Carnival of the Mobilists #66 – AAS Style

I’m a few days late, but here’s the word that the 66th Carnival of the Mobilists is up over at AllAboutSymbian, and it’s a doozy! Courtesy of Rafe Blanford, there’s nearly 20 entries and he goes through all of them.

Straying away from the typical mobile content, there’s an interesting thought by Farooq Anjum as to whether perhaps a prize competition for improved battery performance would spur some innovation.

Darla Mack asks why she can’t get the IM client from her Cingular branded E62 on her E61, only to find Packetbox, courtesy of me.

Click through to read the rest of the goodies, but be sure to have a fresh cup of coffee and about an hour and a half set aside, this is good stuff.

PacketBox Chat – Use Your Built-In IM Client

**Update** You can now visit Packetbox.com to get signed up. The Beta is officially open once again, so shoot an email to BETA@PacketBox.com. For those worried about privacy and giving out your screenname and passwords, I have been told that they will have a User Control Panel setup by this weekend, and Yahoo! support is coming in the next few days. No word yet on Gtalk.

I have HUGE news. I have been sitting here using the BUILT-IN IM CLIENT on my unbranded 6131 to chat with Olly through WirelessVillage AND Darla Mack through MSN!! That’s right. I found this post on HowardForums for a beta test of a new WirelessVillage service called Packetbox. I PMed the guy and was promptly given a login as well as setup instructions.

It’s a bit clunky to setup right now (cause I’m not used to having a purpose for the built-in IM client) but once setup it’s FULLY integrated in my Nokia phone. It’s in open Beta right now, they’re looking for 300-1000 Beta testers. You also, for now, have to be a member of HowardForums (you should be anyways) and PM Travis your information, including SN and Password for whatever services you want to use with it (currently they support MSN, Yahoo, and AIM, but Gtalk is coming soon) and he’ll get you setup. This will soon be replaced with a web-based control panel for privacy, but for Beta this is it.

I also confirmed that it uses data-only – No SMS, which is great news for we Cingular users. Also, you can use it solely with WiFi, should you so choose.

I can’t say how excited I am about this. Especially with Stephen and Tommi’s recent posts about the contacts list. You now have presence-enhanced contacts on your Nokia phone. Enjoy.

Welcome UIQ To The Symbian Family

It was pointed out to me recently that my blog is titled "Symbian-Guru.com" and yet I focus mainly on S60, which is merely a version (??) of the Symbian OS. There’s also UIQ. So I set out to find myself a UIQ device to play with. I’d never touched one before, and thought it might be fun to see the similarities and differences.

I was recently able to get my hands on a "gently aged" SE P910a, which runs UIQ 2.0 (UIQ is up to 3.0, but I surely couldn’t afford the newer devices, and they don’t have the GSM 850 band, for the most part, and thus would have been useless to me).

I will be doing my best to use this as my primary device for at least the next few days. I am getting another Nokia N73 Music Edition later this week (yes, I’m still desperately hunting for the blue one) and it will be hard to ignore her highness very long. In any case, click through to read up on my initial thoughts/reactions, and check back for updates in the UIQ vs. S60 series.

Nokia’s N95 Launch – A New Way Of Doing Things?

We all know that the N95 has officially started shipping. If you don’t know this, you should read my blog better. However, I’m noticing something completely different about the way that Nokia has handled the N95 all along, and I want to point this out, and see if someone else sees a good thing starting here.

First and foremost, the Nokia N95 launched precisely when they said it was going to. The original press release, found here, states that it will begin shipping during 1Q 2007. Since they started shipping March 22nd, depending on your calendar, they still even had a week to spare. This is HUGE. VERY rarely do phones ship when they are supposed to.

Secondly, the N95 is the first device (that I’m aware of) that has been available FROM Nokia before it hits ebay and the online retailers like Plemix and Hi-Mobile.net. This is important because it tells me that Nokia is taking their own internal distribution paths more seriously. And as a half-point for this one, I have word (and it was mentioned, apparently, at the Evening with S60) that the Nokia Flagship Stores in the US are going to get a batch of N95’s within the next 2-3 weeks. THAT alone says volumes.

Thirdly, look at the pimp kits that bloggers are getting. It’s not just the phone. It’s a 2GB card (that may or may not come with the retail version), a BT headset, a BT keyboard, and some other toys. It’s a whole kit. And you even have cases like Darla Mack, where Nokia specially made an entire N95 JUST for her. That’s HUGE. It tells me that they recognize the people who do the best marketing, and they make sure those people are taken care of.

I just wanted to point all this out and say, Nokia, GOOD JOB. It’s stinkin awesome to see a company improving. And also, hopefully they’ll keep this up. If they can do this with every device, they’ll have a HUGE reaction, that I think will be good. And keep those unbranded units coming to the US. If it’s a few weeks behind, I’m ok with that. It’s an improvement over the past, when we had to wait MONTHS. Granted, it’s not a US model, so to speak, but that’s ok. Get the distribution setup and going strong, then you can justify giving us our own, unbranded model, completely free and clear of the carriers. So once again, Bravo, Nokia, Bravo.

N73 –> N73 ME, kinda

Click to Play

This is a video of me changing the housing of my N73 from white/mocha to black.

Well, I decided to bite the bullet and put the new housing on, without the memory card door. Having that sexy black housing just collecting dust on my desk was too much to bear. As you recall, I ordered the housing from cnn.cn, which deals in OEM housings and whatnot. I received in good time, but it’s missing the L-shaped memory card door. I’ve emailed them a few times, but will just have to use it without one for now.

I’ve finally gotten the chance to edit the video, and cut quite a bit of it out. It should be able to play through the whole thing, now.  A few thoughts, though, before attempting this yourself:
1. I used the walkthrough provided here
2. Instead of credit cards (which obviously didn’t work) I used a VERY thin flathead screwdriver
3. The clips holding the screen bezel are on the sides, and they’re a pain. Be VERY careful, as the bezel is thin metal and can bend/break easily.
4. To pull the motherboard out of the housing, you’ll need to remove the memory card door. I found that twisting it towards the front of the phone and pulling allowed it to slip right out.

N93 and SkyForce

Click to Play

I realize this is old news, TV-Out and all, but my first time to play with it was today, with the Nokia N93 and Sky Force: Reloaded, and it’s the coolest thing I’ve EVER SEEN. Apologies for the quality of the video, as usual. Given that I was USING the N93, the only video equipment I had was the 6131.

Symbian OS v9.5??

This was a fascinating thing to read on AAS.com today: Monday, at CTIA in Orlando, Florida, Symbian will announce version 9.5. You can read the whole press release here.

Highlights Include:

• More efficient memory handling
• Support for LBS and DVB-H
• New Camera Features (tilt sensor, panorama stitch, red-eye reduction, etc)
• UMA, apparently

My question is, WTF? I realize that S60v3 is an overlay of Symbian, right? Like, you have Symbian, and that branches into either UIQ or S60. But alot of what this v9.5 brings is already available in S60v3 FP2. So what gives? Anyone want to explain this a bit more in depth?

1st Annual S60 HoFo Awards

Ollywompus (obviously the creator of "Bored At Work Productions") has tallied the votes in the first annual S60 HoFo Awards over at HowardForums, and both Olly and I took home some great awards. Apparently the polls are closed, but be sure to join HowardForums.com anyways, so that next year you can cast your vote.

Here’s a recap of what we brought home:

Ricky:
Gold Medal for Most Helpful, Most Interesting S60 Blog, Best Reviewer
Silver Medal for Most Likely to Have the E90 First (I don’t know about this one)

Olly:
Bronze Medal for Funniest S60 HoFoer

Honorable mentions to Darla Mack, silver medal for Most Interesting S60 Blog, and Mark Guim and ZeZe for their respective blogs.

Phone Hunt: Blue Nokia N73

I need a new phone. I gave up my Black N73 when I got the N75, which I no longer have. I obtained an N93 temporarily, but unfortunately that device has proven that I do indeed have a requirement for GSM 850 in my devices. I’ve decided for a number of reasons to not pick up an N95 right now, mostly a financial decision. As much as I’d love one, unless it were to magically show up on my doorstep, it’s a no-go.

So I’ve decided to go back to my trusty N73. However, not any ordinary N73 will do. I want the blue one, pictured above. I’m not asking for free (though I would welcome it) I’m merely asking for AVAILABILITY. If ANYONE can get me a blue N73 (THIS blue, not some aftermarket housing), I’ll figure out some cool reward.

If anyone at Nokia can figure out how to get their hands on one, well, you already work there and get cool rewards all the time, so I’ll just buy you a beer or something. In any case, the hunt is on!

**Update**
I’ve managed to dig up some more information. Apparently this Blue N73 is a European release, and is white on the front. So anyone who doesn’t mind going into a Nokia store in Europe, or has contacts at Nokia Europe, any additional help is TREMENDOUSLY appreciated.

***Another Update*** A contact at CTIA right now called to let me know that the Softbank guys were both carrying N73s, one Sand and one my Beautiful Blue. A quick check of their website confirmed the Sand colored one, but no sign of the Blue. At least it seems as though it’s available in Japan. Anyone else got anything?

mIRGGI – IRC Client for S60

I’ve never personally used IRC, nor fully understood why it’s so popular. I understand that it’s chat, plus apparently file sharing? Who cares. In any case, SOMEONE’S prayers have been answered, there is a new freeware app out called mIRGGI.

Here’s a link to download, as well as the Author’s website. If you’re an IRC user, test it out and post in the comments any thoughts.

Middle-Eastern Nokia Ringtone

Darla Mack, among other things, LOVES to browse around in the foreign Nokia.com webpages. Asia, Middle East, Europe, it doesn’t matter. And she is rewarded often with little nuggets. That’s how she found out about her Pink N73, after all.

This time, she found a treasure trove of ringtones, but special ones. Nokia has remixed their signature "Nokia Ring" with a Middle Eastern Flare. I kind of like it, though I despise the Nokia Ringtone (not cause it’s bad, but cause I’ve heard it SOOOOO much). I think the Pakistani one is my favorite. What’s yours?

Via: DarlaMack

X-Plore Updated to Version 1.0

**Update**

According to Symbianv3.com, Xplore is officially NOT freeware anymore. Sucks, looks like we’re back to Y-browser. There’s some things that I’m ok paying for software to do, but file browsing? No thanks. However, according to the comments, the only restriction is that you have to deal with a Splash Screen. Not too bad, but I wonder if future versions will be like that….

**Update**

While everyone is waiting for FExplorer to be available for S60v3 devices, there’s currently SEVERAL different file browsers that are great replacements, freeware, and available for download right now. One such file browser is X-Plore, from LonelyCatGames, the same people who brought you SmartMovie and Profimail. X-Plore is currently freeware, but they’ve mentioned before that it might not always be free.

There’s a few others available, such as Sexplorer and Y-Browser, but I have to say, other than the tacky built-in color schemes, that X-Plore is definitely the best. What are you using on your phone, and what do you think sets it apart?

New S60 Browser To Be Available To Download Soon?

I was already bummed that I missed out on the Evening with S60 event recently held at the Nokia Flagship Store in NYC. I’m even more bummed to know that I missed out on the great conversations that were had. Of note is this snippet from Jonathan Greene’s Atmaspheric | Endeavors blog, who commented on the reasoning behind the Feature Packs requiring new devices, as well as the availability of the new S60 browser as a downloadable installation:

I’m looking forward to the browser release which should arrive within
the next 1 month. Apparently, the user voices have been heard and the
browser will be pulled out from the FP updates so we’ll all be able to
take advantage of the progress that’s been made without having to drop
some serious dough on a new phone — just to take advantage of the
browser…

This is another reason that I love Symbian/S60 so much. They listen to users extensively, and communicate back to us. However, I wonder how they will announce/distribute this download? Will it require a firmware update? Will it erase the existing 2 browsers? Will it be loaded into the Download! app? Will it be released regionally, like everything else seems to be? Will there be a press release? Guess we’ll see in about a month…..

Nokia N99 Slider Patent

This showed up on Gizmodo recently, and Olly brought it to my attention. It’s another new N99, different from Darla’s "find" (;))

Interesting to me that there’s no sign of either end/send keys or softkeys, much less the tell-tale S60 button cluster. Probably cause these are obviously rough sketches, but still. I’m not sure how I feel about that twisty number-pad, either. What about you?

Patent Link

Smartphones Show Ep. 27 – E65 and E61i Reviews

Steve’s at it again, episode 27 of the Smartphones Show (which is filmed entirely on a Nokia N93, by the way) is up and ready to watch. Unfortunately, work has been crazy lately and I haven’t gotten a chance to watch the full thing.

This is honestly a great add to the video RSS feed, if you have one, or if you have a Video iPod or something.