Notices

Is the voltage and current supplied to the LEDs not controllable by software? If it can be, set it to some value within the safe operation range of the LEDs.

serious problems with using the LEDs

(1) the LEDs are inside the lens cover, opening the lens cover to see the torch activates the camera app.
(2) there are no LEDs on n8x0

now, 1 could be handled by addition of a UI element in the camera app itself.
a toggle switch for the backlight.
there are times im taking photos and I need the light on to see, instead of it just coming on for a second or so to focus.

we could lockout or otherwise prevent the camera app from opening, but i think thats wrong too, it makes it confusing and tricky to manage and I bet we would get it wrong
so as a proof of concept, it should be entirely possible, but in practice it would be more tricky.

patches welcome, liqtorch is in extras-testing and code is floating around in github (liqbase-playground repo) or just grab from the maemo.org source repository.

It mostly depends on the cooling of the LEDs. A bare led would probably last less than a minute at this power level, but with proper cooling it can last thousands of hours. Flashlights with bright LEDs like these are made in aluminium rather than plastic these days in order to sink the heat. The LEDs in N900 seem to be mostly surrounded by plastic.

They are many flash lite that are in plastic and surrounding the led and as discuss in this thread there is seam to be other Nokia model that support led for torch maybe it is just an application that has to be made for that

Hello,
any news on this? Got my N900 today and a torch function like BrightLight on Symbian 5th would be very nice! BTW, i used it quite often on my 5800XM and never had any problems with the LEDs.

Thanks!

I agree with that too It's been a long time no post on this thread. We want a torch!!!!!!!!!!!

this would be useful

Last night there was a power outtage and I needed to get into the parking garage to get my maglight. My girlfriends N79 `torched` just by taking a video with the flash on. I couldn't get my N900 to do the same thing so I had to take my N97 out of the box (about to ship it out after ebaying it) and use it as a flash light to get to my car.

Man, when there's no light these Nokia phones sure are bright.

So....If and when this thing takes off, is there any way to turn it into a strobe light. Maybe alternate between leds? Be more of a toy thing....wonder what kinda pictures that would take...

WE WANT TORCH APP and Video recording with Flash on..