The N900 has admittedly fewer available apps outside the Maemo Extra-devel and Extras-testing catalogs, but the numbers are quickly going up . Compared to Symbian apps, Maemo apps seem more advanced and in some cases have a lot more eye candy. As apps step out of the Extra-devel and Extras-testing catalogs, we’ll be seeing more cool apps ready for Prime time, but in the mean time, these are our top 10 picks for the must-have apps for the Nokia N900.
1.gPodder
If you love Podcasting and I know a lot of you do, than you’ll love gPodder. It is essentially the best Podcasting solution for the N900. It has been gradually getting better and better with newer releases and we really like the simple interface. Another unique feature is its ability to store your subscriptions into cloud. There’s also a PC version, so the move from mobile to desktop should be seamless. Easily the app I use the most on the N900, HIGHLY recommended!
2.Pidgin
Probably one of the first questions asked, when people get a new smartphone is: how can I put MSN on this? It’s also a frequently asked question in many forums. Because the N900 lacks native support for MSN, using Pidgin is one way to connect. Its a popular Nokia tablet multi-network chat client that has found its way to latest version of Maemo and N900. Those of you that have a N800 or N810 tablet should feel right at home with Pidgin.
3.Dataviz Documents To Go Viewer Edition
The first Document viewer for the N900, but currently not the only one. As the name implies, it just the viewer edition and does cost $9.99. Compared to other free offerings it a better and stable offering and from what we’re hearing, we could expect a version that allows document editing.
4.Hermes
Hermes is simply put an amazing app. It basically connects to your social networks like Facebook and Twitter and compares them to your contacts and automatically adds missing information like birthdays and display pictures. This way your contacts will be displayed with their latest display picture, while birthdays are added automatically to your calendar.
5.DrNokSnes
Want to play those cool Nintendo (SNES) games like Donkey Kong Country and Mario Bros.? DrNokSnes allows you to save your progress and even map your keys. To play these games, you will need the ROMS. As expected, these are not included, but a quick search on the internet should easily get you a few of these.
6.TuneWiki
TuneWiki consists of two separate programs: the Widget and the main applications, but each should be downloaded separately. The Widget works by keeping track of what the built-in music player is playing and displays the lyrics, allowing you to sing along. It does a require an active connection to work and the widget needs to be displayed on one of your desktops. The main application has many music-oriented features like music videos on Youtube with the lyrics being displayed, internet radio and other social features.
7.Load Applet
This little app shows your CPU and memory usage, but as an even sweeter bonus it allows you to take screenshots and make screencasts.
8.Bounce Evolution
Less of a game and more of tech demo, Bounce and is that other game that Nokia is known for other than Snake. This version looks even better than the Symbian version. Bounce should be on your list as it truly shows what the N900 is capable of and sure way to impress your friends.
9.Petrovich
The N900 lacks a way to send files via its file manager. We’re hearing that this might be added in the upcoming software update, but in the mean time there’s Petrovich, which allows you to send them via Bluetooth, Email and even share it via multiple services.
10.eCoach
While we wait for Nokia Sportstracker to be ported to the N900, there’s eCoach. This application this pretty much the same, but sans the uploading to the clouds. It uses various open source maps and shows a lot more details in remote locations.
Thanks for the article. There’s no need for pidgin though since you can install msn so that you have builtin intergrated msn support just like every other protocol.
[...] that Devin over at The Nokia Guide sought to answer yesterday when he went out and selected his top 10 must-have apps on the N900 from the increasing number available [...]
Sorry, but I can only agree with two of your 10, Load Applet and TuneWiki. I was hopeful of eCoach when I first loaded it but it is nothing like Sports Tracker. Trying to export doesn’t include the mapping ability so sharing to social networks is a moot point.
My must haves, in order are:
1. Load Applet
2. OMWeather
3. Angry Birds (when the heck are we getting new levels???)
4. Witter
5. uRemote (on-screen keyboard)
6. Sygic Mobile Maps because Ovi Maps on the N900 is just so bad
7. fMMS (fAPN as a part of this app)
8. TuneWiki
9. WordPress
10. Callnotify because no homescreen missed call notifier was included
Although I have downloaded a number of apps for my N900, most of the time I use the built-in apps, plus IM plug-ins for the built-in Conversations app. As a portable communications hub, the N900 doesn’t need a fistful of apps the way many smartphones do, and that’s definitely worth remembering.
[...] it (like many I imagine), check out the Top 10 must-have apps for the Nokia N900 article over at The Nokia Guide- “The N900 has admittedly fewer available apps outside the Maemo Extra-devel and [...]
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Rafael Valera. Rafael Valera said: Top 10 must-have apps for the Nokia N900 http://bit.ly/98V4Jy [...]
1. SiB (mplayer + interface, plays any videos I throw at it, and handles subtitles)
2. last.fm plug for the media player
3. Extra Decoders Support (supporting additional video and audio in the media player)
4. ForecaWeather
5. Headphone daemon (pauses the media player when headphones are unplugged)
6. MGutenberg E-Book Reader (includes support to browse the Gutenberg libraries and download books from the app)
7. MSN protocol plugin for Conversations and Contacts
8. Ogg Support
9. MaePad (node-based memory pad)
10. Petrovich (sending of arbitrary files over e-mail, bluetooth or “sharing services”)
Notable runner-ups:
* 3G/2G/Dual Mode Selection Applet (switching between 3G, 2G and Dual)
* Pidgin protocols plugin for Conversations and Contacts
* Pidgin Extra Protocols (Bonjour and Sametime)
* recaller (a widget to record all audio)
* WordPress (blogging client)
* grr (app to access Google Reader)
* Evernote Sharing Plugin (from MicroB)
* Eggtimer (does what it says)
* barriosquare (now replaced with m.check.in)
* AdBlock Plus (for MicroB)
* FriendStatus IM Statuses Aggregator (collects and stores IM precense status messages)
Instead of using Pidgin, I recommend installing “MSN (pecan) protocol plug-in” which gives you MSN support in the native Maemo chat and contacts. At least the pecan variant is the one that I’ve had the best experience with so far.
I much prefer having the various IM protocol plugins in order to have all my IM integrated with all standards apps (chat, contact-list, etc…). Having Pidgin is just going back to the middle-ages.
[...] good podcasting client for the Maemo 5, so good in fact we that we picked it as 1 of our top 10 must-have apps for the [...]
+1
U-Done Todo Manager (Lite)
http://store.ovi.com/content/121065