Author: Vikas SN

A Complete Mobile freak. Regularly Blogs about Mobiles at Techknots.com and Tweets as @tsuvik

Samsung To Launch Its Own Application Store on September 14

Samsung App Store

After the Immense success of Apple’s App Store and moderate success of Nokia’s Ovi Store,  Samsung is coming up with its own new app store for all the Samsung Smartphone users on September 14th 2009. However Initially, the Samsung App Store will be open only for the UK, France and Italy users of Omnia and I8910 HD, with 30+ countries like Germany and Spain to follow later. Samsung has further added that the App Store will be then expanded to accomodate other models such as Omnia II and OmniaLITE etc.

The Samsung Application Store will supposedly kickstart with 300 native apps and then grow it to approximately 2000 apps by the end of year 2009. The various apps present in the app store will range from Games, references, social networking, e-books and health related apps which can be easily downloaded in a single click. Companies like Gameloft, Electronic Arts, Handmark, TAITO, Paragon SW, Capcom etc will be among the main providers of applications to the Samsung Application Store.

However in order to activate the App Store Service, Both Omnia and I8910 HD users will have to upgrade their devices. Omnia users can simply download and install the mobile client from www.samsungapps.com to access the app store on their mobiles once the store opens up on 14th Sep 09. Samsung I8910 HD users also can download the mobile client by selecting the Application Download icon on their mobile phones.

So if you are an Omnia or I8910 HD mobile user, you can just head over to www.samsungapps.com for more details on the app store and also to browse featured applications after 14th Sep 2009.

Nokia Messaging Gets HTML support for Touch Screen Phones

About a month back we had told you that Nokia Messaging team is planning to release HTML Support for all the touchscreen phones and guess what, they have just released an update for Nokia Messaging, which brings HTML support to all the touchscreen phones, like Nokia N97 and the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic etc.

Having tried the new Nokia Messaging for a day or two now, I can easily say that this is one of the best version of Nokia Messaging out yet.

Here are some of the screenshots of the new Nokia Messaging application:

Nokia Messaging 1 Nokia Messaging 2 Nokia Messaging 3

So totally, all in all, it has been an excellent upgrade from its previous version. Kudos! Nokia Messaging Team.

You can get the new version of Nokia Messaging by heading over to email.nokia.com on your phone browser.

What do you think of this new update of Nokia Messaging? What else do you think can be added to make it more powerful? Do Pass on your comments

Nokia N900 already up for preorder in USA for $649

In less than 48 hours of completion of Nokia World, The Nokia N900 is already up for sale in USA and is now available for preorder directly from the Nokia USA Online store.

As discussed in our Nokia World coverage, Nokia N900 is going to be the first Nokia mobile phone to run the Linux derived OS, Maemo.

Continue reading “Nokia N900 already up for preorder in USA for $649”

AT&T Finally To Launch MMS for iPhone On September 25

AT&T has finally announced that, on September 25, it is going to roll out a software update which is going to add the required support for sending and receiving MMS messages for all its iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS customers.

One of the major qualm of iPhone customers was the lack of MMS support from the AT&T side although iPhone had added the MMS support in its 3.0 Software Upgrade.

AT&T has stated that the projected high data usage of the iPhone’s multimedia capabilities was one of the main reason behind the delay in the rollout of MMS Support for all the iPhone 3G and 3GS Customers. You can read the complete AT& T’s company statement here.

Now that AT&T is rolling out MMS Support for iPhone 3G and 3GS customers, I wonder how long will it take for Vodafone to roll out the same thing in India. What do you say? Do Pass on your comments.

A Sneak Peak into Nokia N97’s Firmware 2.0

Here is a a sneak peak into the new Nokia N97 firmware 2.0 (i.e. v20.0.005) that is coming shortly for all the N97 users. The Nokia N97 will finally going to have full kinetic scrolling across the device. Also some of the other new features, N97 Firmware 2.0 is going to possess are New Homescreen Widgets, An Updated Facebook application, Increased Free internal memory, some usability enhancements and also many stability improvements.

Check out the Video Demo below which shows all the major changes, the new firmware is going to sport.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_iajkv2YE8

The Nokia N97 Firmware 2.0 is going to come out this October via Software Update.

Kinetic scrolling across all the menus and increase in internal space memory was a big addition and also was one of the most requested feature by the N97 Users.

So what do you think about this firmware that is going to come out for Nokia N97? What else do you think is missing? Do pass on your comments.

Update : Found one more interesting video of the N97 Mini running v2.0 software

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tks_cG01fFg

(via)

Nokia Ovi Suite 2.0 Beta Updated

The Nokia Ovi Suite 2.0 Beta just got another update today.

What Things Have Changed?

  • Support during application installation. Just double click your device application (.jar, .sisx) in PC and you should be able to get your apps easily into the device.
  • Performance wise, a lot of work has been done on fixing the memory consumption problem and optimize the load times.
  • Lot of bug fixes including error in photos and music sync.

How to Update?

If you already have been using Ovi Suite 2.0 beta, you just have to invoke the application and then upgrade. However, if you are planning to use the Ovi Suite for the first time, you can download the 2.0 beta from here.

Ovi SDK Launched

Creating applications for Nokia devices has just now got a whole lot easier. The Ovi SDK Beta was unveiled today, on the second day of Nokia World 09, along with a new navigation API.

The new SDK will also enable developers to deploy applications across multiple devices, quickly and easily and the new navigation API gives the developers an opportunity to bring navigation directly onto their applications.

The SDK is web based, therefore developers can develop apps not only for Symbian and Maemo but also for the web. This SDK also has a refreshing new and a distinct UI which is made up of a series of libraries, along with Ovi features integrated to it. Therefore anybody who knows HTML, CSS and JS can now create some amazing mobile applications.

Developers can also now make use of Ovi Navigation Player API along with previously released Ovi Maps Player API to make their app both contextual and relevant since Ovi Navigation Player API has the ability to guide app users to specific destinations as well.

The SDK Beta is now currently available by invitation, therefore just head over to Forum Nokia to register for Ovi Developer Beta, and get an exclusive preview of the technology that’s behind some of the amazing Ovi apps the Ovi Store possesses.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UErRqDLYQ6k

Nokia Messaging Goes Social

Nokia Messaging is now getting a social flavour to it with the addition of Facebook. It will bring your latest wall posts on Facebook to your homescreen on the N97 and also gives you quick and easy access to your Facebook status and other messaging features.

N97 users will also be treated to a new refreshing integration of Facebook on their homescreen. Also, you can now scroll through your latest wall posts within the homescreen. If you want to see one of your friends profile in detail, you just have to simply click on their status message and voila! you will be taken directly to the Nokia Messaging Facebook app.

The Nokia Messaging beta is available on Nokia Beta Labs today, and is compatible with N97 and 6700. So If you have an N97 or a Nokia 6700, I would recommend you to download the app from Beta Labs right now.

You can also catch a demo of Social Messaging beta from Nokia Messaging below.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzSOrdMIxik

Nokia N900 Live Pics

Here are some pics of Nokia N900 that got launched today live from Nokia World. And I must tell you, it looks simply mindblowing. The phone runs on Maemo Linux and  we simply fell in love with the phone by simply looking at the specs and the pictures..

Wonder if this is the best Phone Nokia has ever produced? What do you think? Do Pass on your comments.

Some Live Pics of Nokia X3

The Nokia X3 is the first S40 device with Ovi Store enabled on the device. It has a nice 2.2″ screen, Stereo speakers, Built-in FM radio, Dedicated music keys, 16GB of storage via microSD card and a 3.2 megapixel camera.However, till we bring more info about this phone, you can enjoy these pics live from Nokia World.

Nokia X6 and X3 launched

Nokia has just introduced Nokia X6 and Nokia X3 Phones, thus making the Nokia X series completely official.

Nokia X6

With 35 hours of music playback, 16 days standby time and 32GB of memory, the Nokia X6 is a complete multimedia device, for which every multimedia addict would die for.

Nokia X6 is equipped with a 3.2″ touch interface, a 5-megapixel camera and a 16:9 widescreen which is completely optimised for watching photos and videos and also provides a full internet browsing experience. And with direct Ovi Store Integration, the Nokia X6 is just an ultimate device for all the music junkies and social media addicts.

Nokia X3

The Nokia X3 is the first S40 device with Ovi Store enabled on the device. And as far as the specs goes, the Nokia X3 is a complete music device that comes equipped with 2.2″ screen, Stereo speakers, Built-in FM radio, dedicated music keys, support for up to 16GB of storage via microSD card and a 3.2 megapixel camera.

The prices of Nokia X3 and Nokia X6 is going to cost 115 Euros and 459 Euros respectively and are expected to hit the stores during the 4th Quarter of 2009.

Nokia N97 Mini Launched

As expected! Nokia N97 Mini has just been launched by Anssi Vanjoki, The Executive Vice President of Markets, Nokia.

Sporting some new widgets on the homescreen, a lot of usability improvements and the first Nokia device to possess Lifecasting with Ovi (the result of a new partnership with Facebook), the N97 mini is seriously a social media addicts’s heaven.

N97 Mini still posesses around 8GB of memory which can be upgraded to 32GB along with the addition of a 16GB microSD card, a 3.2-inch touchscreen, a full QWERTY keyboard within its 14.2mm thin frame and has the same tilt display design as its big brother Nokia N97.

Lifecasting is an innovative concept which is going to allow users to update their Facebook status directly from the homescreen along with the geo location details. With the ability to completely customise the homescreen, users will be now able to customize their N97 Mini to preference and make it truly unique. The Nokia N97 mini also works seamlessly with Ovi Store from where users can add some cool new applications, widgets, ringtones and other content onto their device.

Nokia N97 Mini also sports Ovi Maps and comes with integrated A-GPS and also with voice navigation for driving or walking directions. The 3.2-inch touchscreen of Nokia N97 Mini is also going to include flick scrolling and a range of new experiences.

An N97 User? Don’t fret, because all this will be available as a software update for all the existing N97 devices next month.

With upto 28 hours music playback and 12 days standby time, this 5-megapixel camera phone also comes with dual LED flash and video light, along with a Carl Zeiss Tessar lens.

The Nokia N97 mini is coming on floors during Oct 2009 for an estimated retail price of EUR450.

You can check out some of the live pics below.

(via Nokia Conversations)

Nokia World 2009 Kicks off

The key note at Nokia World has just started by Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, President and CEO, Nokia.

Those not at Nokia World can catch up the webcast happening at Nokia World or you can also check out our Live Feed – which is updated in Realtime.

Those on Twitter can also follow us at @FoneArena @DotSisx @Tsuvik @Unitechy @Rishminder for live updates from Nokia World 2009.

Here are some of the live photos from the event

You can check our live photo stream here.

Update: Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President, Markets, Nokia has started his Keynote now and speaking about the sales of Nokia N97 and Nokia 5800 now.

iPhone 3G S Finally Getting Launched in India But At A Horrendous Price Tag

Here is some news that might cheer up all the iPhone fans. Finally after much delay, iPhone 3G S is all set to launch in India. Apple has decided it will launch iPhone 3G S this coming September 2009.

Continue reading “iPhone 3G S Finally Getting Launched in India But At A Horrendous Price Tag”