The official N-Gage blog has now confirmed that the new N-Gage logo seen at the GCDC is indeed genuine. They've also released an animated version of the new logo (click Save As and open it in Windows Media Player). The animation is reminiscent of the one Nintendo used when launching the Wii. This may be a clue as to Nokia's intentions with the Next Gen N-Gage: to appeal to casual gamers and expand the phone game market, just as the Wii has done with the console game market.
Nokia is one of the main sponsors of the GC Developers Conference 2007 in Leipzig, Germany, through their N-Gage gaming brand. Nokia's Diarmuid Feeny gave a keynote speech at the event, discussing the potential growth of mobile gaming which could be brought about by making mobile games higher quality, and by making it easier to buy the games in the first place. (via Future Watch) Also, Nokia appears to have come up with a new curvier logo for the Next Gen N-Gage platform, according to the GCDC sponsors' page.
Yesterday, Nokia announced that it was dramatically changing the way chipset design and manufacture will be handled. Direct audio from the announcement, including the Q and A session afterwards, is now available online, but you can also read the textual press release below.
Another year, another DRM solution from Microsoft. Hey ho, you'd have thought they'd have learnt by now. Anyway, Nokia has just announced that it's building support for the new 'PlayReady' technology into the S60 platform. I guess more support is always better, but if I were you I'd stick to ripping purchased CDs to WMA or AAC, with no restrictions. The full press release is below...
In another far sighted editorial, Krisse looks at TV-out gaming on the Nokia N95, seeing how well a selection of top games work on the big screen and with the aid of a Bluetooth keyboard as controller. Of course, what's really needed is a Bluetooth joystick as well...
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group, the more than 8,000-member strong trade association responsible for advancing Bluetooth wireless technology, today announced the adoption of Core Specification Version 2.1+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), with advances in security, simplified pairing, power consumption and Near Field Communications. The full press release is shown below...
Nokia has released in Q2 financial results today. The overall results are positive with increased second quarter earnings driven by strong sales and an increase in market share. Notable numbers for S60 devices include sales of 2 million Eseries devices and 9 million Nseries devices in the second quarter. Individual device highlights includes sales of 1 million E65's and 1.5 million N95's in the same period.
Rafe Blandford exercises his editorial overview privileges and provides the back story and possible future for the Moto Z8, the kick-slide smartphone that he reviewed in detail recently (links below). Did you know that the Z8 was developed in secrecy in Birmingham?
Fortune (via moconews) is reporting that Nokia may shortly be launching an online music store and downloading service similar to Apple's iTunes. The service is based around technology gained with the acquisition of Loudeye is expected to be announced at an upcoming Nokia event in London. It is also likely the event will also be the venue for the launch of the latest in the Nseries range of phones. Read on for further information and analysis.
Following the EU announcement that they “officially favour” the use of the DVB-H standard for mobile television throughout all of Europe (in a similar vein to their decision that we should all use GSM for digital mobile phones many a moon ago), Virgin Mobile will be stopping the broadcast of Mobile TV through their Lobster handsets.
Nokia has bought up the Seattle-based Twango, a media-sharing company (photos, video, audio). Nokia's existing media sharing deals with Flickr and Vox will continue, to give users more choice. The full press release follows and Carlo from MobHappy comments here.
AAS's Steve Litchfield has long been very sceptical about touchscreen-based phones, but the iPhone's new technology touchscreen and User Interface have wholeheartedly converted him to the concept. However, he's not impressed by the iPhone's lack of features and immature Operating System, and thinks this is where Symbian has the upper hand. Click on the link to read Steve's vision of a future where smartphones combine the best of both worlds, with iPhone-style interfaces and Symbian-style cutting edge features.
In another far sighted editorial, Krisse looks at TV-out gaming on the Nokia N95, seeing how well a selection of top games work on the big screen and with the aid of a Bluetooth keyboard as controller. Of course, what's really needed is a Bluetooth joystick as well...
Rafe Blandford exercises his editorial overview privileges and provides the back story and possible future for the Moto Z8, the kick-slide smartphone that he reviewed in detail recently (links below). Did you know that the Z8 was developed in secrecy in Birmingham?
AAS's Steve Litchfield has long been very sceptical about touchscreen-based phones, but the iPhone's new technology touchscreen and User Interface have wholeheartedly converted him to the concept. However, he's not impressed by the iPhone's lack of features and immature Operating System, and thinks this is where Symbian has the upper hand. Click on the link to read Steve's vision of a future where smartphones combine the best of both worlds, with iPhone-style interfaces and Symbian-style cutting edge features.
