Updating N80 to N80ie - Video instructions

I posted about updating an N80 to N80ie here

There was a reply to the post today, offering video instructions, from the guys at Truphone I thought it was worth making a main post of. Anyone who has not yet updated their N80 should watch the video, and see just how easy it is. And of course, at the end of the video there is a little plug for the Truphone application.

Read more »

Fring launched

I'm a recent convert to the Fring way, and I noticed today that the software is officially launched. Press release below:

fring™ today officially launched its free, mVoIP (mobile VoIP) service for S60 devices. Developed by Nokia, S60 is the world’s leading smartphone software, as Nokia alone has shipped cumulatively over 84 million S60 based devices by the end of 2006.

fring is a light downloadable mobile phone application enabling anyone with a compatible handset to make free calls and text messages or “chat” to other fring users in addition to Skype, Google Talk and MSN contacts. Used in more than 140 countries only three months after launch, fring is now available for S60 devices via download from www.fring.com. S60 offers mobile users an easy-to-use and intuitive user interface, a good inter-working application suite, and a rich application-development environment.

fring uses 3G mobile networks to transmit VoIP data; fringsters simply use the data within their existing subscription agreement. The service can also connect over Wi-Fi at home, in the office or at the many “hot spot” cafes; these calls consume neither voice nor data air time.

“Millions of users around the world can now enjoy mobile Voice over IP benefits like chat, ”Presence” or real-time contact availability, cost savings, and more,” commented Boaz Zilberman, fring co-founder and Chief Architect. “fring is a break for freedom for users who demand real mobile independence and who want to leverage the power and freedom of the Internet from their mobile phones, roaming freely between wireless network operators (GPRS, 3G, Wi-Fi) and enjoying the benefits of multiple IM providers (Skype, Google Talk and MSN Messenger).”

“Nokia is pleased to see such innovative applications as fring being developed and deployed on our devices based on S60 and Symbian OS,“ said Sanfrid Lindblom, business development manager, Forum Nokia, Nokia’s global software developer program. “fring enables end users to further enhance the value they derive from having access to the Internet with them wherever they go.”

S60 software built on Symbian OS is the world’s leading smartphone software, and is licensed by some of the industry’s foremost mobile device manufacturers. The flexibility of the S60 software allows for various hardware designs and software configurations, as evidenced by the multitude of S60 devices already available on the market. Through its award-winning user interface, extensive support for new mobile services and the innovation potential for partner solutions, S60 provides an open and scalable business opportunity for mobile operators and 3rd party developers. For further information and news about S60 and the S60 community, please visit www.s60.com.

ABOUT FRING

fring™ is a mobile Voice over Internet Protocol (mVoIP) application that allows users to make free calls over mobile and cellular data networks or a Wi-Fi connection. fring uses 3G over mobile phone networks and therefore provides a continuous call connection over Wi-Fi, 3G and GPRS. It is 100% free with no subscription costs; consumers simply pay for the data they use under their existing subscription agreement. Completely PC independent, fring requires no additional hardware and no location limitations (e.g. Wi-Fi hotspots). fring also integrates with Skype, Google Talk and MSN networks enabling users to call and chat with these applications from their mobile phone on any mobile network.

For further information please visit www.fring.com.

If you are unsure exactly how fring works, here is some information taken from their site:

The fring™ mobile VoIP solution is designed to optimize the embedded internet capabilities within the subscriber's handset. The fring™ solution establishes a Peer-To-Peer VoIP connection between calling parties, enabling true VoIP sessions between fring enabled handsets and also between handsets and PCs.

fring™ is based on a unique thin-client technology that for the first time enables true VoIP over 3G, GPRS and Wi-Fi networks. fring™ dynamically adapts itself to the optimal network and handset characteristics while enabling seamless roaming VoIP on multiple networks. The dedicated three-sided P2P network architecture has been developed to support near telco-grade voice quality and network efficiency.

fring™ leverages the Internet connectivity traditionally used for mobile email retrieval and web browsing to provide mobile-VoIP communications so users can talk and instant message for free!

Read more »

Carnival of the Mobilist 64

The latest edition of the Carnival of the Mobilist is online, over at M-Trends. Check it out.

Read more »

Active Standby Plugins

I've been a user of S60 phones since the 7650. I may have mentioned this before. One issue this causes is you become complacent. I rarely investigate the menu system more than searching out the settings I want to put in place to personalise the phone the way I like it. Dump all the icons I will never use into a Misc. folder, hide the Misc folder out of the way, and bring to the surface all the icons I ant quick access to. (One of the reasons I enjoy S60 so much is I have this flexible control over the phone menu)

Because of this complacency, it's possible you miss neat new features, buried away in the menu system where you never go anymore. Today I was looking through the menu system and I found such a neat, new feature. I mentioned a few posts ago that I would like to be able to hide the calendar entries on the home screen of my phone whilst keeping Active Standby turned on. Active Standby is an excellent feature, giving shortcuts to the most used applications directly from the home screen. But I don't always want calendar entries showing on the homescreen. I can set reminders for calendar entries I need to be notified of, I don't want them showing on my phone home screen a week in advance.

So, the point of this post? Finally, there is a S60 phone that allows you to hide the home screen calendar! I don't know if the other new ESeries phones will have this, or the new NSeries phones, but it is not there on an E60, or the N73. Navigate to the Tools menu>settings>phone>standby mode and scroll down the menu and you will find the Active Standby Plugins menu:


















Open this menu and you will see various plugin options:




































If I mark the organiser, and unmark the Wireless LAN:


















On the homescreen the WiFi scan is off and the calendar is shown:


















And alternatively, if I mark the WiFi scan and unmark calendar, only WiFi scan is shown:


















And, if both plugins are unmarked:


















All you see on screen are the Active Standby icons:


















The other plugins only show up when that particular option is actioned, such as new message or voicemail notifications. Finally, I can remove the calendar from the home screen! It's always the little things that make the difference in the end, and this is one feature I am very happy with. I hope Nokia include this on future handsets, and don't restrict it to just the E65.

Read more »

Nokia E65 - It's the business

Yes yes, this blog is dedicated to all things NSeries. But, I'm going to make an exception and talk now about the E65. I first got hands on with this phone at the 3GSM event in Barcelona last month. I liked it then, and I like it now.

The E65 is very well designed. It feels good in the hand, is comfortable to use and has a well spaced out keypad. The slide on the phone is spring assisted, and closes with a satisfying snap.
There is one thing I don't like, though, and that is the positioning of the pencil key. It's hidden away on the side of the phone and not at all comfortable to use. The pencil key is very useful and shouldn't be so hidden away or awkward to use. Makes copy n paste, or even using screenshot, a bit of a chore.

In the short time I've had the phone (I picked it up yesterday afternoon) I've not noticed any software bugs. The phone is quick to use, and typical S60 in usability and functionality. One option I do like that ESeries phones support is the option to list the inbox on screen with Active standby. Why can't NSeries phones have this feature? It is a shame that the E65 has lost the 'rotate screen' option that the E60 has, though.

Overall the E65 is a decent handset. It is simple in design, but well spec'd and well built. WiFi is simple to setup and use, with the built in WiFi wizard, data connection speeds seem very fast, and battery life promises to be good, too (based on the fact I've had it almost 24 hours and the battery is still full!) ;-)

Software wise, everything I've tried so far works, apart from Yahoo Go v.1. I can't understand why Yahoo Go would work on an N80, and on an N73, but not on an E65. If anyone knows how to bypass this, please let me know. If I could actually get the software to install, I am sure it would work.

Some E65 pics below:

Read more »

The carnival is back

The Carnival of the mobilist is back online. Offering some of the best reading on the net, this week the Carnival is hosted by Pike Soft.

Read more »

YouTube Mobile Site Online

Spotted over on Symbian Freak, the YouTube mobile site, available through Nokia phones, appears to be online. I've tried with my N73, and accessing m.youtube.com didn't work, but following the link from videolinks.nokia.com, I was able to access the site (Screenshots below) I couldn't get the search function to work though. Can anyone else with other NSeries or even ESeries handsets get access?

Read more »