Download! for PC now available via Nokia Beta Labs

Published by Rafe Blandford at 11:26 BST, September 3rd 2007

A beta version of the new Download! for PC is now available via the Nokia Beta Labs website. Download! for PC allows you to easily download pre-selected content and copy it to your phone adding either a new look (themes, ringtones and wallpaper) or new applications and games. The PC version offers a way to reduce costs and to speed up download times.

In order to use Download ! for PC you need to install both the PC version and a beta version to your device (even if you already have Download! on your device). The PC and mobile version integrate with each other so that you can see what has been installed from either version. Once installed Download! shows up as an extra module in PC Suite.

Incidentally the beta gives those who do now have Download! on their phone a chance to install it. A number of operators, rather short sightedly, remove the Download! client in their custom firmware versions as they see it as competition to their own offerings. 

The content available in the PC version is the same as that found in the mobile version. The available content varies by market and by device.

The software is broken down into several categories:

• Home which showcases content chosen by Nokia. Content in this section is usually either free or has a time limited trial. It includes content from Nokia itself and select third parties. Content included extra applications, themes and ring tones.
  
  
• Catalogs houses content from third party commercial content providers. These include Jamster (ringtones), THQ Wireless (games), Shockwave Minis (Flash Lite content), EA Sports (games) and Sony Pictures (games, music, videos).
  
  
• Guides and Manuals makes the relevant manuals for your devices available for download in PDF format.
  
  
• My Downloads is the the file manager component which lets you manage the content you have downloaded and copy it to your device.
  
  
• My Nokia is a shortcut to the Nokia support web site.
  

The My Download Panel shown here allows you to manage the content you have downloaded and copy it to your device. Since the PC version of Download! is integrated with the mobile version content installed via the PC version will also appear as installed in the mobile version.

The software has been tested with the Nokia 6120 and 6110. It may work with other S60 phones. I was able to use a 6110, but it did not work with an N95. Bear in mind this software is still in the Beta Labs.

The software does have some bugs and the graphical interface and user interface need to be improved. However it is early days and the software show a lot of promise. 

Download! should help encourage users to download and install third party content. A PC version of Download! makes a lot of sense given that the majority of people do not have flat rate data packages. Moreover simultaneous downloads are supported and are generally faster than in the mobile version. Of course it is also possible to show more information on the screen at one time. Hopefully future versions of the tool will include more discovery features.

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Categories: Software, Developer, Editorial Thoughts
Platforms: S60 3rd Edition

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