While every single mobile blogger or mobile user has bought or is considering buying or wishes he could buy the N95 (or the E90 for some other), my eyes are set on a different device: the new Nokia 5700.
Announced yesterday, the Nokia 5700 XpressMusic is, according to Nokia, "adding a new twist to mobile music"
The N5700 is also augmented by a dedicated audio chip for enhanced music performance [...] and features an iconic twist design that easily switches between four modes at the flick of the wrist - music player, 2 Megapixel camera, video call and smartphone. [also] featuring 3G dataspeeds, the Nokia 5700 XpressMusic is expected to retail for an estimated EUR 350 before taxes and subsidies during the second quarter of 2007.
The reason I am drooling over the 5700 is that has all the features I was lacking in my 3250: InfraRed, Flash for the cam, supported album art, S60 3rd FP1 and a more girly design, although I'm not that fond of girly designs.
So you all know, by now, that I have a thing for twisters. The thing I liked about the twist design is that it adds lots of buttons (music dedicated ones) without making the phone a slider or a fold device, hence without making it bigger when open, and while leaving the numberpad always at hand (except when the phone is in music mode). The other advantage for twisters is the side cam, allowing you to take hundreds of pics, unnoticed.
The one thing I am overwhelmed about with the release of the 5700, is the answer to a question i was asking myself before: is the 3250 a one-time try or will the twist become a standard phone model, like the slider and the fold model? Apparently, the answer is yes. I can't wait to see this Twist put in use in an Eseries or Nseries phone.
I was just forwarded this post by lonelybob on vox: Third Party GPS Applications on N95. According to Bob's review, both MGMaps and ShoZu, which are third party applications are able to access the built-in GPS receiver in the N95. MGMaps is a Java app basically like Google maps, and has a database frequently uploaded. ShoZu is, well everyone knows what Shozu is, but for those who don't, it's a service similar to Flickr - meaning it allows you to upload photos and videos from your phone.
What we may take from that is that the basic question every N95 fan was asking himself "Does the built-in GPS receiver work with third party applications?" has been answered, and good enough, the answer is positive.
Hopefully, other GPS relying-on applications will release a version update that supports the N95 receiver. We don't have to wait that much for that, I believe.
I found this via symbian-guru, a post called: Biometric Fingerprint Recognition on your S60 - Coming Soon.
According to Symbian-Freak, ClassifEye's Secure Biometric Solution has joined the Symbian Platinum Program to develop their solution for Symbian devices [...] Yeah, that means it's a downloadable app to use the camera lens on your S60 to read your fingerprint for things from usernames and passwords to undoing a device lockdown to mobile banking. This is the stuff that power users like to see. And did I point out that you will be able to download it right to your existing phone? No buying a new phone just to get that extra ounce of security. MAD PROPS for that, ClassifEye.
Now that's a nice implementation for s60... Make use of the platform people, it can perform sooo much! Security via fingerprint, on your own device, just an app download, that's HUGE!
Browsing through engadget, you can always find posts that make you think, discuss, smile, dream, and even sometimes you can find a post that will make you scream in surprise or amusement. This is one of them: XM patents multi-finger touchscreen. XM is a satellite radio device and the multifinger touchscreen is explained in the blog like this:
"The patent, which was filed in June '05 and published this last December, describes "context sensitive data input using finger or fingerprint recognition." Basically, instead of having to look at the device and punch the correct part of the screen with your finger, the screen can tell which finger you're tapping it with, and perform an operation based on whatever finger you're using.As illustrated above -- we use the term "illustrated" loosely here, it looks like the picture was drawn by a blind man using his feet -- the thumb could automatically mute the device, while other fingers coud be set to preset channels or to menu shortcuts. We're not super clear on the actual method of finger recognition, or if there is one as of yet, but the system will supposedly be able to work with multiple users, each with unique fingerprints and particular shortcut setups. Naturally, no word on when this might hit devices."
Looking back at the way mobile technology was in 2000, i'm more than stunned. This patent is just a way of proving how things have evolved and a glimpse at what mobile and portable technology would be like in a couple of years. I guess I wouldn't be crazy to think that XM will have many many phone calls raining from all PDA manufacturers looking for a long-term collaboration.
I am definitely adding this multifinger touchscreen feature to my device wishlist. Oh, I haven't explained this before but usually, having to function on a low-budget because I'm still a non-productive pharmacy student, I sort of make a list of what features a device should have in order for me to buy it. Having bought the 3250, my next must-have features list is: 7MP cam (with great, clear night mode digi-cam like, great video capabilities), 10GB internal memory (with memory card support), 400MHz CPU speed while still having 3250-like battery life, integrated GPS, 3G WiFi Bluetooth AND Infrared, Symbian operating system, pda-like touchscreen (size matters), QWERTY keyboard (preferably with an ordinary 12-key keypad), dedicated music keys (also function as cam keys), tv-out, 3.5mm headphone jack... I don't know if I forgot something, but that's basically it.
Now you can add to that the multifinger touchscreen and the windows mobile and palm OS patches. I don't know much about developping, but it seems possible that there would be a program or an integrated patch that would permit the symbian system to run ordinary palm OS files or windows mobiles ones.
Now, you may think that's a crazy demand, but believe it or not, in 2 - 3 years, most of these specs will be normally implemented in mobiles. Just think that in 2003, color screens were a luxury in mobiles.
So until a phone comes out with at least the first list of specs, I am NOT buying anything. It's either a major change, either nothing. I won't waste my money on some minor feature modifications.
I've seen this device through engadgetmobile, and just when I thought that the nokia 3250 was the craziest functionning and popular mobile design ever made, I changed my conception of both words: crazy and popular.
The Samsung UpStage device, also called m620 is a 9.4mm thick bar and presents a dual face phone with one face presenting a QVGA screen and touch sensitive music controls (mp3 aac wma), while the other is a typical phone interface with a smaller screen. The switch between both screens is easy through a side button. The phone also holds stereo Bluetooth, built-in speakers with strong audio capabilities, microSD expansion and 1.3MP cam. Read more about it on gizmodo (the name was still UltraMusic back then). It's rumored to be priced at 299.99$.
With these specs around, I suspect the phone will be more than just popular, not only amongst teens like it may sound like because of it's trendiness, but also among many, and i mean MANY, average phone users (people who think phones are just used to call, sms, take pics and send them via bluetooth) especially here in Lebanon. My predictions: this will be HUGE here, like the RAZR though I still can't understand the fuss about it. I am guessing, one or two months after its release, 1 out of 5 people I will cross will be having this phone in their hands.
Well, all things being said, I would never give up a symbian phone to get a Samsung or a Motorolla. Still, it's good to see how creative phone manufacturers are becoming.
I can imagine a double-sided dream mobile: symbian phone on one side and touchscreen windows mobile on the other... Guess that's faaaaaaaaaaar from becoming true.
First saw it yesterday on Symbian Guru then today on Darla Mack's blog... this N99 makes me drool.
Being a sceptic person, when Darla first announced an N99 quite a long time ago, I thought this was myth. But now, reading the *patent jargon* in the US patent of this said-to-be N99, I find that Nokia really worked their ass off with this design.
With 3 major elements this mobile device has a large screen and and a QWERTY keyboard but also holds a game unit, clearly noted in the 20th article of the patent claim, and a game controller keypad in the QWERTY keyboard part (17th article).
Unlike the guru who seems to be reluctant towards the swiveling keypad part (the number part), I kinda like it. Sort of imaginative and smart. Having bought the 3250, you understand that I have a thing for swivels and rotations :p
But still, I don't see how this device would have an 8MP cam and a 16GB internal memory, like Darla says in her post. The way I see things, this device won't be up for sale before a year or so. I don't think Nokia want to kill their blockbuster N95. If a device was to be released immediately after the N95 and the E90 (since this so-said N99 seems to be a mix of both) I think it would either be slightly better than the named devices in many categories either REALLY better in one category. Hence, I don't see how it would have the small size of the N95, the big screen of the E90 and the N95, plus a game unit function, and still have an 8MP cam and 16GB internal memory... Now that's basically impossible. And somehow stupid. What would Nokia sell after making something like this? No really?
My thoughts on the subject: it should be an E series phone, not N series with a 5MP cam (good optics and great night mode) with ordinary internal memory (160MB like the N95) or a maximum of 8GBs (like the N91) although I doubt that.
One note though, that no one seems to have noticed: the screen part doesn't have any buttons. Now call me crazy, but is there a chance this device would have a touch screen? Seeing the joystick and the soft buttons on the number pad, I can't help but think: DID NOKIA DO IT? Did they finally decide to get into the touchscreen market? Now lemme explain my point of view:
- if the device wasn't touchscreen, how would u use it in the closed position mode? ha? Do you just look at it? Then you need to swivel the number pad or slide the keyboard in order to use the basic functions? That's plain stupid! If you look at all Nokia S603rd phones, you see they have a minimum of 7 buttons + a joystick/5-way key on their main unit.
- if the device had buttons on the main screen part but Nokia didn't mention them, then why did they draw the ones on the number pad? What's the point in having twice the same buttons?
- i guess Nokia's point is to have a touchscreen phone that's also usable as a normal phone, like when on-the-go, it's hard to reach for the pen and use it without dropping it. That's why the number pad is there. If it wasn't for that, it wouldn't exist in the first place.
So what if this N99 was a touchscreen? Honestly, this is the only feature Nokia devices lacked, in my point of view.
Now if the rumors about it are true and it is a 16GB phone (i don't care if it's 5MP or 8MP), i will definitely buy it.
Ah.... *dreaming about the so-said N99*
I'm still under the shock of the salesman's answer when I asked him about the price of the N95...
Still ringing in my ear...
1800$
I wonder, with this price, shouldn't it come with a diamond necklace?
Ever found yourself browsing through application manager with a dozen .sis application that look like this?
Well, I have. And apparently many other people have too. These 200002b3.sis and 200012ff.sis and others files don't get deleted with the "c" button, and if you press options, you can't install them nor do any other thing.
Well, these files are, most of the time, remnants of applications you have installed then uninstalled (or you have on another memory card), so, deleting them won't do your phone any harm.
These .sis files can be found in E (memory card) :/ private / 10202dce.
You can either access this folder by using the traditionnal method (memory card reader / usb cable on data transfer mode, with the pc set to show hidden files and folders) OR you can access it directly on the phone using the file manager find trick explained previously in the Trick: Uninstalling themes right from your phone post. After finding the private folder, follow the path written above, and you'll find those .sis files, select and delete them. There you are.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT .SIS FILE NAME (THEY ALL LOOK ALIKE) BEFORE DELETING ANYTHING.
Trust me, if you delete the right files, nothing will go wrong on your phone. And this is how app manager will look like after cleaning up the mess :
Previously I have detailed how to access the themes folders using the computer and how to delete an unwanted theme.
Using a trick provided by lipkiss over @ the imserba forum (http://www.imserba.com/forum/showthread.php?t=80947), you can now delete the themes right from your phone, ain't that just amazing?
How to?
1 - Using a memory card reader OR connecting your phone to the pc with data transfer mode, open the memory card folder.
2 - Set your pc to show hidden files and folders, you will see the private folder.
3 - Right click on it and uncheck the Hidden and Read-Only attributes
4 - The pc asks if you want to make these changes for the folder and its sub-files and folders, say YES
5 - Remove your mem card and put it back in the phone OR remove you usb cable (according to which connection method you used in step 1)
These first 5 steps have to be made ONLY ONE TIME.
6 - Using the phone, open File Manager
7 - Select Options > Find > Memory Card > and then type private in the Find Text field, and click Find
8 - Despite the fact that the private folder doesn't show up normally in file manager, it will show up with the FIND trick
9 - Now click on the private folder and go to the 10207114 subfolder
10 - Open it then open Import and there you will see the different themes folders.
11 - Remember each folder is specific for one theme. You can open the folder in order to see which theme it refers to, and then click on Back and delete the whole folder.
12 - Hope that makes your life easier.
Following the MODIFYING JAVA ICONS trick, I have found out that renaming javas is very easy, even before installing the app/game.
All you have to do is open the .jar file using WinRAR, open the MANIFEST.MF file in Notepad, then see these two lines:
MIDlet-Name: applicationname
MIDlet-1: applicationname, iconfilename, ...
By changing the application name on both of these 2 code lines, and saving the .jar file and then installing it on your phone, you will have successfully changed your app / game name, even before having it installed!
Enjoy!
P.S: for more details on how to, refer to my previous post Trick: Modifying Icons - JAVA
