All About Symbian - - N-Gage News

People Made - Nokia exhibition at London Design Museum

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:56:24 GMT

A free exhibition is currently running at the London Design Museum (28 Shad Thames, London SE1), entitled, 'People Made - Nokia products that changed the world' and tells the 'inside story of Nokia - past, present and future'. The exhibition is free to enter, but is only running from October 28th to November 2nd, leaving you three days to go along and take a look.

The (almost) complete N-Gage game collection

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:29:01 GMT

This will either be a complete blast from the past or a glimpse into a world you never knew existed, but.... Nokia had a complete multimedia-accelerated game scene going on back in the early 2000s under the name N-Gage (no, not the software re-invention, we're talking plug-in MMC games on dedicated S60 hardware) and Martin from Retro Game Tech has been putting up occasional videos showing this growing collection of N-Gage's illustrious past. The latest is shown below. Thanks to Jay for the heads-up.

Symbian's Five Forgotten Form Factors

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 22:17:00 GMT

Maybe I'm turning into a sentimental old codger, but despite Nokia's efforts with the recent E7 (and N97 before it), the majority of modern smartphones are turning into either large screened tablets or tiny-screened thumb qwerty affairs, with a side branch of low end numeric key-driven devices, effectively for the feature phone market. It occurs to me that five of the very best form factors of the last decade, all of which debuted on Symbian, have been (sadly) forgotten, despite their proven advantages. A quirk of providence? Or negligence on behalf of the manufacturers? Here are the form factors which I'd like to see revived, with modern software and services on-board.

The history of Snakes is the history of Nokia

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 10:50:07 GMT

Over on the Nokia Conversations blog, they’ve looked at the history of their “Snake” game. Right from the first bundled version on the Nokia 6110 handset through to Vanixon’s Snake game on the Ovi Store. It’s a nice article that I suspect gets to where the author wanted (i.e. let’s link to a game on the Store) but really does show just how much Nokia’s eye is no longer on the Snake. When you look closer, the winding path of the snake seems to follow Nokia's smartphone strategy.

Let�s be cool... or what Nokia could do next

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:45:21 GMT

In all the talk of user interfaces, promises, updated software and hardware, there is one other area that Nokia need to look at. Making the Nokia name one that everyone is the world is happy to be associated with. How can they do that? Here are some thoughts.

Video: Tour of Nokia's Experience Lounge

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:06:00 GMT

During a recent visit to Nokia's Espoo (Helsinki) offices, I had the opportunity to look round Nokia's Experience Lounge, which showcases all of Nokia's latest products and services - from Ovi Maps and Nokia Messaging to the latest Nokia handsets. As an additional bonus, tucked away in one corner of the room, is a set of shelves that contain one of almost every Nokia phone model ever produced. So how to share this with loyal readers? Film a walkabout of course!

Phones Show Chat 25 and 24

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:55:41 GMT

Forgive the plug, but I haven't mentioned Phones Show Chat for a few weeks - audio podcasts 24 and 25 are now online for your listening pleasure - around an hour each of myself and Tim Salmon of this parish wittering about Symbian, Maemo and Android smartphones, answering Q&A, and so on. Here's the RSS feed for you to plug into Podcasting, to subscribe, if you haven't done so already 8-)

What will Nokia learn from the Failure of N-Gage?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:24:30 GMT

Two weeks after Nokia announced that their N-Gage system was to be closed and the titles merged into Ovi Store, N-Gage old-hand Ewan delivers his verdict, looking at what Nokia did wrong, from support to marketing to community. More worryingly, Ewan also worries that similar errors might be being made with Nokia's other Software and Services.

Potentially faulty Nokia AC chargers to be replaced for free

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:07:34 GMT

Nokia have announced a product recall of around 14 million AC chargers for their phones. The products affected are the AC-3E, AC-3U and AC-4U models, built within a certain time-frame. The potential fault would see the plastic casing working loose and separating, exposing potentially live wiring inside. Full details on the affected units and how to obtain a free replacement can be found at chargerexchange.nokia.com.

What will Nokia learn from the Failure of N-Gage?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:23:31 GMT

AAS Insight 93 - SEE 2009, Q3 Canalys, N-Gage

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:13:08 GMT

In All About Symbian Insight 93 (AAS Podcast 157) we discuss the Q3 smartphone figures from Canalys and Rafe explains that Fujitsu and Quic have joined the board of the Symbian Foundation. We move on to a retrospective of SEE 2009 with discussion of the media reaction (which send Rafe into rant mode). We finish with thoughts on N97 PR 2.0 and the closure of N-Gage (sniff). You can listen to AAS Insight 93 here or, if you wish to subscribe, here's the RSS feed.

Powerboat Challenge sums up N-Gage

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:12:18 GMT

And so the final N-Gage game slips out the harbour. Perhaps Nokia were hoping for a quiet maiden voyage for Powerboat Challenge? Whoops. Despite a solid game structure and good enough graphics, this title just - in Ewan's words - isn't fun. Read the illustrated review here on Ovi Gaming.

An Obituary for the N-Gage

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:57:09 GMT

With the announcement that Nokia are closing the N-Gage service, Ewan has been looking back at the troubled gaming strategy from Finland, from its launch in 2003 to today's ticket to Dignitas in an Obituary for the Nokia N-Gage (2003-2009). We'll pass on any messages of condolence to Finland you may wish to leave.

N-Gage 2003-2009: An Obituary

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:32:24 GMT

Ewan looks back at the life of Nokia's original software and service platform... the N-Gage.

Review: Mega Monsters for N-Gage

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:46:10 GMT

Hulk smash!!! Or in this case a giant panda, as Ewan takes a look at the B-movie-inspired Mega Monsters from Nokia on N-Gage. It's a stomping, rip-roaring rampage through the city, either against miniature opponents or against these plus the clock/another online opponent. And it all hangs together rather well, rounding off what has been a relatively good week for N-Gage.

Review: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 for N-Gage

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:35:48 GMT

Electronic Arts PGA Tour series of golf games dates back to 1990 - which should give this latest mobile incarnation some pedigree in terms of gameplay. But how well does it all work on the phone, how much (or how little) has been done for the official N-Gage incarnation, and how does it compare both to the Java version and to the established Pro Series Golf for N-Gage? Find out in my Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 review here on AAS's Ovi Gaming.

N-Gage games catalog exceeds bounds

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:26:32 GMT

At first I thought it was just me. But all week, trying to view the N-Gage 'All games' catalog in the on-device client has resulted in an error message 'Out of internal memory. Close some applications and try again (Error -4)'. Not terribly helpful, especially on an (e.g.) N96 with 80MB of free RAM and now verified on numerous other devices. What's clearly happened is that adding the latest game to the online catalog has broken some internal limit within the client ("How many games shall we allow for in our array? Pick a number..."), but it's a crying shame that such an error has been allowed to exist for so long, especially around the launch dates of three new titles.

Dirk Dagger and the Nuclear Zeppelin reviewed

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:28:37 GMT

In the best traditions of the swinging 1940's hero with a Fedora, Dirk Dagger is back on the N-Gage in “Dirk Dagger and the Nuclear Zeppelin.” Ewan reviews this over on our OviGaming.com and concludes that, while 'on rails', it still provides quality entertainment for casual gamers.

Ducati Moto reviewed

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:22:52 GMT

Ewan revs up his bike and roars out onto the circuits of Ducati Moto, the latest N-Gage title. Unfortunately, despite largely competent graphics and a full complement of features, the gameplay's way too easy, the bike handling is on rails and there are graphical glitches. Which is, yet again, a shame for N-Gage. Over on Ovi Gaming, Ewan wonders if anyone actually play-tested the title and I have to agree.

Who is steering the SS N-Gage towards the iceberg?

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:58:49 GMT

Over on OviGaming.com, Ewan feels his doubts about Nokia's N-Gage games platform starting to emerge once again. Can N-Gage stay off the iceberg? Read Ewan's say and then have yours in the OviGaming story comments!