Nokia Music Updated to Version 1.3
Better connectivity, a faster experience

Nokia Music hits version 1.3

Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia has reportedly updated its Nokia Music PC app to version 1.3, mainly aimed at eliminating any difficulties those who own a S60 handset had when connecting their devices to the music client. The new version of the software solution enables users to change the connection modes for the device, so that the transfer of music is made much easier.

According to a blog post on Ovi, the ‘connection mode switching’ feature will show up as soon as users will try to connect their device to a computer. The new Nokia Music 1.3 now comes with a new button that allows users to change the connection mode while the application is running, provided that they selected the wrong mode at the beginning.

In addition, the developers also say that the software now features a ‘modularised’ installation process, so that the experience is faster in case some users already have a series of key components installed on their machines. In case another Nokia desktop suite is already installed, such as the Ovi suite, the install package will diminish considerably, the blog post notes.

“We’ve improved the artwork display performance for larger music libraries. You should see should see [sic.] album covers appear more quickly in this version,” the developers say. Given the fact that there are handsets that come with ‘multiple memory’ configurations, the new software caches them more effectively, it seems, so that users get a quicker view of what is on their device.

Nokia Music’s features list also includes:
- Play and organise your music seamlessly between your PC and phone;
- Enjoy full integration with the Nokia Music Store and the Comes With Music™;
- Transfer music and playlists to and from your device;
- Burn songs to CD;
- Rip your CDs straight to your device with ‘Rip n’ Go;’
- Unlock the music potential of your mobile with the only PC jukebox optimised for Nokia owners;
- Get Nokia Music Store recommendations based on your ‘now playing’ track.

Another change that has been made with the new software solution is the fact that it will embed any folder art that is required when users import their music into the application. This means that album art will be showed in the music player on the device when a track is played. One final improvement that the new software version comes with is the ‘progress pane’ that shows the status on the transfer.

The Nokia Music can be downloaded from here (for Windows computers).

Google Maps for Mobile Reaches Version 3.2
Comes with layers and category search

Google Maps for mobile reaches version 3.2

Google has just released a new update for its popular Google Maps for mobile, which has now reached version 3.2, and which comes with a few quite interesting new features, as well as with a series of bug fixes. New in this release are layers, along with a browse category option, a My Maps layer, and additional search results, apart from the top ten ones that the app was already showing when performing searches. The new version is aimed both at Windows Mobile and Symbian Series 60 devices.

Starting with the new features that have been included in version 3.2 of Google Maps for mobile, we should mention the fact that the new layers that it comes with enable users to view locations and additional info overlaid on the map. They will have the option to control what info is available on the map by adding multiple layers or by removing those that do not matter too much. The info available via layers includes search results, Traffic, Directions, and Google Latitude, as well as My Maps (view-only), Transit lines, and Wikipedia.

The ‘browse categories’ option allows users to perform searches through popular categories so as to find businesses or points of interest on the map, according to their type. For the time being, however, category searches are only available for mobile phone users in the US and China. The additional search results mentioned before appear on the map as dots, and users will be able to select them so as to view more info. In case there are multiple dots in a single location, a zoom-in will show them in more detail.

The My Maps layer can be added from the layer menu, yet users will need to sign in to their Google accounts so as to access custom maps they created and edited on their computers. Currently, only the view option is available from Google Maps for mobile. Those who will sign in to their Google account will also have the possibility to access Latitude, as well as other info that is not connected to the Maps.

Google Maps for mobile reaches version 3.2

When it comes to the fixes that the new version of Google Maps for mobile comes with, they are meant both for Windows Mobile and Symbian devices, as follows:
- Symbian S60: E61, E61i, and E62 devices: Shortcut keys work properly using the standard numeric shortcuts. Previously, shortcut keys were not working as intended on these devices;
- Windows Mobile: Copy and paste has been re-enabled for most text entry fields (Search, directions, and user name).

More info on the new version can be found here. The Google Maps for mobile version 3.2 is available for download here.

Symbian Foundation Adds New Member, Nuance
With a portfolio of speech and predictive text mobile solutions

Nuance joins the Symbian Foundation

Nuance Communications, Inc. announced on Monday that it had joined hands with the Symbian Foundation, a move that would offer it the possibility to work on the development of innovative mobile solutions so as to simplify and enhance the handset based on the Symbian platform. The OS, as many of you might already know, powers more than 250 million mobile devices all around the world.

“The Symbian OS brought smartphones to the mainstream and powers among the most advanced devices on the global market,” said Michael Thompson, senior vice president and general manager, Nuance Mobile. “We expect that the adoption of Series 60 phones from Nokia, Samsung, LG and others is going to rapidly expand over the next few years. This proliferation of Symbian’s open source platform provides Nuance with an exciting opportunity to bring our innovative speech, predictive text and handwriting solutions to an increasingly pervasive mobile platform base around the world.”

According to the company, the fact that it has joined forces with the Symbian Foundation will offer other Symbian members the possibility to enhance its mobile voice and text input solutions so as to ease the development of intuitive multi-modal interfaces to leverage the user experience. In addition, Nuance’s solution will also enable third-party development and enhancement, so that users will have the opportunity to obtain a maximum benefit from their devices.

The Symbian Foundation provides one of the most complete mobile software platforms in the world, the company says, while also adding that its portfolio of mobile solutions should be complemented by the mobile ecosystem the Foundation fosters. The Nuance speech and predictive text solutions can already be found on numerous Symbian Series 60 devices. The company says that its products have been shipped along with more than 4 billion devices coming from a variety of manufacturers all around the world. More details on Nuance’s solutions can be found on its website.

Nokia’s Ovi Files Becomes a Free Service
Nokia removed the monthly and annual fees for online storage

Nokia makes Ovi Files free

Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia has removed the monthly subscription for storage space on its Ovi Files service. While users were previously able to choose between a 10GB and a 30GB option for online storage, either for a monthly fee (€6.99 and €12.99, respectively) or an annual one (€49.99 and €99.99, respectively), now they can
benefit from the online storage space without having to pay for it, TheNokiaGuide reports.

Moreover, it seems that those who already paid for their subscriptions will receive a refund for the remaining period of the subscription. “On-the-go file access is a basic component of a complete mobile lifestyle offering. Providing Ovi Files for free enables Nokia to connect more people to Ovi and accelerate the creation of even more advanced Files and Ovi features,” is what the company has to say about the move.

Those who might not know too much about the solution should learn that Ovi Files came to life after Nokia purchased Avvenu, an online service. At the same time, we should also mention that users will get a PC-based Ovi Files Agent that is compatible with Microsoft’s Windows operating system, and which syncs files on the connected computers with an online server. While the free version of the service required for the home computer to be turned on and connected for the files to be available for accessing, the ‘Anytime Files’ was an option that backed the files on the server in the Ovi Files account, so that users had the opportunity to access them anytime anywhere.

For what it’s worth, although not the only solution of the kind, the Ovi Files might see more traction from users now that the company made the service free. Nokia already announced plans to make changes to its online offering, and it seems that things have already started to move in the right direction, so stay tuned to learn what else the company has in store for its users.

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic to See New Firmware Soon
Kinetic scrolling, enhanced homescreen and more

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic might see a new firmware version in the near future

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, one of the most popular mobile phones that the Finnish handset maker launched on the market until now, is reportedly getting ready to see a new firmware update in the near future. According to the news, the purpose of the upcoming software version would be to make the device include about the same features as the recently unveiled 5530 XM does.

It seems that the rumored new software version might come towards users with camera improvements, response time, frequent crash fixes and others. Some of the most interesting features that were unveiled include an enhanced homescreen and kinetic scrolling, which should look great on the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, and should also appeal a lot to users.

The tidbits of info on the expected firmware update for Nokia’s first S60 5th Edition phone come from a dailymobile forum member who claims to have learned them from the guys over at Nokia Malaysia in a meeting to preview the 5530 XpressMusic. The Nokia product manager has reportedly confirmed the upcoming software version and the improvements that it should include.

In case Nokia will include these features in the update, users of a 5800 XpressMusic will be able to enjoy the same capabilities as those already present in the Nokia N97 or in the 5530 XpressMusic. Hopefully this will prove true, so stay tuned to learn what other improvements the upcoming firmware updates for the 5800 XpressMusic will deliver.

Nokia N79 NAM Sees Firmware v30
Accenture to purchase Nokia’s Symbian Professional Services unit

New firmware available for Nokia N79 NAM

According to the latest news around the Web, the Nokia N79 NAM is yet another handset coming from Espoo, Finland, that has been recently updated to a new firmware version. Firmware version v30 is now reportedly up for grabs for this Nseries device for those who own it in the US, and it should be available for download either over the air or via the Nokia Software Update.

As many of you might already know, the update has been released for the European version of the handset for quite some time now, and it seems that the NAM variant has gotten lucky too. Among the goodies that it should include, we can count Ovi Contacts by default, as well as a series of improvements and various bug fixes.

According to Symbian-Guru, the owners of a Nokia N85 NAM should also have a new firmware available for their devices, based on the fact that the handset has been receiving the same software updates as the N79. Those who would like to check whether the update is available for them should enter *#0000# on the standby screen, then go to options and check for updates.

Although the Nokia N79 comes with UDP (User Data Preservation), it’s not a bad idea to back up your data before performing the update, so as to make sure that you don’t lose any important files on the device. Those who would go with the wireless update should also take into consideration the fact that their data connection will be used to download the file.

In related news, we learn that Nokia’s Symbian Professional Services unit is to be acquired by Accenture. The division is in charge with the Symbian OS customer engineering and customer support for the company, delivering engineering-consulting and product-development services to manufacturers and carriers all around the world. According to Nokia, the deal implies the transfer of around 165 people to Accenture, and is subject to customary closing conditions. The transaction should close before the third quarter of the ongoing year ends.

Symbian^2 to Enter Beta Testing
Should be released in six months

Symbian^2 expected to enter beta testing in a few weeks, to be released in six months

The Symbian Foundation is reported to have made great progress with the development of its operating system into open source, and Symbian^2, the first version of the platform to head in the new direction, is expected to enter the beta test phase within the following weeks. According to IT World, the platform should come to the market in new devices in about six months after the beta testing starts, which places its release somewhere at the beginning of next year.

The Symbian Foundation, created after Nokia purchased software developer Symbian, has accelerated the work on the platform and has also announced plans to transform it into open source. The upcoming operating system, Symbian^2, is expected to come with something more than what we are already accustomed to seeing in existing iterations. It seems that it will include both a new UI, which should offer users the possibility to personalize it as they want, as well as new touch features.

It looks like the new version of the software is almost complete, which means that it should be up for beta testing in the very near future. As the company puts it, the following six months represent a phase of “hardening” the software, and the only changes that will be made to it will be based on what feedback the foundation receives from manufacturers. At the same time, it seems that the Symbian Foundation has put the pedal to the metal on the Product Development Kit (PDK), which will enable phone makers to build handsets based on the platform.

As for the transition towards the open-source model of the operating system, the foundation seems determined to complete the entire process by June 2010. The main advantage that this model will offer is that developers will be able to download modules of the OS and report on the bugs they find, which will enable the foundation to polish its product even more. Unfortunately, less than 10 percent of the code is open source at the moment, yet things are about to change really quickly.

Nokia Updates Ovi Contacts, Ovi Maps 3.0
Support for more devices, new features

Ovi Contacts now features support for S60 5th Edition handsets

New updates are heading towards Symbian mobile phone users, in the form of fresh versions for the Nokia’s Ovi Contacts and Ovi Maps 3.0 applications. Ovi Contacts, which was previously known around the world as Nokia Chat, now features support for S60 5th Edition handsets, while Ovi Maps 3.0, up until now in beta, has seen the Gold version, it seems.

Users that own a Nokia N97 or 5800 XpressMusic are now able to enjoy Ovi Contacts on their devices, Nokia Beta Labs announces. The application, as many of you might already know, comes with a proprietary instant messaging system that has been integrated with the contact list. The addition of support for S60 5th Edition phones shows that the developers are considering expanding the range of supported handsets, which can only be great for users.

Those who have already used Nokia Chat will find out that the new Ovi Contacts mobile application is a rather familiar solution. Some of the features that the software comes with include Presence (users can allow friends to know when they are available, busy or on the phone, while also being able to check on friends’ availability), Enhanced presence (share or hide favorite places with friends), and Chat (including support for emotions and location sharing options). The application is available in different versions for S60 5th edition, 3rd Edition (all Feature Packs), Series 40, and Maemo.

Another update that has seen the light from Nokia Beta Labs is aimed at Ovi Maps 3.0, which has just been pulled out of beta. Some of the new features that are available with the application include traffic reports for North America, along with interface improvements and bug fixes. Those willing to upgrade to the new version will need a PC and the Nokia Maps Updater installed on it.

More details on the new version of Ovi Contacts can be found here.

Nokia Messaging IM Released in Beta for E75
Will come to more handsets in the near future

Nokia Messaging IM beta now available for E75

Nokia Beta Labs have released into the wild a new version of the Nokia Messaging IM application, which comes in the form of a Java-hosted test version and is available only for the E75. However, the new version shows people what the upcoming Messaging/IM hybrid application should look like and, according to the developers, it works with Yahoo! Messenger and Ovi accounts.

The Nokia E75, we learn, is the only S60 handset that comes with permanent full access to Nokia Messaging as a service, yet the accessibility is expected to be extended to other devices as well during the following months. As many of you might already know, Nokia Messaging is meant to mobilize consumer email and IM across a variety of the company’s devices.

“Nokia Messaging now offers a desktop-like IM experience on your Nokia device. You can stay in contact with your friends across multiple communities, easily switch between and save conversations and login invisibly. This release is available today for the E75 – the first device bundled with a lifetime subscription to the Nokia Messaging service,” the developers say.

Some of the features of the Nokia Messaging include the ability to chat with contacts in the Yahoo! Messenger and Ovi communities, fast navigation through multiple conversations across different communities, background notifications of new IMs for true multitasking on the mobile phone, familiar and integrated community experience, including Yahoo-specific emoticons, graphics and sounds, quick set of status and availability, as well as login invisibly, and the possibility to see Ovi friends’ avatars and save conversations.

Microsoft to Prep a Bing Mobile Application
The service will launch in Europe too

Bing application for mobile phones

At the beginning of this month, Microsoft launched into the wild its latest search-decision engine, Bing, and it seems that the company is getting ready to come to the market with a Bing application for mobile phones as well. The software solution should come as the successor of the already known Live Search Mobile app for Windows Mobile, which was a rather attractive solution in the end.

The new mobile application should be on its way to Windows Mobile-powered handsets in the near future, at least this is what a Twitter post shows. Given the fact that Bing has replaced Live Search, the new app might be only an upgrade/rebranding of the existing software solution, though there are also great chances that the Redmond-based company will deliver a more advanced solution.

As many of you might already know, the Live Search mobile application included intelligent voice search and location-based search capabilities, which, for some time, were not available with other solutions on the market. According to istartedsomething, the new Bing mobile app should include some of the features Live Search sports, though it seems that a wide range of novelties should be included in the package as well.

Among the features the upcoming Bing mobile application is expected to include, we can count support for Sidekick and BREW-supported phones, besides the Windows Mobile and Blackberry devices, and it seems that Microsoft will have the app present in all Verizon BREW phones that will be launched starting with November this year. In addition, the service is expected to become available in the European market as well, while the UK, France and Italy will also have local content on it.

According to the news, the service and the application are very likely to be launched either in August or September. The screenshots below are meant to provide us with an idea of what the app for Windows Mobile should look like, thought there are great chances that some design modifications will be applied and that some of the new Bing features will be included in the app too.