Portrait mode on the N900 coming in PR1.2

by Kyron on May 8, 2010

As I continue to use the release candidate of the PR1.2 firmware for the N900 that leaked last weekend, I’m discovering new settings, new bugfixes and new features. This morning, thanks to a tip from Simon of knownokia.ca, we’ve discovered that Nokia has enabled automatic rotation just about everywhere in PR1.2. It is as simple as pressing CTRL + Shift + R on the keyboard then sliding the device closed and rotating it to change the screen orientation.

So far, I’ve tested this out in both core applications like Email and Conversations (as you can see above) as well as 3rd party apps like grr and TweeGo and I was able to successfully use the keyboard shortcut to rotate the orientation of the screen in all cases, however, not every app is coded to support portrait mode…yet. TweeGo, Ovi Maps and the Media Player will rotate but won’t reorient as you can see below


Now although this is clearly a big step for the N900 and the Maemo community (they pulled this keyboard shortcut directly from the Brainstorm forum on TMO), it does have it’s drawbacks besides some apps not being compatible. You cannot enable automatic rotation globally, you have to press CTRL + Shift + R in each application and if you close an app, you have to re-enable it with the shortcut once again. I think we will see this become a global setting in the next firmware update (PR1.3?). I’m going to leave you with the most impressive part of portrait mode, the Photos app. Check out how it turns all of your photos into a mosiac, something that has been done in other phones and pined for from several users. As always, if you have any questions or comments, leave em below. I love hearing from our readers.



UPDATE: Because people wanted video evidence, here you go.

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Article by Kyron

Kyron has written 18 articles for your enjoyment.

On The Web: http://www.twitter.com/EverythingBlaxx

About: Your favorite blogger's favorite blogger coming at you live from Toronto, Canada. One of the original BMEs and a cell phone fanatic.

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  • hamadaalmasry
    Welcome I've been impressed with all new, but I have one question???
    Will you support in the new version completely??? I want to be fully and also to support Arabic language
    Maintenance Technician
  • EverythingBlaxx
    While we may not rename the site to MeeGo Fanatics, you can expect even more coverage as MeeGo takes shape and more devices are released
  • Niel
    how to install the file??could you help me?
  • EverythingBlaxx
    I cannot provide instructions on how to find or install the unofficial firmware
  • I am tempted to try 1.2 but I think I'll hold out for the real thing. Portrait mode seems only useful so far for web browser and that feature is already there.
  • Kurele
    Works on mine! :)
  • macdea
    Thanks for leading the charge and risking your N900 for the sake of the community. This is awesome and I can't wait for the official 1.2 release to test this out.
  • EverythingBlaxx
    You're always welcome. The way I see it, someone had to test this out the way that everyone is harping for PR1.2. I personally don't understand why some people are so crazy about it as if it were bringing something huge to our N900s. It is a lot of little steps forward but that's all that they are, little steps moving towards tightening up Maemo so that MeeGo is feature-ready
  • Raniel
    i got it installed on my N900 too..it was working fine..no problems...still good...
  • Alex
    It is not just PR1.2 features and corrections that are creating such expectation, there are probably a lot of applications releases which are being hold back due to Qt4.6 official support, besides the eventual enabling of Ovi Store paid content (I am not sure but maybe PR1.2 finally fix the security issues to get Store out of Beta). I may be over-optimistic now, but since the portrait rotation for the entire UI was intended to be available only on Meego, maybe that's a sign N900 will receive an official upgrade for the new O.S.
  • EverythingBlaxx
    That's what I've said in my other comments on here and abroad (TMO and HoFo), the most important thing about PR1.2 is that it includes Qt4.6 and the plethora of apps that will follow. There actually is paid content in my Ovi Store now (it's still in Beta tho). It is just ringtones, videos and themes but it's a start. I haven't tested to see if they've fixed the security issues however. There are rumblings that the portrait mode will be removed from the official PR1.2 release (some are saying that it was only included in the RCs for developer purposes) but I hope that's not the case. I like the implementation and I like that the homescreen remains in landscape. I've been kicking around the idea that maybe they should give users the choice of having the homescreen default to landscape or portrait. I think it would create some great customizations
  • macdea
    Very true. It is a dot release so we shouldn't be expecting a whole lot, but some of the things you've talked about will be huge for my usage of the n900. Would you be able to write up the differences between the Maps versions in 1.1.1 and 1.2? I know there's no turn-by-turn, but I'd like to know what's coming.
  • EverythingBlaxx
    Funny enough you ask, that's my next article.
  • macdea
    Funny! I'm anxiously awaiting it.
  • Alex
    Tks for the photos and video!! Great news since on Maemo.org the common sense was that portrait mode would be available only on Harmattan (now Meego), so it seems Nokia is listening to users! I wouldn't like to install the leaked PR1.2 right now, so can you please confirm if the email could be answered in portrait mode (I mean, did they implement a portrait virtual keyboard as well?)?
  • EliE
    thanks man, i just want to know when will this software update comes ?/? and did u check for flash 10.1 ? because it should be coming soon.
  • EverythingBlaxx
    There's no Flash 10.1 and don't expect it. When we were speaking to the head of Nokia's Maemo Operations last week, he said that is not something that registers on their radar right now. PR1.2 will be released before the end of the month.
  • slx
    i sure hope that nokia is making those firmware updates a lil more complete... rather than some update and still we have to wait for a "future" update...
  • f2thak
    nice, gonna try this
  • EverythingBlaxx
    Make sure you got PR1.2 installed
  • ZogG
    it's nice to learn about it, but i don't think you should advice people to install PR1.2 as it's not released. 'cause not everyone actually knows what they are doing and can brick there phone as it's unofficial.
  • EverythingBlaxx
    Please show me where I advised anyone to install PR1.2. We have not posted a link to the unofficial firmware release nor have we advised anyone on how to install it. It is not my job to encourage or discourage anyone from installing it, I'm just outlining new features.
  • dscobsct
    is this for real!!! how about a video
  • EverythingBlaxx
    Yes this is for real. If you really need video evidence, I'll post it tomorrow
  • Cypello
    the combination of keys works also for SMS? Or only for Mail? In the begining of the clip you are in the Mail text account no? By the way...do you know if Nokia with this new firmware made possible to Make Other Contacts Groups with special tone assing for each group or contact?!
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Nokia N900 (Screen)

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