Just released this morning (see my 'Install diary' below) is Ovi Maps 3.4 (build 91, if you're being fussy). This follows up the formal release of v3.3, which introduced the new interface and free worldwide voice navigation. In brief, Ovi Maps is claimed to be faster and more accurate, and, as reported below, Nokia certainly seemed to have made big strides in this area - v3.4 is hard to criticise in the performance department now. It also adds Wi-Fi positioning to the many ways location is determined, though it will take a while before Nokia's servers build up enough data for this to be useful. Read on...
Sometimes you say something and it gets a bit out of hand, the reaction isn't what you expect. That happens in the All About Symbian (virtual) staff-room as well. So what happens when a new updated (and known controversial) app comes in such as MyPhone to be considered? Ewan lets loose on the pointlessness of making your phone look like one from a completely different platform, that's what...
Published by Nokia and developed by Rovio, Space Impact Meteor Shield is a Star-Wars-style 360 degree gun turret game, for real. Using the Nokia N97's digital compass the virtual world spins with you - play it in a swivel chair for best effect. The game is a great demo of what's possible and is currently free in the Ovi Store. Links and screens below.
In part 2 of our MWC interview with Anssi Vanjoki, EVP of Markets at Nokia, there is discussion of how moving Symbian into the Symbian Foundation stops the platform being "fractioned by individual product programs [within Nokia]". We also touch on whether there is a future for the 'Nokia N95 form factor' smartphone.
In the second half, Anssi Vanjoki talks about Nokia's software strategy and how the common elements of Qt and common Web Runtime provide a unifying layer between Symbian and MeeGo. He then touches on the importance of open source as a new 'software making model' for Nokia moving forward.
There's an interesting editorial by Chris Ziegler over on Engadget today, pointing out to its USA readership that the current carrier pricing strategy really doesn't make sense anymore, with European carriers showing the way, pricing all phones at free on contract, with just the monthly amount changing. Nice insight for Americans, though it's a pity there's no mention of the even more radical way of buying smartphones - SIM-free. A few more thoughts below.
If you're into music discovery in a big way then here's another system that's going to appeal. Following on from yesterday's Spotify review, Ewan's been looking at the newly revamped (and now Symbian Signed) Mobbler, which attempts to stream you music that 'it thinks you might like'. Here's the Mobbler review, which explains more about its modus operandis in more detail.
In All About Symbian Insight 106 (AAS Podcast 170), Rafe, Ewan and Steve look back on Mobile World Congress 2010. Rafe shares his views on a number of subjects including the Symbian Foundation news, Nokia's software strategy (Symbian and MeeGo) and the Qt developer story, Windows Phone 7 Series and more. Steve and Ewan manage to communicate some of their views too and fire a few rapid fire questions at Rafe. You can listen to AAS Insight 106 here or, if you wish to subscribe, here's the RSS feed.
If you're a reader here then you'll be interested in keeping up with goings on over on the official Symbian Foundation blog. The site just got itself a big facelift, with the home page sporting 'channels' (think categories), a blogger sidebar (highlighted people at the Foundation), in addition to the existing panels highlighting videos, tweets, and so on. The site also now offers a way to quickly share any post via Twitter or Facebook. Good stuff, go check it out. And here's the RSS feed for catching directly.
Pocketgear today announced that it had acquired Handango for an undisclosed sum. Both are well known for their roles as application aggregators and electronic software distributors (ESDs) and run application stores for all the major mobile platforms. Many Symbian developers have used the companies as distribution channels for their software, although recently attention has switched to manufacturer stores such as Sony Ericsson's PlayNow and Nokia's Ovi Store.
ArsTechnica have taken a good look at network congestion on AT&T in the US and O2 in the UK to try and find out why modern smartphones that drop the data connection as soon as possible to save battery are causing so many problems for the networks, and causing frustration for the end users.'
David Gilson dips into his wallet to subscribe to the tenner-a-month Spotify Premium, giving him streaming and download access to just about all the DRM-ed music he'd ever want from Spotify's servers. Is it ultimately worth it and how good (or limited) is the mobile (S60) client? Find out in David's detailed Spotify Premium review.
At Mobile World Congress, I sat down with Anssi Vanjoki, EVP of Markets at Nokia, to talk about the Nokia N97. The highly anticipated device was released last summer and while it has been a commercial success for Nokia, it has been subject to a great deal of criticism from consumers for its software and underpowered hardware.
With the release of version 20 and 21 of the firmware, many of the software issues have been resolved. In the video, Anssi Vanjoki acknowledges the issues and explains how Nokia has learnt important lessons, which have been fed into the process of creating Symbian^3 and Symbian^3 devices. He says that "we have taken the learnings and when Symbian^3 comes out you can rest assured it will be perfect".
Rafe introduces All About Symbian's and Mobile Industry Review's video coverage of Mobile World Congress 2010. Over the next five weeks we'll be bringing you more than 70 videos covering a wide variety of subjects including interviews, walkabouts, stand tours, handset demos, developer profiles, software showcases and much more. This video provides an introduction to MWC and describes some of the forthcoming content.
Just catching up with some links. Worth noting is that over half the world's Internet users now use only a phone for access, according to Tomi T Ahonen, reporting on an OPK interview. Tomi's the right person to believe when big numbers are being bandied around, of course, even if the headline is set to shock most Western geeks.
