Recent News Headlines - Hardware
microUSB marches on, Symbian theme, Horizon app store launches
It's.... another compendium of interesting links that I really wanted to flag up for attention here. Firstly, the ITU (the telecoms bit of the UN) has joined the American CTIA in agreeing on microUSB as the cable standard for phones for the future. Note that most Symbian-powered phones already use this. Secondly, there's a new, official Symbian Foundation theme (screenshot and d/l link below), which I'm determined to try out. Finally, Symbian's Horizon app-recommendation programme has gone live and is worth bookmarking.
The non-invasive DIY way to fix N97 LED flash flare
I'd been seeing comments about improving N97 camera flash flare (refracted through camera glass scratches) by using a marker pen, but hadn't quite got my head around exactly what to do. Luckily, I came across this helpful video on YouTube (embedded below) - the marker pen has to be applied to the sidewall between the flash silo and the start of the camera glass. See especially the photo at the end of the video.
When is a phone not a phone any longer?
In this feature, I look at the creeping size increases in modern 'phones' - at what point do they cease to become phones and turn into media 'tablets'? I postulate a definition that refers to the way in which these devices are used - proving that the Nokia N900 and HTC HD2 definitely aren't phones at all and throwing doubt on the N97 and iPhone in the process. Controversial? Moi?
Fujitsu appointed to the Symbian Foundation board of directors
Fujitsu has been appointed to the board of directors of the Symbian Foundation. As a result, Fujitsu will, as an OEM Board Member, contribute to the funding of the Symbian Foundation and take an active role in all four Symbian Foundation councils (features and roadmap, architecture, user interface and release). Fujitsu have more than 8 years of Symbian experience and have released more than 20 Symbian handsets, second only to Nokia, including the first videophone.
The Phones Show 93 and Phones Show Chat 10
Just a quick note that The Phones Show 93 and The Phones Show Chat 10 are both now live, with plenty of Nokia/Symbian content that you might be interested in. In particular, you might like to note my 'top 5' choices in the former... See also the RSS feeds for the MP4/video and MP3/audio shows.
The Nokia N97 gets v20 and a new lease of life
[Story updated] Yes, it's out. For some product codes at least, with a changelog below. The next-gen Nokia N97 v20.x.019 firmware (a.k.a. PR 2.0), the biggest, most ambitious and most eagerly awaited firmware update in Nokia's history, is now available via Nokia Software Update. In short, RAM management is better and you effectively get a lot more flash memory on C: (provided you go through a little wipe/update/restore data effort) - plus the delights of kinetic, intuitive scrolling in all applications, transforming the S60 5th Edition experience, and a mountain of smaller fixes. See below for the changelog and comments.
Nokia 6788 - TD-SCDMA Symbian phone
Nokia today launched the Nokia 6788 - a TD-SCDMA Symbian phone. TD-SCDMA is a China-specific version of 3G, which is used by China Mobile. The Nokia 6788, which runs S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2, has a vertical slider form factor, a 5 megapixel camera, and 2.8 inch QVGA screen. The phone is expected to become available at the end of December 2009.
The N86 8MP on the Gadget Show
The Gadget Show's Jon Bentley is someone who usually manages to produce a good, informed account of anything technical, without dumbing things down too much. In Gadget Show Web TV 54, embedded in high quality below, he gives the Nokia N86 8MP a full review, concluding that it's a good successor to the N95 but doesn't match the N82 in some evening situations and feels, in 2009, a "little old fashioned". Comments welcome.
Review: Nokia 5630 XpressMusic
It's one of the smallest S60 smartphones ever and yet (GPS aside) it's full featured and highly stylised. In any case, given the XpressMusic tag, we fired the Nokia 5630 off to Ewan Spence to review. On the plus side, it's loud and testosterone-inspired (apparently) - on the downside, the screen's a little small and the absence of location features has got to hurt in late 2009...
AAS Insight 91 - Nokia Q3, Ovi Suite and more
In All About Symbian Insight 91 (AAS Podcast 153), Steve expands on his N97 camera and GPS experience from last weeks podcast. Rafe and Steve then discuss Nokia's Q3 2009 result in details, before Steve asks Rafe about his initial N900 versus N97 impressions. Our final topic is Steve's experience with Ovi Suite 2.0. You can listen to AAS Insight 91 here or, if you wish to subscribe, here's the RSS feed.
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