LightNotepad V1.58 Released

The small, popular and accessible text editor for S60 3^rd Edition handsets, LightNotepad, was updated to V1.58 yesterday. This free application which gets frequent updates is a must-have for those who want to read and edit text documents on their handsets, and I’m bold enough to claim that LightNotepad easily surpasses its Windows counterpart as far as reading-related features are concerned. This release provides the following new features and bug fixes:

• Short cuts Ctrl+E = Find and Ctrl+O Open.
• Remember settings on exit (Screen size and orientation, Zoom, and WordWrap).
• Ask at start-up to load last used file, and remember cursor position.
• Bug fix; Remember file name, while recovering file from abnormal program termination.
• Install same language as phone is. (English, Finnish, Spanish, Italian.).

This is the direct download URL for those who want to get the update without visiting the developer’s web site. If you like LightNotepad, consider donating some money to the guy who’s behind this and other free Symbian applications by going to the program page.

Python for S60 V1.4.4 Released

The popular SourceForge Symbian application, Python for S60, was just updated to V1.4.4. If you have Python-based applications on your handset, don’t hesitate to install this update. Technical enhancements in this release are:

• PC Suite synchronized contact field types broken.
• E32.start_service() crashes pys60 1.4.2.
• Unread(sms_id) returns 32.
• Calendar can’t see appointments on last day of a month.
• Audio.say won’t say äö.
• Print in _internalsocketobject.
• PyS60 1.4.0 text drawing fails on Image with tuple.
• Select_access_point() and access_points() bug.
• Custom font drawing doesn’t work with Image.
• Error import socket because of e32socket error.

Python-based projects are important because the applications they provide have been accessible so far.

Best Blacklist Updated to V2.01

One of my favorite SmartphoneWare S60 3^rd Edition applications, Best Blacklist, was just updated to V2.01. The new release offers the following features:

• Switch between main view and log with joystick left/right.
• Option to show log entry details to see telephone number added.
• Send SMS from LOG view added.
• Pressing green (call) key in log view calls back the selected entry.
• German version added. Now available in English, Russian, German and Chinese.

I just installed it on my N82 and it is as snappy as the previous 2.0 release. SmartphoneWare clearly wants to create a powerful Handy Blacklist competitor with this update.

Jbak TaskMan 0.99 Finally SymbianSigned

The free, feature-rich and popular S60 task manager, Jbak TaskMan, was just updated to V0.99. The nice point about this release is that now it can be installed on all S60 3^rd Edition handsets as unlike its previous releases it is SymbianSigned. You can perform the following tasks using Jbak TaskMan:

• Find and start the desired application by pressing “#” key and typing the first letters of its name.
• Create shortcuts in the Launch Menu to start applications, open documents or execute specific tasks.
• Get full information about running programs and free memory left on the phone (RAM, Phone memory and Memory card).
• Switch to or Close any application — it can close Gallery & Music player too.
• Run Jbak TaskMan by pressing and holding the Menu key (like the built-in Task manager).
• Lock keypad from any screen.
• Reboot your phone.

The application (which isn’t fully screen reader-friendly) is developed and maintained by the Russian Symbian programmer Juriy Bakunin. The 0.99 release is also available for S60 6.X, 7.X and 8.X handsets.

Fring is Updated to V3.35

One of the most popular mobile VoIP/IM applications, Fring, was just updated to V3.35. Here’s the full changelog:

• Improved stability – with significantly less interruption, logouts, etc.
• Made voice quality even better all round.
• Added speakerphone for Symbian 9.2.
• Enabled file transfer from Yahoo! & Skype.

I’ve not yet tested this new release on my N82, but my friends are telling me that it’s much stabler than previous Fring releases!

Y-Browser 0.88.3 is Out

Today our Symbian doctor, Jukka Silvennoinen, released V0.88.3 of the popular and free file browser, Y-Browser. Unfortunately this release isn’t compatible with Symbian screen readers and the bug which affected the usability of its previous release on S60 handsets still exists. The problem is related to the way Y-Browser creates constant screen refreshes upon opening subfolders, thereby forcing screen readers to widely repeat the window contents. I’ve tested it on Nokia N73, Nokia N81, Nokia N82, Nokia N95, Nokia E61i and Nokia 5700 with the same results.

IM+ All-in-One Mobile Messenger Updated to V7.09

Few days ago I reported that SHAPE Services has resolved the N82 issue with the release of IM+ All-in-One Mobile Messenger 7.08. Now the 7.09 release of this application is available for download. As before, I don’t know what’s new in this release. I guess I should contact SHAPE Services marketing manager whom I interviewed and ask for a changelog.

HOT: IM+ All-in-One Mobile Messenger 7.08 Fixes the N82 Issue

I’m very happy to report that V7.08 of the popular and feature-rich mobile messenger, IM+ All-in-One Mobile Messenger, now works well with the N82. I just logged on to the Google Talk network without observing any sluggishness. It’s impossible to tell what else is new in this release as the SHAPE Services web site doesn’t provide us with a changelog; however, I’m positive this fixes the pestering sluggishness with the N82. Oh, BTW, I’m being told that the application has a new layout, but rest assured it remains the very same accessible program. If you happen to have a changelog, please share it with us.

Nokia Maps 2.0 Leaves Beta

NOKIA PRESS RELEASE May 22, 2008

Drive, Walk and Discover the updated version of Nokia Maps

Updates include enhanced pedestrian navigation, new satellite images and support for integrated compass orientation

 Espoo - Finland, Nokia today announced that its highly anticipated update for Nokia Maps has left beta stage and is now ready for consumers to download.

Downloaded over 240,000 times since announced in February, Nokia Maps 2.0 has improved its optional Car Navigation, enhanced its pedestrian navigation, added multimedia city guides, now offers satellite images, and is sporting a redesigned user interface. Nokia’s mapping and navigation solutions give people navigation features, local content and world maps directly on their mobile device, in a way that only connected devices can.

A partial list of the updated features in Nokia Maps 2.0 includes:

DRIVE:

• Improved optional Car Navigation equals PND-level car navigation experience with faster routing.
• Easy-to-use, updated User Interface features including a new navigation carousel with pre-defined navigation views - i.e. navigation, arrow, bird-eye.
• Top-of-the-line navigation features: signposts, multi-stop route planner.

WALK:

• Optional pedestrian navigation efficiently walks you from A to B with visual guidance. It helps you to locate yourself by giving information about the surrounding buildings, streets and parks and, if the device supports it, notifies the direction you are walking.
• Nokia Maps 2.0 includes public transportation information (station entrances) data in 17 cities with localized icons for stops.
• Advanced multi-sensor positioning using A-GPS, and pedestrian orientation using the compass feature (Nokia 6210 Navigator needed for built-in compass usage).

DISCOVER:

• Satellite images with hybrid rendering overlays for selected cities worldwide provide real aerial views on your mobile.
• Signature “one-box search” allows you to search through places, addresses, restaurants, nightlife, outdoor, accommodation.
• New premium multi-media city guides including features photos, video, audio streams.

Nokia Maps 2.0 uses vector maps provided by Navteq and TeleAtlas, Nokia Maps now has maps covering over 200 countries, with over 70 of them navigable. Maps can be downloaded over the air directly to selected devices or by using the Nokia Map Loader on a PC.  A new beta version of the Nokia Map Loader is available on the Nokia Betalabs web site.

Nokia Maps 2.0 and the current commercial version of the Nokia Maps Loader is freely* available for selected devices. For download and more information, please visit http://www.maps.nokia.com.

JoikuSpot Light Updated to V2.0; Leaves Beta

The free and secure mobile HotSpot solution, JoikuSpot Light was just updated to V2.0 without carrying the “beta” tag. This popular application turns Nokia phones to a WLAN HotSpot. When switched on, laptops and iPods can establish instant, secure and fast WLAN connection via smartphone’s JoikuSpot HotSpot using the phone’s own 3G internet connection. Multiple devices can connect to JoikuSpot in parallel and seamlessly share the same 3G internet connection. You can use JoikuSpot to access internet everywhere.

Release notes

• Landing page works with all operators.
• Encryption support with WEP including 128bit key generator.
• Battery threshold shutting down the client when battery level is too low.
• Default Access point setting.
• Support for secure SSH tunnels with Putty.
• GPS location with Google Maps (integration for extended mapping services at joikuspot.com landing page).
• All settings can be adjusted after JoikuSpot is stopped, just press the Stop key.
• Please uninstall the previous version before updating your JoikuSpot.