send an email to vince@cliqk.com

Thanks for reading!

My suggestion is that you send this info to Matthew Allum at OpenedHand. He is the fellow Nokia contacted to adapt his Matchbox project (X on mobile devices) to the Nokia, the result of which is Maemo. What you want to do is easy if you contact the right person and I'm betting that Matthew is the fellow you want to give this project to.

One thing which'd be worth investigating for whomever does this is starting the browser much earlier in the startup, bypassing /etc/osso-af-init/* etc.

Then things like the "Home" key will just be reported to the browser as F5, and not exit the full screen mode.

Ok, so there was not much response to my previous post, so I decided to take it upon myself to make this work. I've been able to successfully install the maemo developers tools, scratchbox, etc. I can extract and repack Nokia firmwares and reflash them to the device thanks to the helpful tutorials on the wiki.

I have even managed to modify the startup script. Instead of launching maemo-af-desktop it now launches browser which boots me into the opera browser which isn't quite fullscreen, but the left menu bar is gone at least. I still have an ugly menu bar at the top, and now I can not access any control panels, or wifi settings.

Is there a command line parameter for the browser that will replicate the effect I get when i press the 'fullscreen' hardbutton on the 770 device?

Also where would I find the files that store the options for the OS such as default wifi connection and power settings?

Once I get this working I will be happy to share my rootfs for anyone trying to accomplish a similar task with a fullscreen browser.

Not sure about the browser - try running `strings' against the binary; however in terms of the configuration, check out /var/lib/gconf.

HTH,

Andrew