WORDS WOM WORLD

N810, say hello to Android

July 4th, 2008

The Internet Tablet community is literally awash with conversation surrounding the N810, and testing out Google’s Android OS on the Nokia device.

The source of the excitement is this thread over on Internet Tablet Talk which features details and downloads for everything you need to get Android on your IT.

Among many other great posts, Jenn on Pocketables has posted her reactions to the news plus a walk-through guide of the process including nicely illustrative photos.

Jump over to the thread on ITT for the full run down including bugs, possible problems and of course, to leave your comments and questions.


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Posted in: Innovations, Innovations Words, N810, N810 Images, N810 Words


N78 features put to the test

July 4th, 2008

The N78 is still out and about gathering reviews from around the space.

p@sco at jaspp.net has been comparing the N78’s camera to that on the N95 8GB and has published a whole selection of photos taken in different situations to highlight the differences.

Elsewhere, tashedwards89 of Talk About Nseries has been exploring that keypad on the N78, to give an in depth view of how it feels. Tash reckons you can quickly get used to the keypad over a couple of days, and sees the general layout of all keys (including D-Pad etc) as being nicely spaced.

What do you think of the N78’s features? Jump through the links above to leave your comments.


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Posted in: N78, N78 Images, N78 Words


6220 camera workout

July 4th, 2008

Loba from bokutachi no blog has brought us more pictures of, and taken with, the 6220, and the test is in many different conditions.

The first thing of note is the ‘cheap-looking, and probably cheap’ lens cover, which (in this handset) doesn’t fully retract. This causes a problem with the camera programme activating and deactivating when the cover is deployed/retracted. That said, the pictures are decent enough, both indoors and out, but Loba reckons the dark areas are ‘very noisy’. Take a look at the pics and let Loba know if the right settings are being used, and what you would suggest to get things ‘right’.


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Posted in: 6220, 6220 Words


E71 unboxing video

July 4th, 2008

Amir from Phone Rush has posted a video of the moment he unboxes his E71 , a point in time that he has been ‘kind of giddy’ about.

‘Wow’ is his first reaction when he picks it up, saying it is ‘super, super thin’. The back feels ‘amazing’ and he says it fits well in his big hands. The screen looks ‘pretty good’ and the D-Pad is ‘solid’. A tour round the rest of the device reveals all its aspects, and all the external buttons and holes. Amir promises more pictures, videos and thoughts in the coming days, so keep we’ll keep our eyes peeled for those.

So what do you think of the initial ‘out of the box’ experience? Is there anything you’d like Amir to cover in his next post? Jump over and let him know what you want to see.


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Posted in: E71, E71 Words


N82 v. E66 v. G900 Flash test

July 4th, 2008

Norman John from Symbian World happened to have three devices kicking around recently and decided that the best thing to do, given this situation, was test how their camera flashes performed in low light

He gives us three example shots, all taken with all three devices, and the differences are quite remarkable. For close up objects, the xenon flash of the N82 really outperforms the others with their LEDs, with the E66 projecting a strange red colour onto the surface and the G900 simply not showing anything. The third picture, at a distance of about two metres, shows the best differences between the three devices. The G900 isn’t even in the frame, showing virtually nothing. The E66 produced ‘an acceptable result’ but the N82’s xenon wins again, and is ‘perfect’. Norman concludes that the N82 Black is ‘perfect…for bad light conditions’.

Do you agree with Norman’s decision? Have you come across a device with a better camera/flash combination? Head over and let him know what you think.


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Posted in: N82, N82 Words


Nokia devices go on a road trip

July 4th, 2008

Matthew, writing on Darla Mack’s pages, is currently on a family vacation, and is testing several devices on the way.

Using an N95-3 and an N810 as his main ‘computers’ (Matthew has a laptop, but wants to see if the devices can replace it), and an LD-3W GPS unit, he is attempting to navigate his way around the Northwestern US without using a paper map. He is currently deciding which ‘man’ to argue with (we all do it) – the British, the American or the Spanish guy – and the kids are having a giggle at his expense. On the serious side, though, he’s found the Bluetooth LD-3W unit to be less of a battery drain than GPS on the device. He says the guidance has been ‘more helpful than annoying’, so look out for further updates of the family’s adventures.

Have you tried, like Matthew, to survive just using your devices? Have you got any advice on what he should try? Jump over to the site and let him know what you suggest.


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Posted in: N810, N810 Words


N95 + Pictbridge = simple prints

July 3rd, 2008

Stuck for a quick solution to a problem, Steve Litchfield from All About Symbian wasn’t going to roll over and give up. He was sure his encyclopaedic S60 knowledge would provide an answer, and blow us if it didn’t!

The problem – how to explain to the plumbing merchant what part he needed for the loft plumbing. The solution – take a snap using an N95 and use PictBridge to quickly and easily print out a 6×4 to take to show the guy. Instead of fiddling around with Paintshop Pro, Steve just quickly and easily used a USB direct to his printer and within 5 minutes of the flash going off he was holding his print. Showing the phone screen may have worked, but there are some things that just demand a bigger picture than even the N95 screen can show. Simple, quick, and a darn sight easier than looking like a plumbing n00b in the shop.

So what emergency circumstances have you employed PictBridge for? Is there an even easier way that Steve missed? Head over and let him know what you think of his method.


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Posted in: N95, N95 Words


N78 does a ‘great job’

July 3rd, 2008

Over at World of Nokia, Dan Carter has been playing with an N78 and brings us his thoughts on the device in a post that covers just about everything.

Dan starts with the battery, saying that despite bad reports on other Nokia devices, the N78 gave him ‘2-3 days with quite a lot of use’, including the camera and HSDPA. He bemoans the 3.2MP camera with no xenon flash, asking Nokia why they didn’t throw a 5MP unit at this device. He loved the geo-tagging of photos with Ovi, and was a big fan of the built-in GPS (his ‘favorite part’ of the device). Giving the device 4/5 rating, Dan reckons it is perfect for N73 users looking for an upgrade, or for anyone not interested in a 5MP camera.

Have you had a look at the N78? Do you agree with Dan’s comments? What would you do to improve the device, if anything? Get yourself over to his site and let him know what you think.


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Posted in: N78, N78 Words


Nokia MD-4 speakers blow at least one user away

July 3rd, 2008

Mike from Symbian Addict has had his hands on the MD-4 speakers for a few days, and he is ‘diggin em’!

Falling in love with the ‘pocketable’ ‘little guys’, Mike was impressed with the bass-treble balance and has been ‘pumping’ some tunes without any problems. He’s even been using them in the car while his stereo is bust, and also says they are perfect for the park or the beach. Interrupting the sound (for a call or similar) and restarting the music doesn’t result in a blast of music, as the clever fellas fade it back in to the volume at which you were listening. Battery life hasn’t been fully tested, but if it is the 30 hours it purports to be, Mike says he can ‘live with that’.

All in all, then, not a bad set of speakers, but what are your experiences? Are there any tests you’d like to see Mike carry out for his next post? Head over and let him know.


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Posted in: N82, N82 Words


N82 screen brightness fix

July 3rd, 2008

Mike from The Nokia N82 Blog reports on a topic that has lit up Howard Forums and seeks to put right one of the major gripes of N82 owners.

If you’re willing to get down and dirty with your device, Mike reckons this will put the screen on a par with an N95, a state of affairs which many, many users have complained about. Mike pays homage to the fanbase of Nokia for coming up with this fix, and gives a special shout out to Mr. X / p@sco who may or may not have made the video. With links to the video and a walkthrough of the process, Mike provides a great service to those seeking a brighter life.

Have you tried this fix? What do you think? Does it make your N82 the perfect device? Head over and let Mike know if you have had success.


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Posted in: N82, N82 Words


E66 – a ‘real winner’

July 3rd, 2008

My Symbian forum guru mjlaris has spent a couple of weeks in the presence of greatness – in the form of the E66, and brings us an extensive review.

He says the first thing one notices when picking up the device is ‘how good it feels in your hand and how thin it is’. The build quality is apparently ‘excellent’ and it ‘feels very solid’. The email wizard worked ‘perfectly’ and the firmware was ‘very stable’, with the only minor gripe being the battery life (but he was still able to get through a day without charging the device again). As far as the business capabilities go, mjlaris says the E66 ‘excels’ in these areas, and would recommend this device to anyone who didn’t need a QWERTY keyboard.

Mjlaris was obviously keen, but what are your impressions? Is there anything you’d have liked to have seen included that wasn’t? Have you been tripped up by anything unexpected? Jump over and share your experiences in the forum.


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Posted in: E66, E66 Words


E51 unboxing and review

July 3rd, 2008

Norman John from Symbian World has got his E51, and isn’t afraid to show it!

In a review liberally scattered with photos of what’s in the box and the usual ‘every angle possible’ shots, Norman brings us his thoughts on all the aspects of the device. In short, he reckons it’s a ‘perfect mid-tier device’, but expands on each area at length. From ‘pretty good’ first impressions, to having the device in his hands and loving the ‘nobbly’ feel of the stainless steel and plastic combination, via screenshots and a discussion of usage, this really is an exhaustive look at the device, and extremely handy if you’re looking for a new business handset.

Is there anything missing from the E51 that Norman John hasn’t covered? What do you think of the device? Be sure to head over and let him know what you think of his review.


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Posted in: E51, E51 Words


When the N95 met ABC…

July 2nd, 2008

Steve Garfield has been using his N95 to stream live to Qik, and his most recent video is a doozy.

Capturing the time that his Mom was interviewed for ABC News, Steve explains to the crew and presenter that what he’s filming is going out live to the internet and it’s all done through his Nokia N95. Cue completely baffled ‘techies’ and the totally confused-yet-potentially-amazed interviewer. Steve (and his mother) are clearly enjoying the fact that they have baffled the crew, and it’s a victory for Nokia and Qik fans across the planet over satellite trucks!

Well done, Steve. Have you got any examples of your device totally amazing someone? Managed to defeat someone’s logic by using your handset? Go on, brag – it’s allowed – and let Steve know what you did.


Posted by RichardG    Permanent link  Read comments
Posted in: N95, N95 Words


S60 RSS feeds get the hurry up from Resco News

July 2nd, 2008

Are you a fan of RSS feeds on your device? Do you keep track of the world in this way, but get bogged down trying to keep your feeds organised? Well Amir from Mobile Space brings news of an app that may well be your saviour.

Resco News will give you a ‘boosted experience’ according to Amir, and he provides a detailed look at how to get the app set up to your liking. ‘The power of Resco News resides in its ability to organize feeds into both default and user-defined tabs’ as well as categorising, sorting and defining your RSS folders into a ‘mature’ and well-developed app. Amir is clearly a massive fan, going as far as calling the app the ‘most advanced and most user-friendly’ RSS reader he has seen.

Have you discovered Resco News yet? Are you as big a fan as Amir? Get over to his site and let him know your experiences.

In other apps news, Christexaport from Symbian Freak brings us the joyous news that EmTube is back up and running. Rejoice. Now.


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Posted in: N96, N96 Words


S60 devices killed the radio star

July 2nd, 2008

Jaganath Achari from Digital Rover contends that streaming radio – which he listens to on his N95 (other S60 devices are available) – is killing traditional radio.

He reckons the hundreds of internet stations available give a user independence (from being tied to the location of the radio, be it in a room or in a car). He says that 3rd party apps such as Tunin.FM and Spodtronic (the most ‘professional and beautiful looking’ app available) allow the user complete freedom of choice when selecting their station.

Martin from gHacks.net reckons that the WiFi capabilities of many S60 devices nowadays gives users a ‘huge advantage’ over owners of other devices, and highlights an app called HandyWi that alerts the consumer to the proximity of a WiFi hotspot. It differentiates between public WLAN networks, and shows which are secure and which aren’t. It also handily connects the device to the hotspot with the strongest signal, which saves the user from having to try several points before gaining access to email or the internet. Great for the busy user who doesn’t have time to mess around searching for hotspots.

What do you think of these opinions? How have WiFi and streaming radio changed your life? Jump through the links above to share your thoughts.


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Posted in: N95, N95 Words


BH-703 makes The Swarm go weak at the knees

July 2nd, 2008

The Swarm have had the time to compare hands-free headsets, and the Nokia BH-703 fared pretty well.

With its ‘silky futuristic looks’ and ‘tiny form factor’ the headset won them over with its functionality – five hours of ‘crystal-quality talk time’ will do that, we find. ‘Awesome looks paired with solid performance’ – the compliments just keep flowing, especially when it comes to syncing ‘quickly and easily’ with any device they threw at it.

What do you think of the BH-703? Have you tried it under testing and noisy conditions? Hop over to The Swarm and let them know how you got on.

Maybe the guys at The Swarm will now be able to enter Nokia’s Free Your Hands Challenge as posted by mobile diva Darla Mack. Simply make a video of something you’re able to do with your hands due to using a hands-free headset, and you could be jetting round the world.


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Posted in: N82, N82 Words


E51 gets a quick once over

July 2nd, 2008

Jon – on his blog – brings us what he claims to be a ‘quick’ review of the E51, but actually turns out to be a quite extensive look at the handset.

Build quality gets the thumbs up as Jon says it is ‘excellent’, praising the use of stainless steel and saying it ‘surpasses’ high end models like the N95. He says the ‘very slim’ and ‘lightweight’ device doesn’t compromise the ‘toughness’ (as he’s found out by dropping it twice with no dents or scratches). The processor speed and spare RAM means that navigating ‘demanding’ websites ‘isn’t a chore’ and the screen performs well indoors and out. That said, there are a few minor gripes – the camera quality, the 2.5mm headphone jack, FP1, no built-in GPS. Jon’s overall verdict, however, is that the E51 is a ‘very appealing’ device that has been held back from perfection by the minor issues listed above.

Have you managed to get a look at an E51 yet? What do you think? What would you like to see improved? Is it the perfect device for you? Let Jon know by heading over there.


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Posted in: E51, E51 Words


E71 – out of its box

July 2nd, 2008

Mark Guim from The Nokia Blog has got his hands on an E71, and brings us two posts – an initial unboxing and a screen size comparison article.

The pics from the unboxing show what you get in the package, and Mark found no major surprises, but was impressed by the leather carry case, which allows the device to slide into a pocket and still be protected. When he took some photos comparing the screen sizes of three devices, he realised that what on paper appears to be a ‘miniscule’ difference, in practice is actually ‘pretty big’. His photograph of the N95 8GB and the E71 (with a cameo appearance by an American quarter) shows that the screens appear to have the same width, prompting him to wish the N95 8GB had a higher resolution.

What do you think? Have Nokia got the E71 screen right, or should the N95 8GB have better resolution? Is there a happy medium to be found? Jump over and let Mark know what you think.


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Posted in: E71, E71 Words


N78 battery life – a test

July 2nd, 2008

Mike from Symbian Addict has done a test to see just how long the battery on an N78 will go for.

For this test he compared it to an N73, both fully charged, and did a continuous music play to see how many hours each would last. Starting at 10.45 am, the N73 ‘crapped out’ at 7.25 in the evening and the N78 was ‘still kicking’ at 11.05pm. He reckons this was a ‘nice improvement’, but wondered what has happened to the 24 hour music playback time promised by Nokia. This test proves that the battery has improved (see Mike’s first battery test for what a full charge can deliver through normal usage), but is it the battery Nokia users demanded?

What are your thoughts on the subje