Using the N900 (or any linux machine) to control windows applications like iTunes

First of all the possibilities of the technique described here are limitless, you can literally control all aspects of the Windows environment (remote and local) from the phone or any linux machine, including organizing your videos automatically to managing remote SQL Servers, this opens up everything.

I have been looking for a decent remote control for iTunes for a long time, but I haven't been able to find one (on Symbian I used the Salling Clicker), few days back I stumbled on a way to do it via the terminal on Maemo, so here goes..

First off powershell on windows can control a lot of applications (which expose their API to PS, in case of itunes the scripting interface is exposed), the code for doing this on PS is:

$rr = new-object -com itunes.application
$rr.play()
$rr.pause()
$rr.newttrack()

There are a ton of other functions that I am still exploring, these are the basic ones that should get you started..

Now getting to the interesting part, how to open up the interface, simple, SSH, the most versatile remote terminal, just install the package openssh on the N900 (first add the development repositories, or testing too) then use:

sudo gainroot
apt-get install openssh

This should install the SSH client as well as the server (yes you can connect to the phone from Putty or a native linux terminal).

Next you need the powershell server from here, its free, install it on your PC, run 'Start Server' and click start server (play button).

On your phone do the following:

ssh @ipaddress
password:

That's it! You are in, absolute control!

My post on TMO.

USB OTG/Hostmode N900

The N900 was recently granted USB hostmode by MohammedAG and Team (thanks a ton guys), this opens a whole realm of possiblities. First off the requirements:

I bought the following adapter:

EBay India

Then Install "Enhanced Kernel" v45 from your application manager.
Reboot your phone (should not be connected to PC!!), upon rebooting you will be greeted by a terminal, hit any key and type "run noloboot" quickly. Once booted install H-E-N (note you would need to enable extras devel repo on your app manager). Once installed connect the adapter to you PC cable, and connect any storage device). Click on High Speed USB, the on VBUS on, finally on enumerate, your device light should get on, if it does not the Kernel is to blame.

Once that is done click on "Mount" and the device should show up in you file manager (if it does not as it did with me, go to the terminal, type "root" and "mkdir /media/flash", "mount /dev/sda1 /media/flash", it should show up then)

I also tried a Logitech MK250 Wireless mouse+keyboard, inorder to get this working you will additionally need Blue HID from app manager, once installed reboot phone and connect the wireless reciever, the keyboard would work, and to get the mouse cursor, just fo to app menu and run "mousecursor". It should show up. BE WARNED: Scrolling behavoiur will change in browser after this.

Now run along and hack away!!

Palm Games on the N900!!

For those of you living under a rock, the one place where the N900 was lacking has been filled, i.e good commercial games. As of now almost all Palm WebOS (a platform which has EA and gameloft on board) work unchanged on n900, for instruction visit here, and to get all games (for those of us living where webos based phones don't sell) , try this (ill be seeding it for a long time). Cheers and game on!!