This is excellent, from AAS
See the Keynetik website for more
Edit: The original source for this is over at Symbian Freaks :)
jeudi 31 janvier 2008
mardi 29 janvier 2008
Last few days
I posted a few days ago about a promotion we have running at the NSeries Mobile NSeries shop. Here is a reminder on what is on offer:
The first title is Psiloc's IR Remote. IR Remote from Psiloc allows you to control multimedia devices such as TV, HiFi set, CD, VCR, and DVD players with your mobile phone. I suppose it's worth mentioning you actually need an IR port on your phone for it to work....
The second title is Smartmovie SmartMovie is a video player for Smartphones device, with a counterpart PC converter. With the converter, you may prepare any video clip for playback on your mobile device.
Third, we have PapyrusWith Papyrus you get a complete solution for managing your busy life. Papyrus is a complete management solution for S60 phones, offering several different smart-views and powerful tools for keeping track of a hectic schedule.
Fourth there is the excellent Profimail Profimail is a powerful e-mail client for S60 phones. It allows you to read your mail on the go and send text with attachments directly from your device. Send photos, recorded sound or simply text messages to friends from anywhere. One of my favourite applications.
And lastly, there is Handy Taskman Handy Taskman allows you to keep tabs on different applications you are running concurrently on your Symbian Smartphone.
It recognises programs that are running and checks the size of remaining memory left on the Smartphone (RAM, Phone memory and memory card). Just select the program and enter the first letter of its name to start it.
The requested program can be started from the full-screen display list of recently launched programs. With Handy Taskman one can switch back and forth between selected programs, shut them off, delete them or shut off the whole group. The program compresses the applications in the working memory of the Smartphone to do this.
Click on the software titles to be taken directly to the product page, for more information. During the cart process you will need a code to obtain your 20% discount, the code you will need is 1230065120091FD
The offer runs until 31st January
Location Tagger
Nokia Beta labs have released a location tagger app, which I would love to write about but things are just so hectic right now. So, pop over to AllAboutSymbian to get the lowdown from Rafe.
Nokia, the OS company
Nokia bought Trolltech for about $150 million, and there's all sorts of speculation online about what it means. Before I get to that, let me quickly summarize what Trolltech does:
Trolltech is a Norwegian company that makes development tools and Linux software. Its best-known products are Qt (a software layer and development tools for writing applications that run across multiple operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux), Qtopia (a user interface and applications layer for Linux), and Qtopia Phone Edition (a Linux software environment for mobile phones).
In the mobile world, Qtopia Phone Edition has been the company's best-known product, although it hasn't exactly been a commercial success. Motorola uses a version of Qt in its Linux mobile phones, but not all of Qtopia. The Sony Mylo mobile device uses Qtopia, as did the Sharp Zaurus PDAs. But Trolltech had so much trouble getting a mainstream phone licensee for Qtopia that it created its own hardware prototype, the Greenphone. (Out of fairness, I should add that Trolltech has a lot of other tiny licensees you've never heard of; you can see the full list here.)
The obvious assumption would be that Nokia bought Trolltech for its phone technology, but that's not what Nokia says. The company's press release says Trolltech will help advance its "cross-platform software strategy for mobile devices and desktop applications, and...Internet services business. With Trolltech, Nokia and third party developers will be able to develop applications that work in the Internet, across Nokia's device portfolio and on PCs."
All About Symbian reinforced that message, reproducing a slide from the Nokia press briefing that showed Qt layered on top of Nokia Series 40, S60, and a variety of desktop PC operating systems (link). The Guardian quoted a Nokia spokesperson as saying the emphasis of the deal is development tools: "This is about Trolltech's fantastic tools. You can much faster develop programmes which can work on multiple platforms." (link).
Vnunet quoted an analyst saying that Nokia will use Qtopia to help deploy its Ovi Internet services cross-platform (link). I don't really see the Internet connection; Qtopia has not been a contender in the net applications world the way that Flash and Silverlight are. But maybe Nokia wants to build it into a contender.
Other analysts suggested other motivations for the purchase. Some of the commentary on Slashdot suggested that Nokia is investing in Linux to counter Google Android (link). ArsTechnica suggested that Nokia might be planning to replace S60 with Qt (link), while others suggested that Nokia plans to use Linux instead of Symbian. Richard Windsor of Nomura pointed out in an e-mail analysis that the purchase of Qt rips the guts out of Motorola's Linux plans, although he guesses that's more of a happy side effect for Nokia than the primary motivation.
But an unsigned article on ZDNet UK had the most sweeping interpretation, basically saying that this spells certain death for all proprietary operating systems (link):
As we say here in California, I want some of what he's been smoking.
What does it really mean?
We're all assuming that Nokia actually has a coherent master plan here. Although $150m is a lot of money to me personally, it's mouse nuts to Nokia. Maybe Nokia bought Trolltech just as an experiment, or to keep it from falling into some other company's hands. The fact that Nokia's going to continue to develop its Maemo version of Linux, which is not based on the Trolltech technology, suggests a certain amount of incoherence.
If you want to be really Machiavellian, you could speculate that this purchase is the Nokia mobile phone organization's answer to Maemo -- "you tablet guys keep your version of Linux, now we have our own."
But let's assume there really is a plan, and it's aimed at competitors. About six months ago, I wrote about Nokia's ambitions to be a computer company (link). Now we see them dealing themselves into the operating system competition as well. No matter what you think Nokia's motives are, the fact is that it's now the owner of a respectable cross-platform software layer that runs on PCs and mobile devices. Nokia is now a software layer company, in very direct competition with other layer companies like Microsoft and Adobe and Sun. The deal also makes Nokia a much more important player in the open source community. And it puts Nokia in more direct opposition to the companies with their own operating systems -- Apple and Google and (once again) Microsoft.
That's a huge potential change. I say "potential" because Nokia has a lot more to do if it really wants to compete. The Trolltech team will need more investment (they have been losing money) and Nokia has a lot of work to do in developer evangelism and support to make the challenge real. But the potential is there.
I think that as the implications of the deal become clear, Nokia may have trouble continuing to partner with some of its new competitors. For example, it has spent a lot of time positioning itself as a partner to Adobe Air, but it's hard to see the evolved Qt as anything other than a competitor. Same thing for Google.
As for how this fits with all of Nokia's other products, I'm having a lot of trouble understanding how Qt will cohabit with S60 and Series 40. What exactly are developers supposed to develop for, and which user interface will the phones feature? If Nokia tries to keep all of them going, its phone software is going to look like a petit four, with layers stacked on layers stacked on layers. That makes for a nice pastry, but in a mobile phone it's a recipe for bad performance and short battery life. It's also a certain way to confuse developers.
So a lot depends on Nokia's next steps. Does Qt replace Series 40 and S60? I don't know which group within Nokia made the Trolltech deal, but I wonder if the biggest competitive battle might end up being the one inside the company, between its competing software standards.
Trolltech is a Norwegian company that makes development tools and Linux software. Its best-known products are Qt (a software layer and development tools for writing applications that run across multiple operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux), Qtopia (a user interface and applications layer for Linux), and Qtopia Phone Edition (a Linux software environment for mobile phones).
In the mobile world, Qtopia Phone Edition has been the company's best-known product, although it hasn't exactly been a commercial success. Motorola uses a version of Qt in its Linux mobile phones, but not all of Qtopia. The Sony Mylo mobile device uses Qtopia, as did the Sharp Zaurus PDAs. But Trolltech had so much trouble getting a mainstream phone licensee for Qtopia that it created its own hardware prototype, the Greenphone. (Out of fairness, I should add that Trolltech has a lot of other tiny licensees you've never heard of; you can see the full list here.)
The obvious assumption would be that Nokia bought Trolltech for its phone technology, but that's not what Nokia says. The company's press release says Trolltech will help advance its "cross-platform software strategy for mobile devices and desktop applications, and...Internet services business. With Trolltech, Nokia and third party developers will be able to develop applications that work in the Internet, across Nokia's device portfolio and on PCs."
All About Symbian reinforced that message, reproducing a slide from the Nokia press briefing that showed Qt layered on top of Nokia Series 40, S60, and a variety of desktop PC operating systems (link). The Guardian quoted a Nokia spokesperson as saying the emphasis of the deal is development tools: "This is about Trolltech's fantastic tools. You can much faster develop programmes which can work on multiple platforms." (link).
Vnunet quoted an analyst saying that Nokia will use Qtopia to help deploy its Ovi Internet services cross-platform (link). I don't really see the Internet connection; Qtopia has not been a contender in the net applications world the way that Flash and Silverlight are. But maybe Nokia wants to build it into a contender.
Other analysts suggested other motivations for the purchase. Some of the commentary on Slashdot suggested that Nokia is investing in Linux to counter Google Android (link). ArsTechnica suggested that Nokia might be planning to replace S60 with Qt (link), while others suggested that Nokia plans to use Linux instead of Symbian. Richard Windsor of Nomura pointed out in an e-mail analysis that the purchase of Qt rips the guts out of Motorola's Linux plans, although he guesses that's more of a happy side effect for Nokia than the primary motivation.
But an unsigned article on ZDNet UK had the most sweeping interpretation, basically saying that this spells certain death for all proprietary operating systems (link):
Nokia's bet is that the sheer size of the Qt 4-based market will be a decisive inducement for everyone else, handset makers, operators, and pure applications players alike, and that the explosion in compatibility will amplify the market for everyone much as happened on the desktop when MS-DOS anointed the PC architecture. But unlike then, Qt 4 will break forever the idea that one part of the market can seal itself off as a profitable mini-universe, an idea as archaic in the 21st century as the feudalism it so closely resembles.
As we say here in California, I want some of what he's been smoking.
What does it really mean?
We're all assuming that Nokia actually has a coherent master plan here. Although $150m is a lot of money to me personally, it's mouse nuts to Nokia. Maybe Nokia bought Trolltech just as an experiment, or to keep it from falling into some other company's hands. The fact that Nokia's going to continue to develop its Maemo version of Linux, which is not based on the Trolltech technology, suggests a certain amount of incoherence.
If you want to be really Machiavellian, you could speculate that this purchase is the Nokia mobile phone organization's answer to Maemo -- "you tablet guys keep your version of Linux, now we have our own."
But let's assume there really is a plan, and it's aimed at competitors. About six months ago, I wrote about Nokia's ambitions to be a computer company (link). Now we see them dealing themselves into the operating system competition as well. No matter what you think Nokia's motives are, the fact is that it's now the owner of a respectable cross-platform software layer that runs on PCs and mobile devices. Nokia is now a software layer company, in very direct competition with other layer companies like Microsoft and Adobe and Sun. The deal also makes Nokia a much more important player in the open source community. And it puts Nokia in more direct opposition to the companies with their own operating systems -- Apple and Google and (once again) Microsoft.
That's a huge potential change. I say "potential" because Nokia has a lot more to do if it really wants to compete. The Trolltech team will need more investment (they have been losing money) and Nokia has a lot of work to do in developer evangelism and support to make the challenge real. But the potential is there.
I think that as the implications of the deal become clear, Nokia may have trouble continuing to partner with some of its new competitors. For example, it has spent a lot of time positioning itself as a partner to Adobe Air, but it's hard to see the evolved Qt as anything other than a competitor. Same thing for Google.
As for how this fits with all of Nokia's other products, I'm having a lot of trouble understanding how Qt will cohabit with S60 and Series 40. What exactly are developers supposed to develop for, and which user interface will the phones feature? If Nokia tries to keep all of them going, its phone software is going to look like a petit four, with layers stacked on layers stacked on layers. That makes for a nice pastry, but in a mobile phone it's a recipe for bad performance and short battery life. It's also a certain way to confuse developers.
So a lot depends on Nokia's next steps. Does Qt replace Series 40 and S60? I don't know which group within Nokia made the Trolltech deal, but I wonder if the biggest competitive battle might end up being the one inside the company, between its competing software standards.
vendredi 25 janvier 2008
N82 Firmware update
The N82 has a firmware update available, latest version is now 11.0.117. A couple of other people have upgraded theirs, Rafe at AllAboutSymbian and Stefan at IntoMobile
Due to my PC being offline the last two days I only managed to update my phone last night, and it all went through fine. The N82 update was the first to offer User Data Protection, and I agree with Darla Mack UDP is a beautiful thing. UDP protects data stored in the phone memory, so you don't need to reinstall everything. It is still advisable to backup, just in case, but it is a good thing to update the firmware and find all apps working, the whole menu laid out as you have set it, etc. It used to be such a pain re-installing everything.
Due to my PC being offline the last two days I only managed to update my phone last night, and it all went through fine. The N82 update was the first to offer User Data Protection, and I agree with Darla Mack UDP is a beautiful thing. UDP protects data stored in the phone memory, so you don't need to reinstall everything. It is still advisable to backup, just in case, but it is a good thing to update the firmware and find all apps working, the whole menu laid out as you have set it, etc. It used to be such a pain re-installing everything.
mercredi 23 janvier 2008
Nokia N78 To Be Launched In February?
I received an email yesterday from an affiliate network, which included details of forthcoming handsets to be released in the coming months. The one that caught my eye straight away was the N78! The details suggested that the handset will be released in February 08, although as usual, release dates do change. The spec listed for the handset are:
• WiFi
• HSDPA
• 3.2 Megapixel camera
• 8GB internal memory
• Expandable Memory
• On board maps with A-GPS
• FM Transmitter
The FM transmitter is interesting, does that mean it has an FM radio, or does that mean it has one of those transmitters for sending signal to a nearby FM radio? Also, 8GB internal memory *plus* expandable memory?
The design of the phone is a standard monoblock design, similar to the N82, and is black. Keypad design wasn't clear.
The N78 is supposed to be featuring S60 FP2 but that wasn't listed in the spec, although to be fair the spec list just covers the main highlights. All very interesting, let's hope it does release in February.
• WiFi
• HSDPA
• 3.2 Megapixel camera
• 8GB internal memory
• Expandable Memory
• On board maps with A-GPS
• FM Transmitter
The FM transmitter is interesting, does that mean it has an FM radio, or does that mean it has one of those transmitters for sending signal to a nearby FM radio? Also, 8GB internal memory *plus* expandable memory?
The design of the phone is a standard monoblock design, similar to the N82, and is black. Keypad design wasn't clear.
The N78 is supposed to be featuring S60 FP2 but that wasn't listed in the spec, although to be fair the spec list just covers the main highlights. All very interesting, let's hope it does release in February.
mardi 22 janvier 2008
Software selection with 20% discount at the NSeries shop
We all know that in January things can be tight, money wise. Most people get paid before Christmas, and it's a long wait til payday at the end of January. Knowing this, I've managed to get a 20% discount on 5 top selling software titles for all readers of the NSeries blog, at the NSeries shop.
The first title is Psiloc's IR Remote. IR Remote from Psiloc allows you to control multimedia devices such as TV, HiFi set, CD, VCR, and DVD players with your mobile phone. I suppose it's worth mentioning you actually need an IR port on your phone for it to work....
The second title is Smartmovie SmartMovie is a video player for Smartphones device, with a counterpart PC converter. With the converter, you may prepare any video clip for playback on your mobile device.
Third, we have PapyrusWith Papyrus you get a complete solution for managing your busy life. Papyrus is a complete management solution for S60 phones, offering several different smart-views and powerful tools for keeping track of a hectic schedule.
Fourth there is the excellent Profimail Profimail is a powerful e-mail client for S60 phones. It allows you to read your mail on the go and send text with attachments directly from your device. Send photos, recorded sound or simply text messages to friends from anywhere. One of my favourite applications.
And lastly, there is Handy Taskman Handy Taskman allows you to keep tabs on different applications you are running concurrently on your Symbian Smartphone.
It recognises programs that are running and checks the size of remaining memory left on the Smartphone (RAM, Phone memory and memory card). Just select the program and enter the first letter of its name to start it.
The requested program can be started from the full-screen display list of recently launched programs. With Handy Taskman one can switch back and forth between selected programs, shut them off, delete them or shut off the whole group. The program compresses the applications in the working memory of the Smartphone to do this.
Click on the software titles to be taken directly to the product page, for more information. During the cart process you will need a code to obtain your 20% discount, the code you will need is 1230065120091FD
The offer runs until 31st January
The first title is Psiloc's IR Remote. IR Remote from Psiloc allows you to control multimedia devices such as TV, HiFi set, CD, VCR, and DVD players with your mobile phone. I suppose it's worth mentioning you actually need an IR port on your phone for it to work....
The second title is Smartmovie SmartMovie is a video player for Smartphones device, with a counterpart PC converter. With the converter, you may prepare any video clip for playback on your mobile device.
Third, we have PapyrusWith Papyrus you get a complete solution for managing your busy life. Papyrus is a complete management solution for S60 phones, offering several different smart-views and powerful tools for keeping track of a hectic schedule.
Fourth there is the excellent Profimail Profimail is a powerful e-mail client for S60 phones. It allows you to read your mail on the go and send text with attachments directly from your device. Send photos, recorded sound or simply text messages to friends from anywhere. One of my favourite applications.
And lastly, there is Handy Taskman Handy Taskman allows you to keep tabs on different applications you are running concurrently on your Symbian Smartphone.
It recognises programs that are running and checks the size of remaining memory left on the Smartphone (RAM, Phone memory and memory card). Just select the program and enter the first letter of its name to start it.
The requested program can be started from the full-screen display list of recently launched programs. With Handy Taskman one can switch back and forth between selected programs, shut them off, delete them or shut off the whole group. The program compresses the applications in the working memory of the Smartphone to do this.
Click on the software titles to be taken directly to the product page, for more information. During the cart process you will need a code to obtain your 20% discount, the code you will need is 1230065120091FD
The offer runs until 31st January
vendredi 18 janvier 2008
Nokia N95 8GB, the first DLNA certified mobile
Press Release:
Nokia today announced that the Nokia N95 8GB had the distinction of being the first ever mobile phone to receive Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) certification. The DLNA is a body advocating the interoperability of wired and wireless consumer devices. For the consumer, this accolade translates into convenient and intuitive connectivity between your DLNA Certified home electronics devices, personal computers, and your Nokia N95 8GB.
DLNA technology enables multi-vendor home ecosystems of consumer devices by building a common connectivity platform for a variety of multimedia experiences. This vision is fully in line with the Nokia's aspiration for openness and seamless interoperability between devices and services from different brands.
DLNA has certified the Nokia N95 8GB as a Mobile Digital Media Server, an acknowledgment that taps into the genius of this multimedia computer. The extensive connectivity and cutting-edge media capabilities of the Nokia N95 8GB are ideal for enjoying content, such as music, photos or videos, wirelessly on other devices in the home environment.
"We are thrilled to receive this tribute from the DLNA. The Nokia N95 8GB is truly a masterpiece of a multimedia computer, and a prime example of the direction mobility is taking - it's personal, powerful and fits seamlessly into your life inside and outside the home," said Anssi Vanjoki, executive vice president, Markets, Nokia.
DLNA has already certified over 1800 products in the personal computer and consumer electronic categories, but this is the first time the stringent guidelines for interoperability set by the DLNA have been met by a mobile phone. Mobile devices were included in the DLNA Networked Device Interoperability Guidelines that were published in early 2006, and are now part of the recently launched DLNA certification program. The Nokia N95 8GB passed DLNA's rigorous testing process to receive the green DLNA Certified logo, a marker of its leading position in the mobile domain of the digital home.
With up to eight gigabytes of built-in memory, the Nokia N95 8GB can hold a vast selection of your favorite media content, like those ski vacation photos and your music collection. You can share these with your friends and family on a DLNA Certified home entertainment system and enjoy your photos on a full-sized TV screen or jam to those tunes on your home stereo system. All you need to do is share the content wirelessly from your Nokia N95 8GB.
Nokia is an active member of the DLNA and has been driving interoperability of mobile, PC, and consumer electronics devices at and beyond home. As mobile phones have converted into diverse multimedia computers, they serve as the primary gateway to the Internet, services and content for millions of people around the world. Nokia is mobilizing home multimedia content and enabling remote access to home content using your Nokia mobile devices.
jeudi 17 janvier 2008
MacBook Air: Object of lust or awkward compromise?
It's been interesting watching the reactions to Apple's announcements this week. Probably the most predictable was the disappointment many people expressed (link). After the iPhone announcement last year, almost anything was going to be an anticlimax. At this point Steve Jobs is competing with himself at these keynotes. Never mind that he single-handedly got as much attention as the entirety of CES the week before, if this year's keynote is not more Earth-shaking than the one last year it's a letdown.
Live by the spectacle, die by the spectacle.
To me, the two most interesting announcements were the MacBook Air and the new Apple TV and its associated services. Apple TV is strategic and needs a longer blog post than I have time for tonight. But I'd like to make a quick comment on the Air.
The next PowerBook, or the next PowerBook Duo?
I'm trying to reserve judgment on the Air until I can see one in person. On paper, it makes some uncomfortable compromises. No removable battery, no optical drive...it gives me nasty flashbacks of the PowerBook Duo. Like Air, the Duo was very thin and lightweight for its time, and like the Air it compromised on a lot of features. The Duo had a pretty elegant docking station that allowed you to use it as a full computer at your desk, then take the portable part with you when you traveled. I was working at Apple at the time, and I thought the whole concept was pretty clever.
It didn't sell well.
Turned out most people wanted to take the whole computer with them, not just part of the computer. They traded up to a heavier device with full features.
I worry that they might make the same decision about Air.
On the other hand, I just last week I wrote a post lavishly praising the new iPod Nano because its thin, elegant design more than compensates for its somewhat limited feature set. A lot of people criticized the Nano when it was first announced, in part because the photos couldn't do justice to its elegant design. When you saw it in person, it all made sense.
Maybe it will be the same for Air. I want to see and touch one. Maybe the lust factor will overcome the feature shortcomings. Or maybe personal computers are judged differently from music players. We'll find out.
Live by the spectacle, die by the spectacle.
To me, the two most interesting announcements were the MacBook Air and the new Apple TV and its associated services. Apple TV is strategic and needs a longer blog post than I have time for tonight. But I'd like to make a quick comment on the Air.
The next PowerBook, or the next PowerBook Duo?
I'm trying to reserve judgment on the Air until I can see one in person. On paper, it makes some uncomfortable compromises. No removable battery, no optical drive...it gives me nasty flashbacks of the PowerBook Duo. Like Air, the Duo was very thin and lightweight for its time, and like the Air it compromised on a lot of features. The Duo had a pretty elegant docking station that allowed you to use it as a full computer at your desk, then take the portable part with you when you traveled. I was working at Apple at the time, and I thought the whole concept was pretty clever.
It didn't sell well.
Turned out most people wanted to take the whole computer with them, not just part of the computer. They traded up to a heavier device with full features.
I worry that they might make the same decision about Air.
On the other hand, I just last week I wrote a post lavishly praising the new iPod Nano because its thin, elegant design more than compensates for its somewhat limited feature set. A lot of people criticized the Nano when it was first announced, in part because the photos couldn't do justice to its elegant design. When you saw it in person, it all made sense.
Maybe it will be the same for Air. I want to see and touch one. Maybe the lust factor will overcome the feature shortcomings. Or maybe personal computers are judged differently from music players. We'll find out.
mardi 15 janvier 2008
Nokia Urbanista Diaries
An excellent idea, this. Four intrepid bloggers sent round the world with a Nokia N82, recording their journey. Fantastic.
The whole project is a Nokia sponsored global relay race, where each contestant is placed 'somewhere in the world' and will encounter situations and challenges where they can use the N82 to document and share their experiences, as well as locate the next blogger to pass the baton/phone on to.
The four brave explorers taking part in this adventure are Devin Balentina from the Nokia Guide, Ryan Gallagher from CameraToss, Ms Jen from Black Phoebe and Jose R.A.M from MyNokiaBlog
There is a dedicated site here where you can follow their progress, plus I have installed a widget at top right of my blog where you can also keep track of the Urbanista's progress.
And finally, in conjunction with the Urbanista project, there is an opportunity to win an N82 every week for eight weeks starting from the 18th January.
The whole project is a Nokia sponsored global relay race, where each contestant is placed 'somewhere in the world' and will encounter situations and challenges where they can use the N82 to document and share their experiences, as well as locate the next blogger to pass the baton/phone on to.
The four brave explorers taking part in this adventure are Devin Balentina from the Nokia Guide, Ryan Gallagher from CameraToss, Ms Jen from Black Phoebe and Jose R.A.M from MyNokiaBlog
There is a dedicated site here where you can follow their progress, plus I have installed a widget at top right of my blog where you can also keep track of the Urbanista's progress.
And finally, in conjunction with the Urbanista project, there is an opportunity to win an N82 every week for eight weeks starting from the 18th January.
dimanche 13 janvier 2008
An interview - with me!
One of the great things about running a blog is getting to know other bloggers who run similar sites along similar themes. A short while ago, Norman John from Symbian World asked if I would answer a few questions about myself and my interest in S60 in general, the answers to which he has posted on his blog. Check it out, here.
mercredi 9 janvier 2008
Back to Business
So, after a long Christmas and New Year break we're back to business. Coming up in a few weeks we have the 3GSM conference in Barcelona, which I am fortunate enough to be attending, and I'm hoping we'll have some NSeries handsets confirmed, like the N78 and N96 to go along with the leaked news of the new ESeries phones due.
Right now, I've got my hands full of phones. As well as the N82 which I continue to use every day, I have a Nokia N81 to play around with, thanks to the guys at Womworld, I have a Nokia E51 to look over supplied by Nokia and curiosly the other day I came across a Nokia 6600. Back in the day the 6600 was one of my favourite handsets. So I'll be looking to see how well the N81 does, looking at how a top ESeries phone compares to NSeries, and looking at how far we've progressed since the days of the 6600. Plenty to be getting on with. I've taken a few comparison photos of the N81, E51 and 6600, which you can see below.
Right now, I've got my hands full of phones. As well as the N82 which I continue to use every day, I have a Nokia N81 to play around with, thanks to the guys at Womworld, I have a Nokia E51 to look over supplied by Nokia and curiosly the other day I came across a Nokia 6600. Back in the day the 6600 was one of my favourite handsets. So I'll be looking to see how well the N81 does, looking at how a top ESeries phone compares to NSeries, and looking at how far we've progressed since the days of the 6600. Plenty to be getting on with. I've taken a few comparison photos of the N81, E51 and 6600, which you can see below.
mardi 8 janvier 2008
Add Nokia Sports Tracker to Facebook
dimanche 6 janvier 2008
Mobile Device of the Year, 2007
It's very difficult to say what's the best mobile device in a given year, because different people have different needs and desires. The ideal device for me might be repulsive to you, and vice-versa. But most of the computer publications try to make a call anyway. If you read the end-of-year reviews online, you'll probably conclude that the best mobile product of the year was the iPhone. It was cited by the Washington Post, Wired, Business Week, and Tech Republic (which strangely listed it as a business technology product, alongside Salesforce.com and LinkedIn).
Other mobile products getting mentions from major publications included the Nokia n95, iPod Touch, Razr 2, and Blackberry 8800. Amazon's Kindle was the only one that showed up on both best-of and worst-of lists. The best-ofs generally liked the wireless features and screen, while the worst-ofs disliked the closed business model and "eye-poking" industrial design.
I don't agree with any of those choices.
Since people have different needs, I think the best product of the year ought to be the one that best meets needs the needs of a particular group of users. It should be utterly compelling to its own audience. There are several questions to ask:
How efficient is it? Since people use mobile devices on the go, it should do just what the user needs, without any confusion or unneeded features. But there can't be any critical features missing, either.
How well does it trade off size vs. power? Because it's carried on your person, where size and weight are at a premium, it should balance tiny size with reasonable battery life.
How does it look? Because it's effectively a part of your wardrobe, it must look great (or whatever the target customer thinks of as great).
By that standard, I think the best mobile device of 2007 -- in fact, one of the best mobile products of all time -- was the third generation iPod Nano.
Don't get me wrong, iPhone fans. The iPhone is a very interesting and provocative device. There are some beautiful features in the user interface, and I love the turmoil it's causing in the industry. Several years from now we may look back on it and call it the most influential mobile device of its time. But that doesn't mean it's the best product.
To me, the iPhone is more an intriguing statement of direction than a completed product at this point. The lack of 3G is a huge compromise, and Apple obviously didn't think through the third party application thing. If you want a slow mobile browser that also plays music and videos and doubles as a somewhat awkward phone, then the iPhone is great. But for all of the cool highlights in the iPhone, I don't think it's enough to crush the phone industry in its current version. Future versions, maybe. We'll shortlist the iPhone III for product of the year in 2010.
The n95 is also a remarkable product in its own way, and I know it inspires a lot of technolust, especially in Europe. But in my opinion, it's just the latest Swiss Army Knife of the mobile world. Next year there will be another one from Nokia or Samsung or somebody else that has an even higher-resolution camera or maybe an electric toothpick or something, and people will be fawning all over that one. Like a lot of Japanese consumer electronics products, it's not a marvelous product as much as it is a marvelously ingenious bag of features.
By contrast, in third generation Nano is not just the latest model from Apple, it's an elegant culmination of the design work they've been doing for years.
The Nano doesn't look all that great in photographs. It's wider than its predecessor, which produced some criticism when it was announced (Engadget nicknamed it "fatty," which is asinine when you see it in person). In real life, the Nano's shape is compelling. It's much thinner than you'd expect from the pictures -- shockingly thin for something that has a color screen and plays videos. With its heavily rounded corners and brightly colored case, it feels a bit like a high tech chocolate wafer. You're almost tempted to take a bite out of it.
Physically, the Nano is almost all user interface -- the screen and thumbwheel take up the entire front of the device. Until we get flexible screens, the Nano is about as small as you can possibly make a device with its features. This is the endpoint, a form factor that's going to be with us for a while.
The biggest surprise to me about the Nano is the usability of video on it. When it was announced, I thought video was a throwaway feature -- who would ever want to watch video on a screen that small? But the reality is that when you're sitting down, you'll hold a Nano about 18 inches (45 cm) away from your face. At that distance, the screen is about the same apparent size as a 20-inch television (50 cm) at the other side of the living room. It's not like watching a flat panel monster screen, but it's very usable.
I'm not sure yet how much video will be used on the device, or what sorts of video, but that's a general question about mobile video rather than anything specific about the Nano. What I've observed so far is teenage girls using the Nano to watch music videos together, commenting on how cute the drummer is.
And that's just another sign that Apple made a great design for its target audience.
The new Nano doesn't have Bluetooth built into it, or Wi-Fi, or a camera, or a phone, or a hard drive. That probably accounts for why the technophiles online have been so dismissive of it (link). But to me, it's an almost perfect balance of functionality and art. Come back in ten or twenty years and I think you'll find it in design museums, when most of today's mobile devices will be long-forgotten and mildly embarrassing.
What do you think? Do you agree with my choice? If not, what do you think was the best mobile device of 2007?
Other mobile products getting mentions from major publications included the Nokia n95, iPod Touch, Razr 2, and Blackberry 8800. Amazon's Kindle was the only one that showed up on both best-of and worst-of lists. The best-ofs generally liked the wireless features and screen, while the worst-ofs disliked the closed business model and "eye-poking" industrial design.
I don't agree with any of those choices.
Since people have different needs, I think the best product of the year ought to be the one that best meets needs the needs of a particular group of users. It should be utterly compelling to its own audience. There are several questions to ask:
How efficient is it? Since people use mobile devices on the go, it should do just what the user needs, without any confusion or unneeded features. But there can't be any critical features missing, either.
How well does it trade off size vs. power? Because it's carried on your person, where size and weight are at a premium, it should balance tiny size with reasonable battery life.
How does it look? Because it's effectively a part of your wardrobe, it must look great (or whatever the target customer thinks of as great).
By that standard, I think the best mobile device of 2007 -- in fact, one of the best mobile products of all time -- was the third generation iPod Nano.
Don't get me wrong, iPhone fans. The iPhone is a very interesting and provocative device. There are some beautiful features in the user interface, and I love the turmoil it's causing in the industry. Several years from now we may look back on it and call it the most influential mobile device of its time. But that doesn't mean it's the best product.
To me, the iPhone is more an intriguing statement of direction than a completed product at this point. The lack of 3G is a huge compromise, and Apple obviously didn't think through the third party application thing. If you want a slow mobile browser that also plays music and videos and doubles as a somewhat awkward phone, then the iPhone is great. But for all of the cool highlights in the iPhone, I don't think it's enough to crush the phone industry in its current version. Future versions, maybe. We'll shortlist the iPhone III for product of the year in 2010.
The n95 is also a remarkable product in its own way, and I know it inspires a lot of technolust, especially in Europe. But in my opinion, it's just the latest Swiss Army Knife of the mobile world. Next year there will be another one from Nokia or Samsung or somebody else that has an even higher-resolution camera or maybe an electric toothpick or something, and people will be fawning all over that one. Like a lot of Japanese consumer electronics products, it's not a marvelous product as much as it is a marvelously ingenious bag of features.
By contrast, in third generation Nano is not just the latest model from Apple, it's an elegant culmination of the design work they've been doing for years.
The Nano doesn't look all that great in photographs. It's wider than its predecessor, which produced some criticism when it was announced (Engadget nicknamed it "fatty," which is asinine when you see it in person). In real life, the Nano's shape is compelling. It's much thinner than you'd expect from the pictures -- shockingly thin for something that has a color screen and plays videos. With its heavily rounded corners and brightly colored case, it feels a bit like a high tech chocolate wafer. You're almost tempted to take a bite out of it.
Physically, the Nano is almost all user interface -- the screen and thumbwheel take up the entire front of the device. Until we get flexible screens, the Nano is about as small as you can possibly make a device with its features. This is the endpoint, a form factor that's going to be with us for a while.
The biggest surprise to me about the Nano is the usability of video on it. When it was announced, I thought video was a throwaway feature -- who would ever want to watch video on a screen that small? But the reality is that when you're sitting down, you'll hold a Nano about 18 inches (45 cm) away from your face. At that distance, the screen is about the same apparent size as a 20-inch television (50 cm) at the other side of the living room. It's not like watching a flat panel monster screen, but it's very usable.
I'm not sure yet how much video will be used on the device, or what sorts of video, but that's a general question about mobile video rather than anything specific about the Nano. What I've observed so far is teenage girls using the Nano to watch music videos together, commenting on how cute the drummer is.
And that's just another sign that Apple made a great design for its target audience.
The new Nano doesn't have Bluetooth built into it, or Wi-Fi, or a camera, or a phone, or a hard drive. That probably accounts for why the technophiles online have been so dismissive of it (link). But to me, it's an almost perfect balance of functionality and art. Come back in ten or twenty years and I think you'll find it in design museums, when most of today's mobile devices will be long-forgotten and mildly embarrassing.
What do you think? Do you agree with my choice? If not, what do you think was the best mobile device of 2007?
vendredi 4 janvier 2008
Avvenu Available Again
I wrote back before Christmas how Nokia had purchased Avvenu, the program that lets you access your PC remotely. The downside to this was the service became suspended to all but those in the US There are alternative options for remote PC access, such as Orb but I've never liked the PC interface for Orb since they upgraded a while back, although the phone interface works well.
Good news, I received an email this morning the Avvenu service is available again. Click here for a list of countries where the service can be used. I'm expecting accessing the PC from my phone to be a lot easier in the coming months as Nokia develop the Avvenu service further.
I'm off now to upgrade the Avvenu software on my PC.
Good news, I received an email this morning the Avvenu service is available again. Click here for a list of countries where the service can be used. I'm expecting accessing the PC from my phone to be a lot easier in the coming months as Nokia develop the Avvenu service further.
I'm off now to upgrade the Avvenu software on my PC.
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