Nokia announced the 6680 and 6681 Series 60 (version 2) devices today, focusin them on the differing needs of European and American markets. While the 6680 features 3G heavily (with a second VGA front mounted camera for video calls), the 6681 uses EDGE and has Nokia's Push to Talk solution installed, but only the megapixel camera on the rear. Both have all the standard Series 60 features, but there is a variant of the the 6680 (the 6680 Music Phone) which will include the recently announced Windows Medai and Loudeyes powered music store. Full specs on all models to follow.
Series 60 Version 3 is the big software news from the Series 60 Press Conference today in Cannes at 3GSM. Taking advantage of the enhanced features of Symbian OS 9.1 (announced eary Feb 2005), it promises to bring Series 60 to the mass volume market and push up into the high specification phones though the new scalable UI and hi resolution screen support.
18mm thick, Support for miniSD, 1.3 megapixel camera with 8x Digital Zoom, charging over USB sync cable, triband support... meet the Sendo X2. At only 95 gramms, and only 85 cubic centimetres, we're talking small, powerful, and desirable. It plays heavily into the hands of the audiophile with both MP3, AAC and AAC+ audio file support. The Sendo Now! screen (still with exclamation mark) makes the phone just as desirable to networks as well, with its customisation possibilities. Luckily Rafe and Ewan are meeting the Management of Sendo later today, so if we can distract them long enough, we'll bring one home with us. Full specs and pictures can be found on the Sendo X2 Device page. ClarificationThe X2 runs Series 60, v1.2, using Symbian OS 6.1.
The Zi Corporation have announced Qix, a new application interface system. It allows quick access to information from the idle screen. The software interprets the keys pressed and based on that will bring up various information. The system is highly configurable. One example of use woudl be interpreting the keys as letters in a contact's name. The software will bring up a list of possible matching contacts. Unlike similar systems it is not limited to contacts - it can interface with, phonebook contacts, browser bookmarks, installed applications, operator customized services, help files and more
Endgadget Reports on the latest FCC document from Nokia, with the interesting note that 'The compliance statement can be seen in the User Guide…because the size of handportable…and it’s identification label are so small that the compliance statement cannot be printed visible enough.' There's a diagram as well, and the sim card slot is enough to realise that Series 60 is about to get a very small footprint device.
Congratualtions to Chinasoft Mobile, Mobile Digital Media, Scalado, Bit-Side GMBH and Key Technology Italy, who are all winners in the Series 60 Awards held in Nice on Saturday 12th Feb.
Nokia and Macromedia have announced that Nokia is to integrate Macromedia Flash into Series 60. This will intially be in the form of the Flash Lite player (currently available to buy via the Macromedia website). Nokia and Macromedia will work together to create tools for content creation for their respective developer auidence. It is likely that future Series 60 handsets will have Flash Lite bundled in the same way that Real Player is currently included.
Earth Explorer lets you look anywhere in the world. Pop over to Wildpalm's Earth Explorer page. Grab the avi video, download the app, and decide where you want to throw down your imaginary Hot Hail...
Ever wondered how Steve Litchfield knows where he's going? Well now the secret is out. He's been reviewing Route 66's Mobile Britian, the GPS included navigation software for Series 60. Could it be as good as an Army Officer with a Map? Or is it genuinly useful?
Domi Hugo has updated teh every popular FEXplorer File Manager utility to version 1.12. Probably the most useful addition is being able to navigate directly the files in the Messaging Inbox.
Siemens are rapidly approaching the point where they are going to shut down their Mobile Phone division (reports The Register). Unless a buyer can be found in the very near future (before the AGM on Jan 27th), or at the very least a partner with investment, there'll be no more Siemens phones. The division lost 140 million Euros in Q4 2004
Nokais Series60.com website have announced the finalists of the "Series 60 Challenge," a competition to help find the leading applications for the Series 60 platforms. The awards ceremony will be held in Nice, just before 3GSM.
Via those excellent virus trackers at F-Secure comes news of another Series 60 virus. This one has is a bit different since it actually modifys SIS files on your phone. Thus gving another infection route (when you send a friend the SIS file). It also has the usual spread by Bluetooth infection route too. Forunately there are, as yet, no reports of this in the wild.
eDictionary Reader allows you to open various dictionary files from PPCLink. The dictionary engine features unicode support and related word hyperlinks.
QuodRings is an Ogg music player with a twist. It allows you to use your music files as ringtones. You can set general ringtones as well as well as custom tones for individuals in your address book. The program currently supports only ogg vorbis files, but it does have an extensible plug in architecture which will allow more formats to be added in the future.
