Downloading & Installing applications on the Nokia N900
Three days after the official release of the Nokia N900 it’s probably a good day to start talking about applications for this device. Why? Because I’m sure that there is already a bunch of people who is enjoying happily and peacefully his brand new Nokia N900. So I decided to give them a hand with their phones.
First you should know what is “Maemo Extras” and “Extras Testing”. These are repositories or places where applications from the community can be found. That´s more than enough. So there is two ways of downloading apps from maemo.org.
The simple one is to go to downloads.maemo.org from your N900’s web browser and by clicking in the green arrows right next to the apps (on the right side of the screen If you are looking into it).
But then there is what it’s call Extras repository, where the Nokia N900 will received update notifications for the apps. This Extra repository is already pre-configured on your Nokia N900 but it’s disable by default. So to enable it, please follow this steps:
Go into the Application manager.
Tap the menu -> Application catalogs…
Tap Maemo Extras.
Uncheck Disabled.
If it isn’t there on your phone, you can do it manually with the following easy steps:
Application manager –> Application catalogs –> New
Catalog name: Maemo Extras
Web address: http://repository.maemo.org/extras/
Distribution: fremantle
Components: free non-free
After enabling it, browse through the download section of the Application Manager.
Tomorrow I would post about the applications available on maemo.org.
Thank you! I would now go on this blog every day!
Socco
can i add any linux repository? if yes, are there known limitations with some apps?
what i really would want is to install a gui like some distro of ubuntu? would this be possible?
Hello,
Thaks for reading the Blog. Your question is more technical issue which I’m not qualified to respond that. But I could suggest you to make the exact same question on maemo.org where I’m sure that you would find someone who would help you. I hope this works for you.
Regards,
Matías
Hello, nice blog Matias! For acizane80: I read somewhere that some apps for Maemo 4 are compatible with Maemo 5, as it happens with most of the linux OS updates (I don’t know if it is true because N900 is not in my country yet, but when it arrives here I’ll be among the first to know!).
By the way, does anybody know something about the arrival of N900 in Greece?
How do you install apps that you transfer from your computer to mobile? I have a few but cant seem to get them to install?
thanks
[...] In order to install the Game Pack, you should open this Blog on your Nokia’s N900 web browser, download the .ZIP file on this Blog, uncompress it and then install every one of it. The other possibility it’s to download the .ZIP file on this Blog into your Desktop computer, uncompress it and send the files to your Nokia N900 through USB or Bluetooth and intall all them. For more information you could go to our post about Downloading and installing applications on the Nokia N900. [...]
[...] After the inconvenient we have yesterday with the Game Pack, we are going to put the links to download the apps one by one as we did yesterday for the Game Pack. So in order to install the each app, you should open this Blog on your Nokia’s N900 web browser, download the file on this Blog from the link and then install every one of it. The other possibility it’s to download the file on this Blog into your Desktop computer and send the file to your Nokia N900 through USB or Bluetooth and install it. For more information you could go to our post about Downloading and installing applications on the Nokia N900. [...]
the install icon is just a JPG?
Hi William,
Thanks for reading the Blog. It’s a JPG but at the same time it´s a button when pressing it allows you to start downloading the App or game.
Regards,
Matías
hi,
i just downloaded google earth for linux. how can i install it?
thanks
when I have a missed call from one of my contacts, to check the number it shows the contact details including all numbers stored on the name which makes me do not know which number to call back…any solution?
hi.. im having troubles with my n900
when i go to my application manager.. it wont refresh or update to find any new apps..
so when i click on ‘download’ or ‘update’ it says ‘operation failed’
and so it tells me that there is ‘no applications available’
even when i click on ‘uninstall’ it says ‘no applications available’
help please?
have you fixed yoru prob? i just installed the latest update. i know i have been sitting on it for a while. thought i would wait it out till pr 1.2 but for some reason i decided to update today. got any ideas how to fix this app manager cause now its not working?
[...] Downloading & Installing applications Application catalogues Settings for fMMS I hope that this information would help you. [...]
hello,i’m from & i have a n900
so i want to install the applications on my cell phone but i can’t , because in iran i connect to the Internet by WIFI but when i start to to install the applications by choosing the “download” it shows me this note : “the application failed to install” .
so what should i do ?
i need the program such as “dictionary”and another useful program .
please help me .
what should i do in iran for install the applications.
i hope you shoe me a way for install .
thanks alot .
@sina:
Do you have only this information or you can get more details (sometimes it shows popup with “Details…” button) from app manager? It would be good to know something more about this problem.
anyone knows how to enable flash player on n900 to watch videos online???
Flash player is automatically installed for N900 default browser. Flash version depends on firmware version.
OMG!!!
… and abt d cell…
WAT A SEXXYYY AND INSANE PHONE!!!
i stay in INDIA mumbai and here n900 is not launched!!! and i was reallly crazy abt dis cell… so i told my cousin who stays in DUBAI to send me the cell phone(it cost 32000rs for me) and here… i got d cell… i never expected dis cell phone to b dis great… when i hold n900 on my hands ..it really makes me DIFFERENT from the ppl around me… dey look @ me and i can feel their eyes burning from jealousy i think
GRT MUSIC SOUNDS… GREAT SOUND IN HEADSET AS WELL WITH BASE AND ALL ETC
INSANE TOUCH SCREEN… ITS LIKE IM USING TONY STARK’s HOLO DIGI COMPUTER DAT HE USED IN IRON MAN…
32GB(ON-BOARD)+16GB(CARD) MEMORY OMG!!!
OS IS SO FLEXIBLE AND FAST… NO HANG
BEST PART IS… THE CAMERA(5 MEGA PIXEL)… BUT I DUNO HOW COME IT IS GIVING 8 MEGA PIXEL CLARITY!!! O M G!!!
PHONE MODEL AND KEYBOARD IS LIKE PURELY ACCURATE ACCORDING TO D SPECS.
KEYBOARD ALSO HAS A LIL FICTION TO GIV US MORE ACCURACY O MM GGG!!!
TO ALL D OTHER PHONES EXCEPT NOKIA N900….. *moderated*
NOKIA ROCKS
N900 ROCKS
I LOVE U MAKERS AND DEVELOPERS WHO MADE NOKIA N900 POSSIBLE!!!
KEEP IT UP!!!
BYE
- NADEEM KHAN
@Nadeem Khan:
I know, its just marvellous but please have some mercy for other readers and don’t use double enter or bad words
Hi,
I jus got my n900 and tried to put music on it through ovi – which didnt work so had to use the mass storage – then I downloaded some games and apps to my pc and tried to put them on via the pc suite and that didnt work at all, it said there was no enough space I have 20GB free and these are really small apps
very dissapointed – anyone know what im doing wrong?
@NCHammer:
Hi,
Can you tell me what kind of applications you’re downloading? What file type?
hi can anyone please tell me how can i use my flash player because when i try to play youtube video it says to update my plash player ??
@malith:
Do you have PR1.2 update already installed?
Hi guys,
I have been using this phone from past few days. I am trying to download the mirror appliaction and I am not into software. So i dont know how to use X-terminal.
When I tried to install this. It was asking to install python. Now I went totally freak.
Please if anybody can u guide how to install mirror application and use the front camera.
Also, can nay of u guys let me know which are good allpications that I can download and use the phone to the max limit.
Thanks…
@Mohammad Adnan:
Mirror application is already available in Extras but it may happen that it has some dependencies in extras-testing or extras-devel. Nevertheless it should be visible in App manager. To see how to enable other software catalogues see:
http://nokia-n900.com/another-word-on-application-catalogues-tutorial/
After you have it enabled see the App manager in multimedia section.
If it comes to good applications you need to figure out what is the most needed for you, try looking more deeply into this blog, you should find more informations on apps. I’d suggest installing additional IM protocols (if you’re using IMs often), multimedia decoders (it will allow you to play more audio and video formats in media player) and look around to see what can be useful for you.
@ Maciej Jablonski,
I thank you for your kind support. I tried the steps given by you, but ended up in nothing!!!
I got this error message while downloading Mirror Application
Application packages missing:”PYTHON 2.5 minimal (=2.5.4-1 maemo6)”.
Now this is completely out of my knowledge!!!
Also, when I tried to download other applications I was not able to do it!!!
Please let me know what has to be done now!!
Thanks….
@Mohammad Adnan:
If you have problems installing other applications try to uninstall the mirror application, if it isn’t installed correctly then backend behind app manager may have some troubles installing other apps.
If you want this mirror that badly, first uninstall the one you have now and try the method described here:
http://nokia-n900.com/how-to-cope-with-recent-broken-packages/
and try installing some older version of mirror.
Hi Maciej Jablonski,
Well, my previous problem was solved and i have successfully downloaded the applications I needed. Thanks to you!!!!
Lately I have been trying to download sis file games/applications.
To my astonishment I was not successfull in doing so!!!
After reviewing comments and other details I got to know that MAEMO OS does not support.
Will you be able to help me in downloading this sis files. As I need few softwares to be downloaded in my mobile and they can be done only with sis file supporting OS.
Waiting for your prompt reply.
Regards,
Adnan…
@Mohammad Adnan:
Nokia N900 is Maemo-based and can install applications for Maemo 5 in .deb files, not Symbian-based and that’s why sis files cannot be installed on N900.
@ Maciej Jablonski
How to install .deb files?
My knowledge in these fields is very mere!!!
Also, let me know whether .deb files are similar to .sis files..
Regards,
adnan..
Hi Maciej,
1. Is there a posibility of installing applications, other than those present in Ovi/maemo store?
The usual Linux applications!
(I expect we won’t be able to install Win applications anyways)
2. I have loaded couple of docs in my N900. these are PDFs and .DOCs. Is there any application that can convert them to speech so that I can just listen to these text books…
@Mohammad Adnan:
.deb files are software packages for Linux in general and if the file is compiled specifically for Maemo 5 and N900 you can install on your phone. The easiest way is to download file and make it open in Application Manager (option when downloading).
The other way is to download the file and install by clicking on file in File manager and open in App manager.
There is also possibility to install downloaded package XTerminal. You will need root access (application rooths available via App manager) and then when you have file downloaded you open terminal and type:
sudo gainrootdpkg -i file_name.deb
@aatish:
1. Plain Linux applications would need compiling them for ARM architecture and building .deb package, since Maemo 5 uses Debian packaging. Apart from applications you can find using App manager or Ovi there are also the ones you can find on websites of developers, not yet placed in extras-devel catalogue.
2. There is eSpeak application and GUI for it, it allows to open text files, but I haven’t tried it, I assume it uses plain text files, not docs and PDFs.
Something wrong with my phone
After updates the maemo few days ago my start to reboot few times.
yesterday when im trying to reply some mail its hanged so i tried to turn it off.somehow it stuck with nokia logo installing software updates please do not interrupt. now i cannot turn it on.the same thing keep appearing n after few minutes my phone go blank.
@jenna:
This looks a little awkward, you can try to update once again (reinstall firmware) using Nokia Software Updater or flasher, this should make your N900 work if some unnecessary changes of rootfs made your phone dead.
If it won’t help try to visit nokia service.
i just got my n900 yesterday. i updated it to 1.2firmware but even before and now i cannt instal any games or apps from ovi store.it says downloaded but never instal. installation gets stuck in middle and i have to close it.plzz help
this may sound lil awkward but im completely helpless here,
the thing is that,
1: I istalled rooths and python.2.5 blah blah blah,
2: i downloaded and transfered my .deb files {all required files} via computer,
and installed them via x-terminal command
3: I now have the the ussD pad on my app menu folder, and uSSD widget,
4: the problem is, when i tried to launch the UssD pad, it shows me some sort of loading signals, after a while in automatical quit without even showing the application foreground,
4: when i add the widget to my desktop, it refuses to show up.
pls i dont knw if there is any dependancies that im missing???
i dunno wat to do…
pls i need help ASAP
i have n900. but i am unable to install medical and chinese dictionary. whenever i started installing it shows file currupted..
so please help me how i install my dictionary.???
plz help me…
can you install .sis files on nokia n900? if yes how can you do it…
@aniket:
nope, .sis are for Symbian, N900 is Maemo (Linux) phone.
hey i have a problem …when i go to voip and im accounts i don’t get the option of skype ….plzz help !!
hi.. i recently got new nokia n900.. can u explain in detail how to install apps, can winzip for nokia n900.. nd i m not able to connect with gprs.. i have airtel connection..plzzz help..
@ronchy:
Try installing additional protocols for IM
@nippun:
First of all you have App manager, where you can download and update application from Maemo extras, or other catalogues, described in detail here:
http://nokia-n900.com/another-word-on-application-catalogues-tutorial/
Apart from that you can install application from .deb packages like in this example:
http://nokia-n900.com/maemo-internals-for-everyone-software-packages/
And following the most common question, N900 is Linux-based so .sis files canNOT be installed on N900.
HI,i jst bought a nokia n900 n its really cool bt i have been tryin to download a NONO TALK for internet call,bt it alwys failed, cn u plz hep me with this?
thanxxx
@LAKPA:
I see that Nono Talk is symbian application, but N900 is NOT a Symbian phone, therefore you canNOT install applications from .sis files. Take a look at comment above (and articles mentioned there) for more applications you can download using app manager.
Hi, my nokia N900 can not seem to play video’s online, such as on youtube. It was working fine before and its updated. Please help me out here. Many thanks
@abdi:
There is way to tweak flash version, because this is probably the problem, try looking here:
http://nokia-n900.com/news-from-maemo-world-flash-tweaks-protection-updates/
pls,i bought my n900 recently,when i tried to download some files from app manager,files actually got download but couldnt be installed.i subsiquently tried to unstall few files but to my surprise,that can be done also.it reads “file cant be installed/unstalled,internal error,app manager is closed”.pls what i do to solve?
Hi, my n900 application manager says ” operation failed” and I can’t access any upgrades or applications when i select update, download and even uninstall. Can anyone please provide any info on this. Thanks
@lake, Mohican:
Try updating using Nokia Software Updater, maybe there is some faulty data on filesystem of your N900.
Hi, i have a question!
It’s about Whatsapp, can i install that on my N900?
I know it’s a .sis program, but is there another possibility or does anyone have an idea if it’s coming in the future?
Because on some Nokia phones you can use Whatsapp..it’s very handy!!
Thanks!
I have a Nokia N900. I tried to install the mobile dialer many times,but I couldn’t. Please help me to install but if there is no option, I will buy new mobile.
i want to view a video on facebook thru my n900. but its asking for a version for flash player.like :YUM FOR LINUX, : TAR.GZFOR LINUX…. what should i do…..
Hi
i have N900 but i have problems in display. display does not work only i can see line and dark what i have to do if you know let me know by mail
Thanks
Ramnik
Please send me the screenshot via email and I will see how I can assist you.
Hi, please help me. Whenever I try to install an app on my N900 it never works. Even to download fire fox from the mozilla mobile site don’t work. Whenever I try to open Downloads in the Application Manager, I get this message:
“Application list partially refreshed. Some catalogues unavailable. Check catalogue details”
When I try to open updates, sometimes it keeps saying checking for updates and then after bout 5-10 minutes it drops.
The problem is not with my internet connection, because I can browse web pages properly with no problem at all
Thanks for your anticipated response.
Try the default web browser as sometimes the other browsers have defects. Of that doesn’t work than download chromium or if you already have it, then download the application
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