Folks,

After FreEPOC's second batch of OPL Apps that will come out in the next few weeks (Vexed is one you know about), I'd like the help of all you to decide where the next batch of apps will be aimed for.

In other words "What Apps Do You Want On the 9210?"

Do you want productivity applications, to help you do office and 'real life' stuff on yuor phone? Do you want apps that give your phone more features and the things the interface is lacking?

What about games and lesiure apps? Do you want strategic games, board and puzzle games, action games? How about turn based games by email? What sort of games?

Or have you ideas that aren't covered here?

This is the topic to let your ideas loose, discuss them with developers and other users, and to see what happens...

PS This topic does not apply to Dazler.

PS This topic does not apply to Dazler.

Good I'll have some bandwith and space left in the forums at the end of the week then... :)

Seriously I think its hard to say exactly what is needed (especially when you don't have a 9210), but it seems to me that:

Anything that increases the ease of use / speed of use is always a good thing. Thus some sort of alternative program starting method is good, also task switching... A freeware task swicth might be good (a simple one like FileSwitch for ER5). Besides that I think some sort of Macro5 thing might be popular (dont know if its doable on the 9210). I think something like TaskManager demonstrates how well an app in this area can do.

Games are always popular, mist downloaded, most purchased. Let's face it - the 9210 comes with a very good base of applications. Most productivity apps that are added are going to be specialist to some degree or other (e.g. Plan6, Ximplify myList). The only exception to this if you come up with something really great like eBook Reader. On the other hand games tend to run out of steam after they are completed or just get boring so new games will always do well.

The wow concept - something that hasn't been done, and is just cool.. e.g. make the IR window a temperature sensor (anybody remember that April Fool on the EPOC Times?).

The never been done conept.. e.g. RMRZip on the S3a. I think something like a newsreader would fall into this category. It's one of the reasons something like Doom or Rayman will be / are popular (aside from being games).

Ok so what does everyone else think?

Ewan you might want to put a post in 9210 forum pointing people this way, this forum is read about 10% of the number of visitors compared to 9210 according to the stats.

Alternativly, maybe this topic might be [i]better[/] in the genreal 9210 Forum, so Rafe could move the Topic...

One thing that seems to be asked for quite a lot is a newgroup reader for the 9210.

An app that was quite popular for the 9110 was the TV remote control using the IR - I suspect that might be quite good also for the 9210.

Oh - and some way of exporting the LOG file o a spreaadsheet wold get my vote - people could use it to seperate Business & Personal calls, etc...


just my thoughts

You all love me don't you ;p


Rafe, a free program like taskmanager is switcher ;)

I haven't found a free mp3 player yet, I think people would like that.

An app i was also searching after (but don't think you'll be able to create :s) is an mediaplayer for nim files with a playlist (don't think many people would want it except me ;) ).

For games ... you could allways go for classic games, Tetris, Arkanoid ...


PS :p :) :evil: :x :P :) ;) I've learned my lesson ;)

You all love me don't you ;p


Most of the time..! ;0

I know Switcher is freeware, I had something else in mind, something that you find on Er5 and I hope Ewan knows what I'm talking about.

Rafe

I can only assume Rafe is thinking about either "Start5" or "Extrabars." Care to enlighten us? I'm not sure if the Start5 Taskbar is a suitable interface on the 9210, and ExtraBars is just gonna look wierd.

I do have some idea on a freeware Task Manager, but lets get current projects and other proposals out the way first.

I was thinking of File Switch see: http://www.freepoc.org/fileswitch.htm

an add-on program that can personalize SMS alerts to groups or individual contact. this will be useful for users who uses SMS a lot. just at the tone or sound of the SMS alert you will know if it's an important business text or just some friendly texts from a friend.

a remote-control like the one in 9110 will also be cool. (like the mentioned above)

an advanced and improved features of the freeware "SMS Assistant" will also be nice to have.

:)

:D You know what... I think an add-on or somethin that can make our 9210 to be able to customize the ringtone from the front panel... (just like our good ol 9110...) i wonder why 9210 cant do this??? it's really troublesome to do that at the moment... don't u guys agree??? ;)

I've allways wanted a simple turn based hex-game. It doesnt have to be very complicated maybe units like: modern war = troops, armoured car, tank, artillary, or: ancient = sword man, archer, chariot, trebuchet - and different terrain changes unit speed. The means of working it out would be quite simple as units and terrain would have specific values. Then to top it off a random game map setting and a map editor. Although simple and not necesarilly animated, nice graphics would definately make it more visually attractive :)

A little program which converts a Symbian Contacts file to a plain text file and/or a 'multiple' CSV ... dunno the technical word for it, but the CSV format EPOC ER5 saved too (which could be imported into Outlook Express).

I'm going to thank everyone in this topic who's posted, and hope all the lurkers jot ideas up here as well. Quite a few of these ideas are new ideas to me, and some of them do intruigue me.

One aim of this topic is any new developer (not just those at FreEPOC) can pick up on new ideas that people want, not just what they percieve (which is sometimes difficult to get past).

Of course, it may even encourage some of you to download the OPL Editor yourself...

You requested posts from the Lurkers so here's my two pence worth. :D

I'd really like to see a very simple, configurable desktop enhancement. ActiveDesk is great but it eats memory, and isn't flexible in terms of layout.

That may actually be quite a big task. I'd just love something similar to the 'Today' screen on PocketPC.

A to-do list, waiting email/sms/fax indicator and one touch access to sms editor would be perfect! Integration with the alarm clock program (an icon to show if there are any alarms pending within the next 24hrs etc.) would be even better. I'd pay hard earned cash for something which did those simple tasks!

-Omar

Ewan, comments from another lurker. I appreciate your concept of asking your customers (potential or existing) what they want – thank you.

I am more than willing to pay sensible amounts for good software – it doesn’t have to be free although that is very welcome.

I have recently installed a bunch of demo versions on my 9210 for evaluation purposes and am now trying to decide which to keep / discard / register for. I have added my brief comments so far, for what they may be worth:

Task management

a) Switcher – I’m happy using it but there is no option to assign a key (like task manager) that brings it up with a single stroke.

b) Task Manager – I like the idea of being able to hit “Tel” to bring this up, but once closed, I can’t figure out how to activate it without doing a soft reset. When I’m in task manager and hit, say, “office”, I would like to go straight there rather than have office come up in task manager and then have to hit the side button for “switch to”. Another limitation is that too few tasks are shown on the screen at once.

Utilities

c) Restart – useful, but why have to go through extras, control panel, then scroll along to get there? I can’t find a way to add a link to desk.

d) Active Desk – I agree with the comments above on this. One frustration is that I can’t assign another button apart from “desk” to bring this up. Therefore, if I want desk, I have to hit it twice. This might not be so much of a problem if the 9210 ran about 5 times faster!

I have 30-odd task lists in Agenda – I would like an option not to display tasks with no due date in the Active Desk screen – I keep lists here and don’t always want a due date.

e) X-link – I don’t yet understand the point of this one.

f) Extended extras – still trying to get my mind around this, how to get the best out of it and where it fits among all the others.

g) FreeCrypt – not started yet, but I welcome the idea of a secure way to store data. I believe that there is another shareware utility (Data Vault) to store a load of personal data in a database format. I haven’t got to that one yet.

h) NewSMS. No comment yet.

Memory

i) iDisk – I like it and probably should look at iDisk Pro, but haven’t yet.

j) Smart Memory – prefer iDisk

k) Task Manager – limited info, but memory shown available is never the same as Switcher!

Utilities wish list

l) I would like to have a quick way to call up frequently used applications that are not open at present – perhaps a drop down menu to scroll down to launch. This should include applications in control panel. An alternative approach might simply be to have a user defined menu. Concept similar to Task manager/Switcher. At the moment I either overload desk or have to remember where the program I want is located. eExtras may provide the solution but I haven’t got it right yet.

Somewhere in all of this lot there is a feature that allows an autostart utility to be configured. Can't rememdber where it is though. I think this has some promise also.

m) Notes (from Nokia?) – I like it a lot – Desk was getting littered with notes so I couldn’t find the program icons buried in there. Main issue is I can’t see how to close up the line spacing to get more lines on the screen - it seems to default to ~1.5 spacing.

n) Converter (Nokia) – I like this a lot but can’t yet find a way to add user defined conversions, e.g engineering units, either to add to existing categories or create new ones.

o) Calculator - unimpressed – I upgraded from a Revo and, with touch screen, the calculator on that was excellent. I don’t have anything to suggest on how to overcome the limitations of cursor movement.

p) Most utility programs are intended to improve efficiency. Therefore, wherever possible, they have to need only 1 key stroke to bring them forward and one stroke to get out.

Games

q) Rayman
r) Vexed

Other

s) TomTom Route Planner + City Maps + GPS module

I’ve only been playing with all these programs for a few days, so some of the comments / criticisms may be a reflection of my ignorance rather than any real limitations of the software.

Having read the foregoing, I have realised that my primary initial interest is in utilities and efficient use of the capability of the 9210. I have a lot of programs on the 9210 now and easy navigation between them is essential as well as seamless integration. At the moment, to meet all my desires, I seem to need a lot of different programs and there is a lot of overlap as well as gaps between them. I don’t mind a suite of programs to do the jobs, but I do want consistency between them and ease of use.

I have been very surprised to find that the whole lot seem to co-exist OK on the 9210 and I have really had no conflict issues.

If any of these stimulate your interest, get back to me and I’d be happy to try and develop the ideas some more. If nothing else, this exercise has helped me organise my thoughts.

Ewan, i would love to see a world atlas program with clear pictures and a good zoom function plus citypopulation and other relevant info.

The tv(& sky if possible) remote using the ir port would be great.

A player for the nims with a playlist would also be good.

And as for games, i would love to see an early adventure game like
monkey island(even better monkey island 2)or similar type.

views from a compulsive power lurker.

Rossar,

You can get the FROTZ interpreter for Adventure games for your 9210 already at http://www.geocities.com/epocif/frotzn.html. A quick net search should find delights such as the Zork series, and "The Hitch Hikers Guide To The Glaxy" which is a zenith in text based adventure games.

Oh and Frotz is freeware to boot!

hi

i need a hex-editor !

ciao

A TV/VCR/DVD remote control would really rule. Big time!

Having this little app would finally relieve all the hassle when losing the damned R/C :evil:

+ you can really have some fun switching channels on someone elses TV when visiting (and they don't realise it :D )

Sven

How about some desktop sync software for Mac OS X!!!
ORRRrrrrr . . . something that will import vCards into the Contacts App. I know what you're thinking . . . the 9210 already does that. Wrong. If I'm wrong . . . please correct me and make my day!

Hmmm, didn't you just ask us for MacOS X support by email? Anyway, while all the ideas here are welcome, I have to say that MacOS support is something that the big boys would have to deal with.

The problem isn;t the connection (it's PLP, so a hack on Psi-Mac should be enough) but the file conversion (very tricky) and synchronisation (very tricky). This would need to be IMO a commission direct from Nokia or Symbian, best turn your attentions to them directly.

Ask for OS X support by e-mail . . . did I? I don't remember doing that? I asked Rafe if he knew of any software that did so. I don't think I have your e-mail address. As far as file conversion . . . there's no work to be done. Mac OS X(the integrated Mail app and Calendar app) is based on open industry standards like vCal and vCard. No conversion necessary. Synchronization, yeah. That's a pain.

Something like vCal, but for vCards

How about some desktop sync software for Mac OS X!!!


Right well I thought I'd post this even if its useless...

Isn't OS X Unix based, if so this might work for connections...
http://www.ki-ag.de/html/tech/p3nfs.html

Rafe

Yes, OS X has at its kernel a version of BSD known as Darwin. Yes, it is Unix based. Connections like the one you point to, Rafe, should work(with a little bit of tweeking, of course).

Not useless at all!

I would love to see a access program like in office 2000 as well as the nokia officve programs more compatable, and same functions as microsoft office.
Has anyone out there atuall given a powerpoint presintation using a 9210 + IR link?
the onev other thing would be a power point editior program

thanks mark 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

Another Lurker..

What I'd like to see is the 9210 working properly with Windows XP and/or Office XP, but I think that's probably more down to Nokia, and based on previous performance, I can't see them bothering to produce an update..:-( :(

I'm running Windows XP Professional with my 9210 and have no problems at all. What problems are you having?

-Omar

I am wondering why nokia does not developed a telnet client for 9210. It is existed in 9110 and a lot of my collegues not upgrade from 9110 because of the missing telnet app. (we have 100+ 9110i) I now there are commercial telnets, but they are expensive. Wy are using Mocha but I don't know how long works the demo license..

Can somebody please develop a free Telnet for 9210..

the ssh client for the 9210 from www.ssh.com ... was free If i remeber correct ... doesn't that have a telnet option?

Something that spells the numbers of the incoming calls, when they are not listed on contacts and something to help me automatise recording the name of each contact, would be really fun... Memory hungry, but fun! :P :P :P :D :P :P :P
The remote controler is great idea, but having much experience with palm and pocket pc on that matter, I thing it would be unusable :(
And last but not least, the full Greek localisation. Com'on Psiloc... Make me love you! 8) 8) 8) 8)

the ssh client for the 9210 from www.ssh.com ... was free If i remeber correct ... doesn't that have a telnet option?

Actually, it unfortunately costs ~$150 USD. I've searched, but haven't been able to find a free ssh or telnet client.


-MB

An useful app, and maybe easy to code for a C or OPL programmer, could be one that silently calls the AVAIL program (which can be found in the SDK Cd-rom) with user-defined parameters (i.e. I would use "compress all heaps" and not send the output to the screen) during operating system boot, and leaves it automatically run in the background.

This way, memory would be efficiently compressed while the Commi is used, at some seconds intervals, without user intervention.

Also, a Desk app substitute could be useful as well: in my machine, for example, Desk consumes about 400 k of memory, maybe because it carries a lot of program and document links.

Another hand app would be the 9210 equivelant of TreeSize, so you can see what size all the directories on your MMC are without haveing to CTRL-P each of them and you can see what's eating up your MMC.

Just a thought...

you could try this out as a free telnet client:
http://www.interrorem.com/software/ratterm.php3

I've also added it to the allabouter6 software directory.

How about a time-tracker app? Something that allows you to record the amount of time spent on multiple, discrete tasks. Useful for contractors who need to keep track of how much time they have spent working on stuff for each of their clients separately.

How about a TTS caller-ID?*In other words, when you receive a call, in addition to your phone ringing, the 92xx would "read" the caller's name to you using text-to-speech voicing.

I like those last two a lot . . . also, how about something to allow you to record phone calls as a WAV file . . . great for legal purposes!!!

I think you can already record phone calls when on Hands Free using the built in Record application. And as long as you say, "btw the 9210 is recording this" then it's all 100% legal.

What would be really useful is an app that will record 5 or 10 seconds behind the conversation with a buffer. That way if something is said, you've got a short space of time to hit the 'store the last thing said' hotkey combination

I don't think there's such a need for a secure terminal program: the Mocha telnet works really well for SSH1 logins, & is much cheaper than the official SSH/F-Secure terminal clients (there's no time limit on the demo version either, you just get nag screens).

HOWEVER, one thing that I've really found lacking is the existence of a secure file transfer program that's SCP compatible. I'm not aware of any secure-shell FTP program at all, commerical or otherwise, and most of the networks at my workplace no longer permit simple FTP.

The other thing that's really missing is a Powerpoint editor of some description.

I'd also personally really like to see a mini HTML editor program, like a baby FrontPage or DreamWeaver, but that sounds like a Big Job to me...

I'd also personally really like to see a mini HTML editor program, like a baby FrontPage or DreamWeaver, but that sounds like a Big Job to me...

I've tried both and they are both crap, even in HTML edit mode dreamweaver still changes my code when it saves it.... grrrrr. I'd personally like a general purpose Programmers Editor with syntax highlighting for HTML/XML/C/C++/ASM and I suppose some others would like highlighting for OPL and similar languages. Something similar to Programmer's File Editor would me cool (I forget the url for it now :-?)

I don't think there's such a need for a secure terminal program: the Mocha telnet works really well for SSH1 logins, & is much cheaper than the official SSH/F-Secure terminal clients (there's no time limit on the demo version either, you just get nag screens).

I think there's a need for a more robust, feature rich version. The F-Secure version just takes up too much memory, but has the critical feature of secure port forwarding. If you're trying to check work email, where plain-text passwords just aren't allowed, it's an absolute requirement.


-MB

Ah yes - hadn't thought of the port forwarding issue - you're absolutely right. And the derisory comment about Dreamweaver's code is well made - yes, a general programming editor of some sort would probably do. I'd still love to get my SCP program, though! ;)

Dreamweaver must just not like me cos it made a mess of my code for some reason.

How about a TTS caller-ID?*In other words, when you receive a call, in addition to your phone ringing, the 92xx would "read" the caller's name to you using text-to-speech voicing.

You could always save each contacts name as a WAV and use that as the ring tone.

N9210 -

Yeah, I thought of that. Three problems . . . 1) That would be VERY time consuming. 2) That would take a lot of space recording all those voice notes 3) What happens when someone calls that you have not recorded a voice not for?

If it were TTS it could announce the phone number, or say, "Caller unkown".

If you set the general ring tone to "Caller unknown" you'll get the same thing ;)

i want to use .ram files as a ringtone.. is that possible to make?
coz i's using wav song as a ringtone, every wav file is at least 1.8 MB.
Thanks

why not crop your .wav song file into few seconds... it's almost not possible to hear a full 3 minute .wav ringtone when someone calls u, right?

:P

Here's what I want . . . a friggin' way to SYNC WITH MAC OS X!

The 9290 uses SyncML . . . OS X's iCal, Address Book and iSync use SyncML . . .

ARGGGGG

ER5 <> ER6 file converters is a hotly demanded area for people/organisations with both ER5 and ER6/7 devices, in particular Word, Sheet, txt (plain ASCII <> Unicode), and Data.

I need a CLOCK! in a Message..
just like -infrared acticated-
is that possible? :roll:

EWAN, are you still with this topic?

I wish what I wanted first time when I opened my 9210 for the fist time:

BackGroun Changer (with options for 10 minutes, 1 h, 3 h, daily)

ER5 had a program called Macro 5, which allows you to assign an application/directory/file to a panel, which contaned 26 odd buttons. You had four panels.

I used to use this alot, as you popped it up with Fn=H and then press the character ie: a for the application you wanted.

Very cool.

I would really really like someone to port one of the psion Series 3/5/Revo applications for Tide Tables to the 9210.

I would also like marine navigation software, complete with interface for LAM-1 GPS.

I can't find anybody who has any near term plans for either.

Yes it sounds silly but I don't think its impossible to produce software to allow a mouse to control the interface of the 9210.

Its like a small laptop so I am sure someone can produce a little mouse for it as long as the OS has support for it. Hmm this could be an interesting little electronics project.

Anyway What do you think of this idea. possible or fantasy?


I would also like a visual development environment for OPL on the communicator. Something like Delphi or VB.

And as for games I would love to see a Cannon Fodder clone for the 9210.

Well you asked for ideas ;) :D

Its my first post here so keep the flames to a minimum :oops: ;)

Cannon Fodder looks cool :)

Yes it sounds silly but I don't think its impossible to produce software to allow a mouse to control the interface of the 9210.

Its like a small laptop so I am sure someone can produce a little mouse for it as long as the OS has support for it. Hmm this could be an interesting little electronics project.

Anyway What do you think of this idea. possible or fantasy?


I would also like a visual development environment for OPL on the communicator. Something like Delphi or VB.

And as for games I would love to see a Cannon Fodder clone for the 9210.

Well you asked for ideas ;) :D

Its my first post here so keep the flames to a minimum :oops: ;)


I like it..! i wish they can develop a MOUSE for the 9210 :turn-l:

MORE RAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :evil:

MORE RAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :evil:

Yes of all things more RAM is always the top priority.

I believe so! Sometimes it's really hard for me to get things done...!! :evil:

there must be a way to use a part of the MMC as RAM -just like Windows virtual Memory 8) -

I agree with you that might be, we only need the path... 8)

Wow :o ...never heard of this possibility :oops: ! Who is going to think about it? :D

I would run to a shop first thing tomorrow and buy a 128 MB MMC if I knew some of it could be transformed into RAM. Tell me quick is this real or is it fantasy? :o

I think it is fantasy, but we have to dream on for the next 1,5 year. The Windoze has a lot of hardware ressources in the background and can doit. May be one Symbian Pro can enlight us. Until then, no way, byt keep dreaming. Tommorow is far away.

Me, Myself & I :fadein:

It has been discussed before :) Most people agree that this would slow the communicator down a lot. Because the MMC is actualy the slowest thing about the communicator :)

I agree it would be cool to have some extra memory but people would probably forget about the memory issues and start to leave things open all the time resulting in a need for more virtual memory and even slower communicator response ;)

for me, a small program wich can make minor adjustmens for image file, brightness, contrast, sharpen, color balance, resize, rotate, crop. LOL, it is not so small... but, trust me, would be great and usefull for all of us...