A beta version of Nokia's new e-mail client for S60 devices is now available from Beta Labs, and provides an alternative to the default S60 Messaging application. It will work with most services including Gmail, but it doesn't currently work with Hotmail or corporate mail. There's also a consumer site for this client called Nokia Email. (via Symbian-Guru.com)
Nokia's programmers are certainly staying busy - their insanely-useful GPS-aware Chat utility just got updated too, to build 5 - see the official Beta Labs blog entry announcing the update. Make sure you also install the updated support file.
Integration between the Nokia Music PC Client (available via Beta Labs) and the Nokia Music Store has now gone live. This means you can browse and buy music, from the Nokia Music Store, within the Nokia Music PC Client application. This gives Nokia a seamless music experience, akin to Apple's iTunes, for discovering, purchasing, downloading and transferring music to a mobile device.
The Nokia 5320 XpressMusic has the lowest launch price so far of any S60 device, and is squarely aimed at the mainstream market. It's a music-oriented device, with external playback controls, a dedicated audio chip and a 3.5mm headphone socket. It will also become a slightly gaming-oriented phone later this year, when the N-Gage application becomes available for it. All About Symbian has put it through its paces, and you can find out how it did by reading our review. If you have any questions about the device, post them in the comments thread of this news item and we will try to answer them.
It seems that Nokia Map Loader has 'graduated' from Nokia Beta Labs and has been updated to boot, it's now at v2.0.2 and ensconced on the main Maps page (click on 'Download' etc). I doubt there's more to the new version than bug fixes, but it's still great to see the whole Maps (/Chat/Share online) ecosystem all finally come together. The Flash intro video for Maps isn't that new, but is worth a watch and quite well done for getting the message across.
You wait weeks for new N-Gage games and then they all come at once! Nokia's first party game Bounce Boing Voyage, a 3D remake of the classic embedded Bounce games, is now available in the N-Gage application's showroom (if you can't see it select Options and then Update Now). You can watch the rather amusing official trailer by visiting the Bounce Boing Voyage game page on All About N-Gage. UPDATE: All About N-Gage has now published a review of Bounce.
Nokia are, theoretically, doing their bit for the environment with the release of we:offset, a Carbon footprint calculator, along with a facility to donate an appropriate amount to projects that aim to balance your footprint out. It's a worthy release, although (over on my personal blog) I can't help think it's way too little way too late in the grand scheme of things...
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.
Rafe's epic three part review of the Nokia N78, the first Nseries phone to have S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2, comes to its end with a detailed look at its application bundle. Rafe also summarises the N78 and explains its strengths and significance.
Nokia's arguably missed a trick by not promoting Reset Generation's embedding ability, which lets you put the entire full game (including multiplayer online) on your own blog or site using a tiny bit of HTML code. You can find out how to embed the game by clicking on this item's headline, and if you've already embedded the game you might want to post a link to your site in the comments thread.
It was fascinating to read Malcolm Lithgow's very detailed real-world head to head between some budget Symbian smartphones, the Nokia 6220 Classic and the Sony Ericsson G700 and G900. Mainly because Malcolm has been (and still is) a big fan of UIQ 3, which gives him a novel perspective on the strengths and weaknesses of the two platforms (and individual devices). Some good points in here, even though most of us would have wanted to see a higher spec S60 device used for the comparison. (via Carnival of the Mobilists 135)
Following our own review of the Nokia 6120 Classic, the folks over at PDA247 have put up a review of the Nokia 6124, essentially the Vodafone version of the same device and listed on pay-as-you-go for only £100. Staggering price, it had to happen one day, although the review also mentions what sounds like a serious overheating problem during 3G calls.
And a big 'Ya Boo Sucks' to those out there that say a smartphone can't also be a semi-pro stills camera. Here's the first N82 Photo Awards selection, following in the footsteps of several awards given to photos taken by the N95...
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.