SmartphoneWare just updated Best Alarms for S60 3rd Edition to V1.03. The listed new features and bug fixes for this accessible application are modestly short this time:
Personally speaking, I hope SmartphoneWare updates my favorite applications like Best Call Recorder, Best TaskMan and Best Dictaphone quite soon.
Nokia beta labs just updated Nokia Communication Center to V1.02. This 8MB Windows application helps you
Nokia Communication Center requires Nokia PC Suite 6.86.90 or higher, and is compatible with all Nokia S60 handsets.
A couple of hours ago Nokia beta labs released Nokia Music PC client V1.5. This application is aimed at expediting the process of transferring music to Nokia handsets or any MDP-compliant device. Currently the N95 Classic, The N95 8GB, the N82, the N81 and the 5610 XpressMusic are mentioned as compatible handsets with more smartphones to follow soon. Nokia Music PC application can also connect users to Nokia Music Store to help them purchase and try the tracks they want more easily. The application size is about 63MB, and I’ve not yet tested its compatibility with Windows screen readers.
I’m not sure if this is a real update because if you get the new release of Killer Mobile’s Total Recall, it won’t change the version number on your handset. The updated release of this popular Symbian S60 sound/call recorder offers the following feature, according to the developer.
“In a MAJOR breakthrough for Nokia E50, E51, 6120, 6110, N81 and N82 user’s, Total Recall has now been updated to use our BEST sound quality setting while removing the pesky beep at the same time! Yes it’s true - you get extremely high quality sound quality AND no beep. As always, updates are free of charge to existing registered users, so update now!
NOTE: To achieve the beep free recording in “Best” sound quality setting you will need to set your Warning Tones to “OFF” in your active profile, otherwise the beep will still be present.”
Just to provide a short explanation, here I use ALON MP3 Dictaphone to record beepless telephonic conversations without disabling my warning tones. That, however, might explain the difference between a $14-or-so app and a $30-or-so app.
If you own an N82 or an N95 of any ilk, Nokia Beta Labs has just released an innovative application for you. As the self-explanatory name suggests, Nokia Step Counter counts the number of steps you take by analyzing how you shake your smartphone – courtesy of the built-in accelerometer.
My limited tests show that the application is pretty compatible with Symbian screen readers, especially if you select the “individual workout” option in the “Diary statistics” window to view the number of steps taken. The developers are keen on getting feedback, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to help them improve the accuracy of the app.
If you want to remove an application without necessarily resorting to the App. Manager and its messy app list, just locate the application name in the main menu or one of its subfolders and press the “C” (Clear) key. This will initiate the familiar uninstallation activity. I’m not sure about pre-FP1 handsets, but it works very well with FP1 smartphones such as the N82, the 5700 and the N95.
After many people complained about the problems they experienced while updating their firmware releases on Windows Vista, today Nokia removed NSU support from this operating system. The so-called culprits are said to be “recent changes in certain Microsoft Vista configurations that cause the Nokia Software Updater to become unstable.” I sincerely hope it gets reintroduced as soon as possible. To be honest, I thought Nokia would resolve the issue quickly rather than removing Vista support. BTW, I was also one of those complainers.
My confidential sources just informed me that Code Factory is working on a new release of Mobile Speak for Symbian which would support the web browser on S60 3rd Edition handsets. The application which is now in the hands of the company’s beta testers would allow users to navigate web pages by means of a virtual cursor. It also offers HTML element support, meaning Mobile Speak users can directly jump to headings, form fields, links, frames, and so forth. I don’t know when this would reach Code Factory customers or if it is to be called V3.50 or V4.0. At any rate, kudos to Code Factory for implementing this feature.
If you’re wondering what the next Nokia’s foray would be, do give Nokia Headlines a try. It is similar to an RSS reader optimized for easier reading and navigation on Nokia handsets. If the service grows and a good number of contributors join it, it might very well become one of the applications Nokia offers with Nseries and Eseries smartphones. Nokia Headlines which replaces Nokia Channels has the following new features.
Important fixes:
I’ve not yet tested the compatibility of the application with Symbian screen readers, but I’ll report my findings here. I wish it can replace Google Reader for handset owners one day!
Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been thinking about buying an E90 Communicator. As a Symbian S60 heavyweight, the E90 allows us to take advantage of its built-in QWERTY keyboard, WLAN capabilities and GPS chip. It also provides A2DP, a powerful 1500 battery, a MiniUSB port, and high-quality stereo speakers. Nonetheless, I just decided to hold off until another Eseries handset comes out to address the following issues.
Do you think my reasons are valid, or am I being too picky by ignoring the myriad capabilities of the E90 and focusing on these shortcomings?
