The next part of my Mac virgin series, trying to get to grips with OS X and get my Nokia N95 8GB connected up and productive. In part 1, I found it fairly easy to get the two devices paired up by Bluetooth and synced using iSync. In part 2, I look at connecting my phone up via USB cable and archiving my photos and videos.
In All About Symbian Insight #35 (AAS Podcast #88) Rafe, Steve and Ewan chat about the launch of the N-Gage's Reset Generation, carbon offsetting from your phone, the continuing importance of voice and the Nokia Music client/store.
When the Apple iPhone appeared with its single 'simple' page of app icons, S60's folders of icons were ridiculed by some. As Justin points out here, with iPhones now filling up with page after page of disorganised icons, a system like S60's hierarchical folders is sorely needed. Some fans are now acknowledging the sense in S60's UI after all(!) (via this week's Carnival of the Mobilists)
I'd more or less given up reporting on smartphone coverage in Channel 5's Gadget Show (in the UK) because I kept forgetting to watch it, but have just discovered that Channel 5 has put the whole of the last 3 series up on the web for anyone to watch as and when. Of note is the very latest episode, in which the Apple iPhone 3G is pitched against the Nokia E71 in three real world tasks - the result? An honourable draw, but worth a look!
Google has just pointed out that they've put some new optimisations in place on their mobile site for the duration of the Olympic Games. There's a dedicated mobile-friendly index page to their coverage at www.google.com/m/summergames, plus just typing in a sport name into the main home screen will also get you results and information. Going to be an exciting few weeks and now you can stay in touch wherever you are!
AAS's own Attila Katona has given us clues as to his Bobby Carrot inclinations in the past, but here he goes into detail about each episode in the long-running Java puzzle game series (which should work on most S60 smartphones). Is there a best episode? And what's so special about the last 'Forever' game? Find out in the part-history, part-review, Bobby Carrot series.
In the first of a new series, I look at connecting up a S60 smartphone to an Apple Mac, from the point of view of a new user to Leopard (OS X). What can be done 'out of the box' and what else is needed? All will be revealed, part by part, as I get my Nokia N95 8GB cosy and comfortable with a MacBook.
ABI Research are quoting Q2, 2008 phone sales figures (via IntoMobile). On average, growth was around 18%, bucking the worldwide financial situation. 301 million phones were shipped during the quarter, with Nokia selling over 40% , and with Samsung in second place with 15%. Motorola, LG and Sony Ericsson are each around the 9% mark, with Apple estimated around 2% and lumped with other tier two manufacturers into an 'Others' category.
It's... another All About Symbian Insight podcast, number 34, with Rafe and myself discussing Google Maps 2.2, Skyfire, Missing Sync for Symbian, plus the Samsung i560 and G810. Then we move onto the Nokia 6650 and the Samsung L870 and INNOV8.
As you know, I do like a good real world speed test. And Vaibhav has been very thorough in his testing of text entry speeds on the Nokia E71, E90 and N95/N78. Interesting reading, if only to note how close the results are - in most circumstances a good T9/predictive texter will keep up, even against the likes of the qwerty-toting Eseries. Of course, if your texting skills aren't quite so hot....
Imran (over at Mobile Messaging 2.0) pointed to an interesting blog post this weekend, about the social impact that location based applications can have. Now that networks (such asGyPSii, that Steve is currently looking at) are more connected via social features and an always-on, always reporting attitude, Jan Chipcase asks if is this a step too far?
Files on Ovi, the commercial hosting and PC access component of Nokia's new services, has just gone live for real, i.e. it's not beta anymore. See this post for details and rates, there's the free service for direct access and fees required for 'anytime' hosting. Comments welcome - will you use it? If not, why not?
It's been a while since I updated my (smart)phone-choosing Grid, but I bit the bullet and this now has the iPhone 3G, the Nokia E71, the Nokia N78 and the HTC Touch Diamond, among others. How does it do for you?
Thanks to Russell for reminding me to open up AdMob's latest Metrics report (PDF link), revealing the top devices and OS used for browsing mobile web sites. Symbian OS has a big worldwide lead here, at 58%, with Windows Mobile and RIM tied on 13%. Apple's share is tiny, but then the iPhone's browser doesn't work well with mobile sites (I've tried).
Facebook regulars might like to note a new version of the FindMe application, now available and in beta for S60. You can find instructions on grabbing it here on FindMe's Facebook page. It seems as though it uses a similar white-list location system to Nokia Chat, although it uses cell location rather than GPS. Comments welcome.
