Editing N900 The Perfect Setup

Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be recorded in this page's edit history.

The edit can be undone. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.

Learn more about Contributing to the wiki.

{{ambox
|type=notice
|text=This is a wiki! So the title of this page represents the personal notion of one or a few editors. It's not "officially supported" info or advice}}

=Introduction=
Since the [[N900]] has been released many developments have been made by the community. This page is to provide a generic guide to getting started with good foundations.
This page will mainly link all the useful bits of the wiki and other useful information together.

=Hardware=

==Hardware Accessories==
Information on all recommended hardware accessories is on the [[N900 Accessories]] page.

==Hardware Specifications==

Information on the specs can be found on the [[N900 Hardware Subsystems]] page.

==Recommended Hardware Modifications==
===USB Port===
One of the most common issues with the [[N900]] is the surface mounted USB port.
If you are not careful with it, the port can be ripped from the PCB.
Due to the design of the port if this occurs, it can be very difficult to repair successfully.

Therefore it is highly recommend to reinforce your USB port by soldering the casing of the USB to the PCB. Information on this is covered in great extent on talk.maemo.org

[http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=75920 talk.maemo.org Fixing USB Thread]

Another common modification is to remove the locking pins on all your microUSB cable connectors. This can be done by filing them down carefully with a small file.

The latter is important, especially if you don't feel confident in taking your N900 apart to reinforce the port.
===Inductive Charging===
Bridging the gap between a non-permanent hardware mod and an accessory the universal Qi inductive charging add-on pads have been installed both over and under the stock and Mugen battery covers, the semi-permanent installation into the microUSB port reduces dangerous cable leverage and USB port wear to nearly zero and the nearly flush USB port plug also protects the USB port from foreign object damage making the inductive charging add-on even more important to N900 owners than most users.  The USB port can be easily unplugged if needed for use in USB host, 3G modem, and mass storage modes.
[http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?p=1431701#post1431701 talk.maemo.org Qi Inductive Charging Universal Add-On Installation]

====Magnetic Charge Port Adapter====
There are several magnetic adapters available to both plug the USB port and also ensure a safe break-away should the N900 be dropped.  No leverage to snap off your N900's fragile USB port from the PCB.

In testing the four or five pin USB adapters permit a data connection but if you do any metal work with steel it will attract magnetic particles as happened in testing, this adapter experienced a melt-down and nearly a fire one evening after falling to the floor in a workspace.

Another tested magnetic adapter has a coaxial positive and negative connections(pin and surrounding ring) It has the data pins shorted to put the N900 into fast charge mode.  while there is the hazard of magnetic particles connecting the two poles are 2mm apart and it is easier to see any foreign objects as the cable side of the connector has a blue LED allowing it to also be found easily in a dark room.  This adapter also inserted fully and had a rubber washer to buffer any drops; combined with an Otter case the adapter is nearly flush with the Otterbox armor.  This adapter requires more than just fingernails to remove in testing, but a keychain pocket knife screwdriver or nail file was sufficient to safely remove it.

==File System==

[[N900 filesystem|File System information]]

=Firmware=

==Initial Firmware Setup==

So you have your [[N900]]
The first step especially if it's used is to flash the firmware.
This can be used to clean off any unstable software and make a clean start.

It's recommended to download the latest Nokia firmware images for your region.
The latest versions are highlighted.

[[Updating the tablet firmware#N900|Firmware Flashing]]

==Cloning a New N900 with BackupMenu Backup Files==
Requires a good USB cable, currently fastest path to flash a new or used N900 and install the required kernel and backupmenu from the repos to make a clone of your old or broken N900.  Until the steps to safely use Fiasco Flasher to flash a kernel and file system including /opt from backupmenu files the instructions below are the fastest way to recover your old configuration on a new device.

http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=100595

==Highly Recommended Further Setup==

===Importance of CSSU===

If you have flashed your firmware as above, your [[N900]] will now be on the last major Nokia release (PR1.3). From here onwards the Maemo Community are providing vital security updates, fixing bugs and generally moving the device forward. This is known as CSSU or Community SSU.

It is recommended all users install [[CSSU]], of which there are two versions.

More information on this can be found on the [[CSSU]] page.

==Recommended Further Setup==

===Kernel Power===

[[Kernel Power]] is a community developed Kernel that provides addition features and fixes to the Kernel. [[Kernel Power]] also provides the ability to overclock the device with an additional package '''kernel-power-settings'''

While overclocking is not recommended and has been known to reduce the lifetime of the device, the [Kernel Power] package on it's own is recommended and will not alter your device from the standard 250Mhz-600Mhz clock speed.

It provided important features like stable [[Smartreflex]] which will significantly increase battery life.

Please see the [[Kernel Power]] page for more information on this.
Please note Kernel Power page is heavily biased on overclocking and is provided for further reference only.

===Utilise the SD Card===

The [[N900]] has a uSD card slot, it's good to use this as much as possible to reduce flash wear from the devices eMMC.

Many users setup there swap space(s) on the uSD card this frees up the I/O of the device.

There has been much discussion on this and applications written to help with this.

Further reading

*[[Swap on microSD]]
*[http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=84296 talk.maemo.org DISCUSS SDCard Swap]

===Swappolube===
Swappolube is a package to modify memory management.
Most users tweak this to suit their device and usage.
If you're unsure where to start, the proposed settings are a good base.

More information can be found on the [[Swappolube]] page.

=Settings=

==Network Positioning==
If you use the incorrect settings your device may be slow at getting a GPS fix.

There is also a bug with maemo-security-certman, this has been fixed in CSSU.

Make sure the latest version of your CSSU flavour is installed.

Navigate to

: Settings > Location > Network Positioning

then check the Location server is
 supl.nokia.com

If Nokia's supl server doesn't give you functional AGPS (there have been reports that the Nokia supl server has been shut down) try Google's SUPL server.
 supl.google.com

=Software=

==Repositories==

Maemo software works in the same way as most Linux distributions', repositories provide a secure and easy method of supplying software to end-users.

Information about the different repositories can be found on the [[Extras]] page.

==Getting Root==

[[Root access]]

=Common Modifications=

Please note these common modifications are here for reference.
If you are a complete beginner and do not understand you must be aware that you could damage parts of your filesystem if you mess up.

==Purging Unnecessary Software==

===Cherry===

With the PR 1.2 update Nokia introduced "My Nokia" an SMS subscription service on which you receive periodic texts from Nokia.
This was automatically installed/subscribed on devices and was known to cause issues with devices sending and receiving unwanted SMS messages.

This package is one of the first to be removed by members of the community, for obvious reasons. It can be removed by:-

apt-get remove --purge cherry

====Further reading on My Nokia and cherry====

[[PR1.2 compulsory My Nokia subscription]]

===Additional Unnecessary Software===
The following is deemed safe. Run in a [[Terminal]] as [[Root]] to remove unnecessary software provided with the Nokia firmware.

apt-get remove --purge hildon-theme-beta osso-chess-ui gnuchess osso-graphics-game-chess osso-lmarbles osso-graphics-game-lmarbles osso-sounds-game-chess maemoblocks ap-installer amazon-installer foreca-installer facebook-installer skype-installer dtg-installer tutorial-home-applet osso-tutorial-l10n-engb osso-tutorial-l10n-ptpt osso-tutorial-l10n-frca osso-tutorial-l10n-nlnl osso-tutorial-l10n-cscz osso-tutorial-l10n-itit osso-tutorial-l10n-eses osso-tutorial-l10n-svse osso-tutorial-l10n-frfr osso-tutorial-l10n-dede osso-tutorial-l10n-fifi osso-tutorial-l10n-nono osso-tutorial-l10n-esmx osso-tutorial-l10n-enus osso-tutorial-l10n-ruru osso-tutorial-l10n-mr0 osso-tutorial-l10n-plpl osso-systemui-splashscreen sharing-service-flickr sharing-service-ovi chinese-font google-search-widget tutorial-home-applet osso-mahjong osso-graphics-game-mahjong osso-sounds-game-mahjong ovi-promotion-widget

[http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?s=bcad4cd2389b67dd0911decdebb4b503&t=82641 talk.maemo.org Safe to remove?]

==Disable Nokia Hands==
There are three main methods to do this.

===Method 1===
Rename the file
: /opt/usr/share/hildon-welcome/media/Hands-v32-h264.avi
to
: /opt/usr/share/hildon-welcome/media/Hands-v32-h264.avi.disabled

===Method 2===
Use a text editor to edit the file
:''/etc/hildon-welcome.d/default.conf''
Comment out the last line.
: filename=Hands-v32-h264.avi
===Method 3===
Remove the hildon-welcome package, which included the bootvideo

Firstly gain root:
:''root''
Then remove the package by issuing
:''apt-get purge hildon-welcome''

==Faking Flash Player 12 for MicroB==
[http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p=1276589&postcount=2219 Post on talk.maemo.org]

* Get [http://www.sendspace.pl/download/YTo0OntzOjc6ImRhdGVfaW4iO2k6MTM0Mzc4MTUxMTtzOjU6InRpdGxlIjtzOjA6IiI7czo5OiJmaWxlX25hbWUiO3M6MjQ6ImFkb2JlLWZsYXNocGxheWVyLTEwLmRlYiI7czo1OiJ0b2tlbiI7czoyMzoiY2MzM2I0MDcyZTgyM2VlMTU4MDkzOWIiO30dfASDF34vasd3245bvs flashplayer 10 binaries] for maemo.

apt-get remove --purge adobe-flashplayer
 apt-get install hexedit
 dpkg -i adobe-flashplayer-10.deb
 hexedit /usr/lib/browser/plugins/libflashplayer.so

* Once in Hexedit, press CTRL+S and type in 31302e31 and press enter, the string you've just found need to be changed to 31322e31

* Now, press CTRL+S, type "y" and search for 31302c31 and change it to 31322c31

* Press CTRL+S then "y" again.
* Close terminal (CTRL+X) and enjoy new faked v12.1.98.88 flash player

== Watch 720p movies ==
[http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=77695 720p Thread - talk.maemo.org]

==Customizing Maemo==
Customizing the appearance of Maemo

[[Customizing Maemo]]

= Credits =
My thanks go to jebba, titan, pali, NIN101, MentalistTraceur, sixwheeledbeast, DocScrutinizer05, sEKI, kerio, freemangordon, qwazix, ShadowJK and everyone on #maemo

=Wiki Update Info=
:''Last Updated - sixwheeledbeast - 31 Jan 2013 21:41 UTC''

[[Category:Beginners]]
[[Category:N900]]

Please note that all contributions to maemo.org wiki may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here.
You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see maemo.org wiki:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission!

Summary:

Cancel | Editing help (opens in new window)

Templates used on this page:

Template:Ambox (view source) (semi-protected)

Retrieved from "https://wiki.maemo.org/N900_The_Perfect_Setup"

Personal tools

Navigation

Views

Editing N900 The Perfect Setup

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 The latter is important, especially if you don't feel confident in taking your N900 apart to reinforce the port.
-====Inductive Charging====
+===Inductive Charging===
 Bridging the gap between a non-permanent hardware mod and an accessory the universal Qi inductive charging add-on pads have been installed both over and under the stock and Mugen battery covers, the semi-permanent installation into the microUSB port reduces dangerous cable leverage and USB port wear to nearly zero and the nearly flush USB port plug also protects the USB port from foreign object damage making the inductive charging add-on even more important to N900 owners than most users.  The USB port can be easily unplugged if needed for use in USB host, 3G modem, and mass storage modes.
 [http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?p=1431701#post1431701 talk.maemo.org Qi Inductive Charging Universal Add-On Installation]