Fring

I saw this on Tommi's blog. I've not heard of Fring. Does anyone use it? Is it any good?

Read more »

COTM 60

It's that time again, and this weeks carnival seems to have slipped out unnoticed (at least, I missed it yesterday). Pop on over to Mobbu to catch the latest carnival writings.

It's my first time visiting the Mobbu site, so if this is the same for you be sure to browse around the site whilst you are there.

Read more »

N95, N95, and N95

It's everywhere. The level of interest in the N95 has been immense since the day it was released, the handset promised so much. As ever with phone, you always have that nagging doubt in your mind, will it deliver? The N95 is due for release in the UK in the next few weeks and some lucky bloggers have their hands on an N95 right now. Check out the following links for updates on reviews, with some good Q&A thrown in for good measure:

All About Symbian
Darla Mack
Symbian Freak

Read more »

3GSM blog

Very off topic. Just a quick plug for my new blog - 3GSM The intention is to talk there on all things mobile that are off topic here. I'm a big fan of Nokia NSeries phones, but I'm a bit of a mobile nut in general. I use Sony Ericsson handsets regularly too, currently owning a w950i (hard to get used to) w810i (pound for pound the best GSM mobile, period) and a k800 (camera is just amazing)

It's still early days, I'm not sure I'm entirely happy with the layout just yet - pop over and take a look. Feedback welcome.

Read more »

Another N95 review coming

The pace is gathering as we come towards the launch of the N95. Darla is going to be offering a review of the N95 over on her blog soon. And in anticiaption of the N95 Q&A she is asking, what exactly do you want to know about the handset? So if you have any questions about the N95 that you want answered pop over to Darla's blog and let her know.

Read more »

N95 review online

From Rafe over at AAS, an N95 review and very good it is too.

Maybe next time I'll ask Mr Nokia to send me a review handset, in the meantime I'm off to read again Rafe's thoughts on my next handset purchase.

Read more »

N80 or N73

There is a discussion over on the What Mobile forums, a member is asking advice on which handset to choose between the N73 and the N80. 87% of the vote (21 votes in total) have been for the N73, whilst 12% (just 3 votes) have gone to the N80.

I really find it hard to choose between the phones. The N80 has the edge on features, WiFi, UPnP and a superior screen spring to mind, but the N73 is a quality handset in it's own right. And judging by the poll it's a preferable choice.

Which would you choose?

Read more »

N73 business card reader

From a post over on Darla's excellent blog, there is a business card reader application available for download via the Nokia catalogues. I've not had a chance to use it yet, but if it works as well as the P990i application then it should be adequate. But, in all seriousness, who takes photos of business cards? Is this really such a useful application?

Read more »

Where are they?

I enjoy reading other blogs, and two I used to enjoy a lot are E61 life and N80 Geek In fact N80 Geek was one of the first N Series blogs I found online.

For a while now I can't access E61 life. Does anyone know if they have moved somewhere? And N80 Geek has had no updates for quite a while. Does anyone know why N80Geek Blogger stopped blogging?

Read more »

COTM 59

It's been a busy week, I've not had much time to make posts over the last few days. Already the next installment of the Carnival of the Mobilist is online. I haven't had time to read the last yet. I must learn to work less.....

Read more »

Officially update to internet edition

I mentioned a method back in December on how to update an N80 to an N80ie. Using this method would void your warranty.

I noticed on Tommi's blog this morning that apparently it is now possible to update your N80 to an N80ie using the Nokia software update. Using this method, I assume, would NOT void your warranty.

Q: How do I update my Nokia N80 to the Internet Edition?

A:Nokia N80 Internet Edition

You can update your Nokia N80 to the Internet Edition by using the Nokia Software Updater.

To download the Nokia Software Updater, please do the following:

1. Go to http://www.nokiausa.com/phones/N80
2. Select ???Support and Software for Owners???
3. Select ???Phone Software Update???

I don't have my N80 anymore, and I had already updated my N80 the unofficial way anyhow. If anyone tries it out, let me know how you get on.

Read more »

Symbian support for Posix

I just noticed this article on the news feeds. Symbian have announced support for Posix. (Portable Operating System Interface) What this means is it will make it easier for developers of desktop applications to be able to port their program to the Symbian operating system. So, what to me seems a bit geeky, (sorry to any developers reading) ;) will actually (hopefully) bring a bigger range of familiar desktop applications to your Symbian handset. The example given is file sharing applications could be ported to Symbain, such as eMule or Azureus, if the developer wished.

Could lead to some interesting applciations being made available for your smartphone, which can only be a good thing.

Read more »

COTM 58

The latest edition of Carnival of the mobilist is online. Articles on the iPhone, iPhone again and more iPhone! But that's not all, there's plenty more good articles to read through.

Next week the carnival is hosted on Xellular indentity

Read more »

N76 browser review

Not mine, unfortunately, as apart from a brief play with the N95 back in december I've yet to really get my hands on one of the new NSeries and really put them through their paces.

The review comes from Darla. There is also information on the new menu options on Darla's site here.

Read more »

Yahoo Go Beta

I mentioned about the new Yahoo Go here. When I went to sign up after learning about the new beta YGO I found that the beta was already fully subscribed. I left my mobile number to be contact by text when the beta was available to download. I expected it to be at least a few weeks. So I was surprised to receive my text notification just the other evening. I downloaded the new Yahoo Go straight away and here are a few initial thoughts....

The new YGO is a java file. So this means it did not overwrite the YGO .sis file. YGO beta works in a slightly different way to the .sis program. One thing that I use YGO for is the integration it offers to my Yahoo mailbox. When I receive email to my Yahoo mailbox I get a copy on my phone. YGO polls my mailbox at different intervals. YGO Beta doesn't appear to do this. With YGO Beta running, the internet connection is live all the time.

YGO Beta offers a full range of Yahoo services, you can access Yahoo search

Yahoo mail, of course

Flickr

and weather, entertainment, finance and sports

One of the features I really like of the new YGO Beta is the Local & Maps feature

You can view guides and map information for a variety of cities. Below is a screenshot of a a city map loaded for Rome:

You can zoom in and out to get a good view and scroll around using the onscreen cursor to find your way around.

Overall, the new YGO Beta looks to be a nice useful program. It's a shame it doesn't offer the mailbox integration that the original offers, it can be a bit slow to navigate, and when you close the program it leaves your data connection open. You could do with a 'home' option too, so when you've navigated deep into the menu you can return easily to the home screen. But as it is only a beta I'm sure the niggles will be dealt with in time. For now I'm keeping both YGO programs on my phone.

Read more »

iPhone hype

So, Apple have announced detail of their iPhone. And the whole internet has gone iphone mad! Well, it seems that way. I've had a look at the spec, and it does seem to be a nice looking product. But I have my doubts, and to be honest I'm not sure. See, I like S60 phones, and in particular the NSeries (It's why I started this blog, after all) Is there anything the iPhone can do that I can't on my N73? Or won't be able to on the N95? And if there is something the iPhone can offer over either of these handsets, will it be something worth while, or just a gimmick?

Most importantly, for me, the iPhone is not 3G. I'm into the habit of downloading video, songs, pictures, on my phone. 25MB podcasts. 3G makes that possible. HSDPA on the N95 will make it even easier. I don't take many pics on my phone, but when I do the quality of the camera on the N73 is more than adequate. I send email. I use instant messaging. The new S60 web browser is the best browser on a mobile phone, for navigation, bar none.

I do like the promise of up to 8GB memory. The N91 has a mini hard drive, the iPhone will be flash memory. I would like to see that added to NSeries phones. I have a W950i with 4GB built in memory, it's very good.

The iPhone has created a lot of interest. Ultimately, I suppose, interest in phone functionality over and above text and calls can only be a good thing. Too many people don't use their mobile phones to the full capability. But the iPhone is gonna have to be a special product to take me away fom the NSeries.

Read more »

Windows Messenger no longer free?

I haven't used messenger on my mobile for a while now. I tried to login today, and I got a warning screen, informing me that there is now a monthly subscription fee (screenshots below) Has anyone else come across this? The cost is 10RMB, does anyone know exactly how much this is? It seems that the charge will be via reverse SMS, which I'm not keen to sign up for anyhow. For the forseeable future, it looks like I'll be sticking with Yahoo messenger which is not chargeable, other than data used.

Read more »

Yahoo Go 2.0

One application I use more than pretty much any other on my N73 is Yahoo Go. It seems I'm not alone, either, judging by the emails I receive every day. I saw some people posting on various forums that they were looking to get Yahoo Go for their N80 or N73. I have the .sis file and email it out at least three or four times a day to people who ask for it. It works fine on either phone (but apparently not on ESeries handsets)

Today Yahoo announced they are launching version 2.0 of their YGO application. It will include Onesearch, which is a context aware search applciation, at the heart of the application. Onesearch is a context aware search application that is designed to return more relevant searches to queries.

My only hope that when Yahoo Go 2.0 is launched that Yahoo release it for all compatible products from their own website. Make it easier for all to use the product, and more will. Surely the logic explains itself?

Read more »

58th Carnival of the Mobilist

The latest edition of the Carnival of the mobilists is online, the first edition for 2007. As ever it links to a variety of interesting articles relating to all sorts of mobile technology news and opinion. Personally I'm glad COTM is back, it's certainly a highlight of the week.

Read more »

New NSeries phones

With CES happening it was almost a certainty we would have some new phones to see from Nokia. And Nokia didn't disappoint. The N93i has been confirmed, there is the N800 and also the N76. Pics and detail below:

N76 Spec list
At only 13.7mm thin the N76 offers a super slim multimedia computer for your pocket. The Spec is quite standard for an N-Series phone these days, 2GB expandable memory, 2.0 megapixel camera, Tri band GSM and 3G conenctivity, Bluetooth, etc. It odes look very good, possibly the nicest S60 flip from Nokia:





















N800 Spec list
The N800 is a Linux handheld style tablet PC. With no built in telephony the N800 is slightly away from Nokia's core product line. It does look to be an interesting product. It has WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, meaning you can connect to the net via WiFi connection or Bluetooth to your mobile handset. You can use the N800 to send/receive email, communicate via IM, and use the built in webcam for video calls.





















N93i Spec list
The N93i offers pretty much all you can get from the N93 but in a slimmer, shinier, silver shell. If there is one thing non enthusiasts always mention about the N93, it's the size. Now, hopefully the N93i will address that issue for those people and take the N93i to a more mainstream audience.

Read more »

N95 video

The release date for the N95 steadily grows nearer. Whet your appetite even more with this video:



I gotta have this phone. Is there anything on the horizon that can touch the N95? Please, Nokia, don't blow this phone with shoddy firmware. I'd rather wait an extra month knowing it'll work on release than put up with a half baked, ill prepared, poorly tested product.

Read more »

Fexplorer for Series 60 v3

Well, it's back into the swing of things with the new year well and truly underway. Work, work and more work. Things are a bit quiet on the phone front though. Although I expect that to change over the coming weeks with 3GSM due to happen soon.

One piece of news that I missed first time round, and here now for you who also missed it. One of the most popular pieces of software for S60 phones seems to be about to make it's way onto S60v3 handsets. Fexplorer was quite simply *the* file explorer to use on your phone. There may be a built in file explorer on the handset but Fexplorer allowed you to go further into the menu structure than the built in app offered.

There is a beta available to download, but it seems you may need to play around and sign the application to get it to work. I'm going to give it a go later, I'll post back with any relevant info.

Original story seen here.

Read more »