Maemo Wiki Mirror - User contributions [en]

Questions for Nokia

2010-09-15T06:06:56Z

203.177.74.139: /* Serial interface */

This page collects questions from the community on the availability of drivers, hardware support and documentation and other resources associated with elements of the Nokia internet tablets.

== Hardware support questions ==

===Status of PowerVR MBX driver [2] and OpenGL implementation===
We have PowerVR MBX chips sat in our N8x0 machines, doing, afaict, not a lot. It would be nice if it worked (think OpenGL loveliness in games, and I would hope some frivolous but eye catching snazzy desktop features - prettier UI = more publicity = more sales; perhaps...). There are Linux 2.6.x kernel drivers available, though not for the right kernel version and for the OMAP2430 rather than OMAP2420. —Simon Pickering
::Deadline for answer: [[Maemo Summit 2008|maemo summit]].--[[User:qgil|qgil]] 18:57, 11 June 2008 (UTC)
:::How does the latest reply to this [https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1028 bug] affect this question? --Simon Pickering (lardman)
::::Daniel has very well indicated what are the plans and reasons until Diablo. The deadline above is to answer about the future.--[[User:qgil|qgil]] 05:42, 20 June 2008 (UTC)

===Status of DSP SBC task===
In the roadmap there used to be (what I interpreted as) mention of implementing a DSP task to handle encoding audio for A2DP use (where A2DP stands for Advanced Audio Distribution Protocol and is a Bluetooth protocol for sending data to Bluetooth stereo headsets [1]). SBC stands for subband codec, which is the default encoding method required by A2DP hardware. At the moment this encoding must be carried out by the ARM in software, but if the task could be offloaded to the DSP it would free up the ARM to do other things (such as decoding video better). —Simon Pickering
::We have a working (but not-realtime yet) [https://garage.maemo.org/projects/dsp-sbc/ DSP task] for this, so not a major priority for me at least --Simon Pickering (lardman) 17.05 19 June 2008 BST.
:::Working real-time now, and with ARM @400MHz (DSP @133MHz) [https://garage.maemo.org/projects/dsp-sbc/ DSP task] is here. Integration with media player, etc., is next step... --Simon Pickering (lardman) 08.58 16 July 2008 BST.

===Status of IVA===
This is part of the OMAP2420 and stands for Imaging and Video Accelerator chip. Its abilities are described at the end of this document [3], in the specifications. It looks like it could do some useful acceleration. There is however no real information available (from Ti or elsewhere) about what it is, and how to program it, though there are some hints, e.g. [4]. The DSP gateway (which is the bridge software between the ARM and the DSP) has been expanded to allow it to interface with the IVA, but the patches say that there's no driver for the IVA itself [5]. Is this being pursued (as there's little we can do about it as we have no information) and if not, why not? —Simon Pickering
:: I understand that the IVA is some specialized HW plus an ARM7TDMIE core. Why is it not being used? Lack of time/it doesn't work very well/no-one wanted to write code for it/etc.? --Simon Pickering (lardman) 13.25 22 June 2008 BST.

===Status of AGPS support===
We have heard that there is AGPS software floating around inside Nokia. Is there any idea when we are likely to see this, and what method will it use to supply the data to the GPS chipset? Will it be possible for us to feed it data, i.e. will there be an API that we can access? —Simon Pickering
::This seems to be public knowledge by now. --[[User:qgil|qgil]] 18:57, 11 June 2008 (UTC)
:::Can we have an API so we can plug our own location service in (GeoClue anyone?) to provide the initial location for the SUPL server? --Simon Pickering (lardman) 09.00 16 July 2008 BST.
:::: I'll ask when the guys come from holidays. I know location API will improve but let me find out the details. In the meantime, have you tried knocking the door at http://www.nokia.com/betalabs/agps-tablet ? Direct access to location developers.--[[User:qgil|qgil]] 09:12, 16 July 2008 (UTC)

===Wifi modules===
Is there any work being done to make binary only wifi modules open completely (definitively)? Or is it possible for Nokia to supply it in object form or at least updated as the kernel API changes over time? —Nick Loeve
::We can't give much details at this point, but something is going on and it should meet at least the basic community expectations. A safe deadline for an answer would be the [[Maemo Summit 2008|maemo summit]].--[[User:qgil|qgil]] 18:59, 11 June 2008 (UTC)

===Video out===
Is there any reason video out is not supported? Or is it already and we just don't know about it? --Simon Pickering (lardman) 10.26 6 August 2008 (BST)
:There should be tablets supporting video out for the presentations in the Maemo Summit. Let's ask there the guys providing them. ;) --[[User:qgil|qgil]] 09:51, 6 August 2008 (UTC)
::Just to clarify, I was asking about the availability of video out through the 3.5mm jack, were you also referring to this Quim? --[[User:lardman|lardman]] 11.25 6 August 2008 (BST)
:::Ah, through the jack. Anyway, let's ask them. I'm about to start holidays and then I will have 15 days for the OSiM & Summit sprint, so unless someone else takes the initiative I won't have time to dig on this.--[[User:qgil|qgil]] 19:47, 6 August 2008 (UTC)

== Open/closed software status questions for Nokia ==
===Mapping Openness===
Will maemo core provide list of maemo components with their open/close status + reasons for each component why it is closed. —hrw
::Now this is an accepted task in the 100 Days action plan. See [[Task:Mapping openness]].

===tablet-browser===
Why is the tablet-browser-ui closed? —[[User:generalantilles|GeneralAntilles]] 20:38, 25 June 2008 (UTC)
:Answered at [[Why_the_closed_packages#Specific_reasons_for_packages]] (it will be open in Fremantle).--[[User:qgil|qgil]] 07:39, 6 October 2008 (UTC)

===Bookmark manager engine===
I want to programmatically access and manipulate bookmarks. Why is the [http://www.webwizardry.net/~timeless/10/licensing-overview.html bookmark manager engine closed]? —Iñigo Illán Aranburu

===EAP hardware/codec DSP headers===
I would like to be create a sink which can output audio directly from the DSP (in fact I'd like to move towards an OpenMAX style setup and be able to string decoders/encoders and sinks together). Could we have the headers/example code to allow us to use the EAP_* functions? -[[User:lardman|lardman]] 11:05, 16 August 2008 (BST)

== Bug/bug tracker related questions for Nokia ==

===Thumb keyboard and text cell renderers===
When will the thumb keyboard bug with text cell renderers (to edit table cells, e.g. in maemopad+ or todo) be fixed? how are priorities assigned inside of nokia to such bugs? —Thomas 'thp' Perl
::Bug number/URL, please?--[[User:qgil|qgil]] 19:12, 11 June 2008 (UTC)
:::I believe it's [https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1958 bug #1958]. —[[User:generalantilles|GeneralAntilles]] 14:08, 17 June 2008 (UTC)

===Security bugs===
When will the bugs tagged 'security' in bugzilla be acknowledged and fixed? Some have been open since early 2007 without even an acknowledgement from the maintainer. I ask Nokia because, to date, all these bugs are in Nokia-contributed code. Will responsiveness to security issues ever become a priority at Nokia? Will there, for example, ever be a public security contact for Nokia products? Will Nokia (or the security@maemo.org staff, which today consists entirely of Nokia people) provide/produce a list of all upstream packages (and their version numbers) for ITOS versions to facilitate tracking of security issues in upstream code? —Olle Segerdahl
::The information available about security is located at http://maemo.org/community/security.html . If you need to know more or you think there should be additional information in that page please use the contact provided there.--[[User:qgil|qgil]] 19:12, 11 June 2008 (UTC)
::Fyi http://maemo.org/community/security.html has been updated after the Maemo 4.1 / OS2008 Feature Upgrade release.--[[User:qgil|qgil]] 09:32, 25 June 2008 (UTC)

== Documentation related questions for Nokia ==

===dmse and bme===
Is it likely that some documentation (or code) will be made available in the future for the dsme and bme components for power/battery/charging/device control on the tablets?

===Serial interface===
Is it possible to document the serial pins for the N8x0 devices?
:: The pins on the n800 are somewhat documented by keesj at [http://maemo.org/community/wiki/howto_kernelcompilation/ the old wiki] --[[User:trickie|trickie]] 14:05, 17 June 2008 (UTC)

[[Category:Community]]

==Related Links==

[http://cargames.com.au/ '''car games''']

[http://www.unbeatable.co.uk/pages/Electronics/TV-and-Video/Flat-Panel-Televisions/ '''lcd tv''']

Help testing software

2010-08-21T08:45:03Z

203.177.74.139: /* Voting */

{{extras-testing}}

If you want more info about extras testing risks, please see [http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=32676 Seriously: don't send users out of Extras without a big warning]. There is also a great summary of the different levels of stability by repository: [http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p=431432&postcount=5 at talk.maemo.org]

==Intro==
If you are eager to help the Maemo community, there are numerous ways to help. One pretty easy way is to help in application testing. This article is a beginner-friendly introduction to the [[Extras-testing]] repository and testing process.

'''Please see also [[Testing Squad]] -article and consider joining the squad!
'''

== Step by step instructions ==

===Finding Things and Getting Started===

Ultimately, as you become more comfortable with Maemo, you will to want to refer to the [[Extras-testing]] wiki page. This page has some specific guides for those who may be overwhelmed by the extras-testing page.

===Finding an App to Test===
The applications waiting for testing are listed [http://maemo.org/packages/repository/qa/fremantle_extras-testing/ at maemo.org packages] by age (the oldest is first). When picking an app to test, note that those that already have 10 or more karma are "done". Do not waste your time on those. The same applies if the package has less than -5 karma: such an app obviously needs to be fixed and re-released.

Pick an app to test. Maybe you have a particular interest in seeing one make it to [[Extras]]; maybe you just want to help and start at the top (oldest). Click on the link to open the package version page. Make sure you are testing the right version of the app: there may be an earlier version already in extras (which you might have already installed). In fact, there may even be a third version in extras-devel, but that won't show up unless you enable that repository.

In the case you have the Extras version installed, the newest version should show up as an available upgrade if you have the extras-testing repository enabled. You should uninstall the extras version first (rather than upgrading directly) so you can properly check for optification. Before you can install the package from testing, you'll need to add the [[repository]].

===Adding the Extras-testing Repository===
On your [[Nokia N900|N900]] device, go into App Manager, top menu, "Repositories"

[[Image:add_repository.png]]

and add the following repository:

[[Image:Catalogue_details.png]]

{|
| Name: Maemo Extras Testing
|-
| URL: http://repository.maemo.org/extras-testing/
|-
| Distribution: fremantle
|-
| Sections: free
|-
| Enabled: YES
|}

*Do "Update".

*Click on "Download" and find the app you want to test. make sure the version of the app you have decided to test is the same as the one in testing (remember the package version page you opened in your browser?).

'''Note: Each new version of the package has to be voted up separately!'''

== Testing process ==
[[Extras-testing/QA_Checklist|QA Checklist]] describes the different steps in testing. Here will be explanations to each step that isn't self-explanatory.
Quote from article for reference:
1. [ ] Bug database exist.
2. [ ] Licensing ok.
3. [ ] No illegal/dubious content.
4. [ ] Working provided features.
5. [ ] No missing announced features.
6. [ ] Optification ok.
7. [ ] No performance problems.
8. [ ] No power management issues.
9. [ ] No known security risks.

===Testing for Optification===
"Optification" means moving anything of significant size out of the root partition and into the 2 GB /opt partition so that the very cramped 256 MB rootfs doesn't fill up (which can really ruin your day). You see disk usage by using the disk free command (df).

A typical N900 might show the following disk free output:
* rootfs use 76%
* mmcblk0p2 use 6%

Remember, the idea is to prevent the rootfs from being filled up.

What you want to do is run
df -h | grep -e rootfs -e mmcblk0p2

from the command line before and after you install and see how much the usage of each partition changes. If more than, say, 300 kb (0.3 MB) are added to usage of rootfs, it's too much and the package needs to be optified (so vote it down with that comment). BTW, the above command just filters out the unnecessary lines; you can just type
df -h
if you want. The '-h' gives you the numbers in "human-readable" numbers like MB instead of bytes/blocks/kb.

You could also run a perl script that reports non-optified components of a package no matter when you installed it. You find this script in [http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p=433336&postcount=20 this post] on talk.maemo.org.

One of the other tests is that the package uninstalls cleanly. A (partial) way to check this is to uninstall it and see if the df returns to what it was before you installed.

=== Voting ===

Refer to [[Extras-testing/QA_Checklist|the QA Checklist]] to see the other criteria for a successful test. When you have evaluated the application, be sure to report your findings by voting on the package version page you opened in your browser. You may need to request a garage account first. Also leave a comment if you have anything to report besides success. Comments take a while to process, so assume it has been added or you may find yourself double-commenting.

sources:
* http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p=349477&postcount=63
* http://danielwilms.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/extras-testing-step-by-step/
* http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p=431878&postcount=24

[[Category:Development]]
[[Category:Power users]]
[[Category:Quality Assurance]]

==Related Links==

[http://www.cellulite.co.uk/advice/spa-treatment/mesotherapy '''mesotherapie''']