Tweet

Although I just compared the Nokia N900 with the iPhone OS 4, I have to write outside my schedule about the new Nokia C6 unveil from today. The first impression to me was that Nokia brings a really nice looking professional smartphone to the market. You can discover a little similarity to the N97, only the keyboard is slided out like at the N900. It runs on Symbian S600 5th edition, got an 3.2 inch HD touchscreen, a four row keyboard and a five megapixel camera. These specks seems to be almost same as from the N97, but the functionality and the fabrication looks way better.

The functions are also pretty much like in the N97 and N97 mini, but the price seems to be a real killer. Only eur 220,00 before taxes and subsidies are estimated, and thats not even the half of our phones price. And it has the free Nokia Turn by Turn Ovi Maps navigation too right from the box. It brings the best messaging together with instant access to your favourite contacts and communications as we are used from our N900´s. The phone itself is expected in the second quarter of 2010 and I can´t wait to see it for real.

I think this will be a really hot device! Take a closer look at: Nokia C3, C5 and E5. What do you think about it?
- sam | visit our Nokia N900 forum -

Tweet

FeedingIt is a very simple, very good RSS Reader. It is really easy to do the setup, and the feeds are shown very clear and well-arranged in a list. And the best thing, you can use it in portrait mode, which makes reading comfortable, especially on trips. Switch between the stories only with a finger wipe. It´s almost like reading a book.

First, after you installed the program from the Maemo download section, you have to add your favourite feeds in the setup section “Organize Feeds”. Tap on “Add Feed” and set a name for your news collection. Now you will be asked for the URL of the RSS feed, and your done. You can rearrange your feeds in your own order of interest or importance, edit or delete them, as you like. The main screen shows you now all your installed newsletters. Tapping on one, opens the news list of your chosen RSS feed, from where you start reading tapping again on one article. Once the article shows up, you can turn your phone into portrait mode and scroll to your news with your finger, like I mentioned before. I like this very much.

You are also able to import your feeds of interest to your N900 with OPML (Outline Processor Markup Language). For not so skilled users, as I am, this means just that you can add your feeds downloading a file from a specific location, either local or over the internet.

Credits for the author Yves Marcoz for this application.
- sam | visit our Nokia N900 forum -

Tweet

Although the iPhone OS 4 itself is not on the market yet (its release is predicted to the second half of 2010), its upcoming features can be already compared to the N900.

Steve Jobs introduced numerous improvements for the new version of the iPhone in the Apple headquarters in Cupertino on the 8th of April. But hold on: Most of them sounds very familiar to us N900 users.

The first of these new characteristics is quess what: Yes, Multitasking! Doesn´t we have this already on our N900s? And hasn´t Nokia always been one step ahead when it comes to multitasking on mobile devices? Well, I think so! Steve showed about 12 applications running at the same time. How much do you have tested running on the N900?
Skype is coming as an native app also. Another feature what is still build in from the beginning in our phones.
Background location. WOW, what does this mean? The iPhone is able to get GPS data, while listening to music or watching to a video … from where does this come from? Because of Nokias accomplishment since the old Symbian versions, maybe?
One of the new quintessence is the possibility to create folders on the iPhone. Is this something new and mind-blowing? Yes, for iPhone users of course. The Apple phone is slowly approximating a handheld computer status like the N900 was right from the start.
Another novelty presented from Apple is the Mail Box administration. Do I really have to write more about this? Conversations will be stored in so called Threads. Wondering about the similarity to the chat-like message function on our N900.
And at last really something new: iAd. The name alone should tell you all. Advertising on the phone. Yes, that´s what I really want to have, don´t you?
Don´t misunderstand me: I like the iPhone. It´s a very stylish designed smartphone just for the right audience. Amazingly with this new features it will more and more be competitive with devices like ours. Where Apple wants to go with its iPhone?
- sam | visit our Nokia N900 forum -
Edit: I forgot one: Still No Flash!

Tweet

Push Email is a function, that allows you to get messages instantly to your device, without retrieving the mailbox over defined time-periods. Most of these services have to be purchased before you can use them, or as the built-in Nokia Messaging provider has an free testing period. I also searched, googled the net for free services, but I did not found something suitable. Maybe someone of my readers can suggest some “free” services for pushing emails to the N900, although I don´t think that there is one ready for our phone yet. Symbianusers have some choices for installable Push Email services, like emoze or Nuevasync (this one is also working with the N900, but only in the premium version). By the way, Nuevasync is a very interesting service also for syncing calendar and contacts between devices, and maybe I will test and review this in one of my further posts.
I always wanted to try the built-in Nokia Messaging service. First you have to create a new mailbox and to choose Nokia Messaging as Provider. Then you will be asked for your Email address and password. You will be guided through the install routine until the setup is done. Now you will see the installed mailboxes (in case you have installed more than one mailbox, as I did) in your Nokia Messaging account.

There are a few account settings, which allows you to adjust the sync settings and the installed mailboxes. And thats all. As easy as that. And it works. Tested with several emails sent between my mailboxes .

- sam | visit our Nokia N900 forum -

Tweet

Nokia announced, that Ovi Maps with free walk and drive is now available for the Nokia E71 and the E66. I know, that has nothing to do with our beloved N900, but some times ago it was released for the N86 8MP after Ovi Maps Navigation has been available on a small range of devices such as Nokia E72, Nokia N97 mini, the 5800 and the X6 since January.

So I just wonder, where is the version for the N900? As Anssi Vanjoki promised in the end of January it will be available soon. But what means soon? We have Arpil now, and there is no free Navigation for the N900 in sight. Does Nokia have a deal with Sygic? They released their navigation software a few days ago, since 23rd of March, I think. All in all it is really not very expensive, the European maps are available for eur 59,99 in their Online Shop and the USA can be purchased for eur 49,99. Also a Canadian map is already being sold and other regions are “under construction”. But anyway, why should N900 owners pay for something, what Nokia is giving out for free. Only in the case, when we are able to compare both (or more) systems, we can form an opinion which one suites us better (subjective considered) and then “buy or not to buy” the one we´d like to.

I am really waiting to get Ovi Maps for my N900!
- sam | visit our Nokia N900 forum -

Tweet

At last it is here! The well known Tuxracer game from Linux has been adapted to the N900 by Mikko Vartiainen. Long time ago, when it came out to the Linux platform, we implemented the game to a gesture controlled platform which lets you control the penguin with your hands. It was really cool, and people liked it very much. So this is what I waited for.

Now you can control the game with the accelerator of your phone. In this 3D game you can choose from different levels and scenes and improve your skills. Believe me, it is really not easy, to navigate the penguin through the tracks by moving your phone. It has some similarities to Bounce.

Try first to manage the tutorials to learn the tricks you can do with the phone when controlling the penguin. Then start racing which level you like. The high-scores will be stored, so you can compare your progress.

Really a nice amusement game, also to challenge your friends.
- sam | visit our Nokia N900 forum -

Tweet

Sounds like K.I.T.T. is doing the job for you, but the truth is, this application helps you to find your car. Haven´t you been in such situations where you didn´t remember, where you left your car? In a foreign town maybe, or even in your hometown? I remember one case, it was in my hometown, that I had an appointment. Being a little late, searching a parking-lot, I ran to the meeting. After a long and productive “sit-in”, I offered my client to drive him to the airport. My mistake! I nearly remembered the direction from where I ran to the meeting. So we headed for my car .. after about half an hour, I gave up, took a taxi for the meanwhile impatient client, payed it, and continued searching. It is really TRUE that it took me another hour to find my vehicle in the maze of little lanes of the first district.
So, with this application, this would not happen again.

EasyPark is a very nice light app from the Author Jaap Braam. To install just go to the application manager of your phone. EasyPark will also install the Geolocation plugin for the N900 browser, which is necessary to determine your current location. After installing be sure to configure your GPS preferably with Network positioning.

When you parked your car, just tab “park” and the app remembers the location shown as a little “P” on the map. Thats all you need to do. When returning to your vehicle tab “route” and the app will guide you to your four wheels. It will also show you your current parking time, or the distance to your car. You will get an audio alert, if your parking time is running out, so you can easily extend your parking permission.

Please goto the developers homepage, to get more information and a full manual. All in all a very useful application, especially when you need to drive a lot, having outside meetings, etc.
- sam | visit our Nokia N900 forum -

Tweet

Working on visualizations as part of my every day job, this application could be very helpful for presentations at customers. Imagine the wow effect, when demonstrating some nice rendered project pictures or scenes with the N900 in combination with a beamer or a big screen over cable or even blue-tooth if available.
Author Juha Vesanen from the finnish company SVS Innovations Ltd. developed a 3D cross-platform, multipurpose 3D engine for desktop computers and embedded systems, as in this case for use on our beloved N900. This version is only a first sight demo, but the examples coming with the installation will give you first impressions about the possibilities of this real-time visualization tool. Capsule 3d has been designed for devices supporting OpenGL ES 2.0, i.e. majority of the upcoming high-end handheld devices.
For more technical information visit the developers Homepage. There you will also find screenshots, this example video, and the download link to your phone. The application demo can also be downloaded in the Maemo Extras section.

Potential uses for this engine are in first place engineering, visualization and entertainment, that´s what the common user is probably waiting for, the implementation to 3D games, but for me it would be the visualization presentation experience what I´ve been looking for.
- sam | visit our Nokia N900 forum -

Tweet

If you have noticed the numerous Tux Games made for the Linux Platform, you will be not surprised that there are some Tux Penguin Games also for the Maemo OS. Of course there are not lots of them, but maybe it isn´t that hard to translate the existing Tuxers from Linux straight to our phones. If you are familiar with the X-Terminal, there might be a way to install some Linux based games, the so called deb files. I don´t know how this could be done, but in the Talk section of the Maemo site you will find lots of instructions. Still be aware of using X-Terminal for installing, and my advise is, keep your hands off, unless you know what you are doing.

But for those who are common users, like me, there are some very good games ready to install from the Maemo download section. I will begin with Super Tux, a classic 2D jump and run sidescroller, which is similar to the original SuperMario games. Author Valério Valério did a very good job to interpret this one for the Maemo platform. On his homepage you will find instructions, screenshots and more information about Super Tux.

The next game I want to mention is another Tux clone called Wormux. Written by Mikko Vartiainen as a “convivial mass murder” game it can be compared with the well know Worms, which was pretty much the source for this creation. Thank you for this one!

The last one in my list, also from Mikko Vartiainen, is Battle Gweled, a fast action puzzle game. Based on the original Bejeweled, you have to swap the jewels positions to build up rows and get rid of the diamonds. This one can really keep you trapped.

That´s it for this time. If you know some good games for the N900, let us know.
- sam | visit our Nokia N900 forum -

Tweet

Here are some “new” shortcuts which I discovered since my last post about Tips and Tricks. Of course, some of you will already know these ones, but it is just another addition for our list to complete.

Caps Lock: If you want to use capital letters not only at the beginning of a sentence, lets say for a headline, press two times on the shift key, and it will turn on the Caps Lock. To turn off, just press the Shift key again.
The same can be done with the secondary keys, which are accessed by pressing the blue arrow, the “Alt” key. Press two times and lock the blue symbols and numbers. To turn off, just press “Alt” again.
To access the Additional Symbols Menu just press “Alt” and “Ctrl” at the same time. From there you can insert symbols, that are not found on the keyboard.

Highlight text from websites in the browser: Swipe your finger from the left site of the screen. A white arrow will appear. Tap on this symbol and you will get the “Mouse” arrow like you are used to on your personal desktops. With this function you can copy and paste text from websites for example.

Scrolling in the browser is also possible with the Space Key of your keyboard. This will automatically move the page several rows down. Of course the Arrow Keys can be used to scroll down slow, line by line.
You have heard of the browser history, which is activated with a swipe from the right of your screen, being in the browser. But maybe you haven´t heard about pressing the “Back” button on your keyboard, which instantly brings you back to the previous page.
If you have multiple tasks open and you want to go to the Multitask View of your phone fast, use “Ctrl” and “Back” at the same time. This will bring up your open applications thumbnails instantly.
That´s it for this time. If you have any suggestions, please post them as comments, so I can add them the next time to complete the Tips and Tricks posts.

- sam …

Tweet

If you look at the competitor Apple with its iPhone, it is unchallenged, that they do really have apps. Sometimes I just go through the amount of applications for the Apple phone to see if something would be interesting to have on the N900. And indeed I always find some programs, which I really would like to see on my phone.
For example the Linkedin app, which is basically the business version of Facebook. What in the world can be so difficult to adapt this social media version to the Nokia phone, when Facebook is already in it? There can´t be much differences between this two, or am I erring?
Then there is Spotify, the online music database, to listen to your favorite tracks everywhere, everytime you want to. Yes, I know there is some kind of client named Yaspot, but I didn´t really have had the ambition to test this one yet , and I have to say, that I would prefer the native version rather than some auxiliary programs.
What I am really missing is Total Recall from Killermobile. I used this app on my N73, and I loved it. It records all your calls, incoming or outgoing, automaticly and saves the files to a folder you can define. It uses the file type amr, which saves the recordings in really small files and even sends you the attachments by email, so you don´t have to worry about backups. In the Maemo download section you can find a similar program, which allows you to record your calls, but it works only manually, so its not that useful as Total Recall. (Recording of phone calls, is not allowed in some countries. So be careful when using this application).
Which apps you would like to see on the N900?

Tweet

I have noticed an active increment of themes for the Maemo (especially for the N900) platform. The author Ricky Tournee for example released six themes at once, called the livilSteel theme series. They are all consistent in design and layout, which makes them distinctively belonging together and reflecting the designers “handwriting”.
The first one is the basic theme, livilSteel:

As second livilSteel Army Theme:

The third one is livilSteel Black Winter Day Theme:

Forth theme is livilSteel OSX Theme which is my favorite one:

As fifth theme livilSteel Grunge Theme:

And the last one livilSteel High Contrast Theme:

All of them are downloadable in the Maemo Download section for free! Thank you Ricky Tournee!
Another nice theme, which I place as my second favorite is the Array Theme for Fremantle by Johannes Siipola. Kiitos!

And my last one, on my personal third place I rank the Reflect Theme also by Johannes Siipola.

With time to time it will be more and more interesting to personalize the own device. We did not have a wide range of themes yet, but with this speed of theme releases, I think we will be able to choose soon our individual one.
Thank you Theme-Developers, I really appreciate your work, and I think the most of us do, am I right, or am I right?
So long,
- sam | visit our Nokia N900 forum -

Tweet

today I saw a video presentation of a new Samsung Phone in the Phonereport Blog and  I have to say that I was really impressed. Wouldn’t it be nice to have something similar for our phone too? Unfortunately there is no such function for the N900, but you can “pimp” your phone with some 3D generated backgrounds. Maybe you have the ability to create 3D pictures yourself with some programs or you can download a few examples from the N900 wallpapers site.
Here is a very nice one, which I found on this site:

It doesn’t come close to the Samsung effect, but it is a nice three dimensional rendering, which gives you at least a little bit of a visual perspective. To install this background, please follow the instructions in one of my previous posts How to make A Wallpaper by yourself, or just download the pictures and set them one by one as background pics on your phone.
- sam | visit our Nokia N900 forum -

Tweet

As I mentioned in my further post about the Nokia Map Loader, I would test the downloaded maps on the N900 on my road trip only with the GPS functionality. The main reason why, is saving roaming costs being abroad, which can be very high in some countries.
Finally I got home and the test succeeded with almost satisfying results. Mostly I described the functions of Ovi Maps in my post Ovi Maps – Navigation on the N900, so please get further information about how to use the map functionality there.
Although there are some issues with Ovi Maps, like the lack of Turn by Turn, no history, no bookmarks, no rerouting, and so on, it works as it should, for now. (We all hope, that Nokia is releasing the full navigation package for the N900 soon.)

Planning the route without the A-GPS functionality is almost the same routine as normal. You have only to disable the network function in the GPS settings of your phone first. It is then going to ask you if you want to connect to the internet (which are available) and negate this one. Be also sure that the settings for the internet is set to “always ask”. Then set your route and wait for the route calculation. In this mode it will take a little longer for it has no assistance from the mobile network (this is what the name stands for: Assisted Global Position System), but once its calculated you will have your route shown as it used to be with assistance on.

I was guided well and getting no bills from roaming partners in other countries.

- sam | visit our Nokia N900 forum -

Tweet

Since I read somewhere in the Maemo community, that Nokia Map Loader is now available for our beloved N900, I tried and tried to find the way to install it and use it. It’s not easy to find the download for the Map Loader on the Nokia site, sorry, for me it wasn’t. Finally I found it here, thanks to the german blogsite www.pocket.at, but you can find it also on the national Nokia site, if you willing enough to.
You will find also two versions, one for the PC and one for the Mac. I downloaded first the Windows version to give it a try on my XP machine (I thought to take the secure way, on installing it to the PC). First you have to know, that you need to install the PC suite, unless you didn’t have it already. Then install the Map Loader, and restart your computer. Don’t ask why, the instructions told me so, it won’t work without a restart. Full of expectation I started the program. It told me that I am connected to minimum one phone N900 (PC suite mode) and that it couldn’t find the map location and that I have to connect again in Mass Storage Mode. After this procedure it just starts to wait for my phone, although it is connected (online in the PC suite). Nothing happend. Very confused.
?
?

?
After this defeat, I took my macbook and downloaded Map Loader again, this time for the Mac , started it and nothing. Also here you have to install first the Nokia Multimedia Transfer program for the mac to success to run the Map Loader. And what a pleasant surprise: it worked! I downloaded maps to my N900! Now I have to test it on the road, and for I am on a road trip right now, this is the opportunity. But this is another story.
- sam | visit our Nokia N900 forum -