I'm extremely excited to tell you guys that Nokia's Ovi service has finally been expanded beyond Share On Ovi (Photos). You can now sync your Nokia N82's Calendar entries and Contacts with Ovi Sync and view and modify your information from any computer with a internet connection.
Sync Your N82 Calendar
I'm really liking the look of the web-based calendar. Ovi has done a great job of making it useable and easy to manage. I can add or delete entries, modify meetings or tasks, and add details. It's going to be so much easier to work with a real online to-do list and make sure that it properly syncs with my N82. I really think it rivals Google Calendar's functionality especially since it's so easy to use. It's almost completely eliminated my need for Google Calendar. You really need to try it yourself to understand how good it works. Check out the screenshot below.
Sync Your N82 Contacts
Also new is the Ovi Contacts service. Here you can add, delete, modify all your N82's contacts as well as create groups and modify those. It's ten times easier to do this on a real computer instead of spending time inputting contact details from your phone. I don't have a screenshot to provide because I don't feel like blanking out all my contact details.
You can also show your Flickr friend's photo streams on your Ovi dashboard. This is great to keep track of your buddies or family who refuse to transfer from Flickr to Ovi.
The Bad?
The only downfall right now is you have to sync manually. It would be awesome if you can schedule a sync but I'm sure this functionality will be here in the near future. Other than that I haven't seen anything that I don't like so far.
More Screenshots
Rafe from All About Symbian has put up a more detailed review of the new Ovi service. Click here to check it out.
Try It Out
Go to www.ovi.com right now and sign up for an account. If you already have a Nokia Account you must use this one to login. If you've used Nokia Email beta or Files On Ovi then use that login. It's not the same as your Share On Ovi login, but they will be combining the two in the near future. Once your all signed up you will get a text message that will setup your N82 so that everything can sync.
Have any of you already tried this out? If not, let me know how you like it. Since I'm running on Linux Ubuntu instead of Windows (which I have to talk about again), this new Ovi service has really made life much easier without PC Suite. What are your thoughts?
Friday, August 29, 2008
View, Edit, Sync Your N82 Contacts & Calendar On The Web With The New Ovi Sync
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Next N82 Firmware Update Part 2: What Features Are We Missing That We Need?
Last week we talked about what current features can be improved upon. Now I want to talk about features that we don't have that should be added. There are always big and small things that can be added that would make the phone extremely more useful.
For instance...
1) Add possible words to the T9 predictive text. While I'm typing out a word I should see a small list of the most common words I use that makeup the letters I'm using. Halfway through the word I can select the one I want instead of having to type out the entire word. This has been implemented on the Nokia E71 and E66, there's no reason why we shouldn't have it.
2) Add new emails to standby screen. I know we probably won't get this because it's an Eseries exclusive. Nokia does this to keep the Eseries more "business" centric. I really think they need to break away from this since the majority use their email for personal use rather than business. I have a feeling it's pointless for me to even ask for this.
3) Remote Phone Lock. If your phone is lost or stolen you can send a text to it with a code and it will lock down your phone and make it unusable. Another Eseries exclusive. Come on Nokia I don't want anyone to have access to my contacts, emails, etc. either.
4) Add support for full screen wallpapers. This is a no brainer. Why don't we have this feature yet Nokia? I don't mind if my active standyby icons are blocking anything, just leave it up to me. No reason we shouldn't have this already.
If you didn't notice all three of those ideas are Eseries features. I and my girlfriend have been playing around with an E71 for a few weeks and have grown to love the small features of the Symbian OS on that phone, although I missed out on lots of good photos that the E71 just couldn't do. Ravindra from Symbian Life Blog wrote up a great article a few weeks ago about what the Nseries can learn from the Eseries. It's really worth a look.
I know there are more new features that you all would like to see added. I'm pretty sure we won't get most of them but I'm curious to see what N82 users are actually missing out on that maybe other phones have.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Shareware: VibrateCall - Start Your Call On Loudspeaker
Once in awhile I come across one of those simple applications that just make my life so much easier. VibrateCall does so much in such a small package. The two functions it using during the start of a call is vibrate and loudspeaker.
Here is what it does...
1. Option to start the call with Loudspeaker. As of right now this is only for outgoing calls. I actually don't think I would want it to go straight to loudspeaker for incoming calls.
2. Option to Vibrate until call is connected.
I told you it is simple. For me this application has been extremely useful. When I'm at work unloading huge container ships I sometimes have to make a call so I step aside to a safe area and take care of business. It's so loud there I need to use the Loudspeaker almost all the time. All I have to do is call my contact and then the phone phone will vibrate in my hand constantly until the call is connected. This allows me to keep my head up and watch my surroundings instead of looking at my phone or holding it at my ear waiting for the connection. Then when I'm connected the conversation is started through the Loudspeaker.
I've come to get used to this method of calling and use it almost all the time now. Of course I have to disable it when I'm in a quiet room, but this isn't option. I usually step out when I want to make a call anyway.
Here's what the developer says about it...Safer : "Radiation emission by a mobile phone when a call is connected is found to be as much as 20 times the level during a call"
Easier : You don't need to stick your phone to your ear when calling somebody, just hold the phone in your hand, you will know exactly when the call is answered.
Click here to read more or download VibrateCall for your Nokia N82. The newest version is already signed so you don't need any certificates. The application isn't freeware but instead shareware which means you must donate after 30 calls. I used the $4.95 option which was worth it for me.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Nokia N82 Showcased On BBC News As A Tool For The "Supermarket Of The Future"
Now I've seen it all. A German grocery store has developed an application that allows you to scan barcodes of products your purchasing with the camera of your Nokia N82. This will completely automate the process of checking out at the grocery store. Once your done shopping and scanning your products you place your N82 under a scanner and the machine tells you how much you owe. Pretty nuts right? Check out the video link below...
Nokia N82 in the Supermarket Of The Future
Thanks to the reader Stefan for sending me the email with this link, which I originally read at Atmasphere.net.
This opens the door to so many new technologies that the N82 can take advantage of. What else can you see this being used for?
Friday, July 4, 2008
N82 FP2 Menu Transistions Coming? Video - The N81 Just Got The Update
Gosh dang Mr-X from FinestFones.com has really been on top of things lately. He found a video showing the Nokia N81 with menu transitions just like the Nokia N78 and upcoming Feature Pack 2 phones. There are so many questions to be asked here...
First off will the Nokia N82 receive a similar update to allow for FP2 transitions?
Does this mean that the N81 has Feature Pack 2, or is it still Feature Pack 1 but just with new transitions?
Can it be turned off the slick transitions if we get sick of them?
I'm sure many of you will have more questions. Check out the video of the N81 and transitions...
This is really interesting news and will be huge if the Nokia N82 gets this update. I don't see why it wouldn't since the N81 did. This is a much needed update since many complaints around the mobile industry about Nseries phones is the lack of glitz and glamor in the in the Symbian S60 UI. I'll keep posting updates as they come.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
New Nokia N82 Firmware Update, User Data Preservation Now Works
I posted a few weeks ago about the news of "User Data Preservation" which means when you update your Nokia firmware, you won't lose your settings, applications, contacts and calendar entries. Pretty much nothing should be lost.
Well today the Nokia N82 recieved a small firmware update. The new firmware version is 11.0.117. User data preservation reportedly works well. This is huge news for Nokia enthusiasts and just goes to show that Nokia is listening to their customers.
An official changelog has not been released, but I'm reading that it's mostly crucial bug fixes. This update is currently available for European product codes.
Source: All About Symbian
