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A Guide to Maemo Extras for More Nokia N900 Applications

October 27th, 2009 • Mark Guim • Filed Under •

When I was at Maemo Summit, I kept hearing the terms ‘Maemo Extras’ and ‘Extras Testing.’ As a new user to the OS, I was totally clueless! I did some digging and found out these were repositories or places where applications from the community can be found. I’ll share with you what I learned and how you can use it when you get the Nokia N900.

Extras

Install An easy way to browse and install applications from ‘Extras’ is by going to downloads.maemo.org from the Nokia N900’s web browser. You can install the apps by simply clicking on the green arrows.

You should also enable the repository in Application manager so that the N900 receives update notifications for the apps. The Extras repository is supposed to be pre-configured in the Nokia N900 but is disabled by default. To enable:

Go into the Application manager.
Tap the menu -> Application catalogs…
Tap Maemo Extras.
Uncheck Disabled.

If it’s not there, you can manually add it:

Application manager –> Application catalogs –> New
Catalog name: Maemo Extras
Web address: http://repository.maemo.org/extras/
Distribution: fremantle
Components: free non-free

After you enabled the repository, browse through the download section of the Application manager.

Extras-testing

If you feel adventurous, Extras-testing holds applications waiting to be tested and passed to the Extras repository mentioned above. Warning: Applications here might break and cause trouble to your device! Regular users are encouraged to stay away!

You can check out the apps here with comments and ratings from testers. To install the apps, activate the repository in application manager:

Application manager –> Application catalogs –> New
Catalog name: Maemo Extras-testing
Web address: http://repository.maemo.org/extras-testing/
Distribution: fremantle
Components: free non-free

Extras-devel

I shouldn’t even be mentioning Extras-devel because it could really mess up your device. Warning: The software hosted in extras-devel is most likely not ready for end users. Developers upload the newest version of their software to extras-devel for an ‘automatic and human Quality Assurance process’ before it gets passed to Extras-testing.

Haze plugin adds more services to IM on Nokia N900

I was hesitant at first, but I decided to install a plugin from this repository after hearing about account-plugin-haze. It lets me add my AIM
account on the built-in Conversations instant messaging app on the N900. It also supports GaduGadu, ICQ, MSN, QQ, Sametime, and Yahoo, but I don’t use those services. It seems to be working fine so far and I hope to see it in the Extras repository soon!

To activate:

Application manager –> Application catalogs –> New
Catalog name: Maemo Extras-devel
Web address: http://repository.maemo.org/extras-devel/
Distribution: fremantle
Components: free non-free

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thefitz

Anybody know where the application for chinese translations went? Need Chinese on my N900

mike

how can i download hotspot shield on my n900,and from where? please help...

jack

im looking for that too... have you found it...?
please help!

kamranchatha

FMMS is not available now in the menu i guess... fAPN is there but fMMS id not there what to do mates??

miko

mark,
can you please check if anchorfree hotspot shield works on this phone? this is a privacy protection application. thanks.

Bowenarrow

Thank you for a great post. Having recently received my Nokia N900, the application manager and all the extra downloads are a godsend to the phone.

Sjoerd

Nope!
Sorry man....i have the same error message....also by the mozilla catalogi

max12

did this work for you becuase i tried and it didn't work.

southsidetommyd

Can anyone help me since yesterday every time I refresh my App Manager I get the notification:
Application list partially refreshed.
Some catalogs unavailable.
Check catalog details.
I had successfully downloaded an app before this from the Extras repository and for some reason this is all I get now ...

PLEASE SOMEONE HELP !!!

akshay

happend with me aswell.. but was ok after 2-3 hours..

max12

sorry it was meant for this comment. so when you retype everything did it work. because it didn;t work for me

Suvraj

All you have to do is go back to the Application Manager and re-type all the same information that you did for Extras-testing and Extras-devel and re-save it. That will solve your problem.

roy

You really helped me a lot with this article. Thanks. It's such pretty hardware, but this OS really, really, really s*cks. Pity. Real pity. Got my N900 yesterday, it's exit by this Monday.

OBINEX

you guy are wonder the haze plugin stuff works...N900 IS THE BEST PHONE EVER!

arempee

I'm planning to get the n900 today but can anyone tell me if what's the difference between the US version and ASIAN version?... like the n95 8gb, you could tell which one is US or ASIA/EUROPE version by looking at the camera lens... please REPLY!!!...

livingxl3g3nd

YES AIM!!!! Alot of US customers use that.......... and i am one of them..

Ming Zhang

Hey Mark!

How you liking the N900 after spending about a month's time with it?

Do you find yourself going back to the iphone 3GS or sticking to the N900 more and more as you learn more about it?

Lucky you!

GrahamCobb

Good article bujt one warning:

The problem with Extras-Devel is not just the obvious risk in installing something that is not yet tested. The biggest problem is that if you leave the repository enabled then the Application Manager will tell you about all sorts of updates to other software and some updates may even get pulled in without telling you as part of updating or installing something else. If you really do want to try something from extras-devel, please, PLEASE, disable the repository again straight away after doing the installation!

It would be great if the article could be updated to include this warning.

Personally I strongly recommend that no one uses extras-devel except developers trying to test their software. If there is something in there you want to try out, push the developer to move it to extras-testing.