All About Symbian - S60 News

How to: use eAAC+ to put FAR more music on your smartphone

Thu, 15 May 2008 16:58:32 +0100

Guest writer 'Snoyt' takes us expertly through the wonderful world of music compression, to explain how you can get thousands of music tracks on your smartphone, efficiently and in CD quality, using the eAAC+ codec rather than bog standard ol' MP3... Who needs an Apple iPod?

Smartphone sync to Google Contacts now a reality

Thu, 15 May 2008 09:59:18 +0100

GooSync's beta test for full Contacts sync through to Google Contacts just went live. It's a closed beta, so please don't email me for extra links or privileges. Below, I've tried to illustrate how it all works and some of the implications of syncing with the big G. The beta test, if the Tasks beta was anything to go by, should last a month or so.

Show your S60 smarts and S60 Walkies

Thu, 15 May 2008 09:49:07 +0100

The See Into S60 blog at S60.com is currently running a competition which asks you to 'Show your S60 smarts' by recording a video of your favourite application of favourite S60 tip. There are already some great videos showcasing S60 applications and S60 tips; you can view all the entries on the YouTube website. Read on for more.

Classic computer and console emulators for your S60 3rd Edition

Wed, 14 May 2008 16:47:59 +0100

If you're a retro fan, you'll be pleased to know that Krisse has done a huge update of our feature on emulators for S60 3rd Edition devices (and quite a few of them work on UIQ3 too). If you're hankering after having a Commodore 64, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, MSX, Amstrad CPC, NES, SNES, ColecoVision, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Sega Master System, Game Gear or MAME arcade machine in your pocket... you've come to the right place.

Music Monster - the Samsung i450

Wed, 14 May 2008 11:41:25 +0100

In the second part of his review of the Samsung i450, Ewan explores the music functionality of this unashamedly music-focussed smartphone. How do the dual slide and rubber music 'arc' work out in practice? And what about the fancy Bang and Olufsen '3D' equalisation electronics?

Reset Generation: The ultimate viral game?

Tue, 13 May 2008 15:15:54 +0100

In the second part of our look at Nokia's upcoming N-Gage flagship game, there is further chat with producer Scott Foe and reflections on how Reset Generation's free embeddable web-based version could attract new people to N-Gage, even people who don't currently own a mobile. Oh yes, and we also get to see those legendary Pac-Man biscuits...

Nokia Music PC Client in beta

Tue, 13 May 2008 14:47:27 +0100

Nokia Music PC Client is now available in early beta form from the Nokia Beta Labs website. The application is designed to help you manage your music collection on your PC and then transfer it your mobile device. The software has been designed with mobile users in mind and includes the ability to directly rip a CD to a mobile device, to easily sideload music from a PC and to use bi-directional playlists and music sync.

SMSTextNews Looks at Nokia's Music Store

Tue, 13 May 2008 09:49:45 +0100

Ben Smith at SMSTextNews continues his long-term look at the Ovi components, and now turns his attention to the Nokia Music Store. His overall grade of a ‘C-‘ reflects his view that the service is “good enough as a default” but he wonders what positive impact the ‘Comes with Music’ package will have in the future.

How to: Make more from your smartphone snaps

Tue, 13 May 2008 08:49:48 +0100

In a tutorial for beginners, and with plenty of real world examples, I look at some practical photo-taking tips for your multi-megapixel smartphone when conditions are less than perfect... and I explain that adjusting the photo later in software is cheating - but often helps a lot!

The Nokia N81 8GB - second opinion

Tue, 13 May 2008 07:06:31 +0100

Sometimes... just sometimes... Krisse gets to play with review hardware too. In this case there's a review, complete with video, of the Nokia N81 8GB over on Krisse's personal blog, Nokia Duck. It's fair to say that the verdict is mixed and that the price was felt to be far too high, for the spec involved. The duck? Apparently it says 'Quack'. So as expected there, then...

Nokia announce Maps on Ovi

Tue, 13 May 2008 06:19:11 +0100

Yesterday at Where 2.0, Nokia announced Maps on Ovi, a Web component designed to to complement Nokia Maps 2.0. As part of the Ovi brand, Maps on Ovi will allow users to plan their trips on their desktop and then synchronize (automatically or manually) it with their smartphones. Conversely, if you're already out on the road, you can record routes and points of interest on your handset and then upload them to the Ovi service when you return home to share with family and friends. More details and a screenshot below. Comments welcome!

Ovi Share Gets Geotagging

Mon, 12 May 2008 19:07:18 +0100

Nokia's Ovi Share just acquired geotagging! From now on, any new images that are uploaded will get their EXIF data checked for location information. As you can see if you read below the break, this means that images can be automatically addressed and mapped. This brings Ovi Share into the same ballgame as Flickr and Picasa Web. Comments welcome on what's needed next in Ovi Share.

Reset Generation slideshow video

Mon, 12 May 2008 11:56:45 +0100

Apologies to those who feel we're covering N-Gage a bit much lately, but this is something special: over on All About N-Gage we've put together a video of many brand new screenshots from the bizarre upcoming online strategy game Reset Generation (formerly Project White Rock), along with the game's main theme as a soundtrack. The game is an affectionate parody of gaming history, with every character making fun of someone much more famous. Watch it and see what you think...

Insight 24 - Devices, News, Location-based search

Mon, 12 May 2008 11:49:25 +0100

It's... Insight number 24, aka AAS audio podcast 73, in which the usual team discuss the news of the week, including N-Gage and Nokia Communication Center (sic), three new S60 3rd Edition smartphones (black N82, Samsung i450, Nokia 6122c) and we introduce the idea and state of play in the world of Location Based Search.

Nokia N96 and N78 hands-on

Sun, 11 May 2008 21:26:18 +0100

Yeah, yeah, more hands-on with prototypes by other sites - you can tell we're a tinsy bit jealous - but then on the other hand devices like the N96 don't seem anywhere near finished yet and we'd rather wait for the real thing. Still, the N78 seems fairly complete, according to this latest hands on by PhoneReport, which provides lots of photos and makes a few new observations. (via Symbian World)