A Guide to Maemo Extras for More Nokia N900 Applications

October 27th, 2009 • • 83 comments

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

InstallAn 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.

Screenshot-20091027-010437.png

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.

Screenshot-20091027-010716.png

Screenshot-20091027-010825.png

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.

Screenshot-20091027-011641.png
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

More Reading

I gathered all the information above from the Maemo Wiki. I hope it helps other Nokia N900 users who are new to Maemo like me. If you want to read straight from the source, check out the wiki for Maemo Extras.

← Older Comments
  • Keith

    Have you tried the terminal commands?
    The under lying OS id Linux.
    read about apt.
    (advanced packaging tool)

  • Ankithbk

    Hey man great blog ! Thanks alot…

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    FMMS is not available now in the menu i guess

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  • Diarbi13

    amsn can’t work on my n900 phone what should i do …..how can i install it

  • Diarbi13

    hi there …my amsn doesn’t work ..it tells some files missing ,what shull i do ….thanks alot

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    Nice blog,I cant find any website which tells me how to de-install apps from my n900 without using the app manager.can you assist me?

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    You should also enable the repository in Application manager so that the N900 receives update notifications for the apps.

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      Applications here might break and cause trouble to your device! Regular users are encouraged to stay away!

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        Seriously, this phone has been a huge letdown to me, but then again, I’m not a programmer

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          There are nearly NO decent apps for it, and Nokia has been just awful in providing info on it or responding to people’s queries.

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          There are nearly NO decent apps for it, and Nokia has been just awful in providing info on it or responding to people’s queries.

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        Seriously, this phone has been a huge letdown to me, but then again, I’m not a programmer

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      I’m trying to set up the Maemo extras-devel catalogue on my N900 but keep getting a message telling me that the catalogue failed to refresh.

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        he Extras repository is supposed to be pre-configured in the Nokia N900 but is disabled by default.

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        he Extras repository is supposed to be pre-configured in the Nokia N900 but is disabled by default.

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          I was very upset to lose the functionality of my calendar alarms! It’s the feature I used the most on my N95 8gb

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          I was very upset to lose the functionality of my calendar alarms! It’s the feature I used the most on my N95 8gb

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          I tried inputting all of my ‘reminder” events via PC Suite, but the alarm didn’t sound on the phone (and we know we can’t input those things via the N900 itself).

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          I tried inputting all of my ‘reminder” events via PC Suite, but the alarm didn’t sound on the phone (and we know we can’t input those things via the N900 itself).

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    Thanks for sharing this wonderful guide.

  • Hemanth 2002

    recaller software for call recorder not getting install in my n900. suggest me how?it’s must for me

  • Sk Waqar

    i have problem to install preevn ,
    i used all step
    $ sudo gainroot
    # apt-get update
    # apt-get install preenv
    # exit
    OR If you got problem installing preenv, follow these steps:
    $ sudo gainroot
    # apt-get -f install
    # apt-get autoremove
    # apt-get clean

    # apt-get update
    # apt-get install preenv
    but not active and i active all repository but still same same answer coming
    E: couldn’t find package preenv ?????

    please advice me

    • Behram_44

      did you find any solutions dot that problem because i am having that shit too.whatever i do i cannot let it install

  • tshechu

    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 all the apps before from the repository and for some reason this is all I get now …
    and i can see only 5 applications in downloads..
    PLEASE SOMEONE HELP !!!

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