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Rotation

The N900 has bundled rotation functionalities, so this article applies only to its predecessors. See N900 accelerometer for more information.

Rotation allows you to change the screen orientation between landscape and portrait to all 4 cardinal directions. You may wish to do this to better view a long page of text, allow for easier left-handed operation, for easier reading of certain websites, or a variety of other purposes.

Unfortunately, rotation support isn't bundled with Maemo even though the tablets support hardware screen rotation. Fortunately, installing the necessary packages for rotation support is a relatively easy process.

[edit] Installing

First, make sure you know what you're doing! Although the steps outlined here are easy to follow and mostly safe, you are working with important system files, and a careless misstep could leaving you in need of a reflash.

These instructions only work for Diablo, and specifically version 5.2008.43-7, so make sure your system is completely up-to-date, and make sure Extras is enabled. You'll be installing the Advanced Backlight utility, which contains the rotation control. To begin, you will need to get root access, open XTerm and become root.

There are three slightly different sets of packages for the N800, N810 and N810 WiMax Edition, so follow the appropriate steps for your device.

[edit] N800

Successfully tested on N800 with 5.2008.43-7.

Run this command in XTerm as root:

apt-get install advanced-backlight osso-software-version-rx34-unlocked

[edit] N810

Run this command in XTerm as root:

apt-get install advanced-backlight osso-software-version-rx44-unlocked

Successfully tested on n810 with 5.2008.43-7.

If you are flashed your device with 5.2008.43-7 (not updated from a earlier firmware!) then you only install advanced-backlight in Application manager and continue with next step.

[edit] N810W

Successfully tested on n810 WM with 5.2008.43-7.

Run this command in XTerm as root:

apt-get install advanced-backlight osso-software-version-rx48-unlocked

[edit] For all N8x0 devices

Sucsessfully tested on n800 with 5.2008.43-7.

Successfully tested on n810 with 5.2008.43-7.

Successfully tested on n810 WM with 5.2008.43-7.

After following the appropriate steps for your device, continue and run:

maemo-mini-curl -o kernel-diablo-flasher_2.6.21-200842maemo1rotationfast_all.deb http://outpo.st/rotate/kernel-diablo-flasher_2.6.21-200842maemo1rotationfast_all.deb
maemo-mini-curl -o xserver-xomap_1.3.99.0~git20070321-0osso20083801rotation_armel.deb http://outpo.st/rotate/xserver-xomap_1.3.99.0~git20070321-0osso20083801rotation_armel.deb
dpkg -i kernel-diablo-flasher_2.6.21-200842maemo1rotationfast_all.deb xserver-xomap_1.3.99.0~git20070321-0osso20083801rotation_armel.deb

Once it finishes loading (it will take a minute), press enter to complete the proccess. Reboot, make sure Advanced Backlight is enabled (Control panel -> Panels -> Status bar) and rotate using the selection in Advanced Backlight from your status bar.