Guest writer 'Snoyt' takes us expertly through the wonderful world of music compression, to explain how you can get thousands of music tracks on your smartphone, efficiently and in CD quality, using the eAAC+ codec rather than bog standard ol' MP3... Who needs an Apple iPod?
GooSync's beta test for full Contacts sync through to Google Contacts just went live. It's a closed beta, so please don't email me for extra links or privileges. Below, I've tried to illustrate how it all works and some of the implications of syncing with the big G. The beta test, if the Tasks beta was anything to go by, should last a month or so.
The See Into S60 blog at S60.com is currently running a competition which asks you to 'Show your S60 smarts' by recording a video of your favourite application of favourite S60 tip. There are already some great videos showcasing S60 applications and S60 tips; you can view all the entries on the YouTube website. Read on for more.
If you're a retro fan, you'll be pleased to know that Krisse has done a huge update of our feature on emulators for S60 3rd Edition devices (and quite a few of them work on UIQ3 too). If you're hankering after having a Commodore 64, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, MSX, Amstrad CPC, NES, SNES, ColecoVision, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Sega Master System, Game Gear or MAME arcade machine in your pocket... you've come to the right place.
In the second part of our look at Nokia's upcoming N-Gage flagship game, there is further chat with producer Scott Foe and reflections on how Reset Generation's free embeddable web-based version could attract new people to N-Gage, even people who don't currently own a mobile. Oh yes, and we also get to see those legendary Pac-Man biscuits...
Apologies to those who feel we're covering N-Gage a bit much lately, but this is something special: over on All About N-Gage we've put together a video of many brand new screenshots from the bizarre upcoming online strategy game Reset Generation (formerly Project White Rock), along with the game's main theme as a soundtrack. The game is an affectionate parody of gaming history, with every character making fun of someone much more famous. Watch it and see what you think...
CoreCodec just announced the availability of version 1.24 of its CorePlayer Mobile for all platforms including S60 3rd Edition and UIQ 3. The YouTube support might not be interesting for some S60 3rd Edition users but for the UIQ 3 community, it is the icing on the cake because for the first time, FLV videos can be played on UIQ 3 smartphones without conversion. See below for UIQ 3 screenshots, links and comments.
The N-Gage platform has now been officially launched for several weeks, but which phones are people actually using it on? Take part in our survey and let us know which N-Gage-compatible model you use to access the service.
Over on All About N-Gage, we've been putting one of the games of the year, Nokia's first party title Mile High Pinball, through its paces. Those of you who remember the original gen N-Gage version may want to check out the new high res graphics, as there are lots of screenshots. Click here to read Tzer2's in-depth review on AAN and find out how Mile High Pinball did. UPDATE: We've now added a gameplay video at the beginning of the review.
Phone game developers Astraware have released the nautical adventure game Hidden Expedition: Titanic for Symbian S60 3rd Edition and UIQ3 smartphones. You can find out more about the game and purchase it on its official S60v3 page or official UIQ3 page. Naturally we'll be bringing you a review in due course. Astraware also asked us to mention that they're looking for S60 3rd Edition and UIQ3 beta game testers. Click on the headline for screenshots...
Papyrus, everybody's favourite S60 Calendar replacement, has been given a big update after a silence of 8 months. v1.4.01 contains a huge list of changes, so go read. The new version is a free update to registered users, naturally. (via Ricky) Here's our review of Papyrus, although with all the changes it's starting to look a bit outdated!
Over on All About N-Gage, we've been considering what minimum standards N-Gage titles ought to have, from wraparound menus to demos that let you actually try the game properly. Any suggestions of your own?
The official N-Gage site's installation instructions seem to concentrate on installing the N-Gage application using a PC. However, there is a much quicker and simpler alternative which lets you install the N-Gage app directly onto your phone through its web browser. Click on the headline of this news item for more details...
Completely confounding expectations, Reset Generation has at last been unveiled with gameplay screenshots, a hands-on preview of the game itself and details of Nokia's plans for user-created content. Looking absolutely nothing like Pathway To Glory or High Seize, Reset Gen is a sort of mixture of puzzle, strategy and a thick layer of retro, with multi-player online support for up to four people. Perhaps most intriguingly though, the web-based PC version will be absolutely free, and in a form which anyone can embed on their website. PC players will play in the same game world as N-Gage players, so it shouldn't be too hard to find opponents online. (via Skywish on the Official N-Gage Forums)
The Official N-Gage Blog has informed the world that the next gen N-Gage version of Mile High Pinball will be released "over the next 24 hours, or at the latest, by Monday". People who filled in the N-Gage beta testing survey will get the game for free, but they will have to wait until the 12th of May to get their activation codes. Apparently some people were being naughty and filling in the form with complete gibberish, so Nokia are having to check each submitted form manually to make sure it contains real feedback.