I think the fact you need to register just to post to the brainstorm is the issue. Also, what must the developers hear they haven't heard already? As an end user, we're in here with developers, and we need to submit some brainstorm session to solve it? Aside from input and opinion, we won't have any input in the coding of such developments. I think a developer should've seen a need, posted a brainstorm talking about the issue, and let those experienced in software projects work on solutions. Then post in the thread letting others know a brainstorm has been opened, and allow them to participate if they wish.

But guess what? I didn't see many besides mrojas step forward. I know there is a brainstorm active, but how many developers are there working on it? Probably not many. It seems the developers are interested in things that benefit them, not their potential customers and users of their apps. I hope this improves.

I keep seeing people saying how they don't need ASR, or listing instances of devices that don't have it. The fact is, we want something better. Now this is a Nokia device, and most people in the world use them, and expect them to act likewise. ALL Nokia touchscreen devices support ASR throughout the OS, menus and all. Others don't, but maybe this is why Nokia is considered superior by most users, and other device brands don't sell as well. Ever think about that?

Use the N97 as a case study. It is a Nokia with a widget screen, a Flash enabled browser, and most of the features of the N900 on a lighter scale. It only lacks Linux compatibility as a differentiation. So if the N97 can support ASR throughout the UI, and be a portrait only device without ever using the keyboard, and support T9 in portrait or landscape despite the presence of a sliding landscape keyboard, then the N900 needs to catch up in this aspect, or it will feel like a downgrade, and less people will want an N900 instead, and volumes will be lower, and prices higher, and development of apps slower and lesser.

It is in the best interest of Maemo as a platform, especially with Moblin2 coming to phones, to aspire to be better. That's all I have to say about this from here on out. Good luck with the brainstorm, but I can only comment so many times. I've made as much of a point as I can. Developers need to take a lead on this, and shouldn't expect much more from end users, in my opinion. And asking for a feature shouldn't be the spark for a debate. Let the developers do the debating and designing.

Just how I feel.

Well, for starters the reason I was struggling yesterday with the maemo.org registration is to post about ASR in the Brainstorm.I should be able to do it for today.

I think the process for getting things to work is more complex than it should be. And to have people deriding the need other have for the feature doesn't help either. However, part of the reasons for us to try to improve all that now, is to avoid other people having to do it later.

I've posted an idea to brainstorm, and a solution, but I can't find it in the brainstorm list. I only see it in the dashboard under MY IDEAS and MY SOLUTIONS. See what I mean?

Brainstorm just isn't very simple. In fact, this thread was the dang brainstorm! Giving me a headache! How do we expect to work together if we have to jump through hoops?

I just noticed my JUST POSTED TWICE idea is at the VERY BOTTOM of the brainstorm page. WTF?? and no responses other than my own. So eveyone saying do something, I have. What have YOU done? Where are the developers?

Hey Chris, be patient my friend. Considering the differences between time schedules in the world, the developers are probably sleeping right now. What is the link to your proposal?

Just to clarify, you're here with end users and community developers. Free, third-party application developers.

The programmers who write the Maemo operating system aren't here, the UI/UX designers (mostly) aren't here, their product managers aren't here, and qgil (who is here, obviously) can't tell them all to spend an afternoon reading a long, meandering thread full of conflicting requests.

Brainstorm is what allows the community to pull together ideas into something well defined enough that it can be given to the product managers, programmers, and designers.

(Aside: I hate the way Brainstorm looks and functions too. I thought I was the only one though, and I haven't had a solid suggestion for improvement. Maybe together we can suffer Brainstorm long enough to Brainstorm improvements to Brainstorm.)

Well I think Nokia needs to read this:

THEY NEED TO BE HERE. Period. I see your point, but if the Maemo OS is improved via community input, they need someone that does read these forums and spends time reading a long, VIBRANT thread full of INTERESTING and RELEVANT requests. If I'm the UI/UX boss, this long thread is something I'd be upset if I DIDN'T know about it. And I'd want someone in the trenches, telling me what they're saying.

As for Brainstorm, it needs CPR. The newest ideas are at the bottom. There's no organization. You have a separate login. I'm identified by my real name instead of my forum screen name (Who the hell knows me by my name?? I'm christexaport, even in the streets, to many people. Why am I now Marcus McFann in the Brainstorm? I really don't mind, but some people don't like their real name published. And as a community, I'd like to know I'm working next to my friend mrojas, not whatever your name I've never heard of until now.... Its a disconnect.

I know its a work in progress, so I'll hold my breath and hope for some improvement soon.

Even if our team would have people dedicated to read the entire maemo.org every morning, the community members can't afford this effort. As a result, they (you) are usually even more clueless about the many hot stuff under discussion in several threads. This weakens the possibilities of contribution of the community at large, beyond the handful of hardcore readers/posters able to go through a dozen of threads of hundreds of posts simultaneously.

And yes, Brainstorm usability is bad but we all need to use it to find out what is worse and how to fix it.

so right. I just used it for the first time. Its not all that bad, but it takes a little more effort than necessary. But drawing eyes there isn't easy. Just as long as it gets better one day...

OK, so here is my contribution to the Brainstorm:

http://maemo.org/community/brainstor..._in_fremantle/

I have the impression is redundant considering Chris already launched a Brainstorm, and also that the medium is... weird. I wrote it thinking a bit more on process and planning.