In a splurge of activity over at Nokia Beta Labs in the last day or so, here's a roundup of news: Nokia Email has graduated from Beta Labs to become Nokia Messaging, though the full announced functionality (e.g. IM) still isn't in place. Nokia Communication Center 2.0 has graduated and is now part of the latest PC Suite (7.1.18). Finally, Enhanced Calculator has been 'archived' and will at some point be reworked and brought into devices - meanwhile you can still grab it as-is if you like.
Image Exchange is here! A new beta application from Nokia, promising to make browsing and sharing images easy and fun is available from the Beta Labs. Image Exchange is more than just an uploader to a service (such as Flickr or Ovi Share), but an experiment in tying the handset gallery and the on-line gallery much closer together. Think of it as one pool of pictures constantly synchronised between your mobile and the web server, reflecting changes and interactions instantly. More information and comment below.
Epocware's Handy Safe is no longer the only secure database with a synced PC version - SBSH just announced SafeWallet Pro, which comes with a 'PC companion'. The launch information and a screenshot are below the break, but your comments welcome if you want to give this a try. Note that SafeWallet Pro is currently on special offer, at $15.
Now this is what you call a long term review. One year of hard use and over 3000 photos later, Eric's Corner presents a long, detailed look back at how the Nokia N82 has stood up to every day life. Along similar lines, did you know that since July 2006, I've taken over 1,300 videos with my Nokia N93 and since January 2005, I've (apparently) taken over 8,000 photos with the 6630, N70, N93 etc. Rafe calls me an 'edge case'. Hmmm....
After attending the recent Symbian Foundation Developer Day in San Francisco, former VP of Palm and now Consultant Michael Mace has blogged in detail his view of what was on display. "Every time I think about Nokia and Symbian, I can't help picturing a man knee-deep in molasses..." You can read more on his blog, and then check out the reply from David Wood, Symbian's EVP, on his blog.
Just in time for a last minute festive present, the Nokia N85 and N79 have commenced shipping in the US, and will be in various stores, including Amazon and Nokia's own flagship stores for around $550 and $400 respectively. Unlocked handsets can also be purchased online and direct via www.nokiausa.com.
Wikipedia, the reference site that had already spawned a thousand (ok, I exagerate a little) unofficial mobile versions, has now launched its own 100% official mobile site at mobile.wikipedia.org. It is also available in several languages. Definitely one for your permanent on-device bookmarks. (via CJ)
Mac owning S60 fans might like to note that OS 10.5.6 is just out, with one of the highlighted features being 'improved reliability of Address Book syncing with iPhone and other devices', so if you've been having trouble syncing S60 Contacts using iSync then it's well worth a try updating. Use the Apple menu 'Software update' feature to grab 10.5.6.
If you're stuck for a last minute Christmas present for a gadget-owning loved one (or yourself!) then note that I've arranged an exclusive one-week-only 15% discount for AAS readers over at Proporta - look out in particular for their (rightly) award-winning mobilechargers. Just enter "ALLABOUT" in their shopping basket system.
With Symbian Signed having been maligned by some in the past, David Wood reminds us in no uncertain terms of all of the reasons why such a scheme has to be in place. Google's Android marketplace is now hitting some of these issues, while the iPhone's App Store is artificially protected by the iPhone not allowing background applications of any kind. But David's arguments hold fast for all phone platforms that want to make it into the future...
For completeness, note that The Phones Show 71 is now online, with a video version of my musings on the Nokia N82 and robustness, plus (from the non-Symbian world) a detailed hands-on review of the HTC Touch HD and why TouchFLO needs to take over or die, plus a walkthrough of web browsing on the Android-powered T-Mobile G1.
Buddycloud, a location aware social networking client with a difference, is now available in native S60 3rd Edition form. The difference is that it's built on open standards, so will chat to anything that talks XMPP, as well as automatically updating your Facebook and Twitter feeds. Location is apparently via a mix of cell towers, Wi-Fi and GPS. Some screenshots are shown below. (Thanks to MIR for the heads-up)
So PC Suite's working OK on your PC at the moment? Better not rock the boat. But in case you fancy doing just that, or if things have got rocky and you think a fresh install might do the trick, note that there's a new non-beta version of Nokia's PC Suite now available, v7.1, with the previously beta Communication Center product built-in. If you do install, let us know how it looks! (via Symbian Guru)
(Nearly) all of the keynotes and presentations made at Symbian's Smartphone Show 2008, over the two days of the event, are now online for you to watch/browse through. There are Powerpoints and/or Flash Video movies (of speaker or slides, as appropriate) and a lot to get through, so allow some time. Or just back fill from the interesting bits that you missed at the Show itself.
