Amazingly, at 5pm GMT today, Bluetooth will be exactly 10 years old. I have to admit that, apart from music transfers and the odd Nokia Software Update, I hardly use wires in my computing set up at all. Internet comes from Wi-Fi and 3G and the vast majority of device to device transfers (syncs/installs/GPS connections/etc) happen via Bluetooth. Even small kids know that Bluetooth is the free way to send content between phones. Here's the official birthday link - Congratulations, all!
Reports are sneaking out of CES (in the USA) that Motorola just officially announced the Z10, their upgrade to the original UIQ 3-powered Z8. The 'banana' form factor is still there, as we reported from the Z10 prototypes at the Smartphone Show, and the Z10 will have the 30fps video capture and video editing suite demo-ed at the show, but there's also a 3.2 megapixel stills camera, which brings the device up to date, if not exactly cutting edge. Photo, specs and links below.
Neuros, the maker of the video-to-MP4 hardware encoder that Krisse uses on all the All About NGage game videos, has created an "Unlocked Media" trademark to promote the concept of open standard DRM-Free files that can be stored and played anywhere. Click through for its explanation of the trademark in text and video form .
Ah. I just 'got' where PiZero's going with his new (beta test version of his) 'Stealth' theme. It's for those nights out when you'd really not advertise your smartphone to the criminal fraternity by its dazzling luminescent display. Or perhaps for surreptitious use in a darkened cinema? Anyway, head on over if you'd like to help test the concept.
I have to admit, buying a top smartphone on contract does appeal financially. Thanks to Ewan for pointing out that 3 just added the Nokia N95 8GB to their online shop with no initial bulk outlay, £15 a month 'rental' (i.e. buy it bit by bit) and £15 voice plan. So the same £480 as you'd pay SIM-free up front, but with your calls, Skype, texts for 18 months? Unlimited data (of the browsing kind) is an extra £5 per month and the first 500 customers get a free set of speakers. Seems like a good deal to me. (via Ewan)
For all the new S60 owners after Christmas (and a lot of the existing ones), The Nokia S60 Blog has posted another three hints and tips videos on their YouTube Channel; Copy and Pasting Text; Changing the Look and Feel; and Organising Shortcuts and Applications. More on those vids after the break...
Craig Loxton, the guy who guested in the latest Smartphones Show, has been busy - he's set up a Symbian Help group on Google Groups , presumably intending to run it much like the old, beloved EPOC Digest back in Psion days. It'll cover S60 and UIQ matters and is open to all.
The BBC's new Technology Blog has made some rather tounge in cheek predictions for 2008 . On the smartphone front, and I quote: Nokia brings out its latest smartphone, the N99. As well as featuring music, live television, a manicure set and a device for getting stones out of horse’s shoes, it offers an ice-cream cornet with a chocolate flake. “And, unlike, the new 3g iPhone,” a spokesman explains, “it is 4g, making the mobile internet work properly for the first time.”
Looking for the BBC TV comedy Red Dwarf to appear on your mobile? Look no further, you can downoad specially formatted 'mobisodes' and ring-tones from www.red-dwarf.mobi . For 3 pounds an episode, Pitch Entertainment will send you a 25 second clip from the popular TV show, with the same TV soundtrack, but with animated visuals replacing the actors. It's an interesting approach, although I can't decide if it's a genius moment to re-master for a new medium, or another way of charging the fans more money for the same well worn punchlines.
Looking for where to focus any new casual gaming projects? Then the latest survey (this one from Parks Associates) can help. Bottom line is that the majority of casual gamers are interested in Puzzles and Card Games, some 55%, with word and arcade games at 32% and 33% respectively. This compares to 'portable gamers' (eg the PSP and DS users) who almost equally look for Sports, Action, Driving and First Person Shooters for their kicks.
I make absolutely no apologies for another brief emTube news item - a day or two can be a long time in the smartphone world! emTube just hit v1.06 , with many new language variants, new hotkeys, new user/related views, a new seek bar, search result memory, plus several bug fixes, including RotateMe compatibility. Doesn't this developer sleep?
Having been using the Nokia N95 8GB exclusively for the last month, it's been mostly wonderful but occassionally frustrating. So I can utterly sympathise with Devin as he publishes his 'N95 8GB fix list', with the grindingly slow Gallery load and absence of the video editor ringing true in my ears, and also with Rita's complaints from her exhaustive N95 8GB real world trip test. Firmware is still on the early v11 build, surely it's time for an update, Nokia? I've got NSU on daily refresh...
It's nearly the end of 2007, so we're presenting a short and sweet round-up of seasonal S60 3rd Edition themes in honour of the upcoming New Year. Don't forget the Champagne and assorted party snacks! UPDATE: We've now added PiZero's freshly-created collection of New Year themes. SECOND UPDATE: The legendary Babi has now come up with a New Year 2008 theme, which we've added to the article. THIRD UPDATE: As if to complete the trilogy, P@sco has done a New Year theme as well.
