Media sharers on Ovi might like to note that there's a whole new Share on Ovi home page, with much more functionality, plus SMS support and a chance to preview a new Share on Ovi Facebook application. Details below.
Our very own Krisse, when not writing for AAS, produces a series of video and text reviews for the independent Nokia Duck site - here's a fresh, beaky look at the Nokia E51 - well written as always!
Vodafone has made available, via widgetvine.mobi, a number of WRT Widgets which have been developed by Vodafone's Group Research and Development department. There are some genuinely useful widgets available such as cinema listings, travel planning and news retreival. Read on for more information and a few screenshots.
Apparently the Nokia 6220 Classic just got a firmware update, to 3.23, with photo processing improvements, Share Online on the standby screen and general bux fixes and speed benefits throughout. Anyone able to try this on Nokia Software Update and report back? (via p@sco)
Well, you hire umpteen Flash programmers, you've got to give them something to do each month.... This new affair has multiple 'video' screens showing reality clips shot on the London Underground, each (vaguely) promoting FIFA 08 and N-Gage in general. Strangely, they're still giving the game away for free! (via Darla)
When the Apple iPhone appeared with its single 'simple' page of app icons, S60's folders of icons were ridiculed by some. As Justin points out here, with iPhones now filling up with page after page of disorganised icons, a system like S60's hierarchical folders is sorely needed. Some fans are now acknowledging the sense in S60's UI after all(!) (via this week's Carnival of the Mobilists)
There's been a blitz of Eseries coverage in the last day or so... Just a sample: PhoneScoop have reviewed the Nokia E71, calling it 'classy, smart and nearly perfect'. Dotsix has been doing a series ofNokia E90 comparisons with a laptop, no less. An engineering firm in Texas is trialling five E71s and initial impressions are that they've 'never seen any mobile device come close to it for speed'. And PDA Essentials magazine have given the E90 the convincing nod ahead of all its competitors (from HTC, Toshiba and Asus) in a big roundup of qwerty smartphones, in issue 78, out today in the UK (and no, I didn't write this one!)
It seems that Nokia Map Loader has 'graduated' from Nokia Beta Labs and has been updated to boot, it's now at v2.0.2 and ensconced on the main Maps page (click on 'Download' etc). I doubt there's more to the new version than bug fixes, but it's still great to see the whole Maps (/Chat/Share online) ecosystem all finally come together. The Flash intro video for Maps isn't that new, but is worth a watch and quite well done for getting the message across.
Nokia are, theoretically, doing their bit for the environment with the release of we:offset, a Carbon footprint calculator, along with a facility to donate an appropriate amount to projects that aim to balance your footprint out. It's a worthy release, although (over on my personal blog) I can't help think it's way too little way too late in the grand scheme of things...
ABI Research are quoting Q2, 2008 phone sales figures (via IntoMobile). On average, growth was around 18%, bucking the worldwide financial situation. 301 million phones were shipped during the quarter, with Nokia selling over 40% , and with Samsung in second place with 15%. Motorola, LG and Sony Ericsson are each around the 9% mark, with Apple estimated around 2% and lumped with other tier two manufacturers into an 'Others' category.
It was fascinating to read Malcolm Lithgow's very detailed real-world head to head between some budget Symbian smartphones, the Nokia 6220 Classic and the Sony Ericsson G700 and G900. Mainly because Malcolm has been (and still is) a big fan of UIQ 3, which gives him a novel perspective on the strengths and weaknesses of the two platforms (and individual devices). Some good points in here, even though most of us would have wanted to see a higher spec S60 device used for the comparison. (via Carnival of the Mobilists 135)
Following our own review of the Nokia 6120 Classic, the folks over at PDA247 have put up a review of the Nokia 6124, essentially the Vodafone version of the same device and listed on pay-as-you-go for only £100. Staggering price, it had to happen one day, although the review also mentions what sounds like a serious overheating problem during 3G calls.
And a big 'Ya Boo Sucks' to those out there that say a smartphone can't also be a semi-pro stills camera. Here's the first N82 Photo Awards selection, following in the footsteps of several awards given to photos taken by the N95...
As you know, I do like a good real world speed test. And Vaibhav has been very thorough in his testing of text entry speeds on the Nokia E71, E90 and N95/N78. Interesting reading, if only to note how close the results are - in most circumstances a good T9/predictive texter will keep up, even against the likes of the qwerty-toting Eseries. Of course, if your texting skills aren't quite so hot....