Nokia is previewing its upcoming Messaging/IM hybrid application by releasing a Java-hosted test version for just the E75, over on Beta Labs. This is the only S60 phone (so far) with permanent full access to Nokia Messaging as a service, but presumably functionality from this will spread in the coming months, as well as it getting wider compatibility. More details below, if you've got an E75, if use either Yahoo Messanger or Ovi Chat, if you don't mind its Java nature, and if you fancy giving this a whirl.
AMF Bowling: Pinbusters is the latest N-Gage game on the block and Ewan takes it for a roll. Despite a sensible control system, decent graphics and (shock, horror) support for multi-player gaming over the N-Gage Arena, Ewan brands it 'repetitive' and 'ultimately unfulfilling'. Still, at least there's a single-player demo, right?
In All About Symbian Insight 77 (AAS Podcast 137), there is news of Truphone's extended support for Nokia and the 5800 continues its best selling streak. Rafe talks about Nokia and Intel's strategic tie up and reports back from the launch of the HTC Hero. Ewan shares news of AdSense for applications, which leads to a general monetisation discussion. You can listen to AAS Insight 77 here or, if you wish to subscribe, here's the RSS feed.
Nokia Multimedia Transfer just got itself a profile update - ignore the claimed compatibility in their flash widget - if you update your Mac's Nokia Multimedia Transfer now you'll get the new configurations. It definitely now works with the N86 (screenshot proof below) and the N97.
Although not quoted as supported yet on the BBC's Mobile iPlayer site, the Nokia N86 has been officially enabled as a client for the online TV catch-up service by the BBC. Current UK N86s are arriving with iPlayer preinstalled (thanks Tim for the heads-up) and you can also retro-install iPlayer if needed by manually going to www.bbc.co.uk/mobile/iplayer/iplayer.wgz in Web.
A beta version of Ovi Suite 2.0, Nokia's new look application for Windows PCs, has been made available via Nokia Beta Labs. The beta version, which is Qt-based, is 'totally new' and represents a fresh start for Nokia's desktop software. The new version will eventually replace all existing Nokia PC software. Read on for more information and first look at the features.
The Nokia N97, N86 and E75, along with the iPhone 3GS are now in my smartphone-choosing Grid, if you'd care to try your luck. After finding what the Grid thinks is your perfect smartphone, try playing the 'fiddle the preferences so that device X wins' game - it'll while away your Friday afternoon, anyway! 8-)
Steve's Friday Buying Tip (SFBT, should maybe be a regular feature?!): I thought you'd like to know that the all-rounder (qwerty) Nokia E75 smartphone, liked by all the All About Symbian team [it's grown a lot on me, incidentally - see the next Phones Show for comment!] is now on sale at Expansys, reduced from the RRP of £379 inc VAT to a much better value £299 inc VAT, SIM free. See also our review of the E75.
Google's new free Mobile app for S60 (effectively Google Search v2) has been updated again, to v2.1.12. It's a minor update and brings a few cosmetic tweaks to the interface - but you'll still want to grab the update (m.google.com) if it's something you use. Note that this is still strictly for S60 3rd Edition only - it's not compatible with the Nokia 5800/N97 etc.
Truphone, an 'Internet' operator that aims to cut call costs using VoIP (Truphone WiFi calling) and call-though (Truphone Anywhere) technologies, today announced that it now supports an additional 11 phones (most S60 3.2 and S60 5.0 phones). Truphone started out as a VoIP only services on Nokia devices, but subsequently widened its focus and switched attention to the iPhone and Android platforms. With Ovi Store providing an improved distribution channel Truphone feels the time is right to update its Nokia offerings.
Almost sixty official games graced the original N-Gage platform, so why aren't Nokia taking the proven hits from that era and bringing them back to the front? Here on Ovi Gaming, Ewan looks back and chooses five that are ripe for re-invention. Why not take a trip down memory lane with him and then ask Nokia very, very nicely...?
AAS reader, (ex-)OPL programmer and now Python developer, Martin Dehler, has released a couple of applications that have effectively made it from the Psion Series 3a (circa 1995) to modern S60 3rd Edition phones. FuelLog is shareware and is a fuel consumption tracker that records, stores, calculates and exports fueling data and fuel consumption of vehicles. Birthdays is freeware and lists birthdays from the Contacts application in chronological order. For each birthday name, date of birth, age and remaining time until the next birthday are shown.
With the advent of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, Steve Litchfield reprises an old rant with a look at how the current crop of 2008/2009 smartphones fare on a sunny day. Does your phone turn into a hand mirror or can you see what's going on? Featured here are seven popular screen types, showing how well - or how badly - they do.
