L A R G E T I M E
More proof that Symbian Signed is starting to uncork the freeware blockages of the last year. Martin Storsjo's most excellent Large Time screensaver has also (at last) been officially Symbian Signed. (via p@sco)
Recent News - S60 3rd Edition - Software - Page 55
Accelerometer utilities start to get Symbian Signed
Interesting to see the recent crop of accelerometer-based utilities starting to get Symbian Signed at last. p@sco is reporting that ShakeSMS is now available for download in official Signed form, so no more messing around with IMEI-based .SIS files, which has got to be good news.
WalkingHotSpot trial available for download
WalkingHotSpot, the software that turns your phone into a WiFi hotspot, is now available for download and there are some exclusive screenshots and preview thoughts below (the break). This means you can share your 3G data connection with other devices over WiFi. The obvious use for this is with a WiFi enabled laptop when travelling. The current version is intended as a trial to showcase the technology; the full version will be made available through carrier channels.
Your S60 smartphone as a drum machine!
Wow. The uses for a S60 smartphone just keep on growing. AAS friend Saku Tiainen has just released BeatEd, a full, professional drum sequencer/machine - just plug in your headphone lead from your smartphone into an amp and you're away! Break out your guitar and start rockin' out. Links and video demo below the break, enjoy!
All About N-Gage reviews Asphalt 3: Street Rules
All About N-Gage has just published an in-depth review of Asphalt 3: Street Rules for the new N-Gage platform. Is it a turbo-charged delight, or only fit for the scrapheap?
Start up Navigation, Abandon all common sense
In which I rant a little about the glaring lack of common sense in today's navigation applications, end up rather late and stressed for a wedding I should have been half an hour early for... and I explain what's happened to the sat-nav group test that we promised six months ago...
Pen and paper, Leopard and WARM
You know how you've always told your other half that your smartphone is better than her/his pen and paper? Well, with PiZero' latest - Paper, your smartphone can even ape the paper/highlighter look. While I'm here, if anyone's been eyeing up the latest Macs with a tinge of tech-lust, check out this Leopard theme for S60. And Giambi (don't tell me - yet another Italian theme genius?)'s WARM series of SVG themes for S60 are stunning too.
Calendar viewing in PC Suite update
Nokia's PC Suite just got a biggish update, with Calendar viewing on your PC screen, plus full Text message handling. And there are cosmetic improvements too. Here's the PC Suite download page. Comments welcome. (via S-F)
Flash Video and Web Runtime hit the Nokia N82
In perhaps the biggest and most long-awaited firmware upgrade in the S60 world for many months, the so-far flakey Nokia N82 finally had its uber-upgrade released, to v20.0.062. It's on NSU now for unlocked/unbranded devices. See below for images and details, but the main additions are the addition of Flash Lite 3 (and Flash video) and integrated GPS Location tagging; plus Web runtime (widgets).
Fring gets a roasting as 'unreliable'
A second video link for this morning, this time to 'Gadget Show WEB TV', who reviewed Fring, the free VoIP and chat utility over the weekend. Great to see the coverage but the ultimate negative verdict was undoubtedly flavoured by the data speeds and coverage in the single demo area. What about Wi-Fi? What about 3.5G? Comments welcome - how well does Fring work for you?
JoikuSpot Light gets WEP!
JoikuSpot, the phenomenal little utility that turns your smartphone into a Wi-Fi hotspot for your laptop and other hardware, just got significantly better, with the release of a new beta (1.2) that supports WEP encryption. Previously, your little Wi-Fi hotspot had to be open to allcomers, with predictable results. (via The Symbian Blog)
Astraware Boardgames gets a big thumbs up!
Fed up waiting for N-Gage to go live? Console yourselves with this brand new games compilation from PDA maestros Astraware. After yesterday's announcement, and after a week or so of actual pre-release gameplay, Ewan presents his review of Astraware Boardgames, for both S60 3rd Edition and UIQ 3. Summary: classic games, well pitched and well implemented, Boardgames only falls short of Megagame status by a gnat's whisker.
Insight 19 - UIQ 3.3 and Motorola
It's.... AAS Insight 19 (aka AAS audio podcast 68), mainly concentrating on the news of UIQ 3.3 and what it will mean, but also chatting about the split of Motorola, the v21 update for the Nokia N95 Classic and the usual software spots. Here's the Insight 19 listening link, here's the RSS feed for you to subscribe for the future.
Games Legends Astraware hit Symbian!
Astraware, arguably THE top name in PDA gaming, has finally started releasing titles for Symbian OS, with the simultaneous launch of "Boardgames" for both S60 3rd Edition and UIQ 3, supporting all the usual devices. The games include Chess, Reversi, Backgammon, Snakes and ladders, Nine Mens Morris and Checkers. Ewan's been playing with an advance copy for a while and he'll have a full review tomorrow, hopefully. See below for some screenshots and the full press release.
Trippo the perfect translation tool - at a price
Trippo popped its head above the software parapet a few days ago when it got added to Nokia's Download! service for the N95 8GB. But it's available to all and is in the AAS software shop. The big question is, can it live up to its claims? Ewan's been reviewing Trippo and both he and I were gobsmacked at how good the service is - and also at how expensive it might work out.