All About MeeGo

Nokia Maps 3D - the 'making of' DVD extra

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:08:41 +0100

Nokia Maps 3D is a desktop browser-based 3D mapping tech demo, with (currently) 23 major cities around the world mapped in glorious, true 3D, with data and textures gathered from satellites, planes and cars, using conventional cameras and laser rangefinders. Anyway, Nokia just released a rather cute 'making of' video, demonstrating in public-friendly form, roughly how it all gets put together. It's embedded below - comments welcome. Oh, and apparently you'll soon not even have to install a plug-in into your browser...

Nokia Conversations re-launches

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 08:05:50 +0100

Nokia Conversations, the public-facing site where stories from inside Nokia are brought to the wider world, has been given a rather impressive overhaul. Far more than just a cosmetic facelift, there's a 'notifications bar' (on the left) with dynamic links to breaking content and language controls, there's an emphasis on the 'big story of the day', the ability to contact individual story authors and a general de-cluttering of the interface.

Nokia Q3 2011 - on the road to recovery?

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:10:41 +0100

Nokia has released its Q3 2011 results, reporting an operating loss of -€71 million, with net sales of €8.980 billion (down 13% YoY). Nokia's Devices and Services division's profits were €132 million. Margins in devices and services were 2.4% (down from 11.3 % in Q3 2010 and up from -4.2% in Q2 2011). Total smartphone device sales were 16.8 million, compared with 27.2 million units in Q3 2010 (down 34% YoY) and 16.7 million units in Q2 2011 (up 1%, QoQ). The results were ahead of expectations and suggest the company has started on the road to recovery.

A NFC (Near Field Communications) primer

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:17:00 +0100

NFC, widely touted to be one of the 'next big things' is here already in the Nokia C7, Google Nexus S and Blackberry Bold 9900, plus all the new Symbian Belle handsets have it built-in and other manufacturers and platforms are sure to follow. But what actually is Near Field Communications and how does it work? What can you do with it right now and what will it enable in the future? Here's a bookmark-able primer that should answer all your questions.

No pressure, but... (Xenon and the rise of the REAL camera phone)

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:07:10 +0100

More of an observation than a rant (though see below), but the rise and rise of the REAL camera phone puts quite a bit of pressure on us geeks, whatever mobile OS we currently favour. You see, the theory is that "the best camera is the one you have with you" but in practice all smartphones aren't created equal in the camera department and that has unforeseen social repercussions....

XMI X-Mini II Mini Speaker

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:02:00 +0100

Smartphone loudspeakers are a mixed bunch, many are good enough while some make us wonder why manufacturers bothered to fit them in the first place. If you like to use your phone as a boombox, external speakers are definitely the way to go. However, some of them are so bulky or elaborate that they rather defeat the object of using a converged device. The XMI X-Mini II mini speakers might just offer a compromise of compactness versus quality and power. Read on for our review and photos.

MeeGo merges with LiMo to form Tizen

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:50:20 +0100

Multiple sources have announced today that the Linux Foundation and LiMo Foundation have agreed to merge their respective mobile operating systems, MeeGo and LiMo. The resulting operating system, Tizen, will support HTML5 as its primary development environment. Like MeeGo, it will be designed to support a range of device classes like smartphones, tablets, Smart TVs, netbooks, and in-vehicle-infotainment systems. The Tizen project will be governed in much the same way as the MeeGo project. This includes a technical steering group of which Intel and Samsung are members. Read on for more details.

Nokia N9 starts shipping

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:59:18 +0100

Nokia today announced that it has started shipping the Nokia N9 to customers and stores. Nokia says the estimated retail cost of the N9 is €480 (16GB) / €560 (64GB) before taxes and subsidies. Pricing and availability will vary from region to region. In most countries it will be possible to buy the N9 SIM free, but it will only be ranged by operators in select countries.

Nokia want to give Glasgow a Social Media gift

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 08:31:05 +0100

Here comes the Nokia Gift Machine! As part of Social Media Week, Nokia have installed a "Social Gift Machine" in Glasgow. Hooked up to the internet, with its own hash-tag on the side, all you need to do is check in via Foursquare to the vending machine and you'll be rewarded with a gift. Beyond "It's doesn't just hold candy" we've no idea what you might get, but we know of one Nokia N8 that has been given out!

4squick

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 08:46:04 +0100

Time for another social media client in the shape of 4squick. Focused on Foursquare, and making sure you can get into the app, check-in and get on with your life as quickly as possible, this Qt-based application has a small but growing cadre of supporters. Will AAS join the troops? Read on...

How to: Take better videos on your smartphone

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:20:00 +0100

By popular request, here are my tips on shooting better videos on your smartphone. If you've been to an event, whipped out your phone and been disappointed later by blurry, jerky, muffled, badly lit footage, then these tips are for you! From light to movement to mundane practicalities, it's all covered below.

Lateral thinking: a dozen uses for your phone's camera that you might not have thought of!

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:02:00 +0100

Taking a photo of that family member, friend or scene is the obvious function of your smartphone camera. But a little lateral thinking sees quite a few extra uses for this equipment - your phone camera isn't just for Christmas (and holidays), you know. See if any of these examples ring true in your experience... Can anyone remember life before we all had cameras with us 24/7? Me neither!

Nokia Car Mode application revs up with MirrorLink

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:55:36 +0100

Today, at the IAA (a car industry event), Nokia announced Car Mode, an application designed for the in-car use of Nokia smartphones. It offers simplified access to Nokia Drive (voice-guided car navigation with Nokia Maps), music and voice calling functionality. In addition, the application also supports MirrorLink (previously known as Terminal Mode), which allows for a rich connection between phone and car. The application, which has been developed in Qt, will be available for download from the Ovi Store in Q4 for Symbian Belle devices and the Nokia N9. Update: added screenshots of Nokia Car Mode.

Qt open governance steps forward with Qt Project

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:44:39 +0100

Nokia has announced that the Qt Project, the outcome of open governance work that started in June 2010, will go live on October 17th 2011. Qt governance, roadmapping and releases will proceed the auspices of the Qt project, open to all stakeholders who are willing to contribute, with decisions taken by a community of Contributors, Approvers and Maintainers. In practical terms the hosting of Qt will move to a new domain: qt-project.org.

Nokia offers N9 pre-orders at Helsinki flagship store for 599 EUR

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:19:05 +0100

The Nokia N9 can now be pre-ordered from Nokia's flagship store in Helsinki (Finland). The 16GB variant is available for €599 (£516 / $817) and the 64GB variant is available for €699 (£602 / $954). This is the first pricing we've seen from an official Nokia source. Typically Nokia's flagship and online stores are the first to receive stock of new devices.