Multimedia Planet

This is just a quick heads up for N900 Owners. Nokia has released a firmware update for the flagship device and everyone can download it from the application manager as it is available Over The Air.

The update should be available for all N900 users but some of you, using branded devices, might have to wait a little longer.

Version 1.2009.44-1 brings stability and dozens of bug fixes making your devices faster and reliable.

N900 supports User Data Preservation(UDP) but it's always better to make a backup before the update, just for extra safety

It's not a big surprise to know that Nokia will attempt the Mobile World Congress in February, next year. But I am very happy to know it anyway. Each year new devices are announced and we have tons of fun!

Nokia Official statement

As an alternative to the noise and crowds at Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, invited guests can relax on comfy sofas, enjoy delicious food and drinks as they discuss the industry and network with their peers — all courtesy of Nokia.

In Barcelona our goal is to create an atmosphere designed to encourage conversations among industry peers. In this comfortable setting you will relax as you learn more about Nokia solutions and services. The event will take place a short walk from the Mobile World Congress at Once – home of the Spanish National Organization for the Blind. Join us between 09.00 – 19.00 on 15-16 February.

The Nokia Press Conference will take place at Once on February 15 from 11.30am to 12.30pm CET. This will be followed by breakout presentations and interview opportunities with senior Nokia executives and subject matter experts. The Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) media and industry analyst briefing will also be held at Once on February 15 at 10.30am CET.

Nokia Promised to integrate Skype into N97 like half year ago. We haven't seen that yet.

Most of you lost the hope and relied on Fring or Nimbuzz or other programs that allow free internet calling.

I am happy to say Skype has just released a native Symbian version of their wide popular application. Skype is available for Windows, Mac OSX, Windows Mobile, Maemo, Linux and from now on, Symbian S60.

The Symbian version is still in beta and is available for S60v3 FP1 and FP2 but it will be soon available for the touch optimized S60v5 too.

The application currently supports free Skype-to-Skype Calls, Skype to phone calls (with skype credits), Instant messaging, File transfer and calls receiving on your online number.

Last night, at 12:30 I called a friend to check the Quality.

He was pretty surprised saying: "so you wanted to test the new skype version but waking me in the middle of the night?"

But after a few minutes we both decided to say: even if it's beta, the call quality is great.

If Skype is working to improve that quality, I might not need anything else than a large data plan from my operator!

These being said, go and get your skype application here: Download Skype

We were all enthusiastic when Nokia announced the N900 mobile computer. Having a PC in the palm of your hand, running on Linux OS and having the hardware of a beast, I was thinking this device is set to create a revolution and make Nokia change their strategy.

According to Reuters, Nokia is set to release a single device with Linux on board in 2010.

We all know the rumors about N920, which is supposed to have Maemo 6, Multi-Touch and no QWERTY Keyboard. So, if this is all we get next year, I must say I am disappointed.

But lets not lose hope, they might release Symbian based Smartphones with better hardware and software.

It seems like fring team got big plans for their application. They updated the Symbian version of Fring and released it with video calls capabilities on 24 Nov. Now, being 1st December, they released a new version of fring for iPhone/iPod Touch.

As many of you expected, this version brings video calling for Skype and some stability improvements!

Wait no more and download the application here

Nokia X6 is going to be in stores in the future days. The device packs 32GB internal memory, 3.2" capacitive screen, Carl Zeiss Optics based 5 Megapixel camera And S60 5th.

Except the capacitive screen and the new design, there is nothing new about this device.

It is like an N97 without qwerty and with a design that suits teens more. But it also has the downsides of the N97.

128 RAM was proved not to be enough on the N97 and Nokia X6 has the same problem.

If we opened the hardware topic, I must state X6 is powered by the same 434 ARM 11 CPU, which is far less than this devices needs!

The latest Nokia Touchscreen device Comes with Music having the "Comes with Music" service integrated, allowing users to download and play millions of songs for an entire year.

All in All, Nokia X6 is a 5MP variant of 5800 with 32GB disk space and capacitive screen.

I have to admit, the design is superb(IMO), but a deja vu comes in my veins when I see it.

The Device is supposed to come at 450EUR retail price before taxes.

Fring has been very active lately. Last week they have released a version supporting Android Devices and Today they released the latest version of fring for Symbian.

This New version supports all fring supported until now and has all the features fring had, but it also supports video calling! If you are using fring and you have a Skype account you can now video-call your friends. The video calling feature is very limited for the moment. It is only supported on Nokia Touch-Screen phones and Nokia N95, N95 8GB and N82. Also, it is only supported on skype, so you cannot video-call you friends using Windows Live Messenger.

But hey, this is a step up and we see technology is advancing day by day!

You can download the latest version of fring here: Fring - Download

Fring it on!

Coming in 6 vivid colors and an aluminium frame Nokia 6700 Slide is easy to notice  and get in love with. The choice of colors is pretty wide: red, pink, petrol-blue, purple, Aluminium and lime.

The design is similar to the one one 6500 Slide but it is looking more stylish and sexy.

Now you can capture 5 megapixel pictures with Carl Zeiss optics and share it with ease using the fast 3G connection.

Battery lifetime has been also improved allowing up to 29 hours of music playback or 12 days of standby time.

A Great improvement from 6500 is the software. Nokia 6700 slide is based on S60 platform allowing users to install a wide variety of applications.

The devices is supposed to be shipped in first quarter of 2010 at a retail price of 160EUR.

The Really Mobile Project stated Nokia will abandon Symbian from their N-Series devices in favor of Maemo. Symbian is supposed to be used only on X and E-Series smartphones.

The transition should be complete in 2012 because there are still Symbian based N-series in development.

V3.co.uk also heard the rumors and contacted Nokia for more information. Nokia's reply wasn't a denial nor an agreement.

While it is our policy not to disclose details of our product roadmap, we’d like to explicitly communicate that we remain firmly committed to Symbian as our smartphone platform of choice. Any speculation on what our 2012 roadmap, including operating systems and product branding, are completely premature

As this is not the first time we heard this kind of news, most of you know about the previous rumors. According to them, Nokia is supposed to use Maemo on High-End devices and Symbian on low-end ones.

but Nokia had a reply to those rumors too!

As we have stated earlier, Nokia has multiple platforms to serve different purposes and address different markets. Symbian is more successful than ever in bringing smartphones to the masses. Maemo is our software of choice for devices based on technology that you’d typically find inside a desktop computer. It delivers a different user experience and enables us to widen the market we can address.

 

So, what it would be? A heavy upgraded Symbian or Maemo?