[..] A QWERTY smartphone is all about communication. The three killer apps/features are in my opinion voice, corporate email and SMS (to some extent IM). Make it easy, really easy and *intuitive* to access these features from the phone book [..]

Interesting post from Ed following a request from Tommi at s60.com on how to improve the phone book.

In principle I like this approach from Nokia leveraging the user experience which is clearly out there but only if you are willing to listen. Personally I have always felt that esp in the “old days” the menu structure of Nokia relative to the Motorolas and Sumsungs in this world actually was quite intuitive. With the integration towards smart phones they have somehow lost it although trying to catch up.

For me intuitive is defined over 2 axis:
1) defaults - can be more than one
2) simply assume in your OS that intuitive for different users means different things

Note.1) take for example the below menu: 1) default when green - start dialing, 2) default when ok - give menu options, 3) default when just starting keying in text on the qwerty keyboard - simply open the SMS appl and start an SMS

Note.2) simply allow users to change the defaults and views - “skin-it”

read more | digg story

[..] I wrote a small program, called LogExport, to Export the Call Register data to a CSV file. It only does that thing, no more and no less. You will only find one menu: Export, the analysis task can be done by a spreadsheet. I was actually planning to give analysis options, but after reading so many subscription plans from different providers [..]

This is actually a really simple but nice application. With this simple appl you can download all the phone’s log information to a *.csv file which then can be used for analysis purposes in Excel. All detail in terms of calls in/out and messages in/out is made available.

Really convenient if you have some trust issues with your lady as even when SMSs or calls are deleted from the phone they will still remain in the log. The best way to learn your loved one is unfaithful? Buy her a Nokia e61, install this appl (explain that this appl is needed to make the “internal antenna work”) and download the *.csv once or twice a month.

Good luck - and … do not blaim me …

read more | digg story

So far the only Skype solutions I have tried require that simultaneously you have to run your laptop / PC to enable your Nokia e61 connecting to the Skype servers. Obviously not a very attractive service. Already some time ago I went over to fring.com and concluded (without trying) that their solution had the same problem. This time I actually tried it as with version v3.0 fring claims it provides (other) VoIP services being integrated in their solution.

Installing fring was a nice and unique experience. Really thought through. You have to provide your mobile pone number wherever you live and fring will provide you with a download link. Keep your fring internet site running as you are taken step by step through installation as the site keeps track of where you are in the installation process. This is the way I guess it should always be done.

Continue reading [fringe a skype solution and more for the Nokia e61 and Nokia e62 where you do not have to leave your laptop running]

Following several posts on Sudoku the guys at ZingMagic were so nice to give me a trial version of their Zingles (=Sudoku) application. Making inquiry why they do not make a trial version available to a broader audience (as you can only buy their applications), gave me more insight in the harsh world of Symbian software development.

All 3rd edition applications need to be Symbian Signed if they use the phones IMEI for any kind of dynamic registration. Any Symbian signature goes at a cost of some EUR200 per application. Each trial version over a different distribution channel (read website) implies a new signature. Thus if you develop several Symbian applications like these guys which you like to distribute to multiple sites let’s say 20 different ones, then you can imagine the cost that comes with making trials available. Clearly something the guys at Symbian can improve to speed up the rate% of new applications being made available. Because, and as I guess, many users like me want to try certain applications before making the dollars$ available for it.

Ok, back to the application itself. Let me first highlight what I personally think is important in a Sudoku application:

• user interface – application should be intuitive and should make best use of resources being available
• data input / handling the application – as there is quite some interaction required the data entry should be intuitive and fast (not too many steps)
• choice in levels – obviously Sudoku for different users requires different levels – as I consider myself as an ace, hard should be really hard

When opening the application you will first have to select if you want to play a new game or continue with an old one. Actually this is quite a good feature as you are enabled to store multiple games at the same time. In fact, even if you are playing you do not have to worry about saving the game as each move is automatically stored when made. The way I use this feature is that if I am not able to quickly solve the Sudoku I save it up for later.

 

Continue reading [Review: Sudoku continued: Zingles for the Nokia e61 and Nokia e62]

Ever since I have purchased my first Nokia e61 the catalogs feature actually never worked. When opened I get standard the message -No Catalogs. Select Options/Refresh list to download-. And after refreshing as instructed, no change, no list, and basically the same message keeps sitting in front of me. So far I have not really cared as I never felt I was missing anything. However, with Nokia releasing more and more applications through this channel, I start to wonder actually why this feature does not work. First I thought it was maybe an operator related issue, however, whether I try to update through GPRS or WiFi it does not seem to matter.

Anyone any ideas about this one? Just let me know.

Morange has been upgraded to version 2.7.0. Mainly the email application in Morange got a thorough facelift this next to some cosmetics in terms of navigation. As such the email application matured especially in having a better overview of the email itself when you are composing a new one. Try it out. Please also refer to earlier posts.

Next to a fanatic Nokia e61 user I like to play a round of golf. Already since I have bought the SonyEricsson P800 I have been using IntelliGolf, a cool application to track your score during your golf game. Since then I have been using this app on my Palm and many other mobile devices burning quite some license fee buying it again and again.

Planning a first golf game since the purchase of my brand new Nokia e61 back in September, I went onto the site of intelligolf.com to download the e61 version. My surprise, no version available for the Symbian s60 3rd edition platform. In fact no version available at all specific for Symbian phones other than a crappy Java version which only partially works.

I accepted the fact, and decided to wait … and wait … and wait … Today I went back and checked again and other than that crappy Java version now being promoted as a Nokia e61 version, nothing has changed. Still no s60 3rd edition or even a Symbian version available. Not a good job at all of the guys at IntelliGolf.

Thus after several months of waiting I have given up and after years of being a loyal customer to IntelliGolf I am ready to try a new application for my golf score tracking on my Nokia e61.

Appreciate any suggestions on available applications you might have come across so far? Thanks.

As we are all aware the progress of new game development for the Symbian s60 3rd edition platform is dreadfully slow. Would it not be a good thing if we can play all the classic games on the road on our Nokia e61? The LCD display is perfect for it. Now is our chance …

Recently a lot of already existing emulators for earlier versions have been updated to the s60 3rd edition platform. What is an emulator? Basically an emulator is like “replacing” the Commodore 64, Nintendo or Gameboy on your Nokia device and enables you to play exactly the same old classics (like my favorite game PacMan) as you were used to on these first “game consoles” in the late eighties. In principle the number of games you can play is “unlimited”.

Steps to take are as follows,

1. Download an emulator and install it on your Nokia e61 (most provide trials and if you like you can register it)
2. Find and download games on the internet specific to the emulator used (ie these are not interchangeable)
3. Copy over (and “install”) game files into the respective directory on the phone or memory card (eg in this example in “phone/others/vSun/”
4. Enjoy playing your games

Continue reading [Nokia e61 - games, games, games]