Tag: Nokia

My Next Smartphone?

Sometimes, you find yourself hugely mistimed about things, either it be life, or be profession or about many other things. Same with me at occasions. Here I wished myself talking about my dilemma about my next Smartphone.

starving-child

Technology make so us so much dependent of it that sometimes we feel  like being starved, if kept away from it. In last visit to home, thought to replace the existing much older model of cell-fone at home for mom and decided to give her my Nokia 5310. Did the same and just after that sudden turn of events left me on edge of same “starving”.

One day ago, I was having a bit too many smart phones with me; Nokia 5310, Nokia N82, Nokia 5800 and trial device Nokia N900 and at the next day, I found myself left with Nokia N900 and an old model Nokia 3650 only as lost Nokia 5800 and Nokia N82 went for long-required repairs. Few more days and Nokia N900 was finally to depart. See!!! what now, just Nokia 3650 with me as Nokia N82 is not getting back to me soon from Nokia Care.

Experience with Nokia Care not going well, like many of Nokia users out there though I know there are many, who find their work good enough and apart of my case, I also been in appraising tone for their initiatives about customer services, but ……

Deprived from Internet at home (I was using MTNL now days as Idea SIM lost with Nokia 5800), I am almost out of patience about buying some smart-phone in hurry. Still weighing  my options as wanted to settle for some time about these hurry and expensive purchases.

The addiction with physical qwerty keypad started with Nokia N900, not letting me settle for Nokia 5800 again, even when I literally loved it considering its amazing price tag (Rs. 13, 200/-) and the only other dependable alternative seems to be Nokia N97 only (if I am follow my instincts for Nokia only).

I actually visited a Nokia  Store in Laxmi Nagar to know about, if any other device is there to suit my needs. The store was showcasing other products as well, so they showed me quite a range of products like Sony Xperia V2, HTC HD Mini, Nokia N97 Mini, Samsung Corby and some other windows based phone.

Honestly speaking, I am confused. As much, I read through reviews and features I am targeting for (obvious overshadowed with dreams of Nokia N900), I found myself relying only on Nokia N97 Mini. But when I place it against Nokia 5800, then I really get dizzy about it. Obviously, I am looking for something like Nokia N900, which doesn’t exist in Indian market till now. Even if I afford a compromise due to my most important requirement Google/ Ovi Maps, then I am not finding myself settled below than N97 Mini.

Now, although there are many positive differences starting from Internal Memory to Digital Compass or Home Screen Widgets and I found it attractively slimmer and tougher enough due to stainless steal body, but still I find myself wondering.

There is a huge difference between Nokia N97 and Nokia 5800 of Rs. 10, 000/-.

How much the qwerty keypad worth, if I am constantly reading about issues around inconsistencies?

Why 1200 mAh battery provided to Nokia N97 Mini stands below than Nokia 5800?

Why the sliding mechanism seems prone to broke down, if mishandled, why not smooth like that of Nokia N900?

Was FM transmitter that costly enough to be removed?

I almost would have bought Nokia N97 even then, but the words that Nokia N900 might be coming here in next two months made me paused. But still if it comes, its not gonna be any lesser than 30, 000/- here and I could afford one, but at such a price, I need all I required.

I really wish to have a Nokia N97 Mini in my hands for some time to know, if I could say Go for it. At least till when some excellent MeeGo device appears, which provide better alternative over Nokia N900. Wasn’t wishing so, but asked WomWorld, if they could help me about any of these two; Nokia N97 Mini for Trial or some old Nokia N900. Still don’t know, till when I will be able to hold the temptation to buy one, although I keep on reminding myself that I just lost a Nokia 5800 and money needs to be wisely spent. Nokia N97 Mini seems to be promising, but ….

Update: Here the wait begins

  • Got a word from Nokia Care Center that I will be needed to wait for two three days more.
  • Got a word from Paul, WomWorld, that it could be arranged to send me a Nokia N97 Mini for trial. Really great people they are. I think I could give a shape to my article about these promotion strategies.
  • Got a word from DHL, that the shipment back to WomWorld is with Customs there and they would revert me back about the details as I asked for.

Although I got a few good read as well, but recently came across a video explaining about the things, which was in Nokia N97 and not  in Nokia 5800 (Though its not about Nokia N97 mini, but even then works for the purpose of comparison with mini)

 

photo of Nitish KumarNitish Kumar

 

Nokia N900 – Things you never seen before anywhere else

I am back to Delhi. Right now in the train. You may find it funny that I am leaving my hometown on the same day as Holi, but it is and let it be, I am already sad about it.
The fact is I am travelling and have passed more than 8 hours without even noticing, without getting bored, without even talking to strangers, co-passengers. Bad!!! Isn’t it??? A man is supposed to be a social animal, right??? But this thing is addictive, really addictive!!! I’ve to own it or have to own it’s successor ‘MeeGo’ or whatever they are calling it. Just wish that they remove those annoying absences and they’ll win me.

Here I am using MaStory again to post my views, when just finished watching ‘9’, ‘Dark Night’, ‘The Last Legion’ and ‘Visions’ over the same ‘kmplayer’ with my Nokia N900. Yes! It’s batteries are not almighty to last longer than 6 hours movie play over it, but even then 6 hours movie play!!! Isn’t it amazing? I sound like advertising the trial device, I got… Right??? I swear I don’t wanna sound so, but …

Here I am to summarize a few apps and conveniences, I found with only Nokia N900 and will be missing in all device, I will be buying next before I buy this one (or a better version of it based on Maemo or MeeGo.)

1. Qwerty keypad: I read someone out there ranting about keypad that they should have kept the spacebar in middle of all. Spare me plz!!! Suggesting something is different thing and actually putting it to work for most of users is other.

I am literally loving the way, it’s keypad is and kudos to Nokia that they are pushing most of their latest devices with qwerty keypads. Smart phones gonna be like they never before. Earlier you heard that you could do all the things of world with your smart phone, just need to learn a few things about it and now…. You don’t even need to learn, just do the way you were doing with your lappy or PC. Do someone needs Netbook here or that genre will die in same way as Pagers did against cell-phones?

2. 3.5" screen, 16M colors and 800×480 resolution: I thought about such a day when watching movies and browsing web over cells would be that much easier, cell-phone companies thought that soon enough the market of Value Added Services will see a boom, but nothing worked out that much faster as is supposed to happen now with such high resolution/ size devices out there in market (affordable for pocket as well). Watching full movies over it with aid its powerful batteries is so unreal.

3. MaStory: My bad!! Might be the case that I never used any other Blogging apps on smart-phones, but I never had this much bigger and clear screen device is in my hand with a perfect qwerty keypad ever. I really became so much comfortable with its keypad in shortest period of time that now even hours don’t hurt me. I never posted from phones before and even the idea was tiring enough, but this one changed all, really did.

4. KMplayer: Don’t know it’s Mplayer being called as KMplayer here or some entire different movie player, but it works like the same. Those linux freaks out there know much about this player and even some windows enthusiastic too. The VLC player been GOD for many of us movie watchers and when we get a capable phone like this, we always googled if something like VLC out there for it.

Here is your answer. Work like just perfect, no laggings in video and simple enough to catch up with things. I presume that all shortcuts with the linux version are right here like arrow key for forwarding or reversing the play and space for pause/ play meanwhile Ctrl+Back Space to switch across applications in faster ways. I placed .srt and .sub files with the movies in same name and it worked the way it should. The resolution of 800 x 480 makes it actually readable than pulling your eyeballs out only. You must have seen snapshots of move ‘9’ over it, but I’ll post you back some of mine to show that how real it is.

5. Sketch: Again my bad that I don’t play enough with default apps that come with the device itself, but like many other things with device, it was an entire different scenario, when I came across the amazing app named Sketch. I created one sketch through it for time-pass while travelling in train and it didn’t came out that bad. I seen people sketching through paint brush of windows os, but sketching in digital was never a thing of my kind even if I know basics of sketching some ways. With Sketch app starting from the name aided with the resolution/ size of the screen+responsiveness of touch. I really never thought of doing this with a phone. Sure!!! I suggest you to have screen guard ON, but in all, it would be a favourite time-pass to many.

6. Conversations, Gtalk, Skype, IMs: This is something truely about communication. You would find it unparallel in the way it removes the differences between typing on laptop and cell-phone, but also the way it removes the differences between SMSs and IMs. A true communication device in deed. It really has it all without third party apps. I salute you Nokia!! Hats off.

7. The openness: Its been long when we were looking for the ways to go beneath of phones. Lots of ways to hack your smart-phone is available on net, but here came the true control, where hacking is legal and many times even encouraged. With such a true open platform, possibilities are literally countless. May be Android come with a better processor and fully integrated with Google services, but it wont excite you as a platform, as much Maemo does. Its a start of new era in the same way Linux, Solaris or Java was. I really want it grow.

Many things more could be written over my unique experiences with this device, but I am about to reach office and sure I wont look good enough with both hands engaged in typing on cell, so ending the post here. Will love to have your comments about your experiences.

When was finishing my article from Live Writer, I came across an article via twitter, which seems more broader in coverage, I would like to share here. Take a read, it boldly shows how impressive and unique Nokia N900 is as a device.

photo of Nitish KumarNitish Kumar

Nokia N900 – Not only for geeks but for mass as well

“Be it early impressions once it arrived to me, be it my first detailed article mentioning it as definitely geek, be it my article revolving around MaStory or be my criticism about it, I guess most of the time, I sounded like Nokia N900 has everything Geek about it. Is it really so?”

Size comparisonWhy Nokia N900 going to appeal regular mass more than other phones (not just Geeks)?

Let me be honest about it, after loosing my Nokia 5800, being aware of Non-Repairable condition of my Nokia N82, giving my simple yet effectively main Nokia 5310 XpressMusic to home and last few days with trial device Nokia N900, my quest is set between Nokia N900, Nokia N97 and Nokia 5800 XpressMusic and my choice is again Nokia 5800 XpressMusic for the same reasons, I stated earlier.

But I tell you, I am resisting urge of buying Nokia N900 just somehow and the reasons for going Nokia 5800 XpressMusic will be solely because of amazing price tag and inclusion of all the features I require (you cant get this much with that price anywhere else, just Rs. 13,200/-), otherwise Nokia N900 has a lot to market it for mass. Let me discuss a few here.

  1. Powerful like a dream: Insanely powerful ARM Cortex A8 600 MHz, more than enough 256 MBpower RAM, separate PowerVR SGX graphics (can run games like never before and run HD Videos like a charm), 3.5 inches screen with unbelievable resolution of 800×480 (I literally enjoying watching movies all the way in train and web experience, you just can’t match), gigantic internal storage of 32 Gb and still place of MicroSD Card slot to accommodate a max of 16 Gb more (can you believe?). Have you heard of something like this?

  2. Loaded Multimedia device: With XpressMusic series, Nokia seems to be all out for war to take onmultimedia_site music market. Such a powerful device and a full 24 Hrs 30 Minutes Music Play just matches the specifications so well. A perfect fitting 5 MP camera (2576×1936) equipped with Video recordings capability, dual LED Flash, video light, Geo-tagging and not to be forgotten cover over lens. A revamped interface for music player, possibility of playing all available formats videos due to availability of various open source codec and mplayer etc (I am playing all my movie collection that is divx, xvid or wmv and that too with normal srt’s subtitles. Isn’t a VLC player, you always looking for you smart phone?). Top of all, you even have a FM Transmitter means you could stream music from your cell to other devices.

  3. Amazingly sound UI: While the resistive touch screen performs much better than anyone’snokia_n900_ui_2 expectations and widgets enabled desktop can fit into anyone’s requirements, but the show stopper is superb multi tasking of the device. I don’t think that anyone might be thinking to define some “Out of memory” error for this device due to 256 MB of RAM and 700 MB+ Application memory in addition. With such an enormous power, one could really think about so many possibilities.  

  4. Connections that any smart-phone is all about: 2G (GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900), 3G (HSDPA, 10Mbps; HSUPA, 2Mbps), class 32 GPRS/ EDGE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g DLNA, Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP, Infrared, microUSB v2.0 and A-GPS; look like Nokia decided not to say NO for anything. I guess only remained was a normal USB port or normal LAN Port.. just kidding.

  5. Integration of Gtalk/ Skype and unification of SMS/ IMs: Generations changing and skype technologies adopting the same. Our smart-phones have became as integrated to our lives as social networks and IMs on internet. Integration of Skype and Gtalk opens just another dimension. Provided extremely fast Internet Connections, you never gonna needing headfone for calling from your Laptop, when Gtalk and Skype already there for you. Conversation view of SMS/ IMs might seem a new thing to many, but its gonna be a rule in near future.

  6. Open nature of the device and OS: Are you still thinking about possibilities with Android or openness_sky_sea iPhone OS? Do you still think it would ever gonna take that long to fix some app? Gone those days, with a truly open source OS, you could really expect fast updates and quicker fixes like nothing before. Many a times, you wont be needed to wait for official apps even. Moreover, existing large pool of debian applications is already there that could be ported to your Nokia N900 with some serious efforts. Limit is only where your imagination might took some time to reach.

Its such a capable device that every techie around the globe knows that its still much below its own potential. Still Ovi Support Pending, still Google Apps waiting to join the party, still  some here and there improvements for UI could be thought, but do you think that anything could challenge this device in its capability/ possibilities and openness?

I am still waiting for inclusion of Google Apps, release of this device to India and some amazing price tag like best ever Nokia 5800 has, but even then this device stands as best dream of anyone out there.

Update: Just came across a much detailed article about it

 

photo of Nitish KumarNitish Kumar

 

FM Channels, Social Messages

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“ Busy work life, then at home number of TV Channels and computers. Radio might be left in lives of students or old age people only.”

Few years back one might have thought so, but a number of FM Channels seems to have changed the scenario completely. The first ever private FM Channel was Radio City 91.3, which was launched pretty long back on July 3rd 2001 in Bangalore and now there are a total of 278 official private FM Channels and 171 FM transmitters of AIR Stations. A more good list could be seen at wiki here. Rise of BPOs and Cabs really have given a big push for Radio industry in a way that it came out of circle of students only things.

But I am not here for discussing about all the FM Channels, there are many. I remember the time, when I was hearing many of them including Radio City, Fever 104, Radio Mirchi and last introduction to me was Meow FM 104.8, once I started going to office by bike, the link was broken between me and Radio from long. Recently, I caught with the same chain and this time the channel in attention was Red FM. More than the punch line (that really works) “Ye Aaj Ke Jamane Ka Radio Station Hai Apke Baap Ke Jamane Ka Nahi”, fresh songs, naughty RJ’s pranks and ideas, the thing, which took my interest in it was many campaigns running over it in simple yet effective manners.

Although later I learnt that these campaigns are not of their own, but from respective agencies. A little search over by various terms and I reached to few interesting ones,

Save Fuel Yani Save Money from PCRA (follow the link, interesting radio ads to listen),
Planet Ke Rakhwale from Nokia (I seen paper ads as well in Nokia Care),
Save Paper from Idea (Its really impressive one and we have seen many such from Idea only. Good Work!!!),
Save Tigers from Aircel (Don’t know its only Aircel’s innovation or some more organizations are involved, but the campaign is really spreading well),
Fundamental Rights,
Raqtdan from NACO (The most  effective promotion for Blood Donation till date),
DLF IPL – Bhai Ki Shadi (Funny and Interesting. Last two seasons didn’t seen such innovations),
Think positive from Social Awareness (Really social organizations are pressing hard and effectively to make HIV positive people acceptable within society),
Sikandar from National AIDS Control Organization (Such bold campaigns can exist in now days youth india only)
Way to India Gate, Papa, Chalan Kat Jayega from Delhi Traffic Police
Voice Karo Choice Karo from Radio City
Wrong Rights – Aditi, Wrong Rights – Pappu from Radio Mirchi
Bachcha Bachcha from KC Mahindra Education Trust (Making a point to think)
Pappu Vote Daal Le, Chalane De from Radio Mirchi
Murgi for bringing awareness about quality news
Kamla Ka Hamla – Rakhi, Kamla Ka Hamla – Amir, Kamla Ka Hamla – RGV over public figures
Prayaas – ICC, Prayaas – BRT, Prayaas – Hindi Dubbing, Prayaas – Poem in Movies, Prayaas – News in Newspaper, Prayaas – Historical Monuments from Red FM

Funny ones like Ajay Devgan, Bipasha Basu, Priyanka Chopra, Saif Ali Khan, Amir Khan, Bappi Lahri

While, I find of these extremely funny, I found them worthy and effective attempts of brining awareness to post RDB youth. Really youth doesn’t think the way, our elders might be thinking we are, we want to do many things, we have many nice ideas to bring the changes for betterment of the country, just we need the directions and support.

It will be a shame if we don’t respond and praise these kind of campaigns with full throat. Join me, raise your voice, send me some more such innovative Radio Campaigns you liked.

Why I came to write about FM and Social awareness?

When was coming back to home, then I seen some newly creating buildings, which were created by Mayawati Sarkaar for ‘Kusthrogis’, which were living there in ‘Jhopris’. I was really excited and surprised to see such a good thing from her side and sure was with praises even if I kind of hated her politics and her kind wastage of money over useless monuments , but anyone if does a single big of good thing, should be praised to encourage do more next time. I remembered that how last time in flood those ‘Jhopris’ were flowing in water and our so called educated people were taking visits to see how conditions are there (in place of offering any piece of help).

The above reminded me of those campaigns, I heard over Fm and thought that something good happening for sure around us.

While thinking all these, I also think about FM Transmitting capabilities of Nokia N900 and other such phones with FM Transmitter. Think you can spread your messages over FM Radios, FM Tuned Cellphones and also could make your buddies sitting in nearby cubicle tuned in with songs, you might have played on your cell (quite handy if your area not getting FM reception from outside).

World is changing and we could make it changed for better.

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Nokia N900 -Things I don’t like

Visitng home is fun all the times. Azamgarh is not so small city for Uttar Pradesh (been declared as ‘Mandal’), but still it’s disappointing to have such an absurd schedule of power cut. First one is 11.30 AM-4.30 PM and second one after 11.00 PM for whole night. really… No space for me to do anything. Adding the misery, Inverter of home also seems to asking for complete replacement of batteries. Hard time for me like Computer Maniac for sure!!!! Thanks to N900, sure helping me out a lot in this boredum.
Many days had been passed with Trial Device Nokia N900 and I am really feeling something inside, when it will leave me. It’s been a real perfect cellfone for me till now, but still there are quite a many things that still holding me from buying it. Trying to pen down a few, hoping that Maemo could improve in near future:

1. No support for Google Apps: It’s no hidden fact that I like Google’s innovativegoogle and strongly integrated apps a lot. Following the recent incidents, I really don’t want to compromise without Google Maps and Gmail’s native apps in any case.

I hear Nokia’s claims that they are already maintening two-three platforms: series 40, symbian and Maemo nad it would be hard to them to look into one more that is java.

I understand that Google already providing apps for all other platforms and it would be one thing more for them, which is complicated due to no support of Java in Maemo. May be Google holding their hands due to direct threat from Maemo, but still it’s not acceptable situation for me. I want Maemo to grow, I want Google too.

This is sure big holding for me till now about Nokia N900 and Maemo.

2. Some more improvements as a phone itself: There are still many annoyingphone things as a phone itself, though many settled till now, but still … A way to go for sure.

Like USSD number issue!!! I really feel surprised that why Maemo developers take this issue lightly like just a bug only and that too seems to be mentioned as closed. Yes!! A USSD-widget is there for download (which is a pure debian package only) but those who might have started using the same sure think its annoying to keep a widget just for that, which is expected to be native features for a phone.

Same with MMS, we have an apps FMMS for that, but like ussd-widget, it’s also not part of official default repositories. I could understand that for a tablet kind of device that’s expected to be live most of the time should sure feel MMS something kind of outdated technology, but still what’s so hard in keeping the support on?

One more thing, which I specially liked about Nokia N900 is coversations style uniting all IM communications and SMS united at the same place…. Truely qualifying it as an advanced communication device. But somewhere I think that there should have been some optional setting or package to provide traditional ways to look over SMS only. Sometimes its hard to change the habits.

3. Improve Ovi Maps: Yes … I do like Google Maps, but still Ovi Maps were havingovi a few advantages as I mentioned before. But now with current app with Nokia N900, honestly speaking I am not happy. Not many days left, when Google will start offering voice guided navigation and offline maps, till then you really need to improve otherwise forget it ….

Still I’ve to say that it’s a great phone in deed and the above criticism is meant to improvise the naive platform only. There are really a lot of things with it that you wont find in any other phone even in the leading ones and this really makes your life cool than just showing off. Nokia really moved a lot to lead the world again.

4. No Ovi Suit Support: Its really disappoints you about vision of Nokia, when they are ready to launch a device as capable like Nokia N900, which really could make iPhone and others run for their money, but still not accomplished the other marks, which seems obvious now. Ovi Suit and its sync getting well in mass and you launch your best set without any suit at all (Yes! it works with PC Suit, but its just compatibility, not made for it.)? I don’t find it strategically a good step. Are you really serious about Nokia N900? Are you still in hang over of your beloved Symbian? I tell you.. you are making big mistake, if not backing up this device whole heartedly. Its quite a shock!!!

My message: I really wanna to buy this phone, but please improve about these as it’s not that hard practically.

I also found a similar article from Nokia Guide few mins back, which voices the similar concern in a little better words than me, get a read here.

Sorry for not that neat article, just wrote as was getting bored in power cut.

photo of Nitish KumarNitish Kumar

 

Nokia N900 – here comes my first sketch ever from cell

Don’t laugh over the ill looking sketch, after all its my just first attempt to draw some sketch from Nokia N900’s paintbrush, otherwise I make quite good ones as per my view at least.
 

On womworld, I had seen someone posted many of sketches and I thought to give it a try from my side as well. currently I am in a long 1000 km journey by train, about to reach in half an hour I guess. It’s really great being with a Nokia N900, isn’t it?

photo of Nitish KumarNitish Kumar

Going back to home

Yup!!! Finally going back to home. No trace of that cell yet. Call it spread of technology, many people have gotten smart. Might be someone met him or the changed SIM, he placed into cell has no GPRS into it. So, not able to trace him. But will mention again that if there was Google Lattitude in this Nokia N900 then I was able to do something in time.
Still have not reported the theft complaint as giving time to the person to make some mistake though you can understand that less chances by now.
For those, who care, mentioning the IMEI number here
359339030272255
 
photo of Nitish KumarNitish Kumar