Disqus - Latest Comments for bvlad

Re: Nokia will take 7 years to react to Apple iPhone (that’s 2014 folks)

Mike42 — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:14:10 -0000

*ahem* No innovation? Industry slowing down? What about handsets costing 1/5th what an iPhone or N97 does, but with 5 times the mobile data usage of normal phones (and thus happy users AND considerably more revenue to carriers)?

http://phoneoftheyear2009.com/

...and, funnily enough, it's ALL about the pretty UI. The UI enables people to 'get things done' instead of the crap we've had for the last 10 years from Nokia/SEM etc, which has *prevented* people from doing what they wanted because the experience was akin to sticking hot knitting needles in your eyes. Unless you were a sicko geek with too much time on your hands and a penchant for accepting pop-ups.

You may not like Apple, but you loose the loyalty and revenue arguments hands-down. And that translates into changes in PC purchases long-term. The iPhone is a way to get people to buy Mac's, and it's working.

/m

Re: Nokia will take 7 years to react to Apple iPhone (that’s 2014 folks)

bvlad — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:29:13 -0000

2014? Bullshit. People will be speaking of the iPhone in past tense by then. It's very clear that Nokia did not foresee the iPhone. And by that I mean it did not foresee the trend, created by the iPhone, of emphasis on usability/UX/UI/touch instead of features/sheer capabilities. That's clearly seen in when the 5800 was released. About a phone developing cycle later.
So, Nokia was slow to respond to the touchscreen trend, but eventually did. It has yet to respond to UX/UI, and it will when Symbian^4 ships (2011, not 2014).
So what?
People keep saying shit about Nokia. So what? You actually think its market share will drop, what 50% YOY? Bullshit. It won't. And even if it does, so what? I mean, if you're not a shareholder in Nokia, so what? Apple will rule the mobile world? Yeah, exactly in the same manner they rule the computer world.
Give me a break. Apple has stopped innovating in the mobile world the second it released the original iPhone. Everything they did after that was incremental stuff. Which everyone loves bashing Nokia for.
The truth is, no one is doing anything groundbreaking anymore. And in the last 3 years, only 2 devices were such: the N95 and the iPhone. The rest is PR nonsense which revolutionizes the world twice a day. The industry (I mean the device-making part) is slowing down, because there seems to be little else they can include in these products that is innovative or of any real use.
I think we'll all have to wait for the web to evolve (to HTML5). This will enable the next real groundbreaking moment in mobile. Which, imho, will not be "a" moment. It will be a process.
In the mean time, let's all talk about another Apple product that won't ever go past 10% market share no matter how you spin the definition of "market" (tablets, anyone? Guess who invented that?!)
As for the pretty, I'm getting tired. Really sick and tired of hearing this faux argument. In the real world, where the tech bloggers absolutely do NOT live, people care more about getting things done than staring at pretty UIs. And for that they have Nokias and Blackberrys (I wonder if that's the correct plural).
The rest is hype feeding on itself and defining itself by itself and in itself. (Stefan Constantinescu's post on IntoMobile about the Apple tablet is a very very nice dissection of the methods used to create hype out of thin air, EVEN if the tablet will exist at some point).

Sorry. I'd write more, but I'd be repeating myself. And sometimes I just can't type fast enough. I need a podcast. :)

Re: Exclusive: James Whatley announces he [CONFIRMATION OR DENIAL] a co-founder of The Really Mobile Project

bvlad — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:09:46 -0000

Right on. I can only fully agree with Dominic on this one. James, I hope you're reading this :)

Re: What’s the definition of a smartphone?

bvlad — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:20:57 -0000

Yay! Platform wars all over again! Yet it's funny how all of you seem to specifically avoid mentioning names.

I'll blow all of your minds and say that I think that a smartphone is a smart phone. Bear with me.
A pretty phone can be one that has a pretty exterior or a pretty UI. Or both. This can also be a smart phone, but not necessarily.
An easy phone is one that has great UX (hence easy for everyone to approach and use). The Holy Grail is to have a phone that is smart, pretty and easy at the same time. This has not yet been accomplished.

So what makes a phone smart? What makes a person smart? It's the same impossible to define, yet everyone has their own personal definition sort of thing.

On the technical side, I'd still argue that a smart phone should take native apps and allow them full control (capabilities) of the hardware. And the UI, if needed. It should also be able to multitask till the RAM is drained.

But really, let me get back to smart, pretty and easy. Let's do the girlfriend analogy. There's smart, there's pretty, and there's easy. Ideally, there should be one person encompassing all these. But usually only in movies. So you stick with whoever seems like requiring the least number of compromises in your book.

Me, I would never give up on smart. In phones, at least ;)

Re: The Power of Push: Push Notifications vs. Multitasking

bvlad — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:08:20 -0000

Oh, and one more thing. Joshua Topolsky wrote it better than I ever could:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/10/editorial-ta...

Re: The Power of Push: Push Notifications vs. Multitasking

bvlad — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:36:20 -0000

I apologize if it came off as a fanatical comment. It was a rare thing for
me, but I just wrote it without giving it a few hours' thought.
And your point about replying on your blog to what I've read on 50 others
might be true, in retrospect.

I also wish you wouldn't take it personally. Even if it seems like it was
something personal, it wasn't. And it's not. You don't know me, but with me,
it never is personal. If I come off as aggressive (like might have happened
here), it's not toward you. Or anyone else for that matter. My comments were
about your thoughts, written in the post, nothing else.

But, the thing is, I have re-read it. I still don't understand why you wrote
it. In fact, I understood more of that from your comments (not only the
reply to me), than from the post itself.

If you wanted to point out a new 'thing', fine. Not that there's anyone in
the tech world who still doesn't know about it, but fine.

My beef is this. If you want to make it into a new thing that may in some
ways (as I said, very few, but still) be better than multitasking, that's
very fine by me. As long as you realise that the advantages of multitasking
are infinitely, well, more.

If you say "hey, here's this new push notification thing, it's interesting,
and here are its strengths", ok.

But the feeling (yes, I know...) I got from the post was that you were
trying, really trying, to prove that this is better than multitasking no
matter what the use-case. Which is just plain wrong, and where my 'fanboy'
line came from. See, 'tis what Apple is trying to do. Re-invent the wheel by
making it square and then getting people to fanatically (yes!) adore that
concept. Because, you know, surely if Apple did it, it's gotta be better
than what everyone else is doing. In some cases, that may be true, but in
this one, it just isn't.

I don't hate. Anyone or anything. I don't hate Apple, I don't hate the
iPhone, I don't hate you. I'm just trying to be rational (and failing, it
seems, but in a different way than the Gizmodo's of the world) in a
tech/blogosphere which is caught up in a very irrational bubble when it
comes to anything Apple does.

I try to point out when marketing is just marketing and nothing more. Not
because I enjoy doing this all that much, but because I see more and more
people fall for stuff their experience and smarts should make them avoid.
And see for what it really is.

I don't know what Apple's internal reasoning for not having multitasking is.
I don't care. But for me, calling it a smartphone when it can't multitask is
just marketing. And it certainly isn't smart.

And I do like the push notification idea, believe it or not. But imho, it
has to be implemented in a phone that can multitask, too. Now that would
truly be a great evolution of the stuff everyone else is doing. So much so
that in a few years we would possibly even call it a revolution. Lack of
multitasking is neither.

I hope I've made myself heard better this time. I didn't unsubscribe, and I
won't. One post that seems 'off' isn't worth it. But please, don't stare at
the lights for too long. They'll blind you. (So as to not be misunderstood,
I will say that by lights I mean marketing. And by being blind I mean not
seeing the whole picture).
Thing is, I kinda knew you aren't the type to do this, which is probably why
my reaction was as it was.

I've always appreciated your work, and I still do. I just didn't
particularly appreciate this post, that's all.

This was not about Apple or Nokia or whatever. It was about my fear that one
of the voices I most respect in the mobile blogosphere might have turned
into a fanboy. I'm the first one to be very happy if I was wrong.

Re: The Power of Push: Push Notifications vs. Multitasking

outsidr — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:46:28 -0000

I'm not going to take the time to write up an itemized response to what came
off as a pretty fanatical comment. I always find it amusing that people can
have actual hatred for a company that manifests itself in bizarre,
unwarranted and borderline-ridiculous ramblings.

Go if you must but before you do, try giving this post a second read. Maybe
even a third. I'm sorry if I wasn't clear but judging from your response you
really didn't understand this post or my position at all. Not even a little
bit. It's like you're replying to 50 posts you read on other blogs, but doing
so on this blog for some reason.

If recognizing the potential of a new solution and pointing out how it might
work in conjunction with currently available features to overcome limitations
that will always be present in mobile devices somehow makes me a "fanboy" in
your eyes, that's fine. It still doesn't negate the viability of the
solution though, and it definitely doesn't have any bearing on reality.

Re: The Power of Push: Push Notifications vs. Multitasking

bvlad — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:13:34 -0000

Sad to see you've become an Apple fanboy. There, I said it, hate me, ban me, whatever. I 'get' absolutely nothing out of this post. I really don't. Except that you're desperately trying to explain Apple's decision to have this notification system. It's great and all, but it's not multitasking. And therefore the iPhone is not a smartphone, no matter how much you want it to be.
Battery life? I can handle that. Really. I. Can. I don't have to rely on Stevie to think that one for me. I can think by myself. And not leave dozens of apps running at the same time. It really is that simple.

Oh, and one more thing. Especially since the 3GS (is that a plural or a brand? oh wait, Apple's branding guys are geniuses, I must not make fun of that) *is* so fast, not having multitasking is ridiculous. Just ridiculous. That is all.

I really am considering unsubscribing, not that it would make any difference to you, but this, for me, is sad. I've enjoyed a lot of posts over here, and over time I have disagreed with your points, *but* everything you wrote was rational and well-thought, so that did not bother me. This is anything but rational.

PS: I do agree that in some cases the push system might be superior to multitasking. One or two cases. That's it. Remember the backlash when Microsoft wanted Win7 Starter to only run 3 (foreground, mind you) apps? Oh, yeah. That was Microsoft and it is evil. This is Apple and they are gods. Sorry, I forget.

It still amazes me, to this day, how caught up in your bubble you Apple fans are.

Re: What’s not working for you in Windows 7?

bvlad — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 01:33:27 -0000

What you describe you are experiencing with Bluetooth is imho 100% driver-related. What drivers are you using? The default ones that Win7 installed? Have you tried installing the official Samsung drivers (even in compatibility mode if they are xp only and don't work if you install normally)?

The gadgets thing may be a chipset/vga driver issue. Do you have the most recent drivers? For VGA there was an update via Windows update a few days ago, a beta driver specifically for Win7. If that doesn't work, Vista drivers from Intel's website do the trick.

Fn controls are tied to the ACPI driver, at least for my Eee. I guess it's the same for Samsung. Can you install these?

The time will never sync until you set Windows Time service to start automatically and delayed. Run->services.msc->right click on Windows Time->Properties->Set Startup Type to Automatic (Delayed Start).

Setting to Automatic will NOT work. This IS a bug.

Re: Get the wireless working in Windows 7 on an Aspire One

bvlad — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:48:57 -0000

Yup, atheros.cz is THE resource for Atheros WLAN drivers. Sadly, no LAN drivers to be found there.

Re: ZumoDrive is going to change EVERYTHING

bvlad — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:11:23 -0000

Great idea, BUT.

1. TOO expensive. And this whole invite-only thing should have gotten very old by now. Apparently not.

2. This might not be everyone's idea of how the cloud needs to work. I for one would like a service that does this AND what dropbox does AND what the others do....all in one. And, please, someone make an app that is capable of syncing ONE file. Really. I only need ONE file in sync, yet all of the other nice sync apps only know folders. Frustrating.

Re: James Whatley hands-on with the Nokia N97

bensmith — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:30:44 -0000

Vlad, the feeds will lag a bit as the video has to be converted and uploaded manually (our kingdom for a really competent video podcast manager app!) but I will kick the people who need to be kicked to get this sorted.

Re: James Whatley hands-on with the Nokia N97

bvlad — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:33:44 -0000

Sorry to have to say this again, but the latest item on the Large M4V feed is Week 50, the one about the Motorola Q-something. Is it like this just for me (aka is it an issue with Miro) ? Anyway, I shall now subscribe directly to the Vimeo feed.

Re: Calling all Nokia fans: Help me out with your app suggestions?

norcalbarney — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:36:34 -0000

It seems like Disqus has a problem with feedback to unregistered users. I'm running Disqus on my site as well. When anonymous users try to comment, they don't see that it's already posted. I get people double posting often as a result.

Re: Calling all Nokia fans: Help me out with your app suggestions?

bensmith — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 06:18:26 -0000

It went into the moderation queue and I goofed by approving them all. Sorry!

Re: Comments not posted

bvlad — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 21:59:13 -0000

Thanks for the tip. Strange, though. Should I clear my cache after every
comment I post? I mean, that seems rather odd, to say the least. And this is
the absolute first thing this has happened to me.

Re: Calling all Nokia fans: Help me out with your app suggestions?

bvlad — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 21:57:16 -0000

So it posted after all?! Jeez! I hope it (by it I mean Disqus, which
appeared to have failed me in trying to post it about 5 times that day)
didn't double or triple post or anything like that. If so, I'm very sorry.

Re: How to fix N-Series

bvlad — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 21:55:17 -0000

Lol, np. Sad thing is there are loads of such things that are kinda hard to
get, even if they're easy. It took me 2 days to 'locate' the task manager.
Hadn't occured to me that the symbian key can be long pressed as well. RTFM,
I guess ;)

Re: Calling all Nokia fans: Help me out with your app suggestions?

norcalbarney — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:25:42 -0000

Vlad,

This is an awesome list! Thanks for cClock, I've wanted an app to do that!

Re: How to fix N-Series

norcalbarney — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:41:17 -0000

Excellent! tnkgrl actually showed me that shortcut the other day. Kinda sucks that it took me three years of using Nokia's to figure that out, but I'm glad it's in there!

Thanks for commenting, Vlad!

Re: How to fix N-Series

bvlad — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:33:01 -0000

Press the Symbian key twice and you're at the home screen. No need for eight presses of back.

Re: Calling all Nokia fans: Help me out with your app suggestions?

bvlad — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:37:22 -0000

I've been trying to post this via firefox for over half an hour. Total fail. Chrome it is then.
So anyway, without further ado...

Absolutely needed(!): Psiloc Connect (prioritizes access points, WiFi first, if no WiFi is available, then automatically uses 3G) - http://connect.psiloc.com

Taskman: JBak Taskman (free, easier to use and more features than Handy Taskman-the absolute first thing I install on a new phone) - http://www.jbak.ru/jbaktaskman_en.php

Calendar: Handy Calendar (easier to use and faster than the built-in one) - http://nokia-n95-8gb-software.epocware.com/Hand...

Browser: Opera mini (free)(nothing beats its speed, fullstop) - go to mini.opera.com on your phone and follow the instructions

Audio player: LCG Jukebox (because it is the only player that can play folders, not playlists. I organize music in folders, not playlists. Therefore the only option really, but it is a good player nonetheless) - http://www.lonelycatgames.com/?app=lcgjukebox

IM: Nimbuzz or Slick (because I can't decide)(both free) - http://www.nimbuzz.com or http://www.lonelycatgames.com/?app=slick (Actually, I find Slick to be a little faster in operation, although Nimbuzz supports more protocols and looks better)

Calculator (because I can't stand the default one): Handy Calculator - http://nokia-n95-8gb-software.epocware.com/Hand...

Converter: Handy Converter (this is absolutely genius imho, if only it had auto-updates it would be perfect) - http://nokia-n95-8gb-software.epocware.com/Hand...

Screen Saver: cClock (free) - http://home.pacific.net.sg/~welic/cClock.html

Full screen caller image: Skyecaller - http://www.skyestream.com/cart/shopcart_sc3_mai...

Internet Radio: Nokia Internet Radio (free)- http://europe.nokia.com/A41121127

Timer (because there is no default one!): Best Timer - http://www.smartphoneware.com/timer-for-s60-3rd...

To remote control apps on your computer such as Winamp, iTunes, VLC player, BS player, MPC, and so on: Salling Clicker - www.salling.com/clicker/windows or www.salling.com/clicker/mac

File manager: Active File (free)(because it has panels, like Total commander, or for those who can remember, Norton Commander) - http://alietan.com/ (and sometimes I also use Xplore - http://www.lonelycatgames.com/?app=xplore)

To turn the phone into a WiFi hotspot (this is priceless for me): JoikuSpot Premium - http://www.joikushop.com/

I've previously mentioned SkyeQuiKey (http://www.skyestream.com/cart/shopcart_sqk3_ma...), which is the second thing I install on any new phone.

A few notes: any app on this list that isn't free (all of those are marked) has a trial version.

The Gmail app is totally useless imho. Can't handle html. The built-in mail client, unlike people used to constantly say, does handle html. All you have to do is click on Attachment.html. That's all. How it took people months to figure that out is beyond me. Anyway, mail-wise, I think the best idea is to configure the built-in client. Or take a look at Profimail, the only decent alternative if you ask me (http://www.lonelycatgames.com/?app=profimail).

Google maps may be great in the UK (although I guess you already have that installed), however in this forgotten part of the world it's totally useless. No maps, no use.

I also suggest trying out Panoman. Looks impressive. http://www.panoman.net/get-panoman.

If you're into watching video on the device, then yes, by all means, get CorePlayer (www.coreplayer.com). Nothing beats it at the moment. However, if you only rarely watch any video, it's rather expensive, and there's no trial. There's DivX player mobile (http://mobile.divx.com/divx/ -go here on your computer, not phone!) if you're into that, or just the standard Real player will do for h.264/aac videos.

Apologies if this post is annoyingly long.

Re: Calling all Nokia fans: Help me out with your app suggestions?

bvlad — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:33:49 -0000

Um ok. I'm late to the party it seems. Never mind, here goes.

Absolutely needed(!): Psiloc Connect (prioritizes access points, WiFi first, if no WiFi is available, then automatically uses 3G)- http://connect.psiloc.com

Taskman: JBak Taskman (free, easier to use and more features than Handy Taskman-the absolute first thing I install on a new phone) - http://www.jbak.ru/jbaktaskman_en.php

Calendar: Handy Calendar (easier to use and faster than the built-in one) - http://nokia-n95-8gb-software.epocware.com/Hand...

Browser: Opera mini (free)(nothing beats its speed, fullstop) - go to mini.opera.com on your phone and follow the instructions

Audio player: LCG Jukebox (because it is the only player that can play folders, not playlists. I organize music in folders, not playlists. Therefore the only option really, but it is a good player nonetheless) - http://www.lonelycatgames.com/?app=lcgjukebox

IM: Nimbuzz or Slick (because I can't decide)(both free) - http://www.nimbuzz.com or http://www.lonelycatgames.com/?app=slick (Actually, I find Slick to be a little faster in operation, although Nimbuzz supports more protocols and looks better)

Calculator (because I can't stand the default one): Handy Calculator - http://nokia-n95-8gb-software.epocware.com/Hand...

Converter: Handy Converter (this is absolutely genius imho, if only it had auto-updates it would be perfect) - http://nokia-n95-8gb-software.epocware.com/Hand...

Screen Saver: cClock (free) - http://home.pacific.net.sg/~welic/cClock.html

Full screen caller image: Skyecaller - http://www.skyestream.com/cart/shopcart_sc3_mai...

Internet Radio: Nokia Internet Radio (free)- http://europe.nokia.com/A41121127

Timer (because there is no default one!): Best Timer - http://www.smartphoneware.com/timer-for-s60-3rd...

To remote control apps on your computer such as Winamp, iTunes, VLC player, BS player, MPC, and so on: Salling Clicker - www.salling.com/clicker/windows or www.salling.com/clicker/mac

File manager: Active File (free)(because it has panels, like Total commander, or for those who can remember, Norton Commander) - http://alietan.com/ (and sometimes I also use Xplore - http://www.lonelycatgames.com/?app=xplore)

To turn the phone into a WiFi hotspot (this is priceless for me): JoikuSpot Premium - http://www.joikushop.com/

I've previously mentioned SkyeQuiKey (http://www.skyestream.com/cart/shopcart_sqk3_ma...), which is the second thing I install on any new phone.

A few notes: any app on this list that isn't free (all of those are marked) has a trial version.

The Gmail app is totally useless imho. Can't handle html. The built-in mail client, unlike people used to constantly say, does handle html. All you have to do is click on Attachment.html. That's all. How it took people months to figure that out is beyond me. Anyway, mail-wise, I think the best idea is to configure the built-in client. Or take a look at Profimail, the only decent alternative if you ask me (http://www.lonelycatgames.com/?app=profimail).

I also suggest trying out Panoman. Looks impressive. http://www.panoman.net/get-panoman.

If you're into watching video on the device, then yes, by all means, get CorePlayer (www.coreplayer.com). Nothing beats it at the moment. However, if you only rarely watch any video, it's rather expensive, and there's no trial version (dumb). There's DivX player mobile (http://mobile.divx.com/divx/ -go here on your computer, not phone!) if you're into that, or just the standard Real player will do for h.264/aac videos.

Apologies if this post is annoyingly long.

Re: Calling all Nokia fans: Help me out with your app suggestions?

bvlad — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:29:12 -0000

Um ok. I'm late to the party it seems. Never mind, here goes.

Absolutely needed(!): Psiloc Connect (prioritizes access points, WiFi first, if no WiFi available, then automatically uses 3G) - http://connect.psiloc.com

Taskman: JBak Taskman (free, easier to use and more features than Handy Taskman-the absolute first thing I install on a new phone) - http://www.jbak.ru/jbaktaskman_en.php

Calendar: Handy Calendar (easier to use and faster than the built-in one) - http://nokia-n95-8gb-software.epocware.com/Hand...

Browser: Opera mini (free)(nothing beats its speed, fullstop) - go to mini.opera.com on your phone and follow the instructions

Audio player: LCG Jukebox (because it is the only player that can play folders, not playlists. I organize music in folders, not playlists. Therefore the only option really, but it is a good player nonetheless) - http://www.lonelycatgames.com/?app=lcgjukebox

IM: Nimbuzz or Slick (because I can't decide)(both free) - http://www.nimbuzz.com or http://www.lonelycatgames.com/?app=slick (Actually, I find Slick to be a little faster in operation, although Nimbuzz supports more protocols and looks better)

Calculator (because I can't stand the default one): Handy Calculator - http://nokia-n95-8gb-software.epocware.com/Hand...

Converter: Handy Converter (this is absolutely genius imho, if only it had auto-updates it would be perfect) - http://nokia-n95-8gb-software.epocware.com/Hand...

Screen Saver: cClock (free) - http://home.pacific.net.sg/~welic/cClock.html

Full screen caller image: Skyecaller - http://www.skyestream.com/cart/shopcart_sc3_mai...

Internet Radio: Nokia Internet Radio (free)- http://europe.nokia.com/A41121127

Timer (because there is no default one!): Best Timer - http://www.smartphoneware.com/timer-for-s60-3rd...

To remote control apps on your computer such as (but not limited to) Winamp, iTunes, VLC player, BS player, MPC: Salling Clicker - www.salling.com/clicker/windows or www.salling.com/clicker/mac

File manager: Active File (free)(because it has panels, like Total commander, or for those who can remember, Norton Commander) - http://alietan.com/ (and sometimes I also use Xplore - http://www.lonelycatgames.com/?app=xplore)

To turn the phone into a WiFi hotspot (this is priceless for me): JoikuSpot Premium - http://www.joikushop.com/

I've previously mentioned SkyeQuiKey (http://www.skyestream.com/cart/shopcart_sqk3_ma...), which is the second thing I install on any new phone.

A few notes: any app on this list that isn't free (all of those are marked) has a trial version.

The Gmail app is totally useless imho. Can't handle html. The built-in mail client, unlike people used to constantly say, does handle html. All you have to do is click on Attachment.html. That's all. How it took people months to figure that out is beyond me. Anyway, mail-wise, I think the best idea is to configure the built-in client. Or take a look at Profimail, the only decent alternative if you ask me (http://www.lonelycatgames.com/?app=profimail).

Google maps may be great in the UK (although I guess you already have that installed), however in this forgotten part of the world it's totally useless. No maps, no use.

I also suggest trying out Panoman. Looks impressive. http://www.panoman.net/get-panoman.

If you're into watching video on the device, then yes, by all means, get CorePlayer (www.coreplayer.com). Nothing beats it at the moment. However, if you only rarely watch any video, it's rather expensive, and no trial version (that's plain idiotic). There's DivX player mobile (http://mobile.divx.com/divx/ -go here on your computer, not phone!) if you're into that, or just the standard Real player will do for h.264/aac videos.

Apologies if this post is annoyingly long.

Re: Calling all Nokia fans: Help me out with your app suggestions?

bvlad — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:21:11 -0000

Um ok. I'm late to the party it seems. Never mind, here goes.

Absolutely needed(!): Psiloc Connect (prioritizes access points, WiFi first, if no WiFi, then automatically uses 3G)- http://connect.psiloc.com

Taskman: JBak Taskman (free, easier to use and more features than Handy Taskman-the absolute first thing I install on a new phone) - http://www.jbak.ru/jbaktaskman_en.php

Calendar: Handy Calendar (easier to use and faster than the built-in one) - http://nokia-n95-8gb-software.epocware.com/Hand...

Browser: Opera mini (free)(nothing beats its speed, fullstop) - go to mini.opera.com on your phone and follow the instructions

Audio player: LCG Jukebox (because it is the only player that can play folders, not playlists. I organize music in folders, not playlists. Therefore the only option really, but it is a good player nonetheless) - http://www.lonelycatgames.com/?app=lcgjukebox

IM: Nimbuzz or Slick (because I can't decide)(both free) - http://www.nimbuzz.com or http://www.lonelycatgames.com/?app=slick (Actually, I find Slick to be a little faster in operation, although Nimbuzz supports more protocols and looks better)

Calculator (because I can't stand the default one): Handy Calculator - http://nokia-n95-8gb-software.epocware.com/Hand...

Converter: Handy Converter (this is absolutely genius imho, if only it had auto-updates it would be perfect) - http://nokia-n95-8gb-software.epocware.com/Hand...

Screen Saver: cClock (free) - http://home.pacific.net.sg/~welic/cClock.html

Full screen caller image: Skyecaller - http://www.skyestream.com/cart/shopcart_sc3_mai...

Internet Radio: Nokia Internet Radio (free)- http://europe.nokia.com/A41121127

Timer (because there is no default one!): Best Timer - http://www.smartphoneware.com/timer-for-s60-3rd...

To remote control apps on my computer such as Winamp, iTunes, VLC player, BS player, MPC, and so on: Salling Clicker - www.salling.com/clicker/windows or www.salling.com/clicker/mac

File manager: Active File (free)(because it has panels, like Total commander, or for those who can remember, Norton Commander) - http://alietan.com/ (and sometimes I also use Xplore - http://www.lonelycatgames.com/?app=xplore)

To turn the phone into a WiFi hotspot (this is priceless for me): JoikuSpot Premium - http://www.joikushop.com/

I've previously mentioned SkyeQuiKey (http://www.skyestream.com/cart/shopcart_sqk3_ma...), which is the second thing I install on any new phone.

A few notes: any app on this list that isn't free (all of those are marked) has a trial version. Sure, some have only a one day trial, but at least they do. I would've included Rock'n'scroll, however they do not have a trial version. And such a model is completely stupid imho. So I have no clue if it was worth mentioning, despite having read good reviews. I can't get a trial, I won't buy. It's as easy as that for me.

The Gmail app is totally useless imho. Can't handle html. The built-in mail client, unlike people used to constantly say, does handle html. All you have to do is click on Attachment.html. That's all. How it took people months to figure that out is beyond me. Anyway, mail-wise, I think the best idea is to configure the built-in client. Or take a look at Profimail, the only decent alternative if you ask me (http://www.lonelycatgames.com/?app=profimail).

Google maps may be great in the UK (although I guess you already have that installed), however in this forgotten part of the world it's totally useless. No maps, no use.

I also suggest trying out Panoman. Looks impressive. http://www.panoman.net/get-panoman.

If you're into watching video on the device, then yes, by all means, get CorePlayer (www.coreplayer.com). Nothing beats it at the moment. However, if you only rarely watch any video, it's rather expensive, and, again, no trial. There's DivX player mobile (http://mobile.divx.com/divx/ -go here on your computer, not phone!) if you're into that, or just the standard Real player will do for h.264/aac videos.

Apologies if this post is annoyingly long.