Maemo Wiki Mirror - User contributions [en]

Getting media content onto your tablet

2011-01-29T14:35:12Z

93.125.227.44: /* UPnP Media Server */

=USB Mass storage =
One way is to simply attach your PC to your Maemo device using the out-of-the-box USB cable. This will mount the storage of your device as a drive on your computer, if automount is enabled. You can now simply copy your files from your PC to the Maemo device.

== Sync music on Linux ==
The following will allow the N900 to be recognized as a media player appearing in the list of devices in Banshee and Rhythmbox for instance.

Create an .is_audio_player file on the device with the following content:

<pre>
#
# .is_audio_player Configuration File for Rhythmbox
#
# # works fine with my N900.
# # lives in
# # /home/user/MyDocs/.is_audio_player #n900 mounted
# # /media/Nokia\ N900/.is_audio_player #mounted on linux pc
#
#
# Which folders should we look for audio content?
# give a comma seperated list.
audio_folders=./music,./alben,./hoerbuch,./freemusic
#
folder_depth=3
#
#
# the following tells rhythmbox which formats can be read by the media player.
# Rhythmbox supports drag&drop to copy tracks or albums to the mp3 player.
# If the file format of a file you want to copy is not in the following list, the first of these options is the one that the file will be converted to.
# If you copy (drag&drop) files to the media player rhythmbox will start copying or if necessary converting files in the background, silently, so don't be surprised, if you were expecting any kind of progressbar or something.
output_formats=application/ogg,audio/mpeg,audio/mp3
#
# These options specify where Rhythmbox or banshee(?) will look for playlists
playlist_format=audio/x-mpegurl
playlist_path=./music/
#
</pre>

Could the maemo media player have an option to configure this file? or rhythmbox get a dialogue to configure mediaplayers?

=Using microSDHC cards=
Another way is to use the microSDHC (N900) or miniSD (N810) slot of your device together with a fitting memory card and a card reader on your PC. Simply swap the card between your devices and copy the content.

=Using SD Cards with the N810=
One common criticism of the n810 is its lack of SD card slot (instead, it features a mini and micro-SD card slot). Using the n810 as an SD card reader is, for some, quite desirable (digital cameras often use SD cards only, never the smaller kind).

Here is how I was able to get my n810 to read and write to an SD card:

# Setup [[USB_host_mode|USB host mode]]. This will allow the n810 to accept external USB devices
# Purchase a USB SD card reader. This will allow the n810 to read from the SD card using USB, as it lacks the ability to read normal sized SD cards. Likely, the cheaper and simpler, the better.
# Find the USB to micro-USB that came with your n810. This will let us turn the micro-USB plug on the n810 into a normal USB plug
# Purchase a USB gender changer (A Female To A Female). The card reader can only be plugged ''into'' a USB port. Similarly, the micro-USB cable we have can only be plugged ''into'' a USB port. Therefore, they aren't compatible and won't connect. This device let's us plug both cables into the gender changer, thereby connecting them together.
# Find an SD card for testing purposes.

With the hardware supplies found, first make sure the USB host mode software is installed. Restart as necessary. Plug the micro-USB cable into the n810 and then into the gender changer. Insert the SD card into the card reader. Connect the SD card reader into the other end of the gender changer. The n810 should detect the device and mount it automatically. You should be able to browse through the files and use it as normal. I tested reading from the SD card and I successfully wrote some video files to the SD card (and then later opened them on a laptop). Things seemed to work fine.

==Why Does it Work?==
The n810 does ''not'' provide a fully powered USB port. Normally, a powered hub is required to use external USB devices while operating the n810 in host mode. Powered hubs relatively bulky, especially if traveling. The n810 can only power USB devices which draw less than than 100mA. According to one source<ref>http://discussion.treocentral.com/accessories/42140-sd-card-power-consumption.html</ref> SD cards use 40mA (although some websites mention higher numbers). Even with the SD card reader, the n810 should be able to power the SD card reader without any issues. To be extra safe, you should still test your setup (connectors, card reader, SD card, etc) with some dummy files that you don't mind using. Verify that it works before you plan to use your SD card reader on the go and always backup your data.

=UPnP Media Server=
Universal Plug and Play is a set of protocol for device inter-communication, sharing data in your home network - for details see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UPnP wikipedia article on UPnP].

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UPnP#UPnP_AV_MediaServers UPnP Media Servers] can be used to share your media content (music/video/pictures) with your tablet. All you need on your tablet is an UPnP capable application like the default media player (on N900) or a 3rd party player such as [https://maemo.org/downloads/product/OS2007/mediastreamer/ Media Streamer] or [https://maemo.org/downloads/product/OS2007/canola/ Canola] on older devices (N810, N800).

To set up your own UPnP Media Server I one recommends to take a closer look at [http://fuppes.ulrich-voelkel.de/ FUPPES] - short Free UPnP Entertainment Service, because it's free and platform indepentent. It's available for Unix (Linux/BSD/MacOS X) and Windows. Other servers that have been used are MediaTomb, uShare and Orb [(see forum thread) http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=51562]. Transcoding of video streams from the host helps your tablet in smoother playback of more video formats, but eats processing power from your host computer.

...to be continued soon

[[Category:Media]]
[[Category:HowTo]]

[[Category:Beginners]]

SMSCON Editor

2011-01-23T21:23:18Z

93.125.227.44: changed the word 'pass' to 'password' so it's easier to find

The SMSCON Editor is a user interface to the configuration of the [[SMSCON]].

It has been created with PyQT (PyQt v4.7.5 for Python v2.6) and the functionality is provided by Python.

With its assistance the user is able to edit from a GUI all the options and name the secret pass-phrases of the commands used for controlling the device by the [[SMSCON]] and are stored at its configuration file, i.e. the <code>/usr/bin/smscon_config</code> file.

In addition, it provides an interface to initialise (i.e. init, start, stop, reset and set/remove from the device's boot sequence) the <code>smscon_daemon</code>.

----

=Installation=

The application can be installed directly by the Application Manager (HAM) and the [[Extras]] repositories. (Check [http://maemo.org/packages/view/smscon-editor/ here] for its status)

You can also find the latest version in the [https://garage.maemo.org/frs/?group_id=1848&release_id=4063 garage project page].

----

===Dependencies===

The editor depends to the following packages:
* smscon
* python2.5
* python2.5-qt4-gui
* python2.5-qt4-core
* python2.5-qt4-maemo5

----

=Usage=

When it starts it loads the current configuration file so that the options already configured to be shown in the appropriate sections of the GUI.

FIXME: add explanations

----

===Start up===

A banner will popup showing the correct startup, i.e. the <code>smscon_config</code> file is correct and that it has been successfully loaded by the editor.

[[Image:SMSCON_Editor_Startup.png|400px]]

(Since version 0.6) a password dialog will open and request the application password ('''NOTE:''' the default password is '''12345''')

[[Image:SMSCON_Editor_AskPassword.png|400px]]

===General configuration tab===

[[Image:SMSCON_Editor_General.png|600px]]

====Disable All SMS Replies ====

Choise can be made to disable all SMS replies. In this case, the relevant options will be hidden, i.e. not selectable.

[[Image:SMSCON_Editor_disableSMS.png|400px]]

====Send GPS Coordinates Replies ====

Choice can be made where the replies with the GPS coordinates should be send.
It can be either one of:
*SMS
*Email
*Both

[[Image:SMSCON_Editor_General_selection.png|400px]]

===Email configuration tab===

[[Image:SMSCON_Editor_Email.png|600px]]

===Reverse SSH configuration tab===

'''NOTE:''' Leaving empty the username and password fields will disable the reverse SSH functionality.

[[Image:SMSCON_Editor_SSH.png|600px]]

===Commands renaming first tab===

The Commands can be renamed (it is recommended for maximum safety) to ones preferences.

[[Image:SMSCON_Editor_Commands1.png|600px]]

====Prefixing Commands====

The "Prefix" functionality can be useful in the cases where it is desired all the default names to be prefixed with a common string.

''Note:'' The new names (as all other changes) are stored only after the button "Update Settings" is pressed. In addition, the same operation has to be repeated for the second tab of commands renames.

[[Image:SMSCON_Editor_Commands_prefix.png|400px]]

===Program Initialisation tab===

[[Image:SMSCON_Editor_Init.png|600px]]

===Invoke program test commands tab===

'''Note:'''
* After each test is executed the daemon is stopped and previous configuration is restored.
* Before exiting the application press the "'''''Tests Done'''''" button to start the daemon again.

[[Image:SMSCON_Editor_Test.png|600px]]

===Drop down menu===

[[Image:SMSCON_Editor_Main.png|600px]]

===About===

The about window provides also buttons to connect in the wikis for both parts of the application and read the latest documentation.

[[Image:SMSCON_About.png|400px]]

===Change Password===

Menu for changing the password for opening the Editor application.

[[Image:SMSCON_ChangePassword.png|400px]]

===Popups===
There are several popups triggered on actions and updates that inform the user on the current state of the operation.

[[Image:SMSCON_UpdatedSettings.png|400px]]

FIXME: add more popups and explanations.

----

=Versions=
'''''v.0.7-4 (current)'''''

''In testing - vote:'' [http://maemo.org/packages/package_instance/view/fremantle_extras-testing_free_armel/smscon-editor/0.7-4/ here]

''changelog:''
* Addition of more test options.
* Modification of the Tests tab to be a scrollable list.
* Added a button to restart the daemon when tests complete.
* Password to open the editor will persist updates.
* Removed autocapitalisation of first character in several entry fields.
* Aligned Left all entry fields in the Email and SSH tabs.

''issues:''
* none known/reported.

'''''v.0.7-3'''''
''changelog:''
* Addition of five new commands and one new option in the UI and code (support for SMSCON ver. > 0.7)
* Adddition of scrollable list for the commands editing. All the commands now can be edited from one tab.
* Improvement in the UI to hide SMS reply options when replies are disabled.
* Improvement in the change password window.
* Simplification and cleanup in many parts of the code.
* New About page with auto rotation.
* Correction for stackable windows.

'''''v.0.6-1'''''
''changelog:''
* Correction in copying config file for safe editing.
* Added creation of temp config file on first use.

'''''v.0.6-0'''''
''changelog:''
* Added password protection for opening the GUI (default password = 12345).
* Added two new dialog windows (to enter and change the password respectively).
* Added new initialisation command to delete the application stored IMSI number.
* Added new initialisation command to delete the configuration stored.
* New sudoers file to include two scripts for handling operations that need root privileges.
* Removed indirect dependency to rootsh package (i.e. use of root).
* Changed password fields in email and ssh settings to be hidden.
* Changed privileges for supporting files to be more restrictive.

'''''v.0.5-5'''''
''changelog:''
* Added new code to read and encrypt the sensitive config file parameters (Contribution by Frank Visser).
* Restructure and heavy cleanup of the code.
* Some small main GUI corrections and beautifications.
* Package smscon has been added in the dependencies.
* Changed the sequence for updating the config file to give better information to the user.
* Updated several messages to be more descriptive.

'''''v.0.4.4-14'''''
''changelog:''
* Added prefix of a common string to all commands.

'''''v.0.4.4-12'''''
''changelog:''
* Added support for new option to send GPS coordinates to both email and sms.
* Increased the size of the username fields - useful with gmail and such.
* Removed smscon from the dependencies (to allow promotion in extras)

'''''v.0.4.4-11'''''
''changelog:''
* Added tests for receiving GPS coordinates commands
* Added tests for phonecall and sms commands
* Added information and warning boxes
* Many visibility enhancement changes
* Updated icon to be transparent.
* Added icon for the application manager.
* Made MailFrom = MailAddress as a temp solution until dedicated space is made for this field in the GUI.
* Added the About and Credits dialogs.
* Added smscon in the dependencies.

'''''v.0.4.4-9'''''
''changelog:''
* Changes in the postinst script to correct it's execution and privileges
* Added checks on the configuration file existence and to provide messages to the user when missing or corrupted.

'''''v.0.4.4-5'''''

'''Warning''': This version (and above) will work only with [[SMSCON]] version equal or higher than 0.4.4

''changelog'':
* Addition of a new tickbox to provide "Reply On Keybord Open" settings option.
* Update of code reading the config file to include spaces in commands (provided by digitalvoid).
* Corrected canvas of the main window to fit better the N900 screenzise.
* Increased the width of commands line enter.
* Corrected the .desktop file to point in the correct iconset
* Added explicit permissions in the postinst script for the gui elements file.

'''''v.0.4.3-9'''''
''changelog'':
* added block on starting the UI as root (it should only be started as user)
* the editor will quit after calling the init or reset commands (after informing user).
* added slightly modified icons.
* added settings and permissions in sudoers file.
* cleanup of postinst instructions
* cleanup of commented out code.

'''''v.0.4.3-8'''''
''changelog:''
* The Editor will trigger a reload of the new configuration after every update of the config file.
* Temporarily the MailFrom field in the email settings will be filled by the MailAddress (in the future will get its own element in the GUI).
* Renamed buttons in the UI from <code>Create Settings</code> to <code>Update Settings</code>.

'''''NOTE''''': For older versions please see the changelogs in the [https://garage.maemo.org/frs/?group_id=1848&release_id=4066|project's garage page]

----

=Future Development=
* add mailfrom field.
* do not overwrite the password if it is already defined.
* add more test commands.
* add option to hide the desktop entry.
* protect the installation.
----

=License=
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published
by the Free Software Foundation; version 2 only.

----

=Disclaimer=
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
GNU General Public License for more details.

[[Category:Software]]
[[Category:N900]]