03.18.07
Installing Applications: The Applications Manager
This is the first of what will be a two part piece…
Probably the number one thing people will do after initially exploring what’s on their tablet is think about what else might be able to run on the unit. Initially, the best way was to surf the wiki on the Maemo site and simply scroll down to find things of interest. While this still works for some things today, the Wiki is actually no longer as up to date as sources (Downloads and Garage) which have come to replace it. Before I go into detail on these new sites I should cover a few basics.
Like most platforms, Maemo applications come with a standard file format (.deb) which is actually a carryover from their roots in Debian Linux. Many apps will install as simply by tapping a web link to download the file but quite a few actually have dependencies, or additional libraries that are required to get things working. The Nokia team has done an admirable job making things easier since the N800 launch in January and the Downloads site has quite a few one-click install links which can automatically handle adding dependencies as you install things. Previously, you would have to manually add a repository (file library) or two for an application that was not automatically able to be found by your device through the Applications Manager and this this actually applied to most things…
This post will mainly cover the Applications Manager since that is actually built into the device and can serve as a simple way to install and keep applications current. The downloads and garage sites will come in Part 2 as they are external and really should only be player with after you’ve got a bit of knowledge on how things work.
A Tour of the Applications Manager
Starting at the top… Let’s open the Applications Manager and have a look around. Tap your Applications Menu and then head down to Tools. Application Manager is the first option.
Once you’ve got this open, you’ll see three main options (more from the menu…) which are Show Installed Applications, Browse Installable Applications and Check for Updates.
When you click Show Installed Applications, you’ll get a long list of all the files currently loaded that are either actual applications or the library dependencies I mentioned earlier. Here’s what mine looks like:
If you tap the cookie crumb text link for Main View, we’ll be back at that first screen and can then choose to Browse Installable Applications. When you do this, depending on your set-up, you might see a prompt to Refresh Package List.
I suggest you select OK, which will then update the known (via the web) application versions with what you currently have installed. Mine looks like this:
You can choose to view by any type here including all, but unless you really know what you’re doing or need a very specific file, I suggest clicking on Applications to see what’s there. Mine again looks like this:
Heading back now to the Main View of the Applications Manager, we can select the final option which is Check For Updates. You will likely be prompted here again to refresh which again I would suggest tapping OK, since that’s the very point of checking this one out…
As you can see I have one app which is both installed and updateable — according to the repository from which I installed it initially. There are actually quite a few repositories on my N800 and viewing installable apps by All (not just applications like I previously showed) reveals quite a few things that are available to update or even ready to be installed for the first time.
Before we move on, let’s take a quick peek in the Menu system here so we fully understand what’s happening within this part of the device. If you tap the Menu hardware button (the indented middle one in the column of three), you can then navigate the menus…
Within the Application menu, you can choose: Install which will install the selected app in the main screen (same as that nice big install button at the bottom of the screen); Install from File which will let you browse your device or memory card(s) for a previously saved file; and Details which will give you more info about the application, developer and possible dependencies (also available by tapping the blue i button at the bottom of your screen).
The View menu option should be pretty self-explanatory. You can sort the view, go fullscreen and show or hide the toolbar.
Tools is where some of the more advanced options lie. You can manually refresh the view which will update as we’ve seen previously here if that had not happened for you. Settings will let you control how frequently your device refreshes the local library against the online information. Applications Catalog is where you can view, edit and add new repositories (not covered here). Search does what you would expect and searches the application manager library for an application or library. This is good if you think something is there, but just can’t seem to find it. Log will show you a history of activity and is something most people won’t need to review.
Let’s actually install something
Now that you’ve got a pretty good feel for what’s around in the Applications Manager, let’s use it to install something. If you recall from the Check for Updates view, FBReader (an ebook reader) has an update available.
I just tried to use the updater and ran into an error on install, so instead I’ve chosen to uninstall the application and start fresh. I’m not trying to confuse anyone, but things can run amok pretty quickly when you least expect it. In my case, I am unable to update, and after an uninstall, I did not see FBReader in my ˆ view from within View Installable Applications. Instead I had to choose All. Regardless, the process from here is pretty standard:
OK gets the process started…
Fair Warning from Nokia about installing 3rd party apps.
Extras is the default for most new apps, but you can easily pick another folder, or even create a new one. You can also move things later on if you want…
Once you see this message, it’s all good and you can browse to where you’ve installed your new application.
In Part 2, I’ll walk through both the Downloads and Garage sites which are great resources for finding new applications to explore.
Technorati Tags: Internet Tablet, Maemo, N-Series, N770, N800, Nokia
atmaspheric | endeavors » N800 - Understanding the Applications Manager said,
March 18, 2007 at 4:12 pm
[…] to get an understanding of what the Applications Manager is and how it works on the Nokia Tablet, I’ve just posted an overview which will take you through installing a new […]
Ginny B said,
March 18, 2007 at 5:46 pm
Thanks for the post. Your explanation is clear and complete. I’m going to try it.
Jonathan Greene said,
March 18, 2007 at 8:42 pm
Ginny - Thanks for reading. I was inspired by the comment on the last post …
Featured Maemo Apps » Installing Applications: Downloads and Garage said,
March 18, 2007 at 11:36 pm
[…] the first part of this two part piece, I walked you through the Applications Manager and did a quick install from within the viewable […]
Nseries WOM World » Blog Archive » N800 application manager tutorial said,
March 19, 2007 at 2:05 pm
[…] In the first half of a two part piece Jonathan, from his new Maemo Apps blog, takes us through the N800 application manager, with a comprehensive guide. […]
Featured Maemo Apps » Managing Applications and the Status bar said,
March 19, 2007 at 2:44 pm
[…] I showed you during the Installation Manager overview, most applications install into your Extras folder by default. You can leave this just as […]
Faz said,
March 19, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Been using my n800 for just a few hours. This is exactly what I needed
Thanks!!!!
(My first post via this beauty too.)
Faz
Jonathan Greene said,
March 19, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Glad to be of service! Enjoy the n800, it’s a great device!
Alfonso F R said,
March 20, 2007 at 5:34 am
This guide in Spanish: [1]
¿Cómo instalar programas en una Nokia 770?
Podéis encontrar esta guÃa en español en la siguiente dirección:
[1]: http://alfonsoycia.blogspot.com/2006/08/cmo-instalar-programas-en-una-nokia.html
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Sunil said,
June 15, 2007 at 8:35 pm
This is a great help for new people like us . can you please let me know where these files got installed ? This information is for the purpose of checking how much memory left for me to install new programs and housekeeping of memory.
Note: i am able to check N800 and SD card memory , it seems it is not using either of two.
Jonathan Greene said,
June 15, 2007 at 11:12 pm
The best way to manage installed apps is through the Applications Manager which is how you want to delete things. I’ve yet to run into memory issues. There’s more than enough on the device for a large number of applications.
You might want to turn virtual memory on (in prefs) to best enable multiple apps or windows in the browser to stay open easily.
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August 16, 2007 at 7:26 pm
gene jaleski said,
August 21, 2007 at 8:15 am
I find several unused / unwanted files when I list All installable applications.
I want to be able to edit this list and delete certain files. The Application Manager does not appear to be able to delete files from the installable list.
Planeta Teta said,
August 22, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Jonathan Greene said,
August 23, 2007 at 8:35 am
@gene - I’m not aware of any way to conceal applications which are listed in a repository which is I think what you are asking …
gene jaleski said,
August 23, 2007 at 11:25 am
all the file names that appear in the “installable” applications list are from variousnon-commercial repositories and where not utilalized by other applications so they remail in the “installable” list.
I simply want to delete these file names from the list.
Thanks
Jonathan Greene said,
August 23, 2007 at 8:54 pm
You can deactivate the repository you do not want to use… check the settings in the Apps Manager. If you have a repository activated, it will show you the full available list.
geneonlbk said,
August 24, 2007 at 8:05 am
I have a bunch of installable files named
gcompris-sound-cs
gcompris-sound-da
gcompris-sound-de
gcompris-sound-en
gcompris-sound-fr
gcompris-sound-eu
etc.
that belong to some application but were unused by the application being installed I am guessing because I chose a default language and all the other files were not needed.
I have looked at the Application Manager/Libraries/detail and I do not see these files listed. I do not want to disable or delete a library if some part of it is being used by an active application.
Thanks again for your help.
Jonathan Greene said,
August 24, 2007 at 8:22 am
These are language support files for gcompris, which as I recall is a multimedia app / extension used by media players like canola. (I think)
I’ve got stuff like that as well. It does not bother me though and I usually just scroll past. You might find that by choosing Applications vs. All you will see fewer support files like this though you may actually miss an installable app too.
geneonlbk said,
August 24, 2007 at 8:58 am
the above mentioned names appear in the Games listing in the Application Manager. I must have two dozen files that appear in All or variously in Accessories, Communication and all the other listing categories. I guess I am a tidy freak who is confused by a lot of unneeded files. I guess I am just beginning to understand the N800. I worked in Unix for years wrriting apps in ‘C’. I will enjoy getting back to Linux.
I still wish there was some way to edit and delete unneeded files form the Installable list.
Jonathan Greene said,
August 24, 2007 at 9:00 am
None of these are actually on your device… they are ready to be downloaded from the online repository
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