The times, they are, as the bard quoth, a changin' - Google Maps Navigation now provides free turn by turn voice instructions on Android-powered phones in the USA, and it's only a matter of time before the licensing restrictions and map rollouts get sorted for real time navigation in many other countries. And all for free. But this still leaves a window of opportunity for Nokia to step in and change this landscape in an even bigger way - right now. And sell a truckload of phones in the process, worldwide. Read on for my thoughts.
UK Gaming site Pocket Gamer has delivered a well thought out and researched piece about piracy and online content. While primarily about gaming and the new rush for downloadable content, the landscape is remarkably similar to the software markets for smartphones. Looking at all angles, the final statement "...whatever excuses any of us have employed for justifying a pirated game are well and truly dead." is one that we'd stand by here, but it covers some new ground in the world of App Stores, current estimated levels of piracy and public opinion.
For anyone else waiting for an iSync plug-in for the Nokia N97 mini, to enable Mac syncing, note that Jim @ Worded Wonders has produced one, currently best described as in alpha status, see his blog post about it here. Comments welcome if you've got time to try this today. Of course, if Nokia could just put in 10 minutes effort and do an official one....
There is a lottery whenever you download an application for your Symbian Samrtphone. I don't mean the lottery of whether you'll be able to re-download the app (although that can still be a concern); I don't mean the lottery of getting the right platform variation in terms of 3rd or 5th Edition or something even older (although that can be a concern as well); nor am I thinking about the “will the security certificate still be in date” when I install the app (seriously – who thought that expiring apps would be a good idea?)
Following on from the best-selling(!) part 1 of my Sony Ericsson Satio review, here's part 2, looking at its star feature, the 12 megapixel camera with Xenon flash. In addition to comments on the interface and photo/video samples, I put the Satio's camera head to head over a variety of photo shoots with the Nokia N86 8MP, the Samsung i8910 HD and the Nokia N96 (for reference). In summary, I'd rate the Satio as having potentially the best camera ever fitted to a phone, though there's obviously still some optimisation needed in its algorithms. Comments welcome!
Available for almost all recent S60 phones (touchscreen and non-touch), HP's free iPrint Photo software is now available in the on-device Ovi Store as a small 250k native Symbian utility. It's touted as a quick way to print 6" by 4" prints from your phone's photo albums. It's all done via Wi-Fi, so you will need a Wi-Fi-enabled printer, it seems. Comments welcome if you've printed using this by other means!
Nokia has released a new firmware update for the Nokia E71. The new version, 400.21.013, adds improved support for Nokia Email / Messaging and a pre-installed version of Ovi Contacts, contains numerous stability and bug fixes, and includes small updates for Internet radio, Quickoffice, Ovi Store, Email Setup Wizard, and Mail for Exchange. The update can be downloaded and installed using Nokia Software Updater, which is a module of PC Suite.
Just to note a flurry of relevant updates from the Symbian world. Google Mobile App just got updated to v2.3.9, bringing a slightly slicker interface and extra shortcuts - get it from m.google.com on your S60 3rd Edition smartphone. Ovi Maps just got a minor bug fix update to 3.1.09 wk44 - if relevant to your installed copy, you'll be prompted to update (I was on the N86) - or look for it in 'Sw update'. And, should your phone not already have Ovi Contacts built-in (many do), there's a new standalone installer that includes data compression and better power saving features.
It may be ancient by 2009 standards, but it's still a very powerful beast. I'm talking about the Nokia N82, with accelerated graphics and Xenon flash. And it's the subject of a lengthy and passionate essay by Eric of Eric's Corner. Well worth a read - it's a classic phone in many ways, even if it has been eclipsed in recent times by the equally camera-centric N86 (which was, incidentally, conceived by the N82's designer). (via WOM)
UK customers on Vodafone take note! The company is promoting their Vodafone Live! service with a bundle of 28 chrismassy ideas, and you can find out those ideas on the Live! portal. Just to make it a bit more attractive the network are having a Free Mobile Internet Friday tomorrow for all internet traffic. Both 'pay as you go' and 'pay monthly' customers will not be charged for using the internet tomorrow.
Finally a version of the Facebook widget has appeared for S60 3rd Edition, in the form of a download for the wide-screened Nokia E71 and E72 (anyone able to verify it also works on the E61i and E63?). Supported devices will find Facebook in the Ovi Store now, according to Clinton Jeff, who provides details and screenshots here.
Priced at only a (UK) pound, Mind is an interesting application from the Ovi Store - it takes a well recognised organisational technique, that of mind mapping, and places it in a Java application on your smartphone. With a system of vector graphics and smart links, there's a lot to recommend it, but ultimately the Java interface and necessarily limited screen size mitigate against it, or so reckons Ewan in his review of Mind.
In All About Symbian Insight 96 (AAS Podcast 160), we discuss recent rumour around Nseries in 2012 and the related Symbian / Maemo debate. Then there's news coverage of the Nokia 6700 Slide and Spotify on Symbian. We finish with a number of reader questions ranging from the web as a platform to buggy firmware and augmented reality. You can listen to AAS Insight 96 here or, if you wish to subscribe, here's the RSS feed.
