Mail for Exchange, Nokia's Microsoft Exchange client for S60 powered Nokia phones, has been upgraded to version 2.7. Updates include support for Exchange Server 2007 Autodiscover (enter your email address and server settings are automatically provisioned), updated mapping of data fields in Contacts and a number of bug fixes. As was recently announced the new version can also now be installed on any Nokia S60 3rd Edition phone.
Today the Nokia Music Store became available in Spain. Nokia is keen to highlight the inclusion of local content in the Music Store. This is especially important in Spain where local music represents 70% of sales (according to Nokia). The Nokia Music Store now has a catalogue of more than 4 million songs; music can be purchased and downloaded either on the PC or mobile device.
Nokia announced today that it is 'renewing its business mobility solutions and strategy'. Nokia will cease developing or marketing its own behind-the-firewall solutions. Rather than offering its own complete end-to-end solutions, Nokia will strengthen strategic partnerships and will form its enterprise offering by combining Nokia devices and applications with software solutions from companies such as IBM, Microsoft and Cisco.
AAS favourite Malcolm Lithgow has produced a handy reference article for anyone new to UIQ 3 smartphones such as the Sony Ericsson G700 and G900, with tips, application pointers and third party recommendations. One to bookmark.
I can't really believe I'm recommending a rival site and video show(!), but Rafe can be seen moonlighting on the Mobile Industry Review show, they captured him chatting about the Samsung i8510 to camera. Look out also for MIR's James raving about the Nokia E71. You can skip past the first 15 minutes of the show which is all about the LG Renoir launch, to which I err... wasn't invited. Go figure.
I can honestly say that this week's Carnival of the Mobilists is the biggest for quite a while, because I've been the one having to sit through all the submissions to compile it. Here's the result, Carnival 143 over at The Phones Show. Happy reading - and don't miss Tomi Ahonen's feature post or Barbara Ballard's conference notes, either are enough to get you through your lunch hour on their own!
Smartphone game publisher Astraware has let us know that they're looking for more S60 owners to take part in their beta testing. Their S60 version of shoot-em-up Platypus had some compatibility snags when it launched recently, so if you want to help fix this kind of thing and get games free in the process head on over to the Astraware beta testing forum to find out more. They also do games for UIQ3 and most other smartphone platforms too so you may want to apply even if you're not an S60 owner.
As reported in other international blogs, the Nokia N96's first firmware update, to v11.018, is now available to the wider world, via Nokia Software Update [at least, it's now live in the UK]. No huge feature changes. As with v11 for the N95 almost 18 months ago, this is just to fix early shipping bugs. Also, thanks to AAS regular James Burland for setting up a N96 Flickr User Group. Worth noting even if you haven't got a device, in order to see the quality of its photos...
AAS member macwhu has started a "Hello N96" blog detailing experiences with a brand new N96 bought on day of release, with a quick look at various features including the BBC iPlayer and a "fat test" against the N95.
Platypus is a quirky side-scrolling shoot 'em up that's done well on other platforms. Astraware has got in touch to say that it's now available for S60 and UIQ smartphones. Screens and description over on the main Platypus product page etc.
Video conversation site Seemsic has released a beta N95 client for the service. It allows you to record and subsequently upload a video to the site either as a new post or as a reply to an existing conversation. The service is free to join (as is Seesmic itself) and you can download it by pointing you N95 at http://m.seesmic.com/.
The Nokia N96 is now in stock on the Finnish electronics website Verkkokauppa.com, with the unlocked SIM-free version retailing for about 600 euros plus taxes. We've also heard from the forums that the N96 is also available in Britain, with the British version preloaded with the BBC's iPlayer and three programmes. Nokia UK's shop does indeed show the N96 as "In Stock - Ready to Ship". Looking at Nokia's other shops, it seems to be in stock in France and Italy, with other countries marking it as coming soon, so this is presumably a continent-wide rollout.
Nokia's next regular Connected Worlds event in Second Life will be held on Sept 25th, at 11am Second Life time (so 7pm for UK readers). The focuses this time around will be on Virtual Communities, with five of the top communities in Second Life joining the attendees in the Wulfenbach airship, which is conveniently moored to Nokia's Island.
Greenpeace has released the 9th Edition of its 'Guide to Greener Electronics'. The latest edition sees Nokia reclaim its number one ranking with a score of 7 out of 10. It leads ahead of Samsung on 5.7, Sony Ericsson on 5.3 and Motorola on 3.7. Greenpeace says Nokia's improved ranking is largely down to improved take-back practices in India.
NeuroSky has demonstrated, in the USA, using a Bluetooth mind sensor to control software on a Nokia N95 8GB, by detecting changes in brain wave patterns. Game interaction has been shown to be possible, too. (via The Earth Times)
