Remember how IRC was used before the all these Instant Messaging (ICQ, AOL, MSN, YM GTalk) clients? There was software for earlier S60 called Wireless IRC but it seems to be dead now. S60 3rd Edition users can now use mIRGGI, the first native IRC client. It's still in early beta but it does the job pretty well.
Simon Judge has announced the availability of an alpha release of SymRAD a free rapid application development tool for developing user interface (UI) based applications for Nokia S60 3rd Edition and UIQ 3.x. Applications are created via an XML definition file which includes screen definitions and Javascript.
Smartphones Show 27 is now live, with video reviews of the Nokia E61i and E65, plus a feature on what's new in Windows Mobile 6.0 and S60 3rd Edition Feature Packs 1 and 2.
MyStrands is a new 'community-based' music tool, here demonstrated on a Nokia N95. it's unashamedly Web 2.0 and needs flat rate data (or Wi-Fi), importing cover art for your music, finding other music you might like and friends with similar tastes, directly streaming samples of their music. Cool if you have a good connection. (Via S-F)
Steve reviews Digital Clock, slightly more innovative than it sounds, with permanently lit display and activation using your smartphone's charger. But is it a good enough replacement for the traditional bedside clock?
There's a new version of Nokia's PC Suite on the streets (thanks Darla). PC Suite v6.82 includes more network operator support, bug fixes, an improved Nokia Music Manager and Nokia Software Updater integration.
Released today with absolutely no fanfare, the free Nokia Sports Tracker (which seems to share quite a bit in common with the built-in suite on the Nokia 5500 Sport) integrates your smartphone and your GPS with exercise-related data-logging, stats and export to Google Earth. Again, the E-series blog got there first with an excellent overview.
Ewan may be in the USA, but it seems he found time on the flight over there to hammer through epic arcade puzzler (you'll have to read the review!) Tilelander for both S60 3rd Edition and UIQ 3 smartphones, and to give it his hearty recommendation.
A new developer, a new game concept. Relative newcomers CrazySoft enter the world of Symbian OS 9 with a bang with PaintBall 2 - Krisse reviews this puzzle game for S60 3rd Edition (also available for UIQ 3) and finds plenty of extras and game modes to keep it interesting for hour after hour.
Ikona, one of the big cheeses over at the N-Gage Arena, posted to the N-Gage Blog recently about an unannounced (first party?) game codenamed Project White Rock for Nokia's next gen gaming platform. Details were scarce, but it's being produced by Scott Foe, who produced the N-Gage's biggest hit Pocket Kingdom (which was the world's first mobile MMO). White Rock also appears to involve RedLynx, the Finnish developers who produced the N-Gage's most critically acclaimed game, Pathway To Glory, and another acclaimed title called High Seize. Ikona hinted that White Rock might be released for the PC as well as N-Gage.
Nokia’s SNAP system always developers easy access to features that a mobile multiplayer game would need – identify, server, high score tables, and more esoteric functions (think of it as a bit like the Nokia Arena on steroids). To aid this, they’ve announced a two part testing program for ‘mobile connected games;’ a self-testing process coupled with a final external Testing House final certification. SNAP mobile will run on the N-Gage Platform, but also on regular S60 and S40 devices from Nokia, and this is an obvious move to stop poorly implemented games having a negative impression on the new market.
