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Carol's Jaiku Badge |
One of the most common complaints about updating a devices firmware is that your settings and applications that you had installed are gone. I agree and in order to improve this situation with the Nokia N82 some changes were made as to how your data is stored so that when you update with Nokia Software Updater to the latest firmware your settings and applications will still be available! The N82 is the first Nseries device to implement User Data Preservation.
Note: Even with a device that has user data preservation, you should always back up any important data before performing a firmware update in case something goes wrong (and if something does go wrong you'll feel much better knowing you backed up your data beforehand.)
With that said, having your settings and installed applications still there after a firmware update makes for updating to the latest firmware much more convenient. This feature has not been discovered by you guys and gals because there hasn't been a firmware update available yet for N82 (don't worry the first N82 firmware update that improves the stability of key applications is in the pipeline and will be available soon). Since this is the first time user data preservation has been implemented in an Nseries, if you run into any problems with an installed application not working or missing files after a firmware update please leave a comment here and I'll pass on the problem to be looked into, or if you prefer send me an E-mail at (Removed to decrease Spam, if you're not a spambot you can still send me E-mail at my FirstName Dot LastName AtSign S60 Dot Com) with all the details (application name, version, where to download the application, etc.). Also don't be afraid to leave a comment if the user data preservation worked flawlessly for you, it's nice to hear positive comments too! =)
Update (January 23rd, 2008): I've been reading around on other blogs that have posted about the user data preservation feature and I notice there has been a little confusion about this blog post. When I wrote that the N82 is the first Nseries device to have User Data Preservation I meant just that, other Nokia mobile phones have had user data preservation also but this is the first time that the feature has been implemented on the Nseries. I'm sorry I wasn't more clear earlier and I hope this clears up some of the confusion.
-- Kevin
Hello,
I've been silent lately and now I can share why: I changed jobs at Nokia and joined the Mobile Web Server team. This means I won't be blogging here but instead I created (well, Phil helped a LOT) a new blog and it's called - (drums) - Mobile Web Server Blog.
I want to thank you all of my readers, fellow bloggers, mom and John Cleese in particular for the fun times so far. I hope you check out my new blog as well and stick around if you find it's worthy.
-Jukka
Hello everyone! Sorry for my disappearing act and thanks to Kevin for holding up the fort :) I should be back in a couple of weeks, but in the meantime I just want to pop in and share the big news that has been keeping me busy and stressed-out recently.
I am moving to Tampere, Finland (from Dallas, Texas).
Along with the move is my new job. As I've mentioned previously, I'm doing video development in S60 Multimedia. In my new role (which starts next Monday, eek!), I'll be involved with multimedia integration work, specifically in the areas of graphics and communications (multimedia sharing, visual radio, video telephony etc.)
I've read somewhere that job change and moving are two of the most stressful events in life, right up there with getting married, getting divorced, and death in the family. But while I'm pulling my already thinning hair out, I'm also truly excited about my new life and opportunities ahead.
With this chance to be immersed in the culture and people that are the foundation of what Nokia is about, I hope for a renewed passion and refreshed perspective, both in my work and in my blogging.
So thanks for reading, and stay tuned for my inaugural post from Finland!
- Carol.
Phil tagged me a while back to post 8 random things about myself, so here it goes.
But first the Rules:
"- Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.- People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules..
- At the end of your blog post, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names..
- Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog."
1. My favorite color is green.
2. I was raised and grew up in New York, no not New York City but New York State.
3. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science.
4. When I interviewed for the job at Nokia I was asked if I was Finnish. It turns out that Korpi is a common Finnish last name but I didn't know I had Finnish ancestry until I started working at Nokia. To this day my coworkers still discuss this as it is a funny story.
5. I have owned every Nintendo home console (Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, GameCube, Wii), so I guess you could say I'm a Nintendo fan.
6. I am the oldest son in my family and have 2 younger brothers.
7. Given the choice I don't run or use Microsoft Windows. At home I have a couple of computers running GNU/Linux and one Mac running OSX.
8. I enjoy taking photos of food way too much as can be seen on my Flickr account. My favorite food is Lobster.
I'm breaking the rules by not tagging another 8 people. But I would like to see Carol's 8 random things post. I know some of you bloggers have already posted an 8 random things entry, post a link to it in the comments if you have one already done.
I'll admit, I can be quite clumsy and accident prone, with myself and my stuff. I have a habit of dropping my phone, not intentionally of course. Both my N95 and E62 have suffered numerous falls, sometimes in the middle of a conversation which I was able to resume from after picking up the phone. You can see some scuff marks on them, but that's about it.
How well does the iPhone hold up against such treatment? I'll let my co-worker Tim Cusack describe what happened:
Situation:
Arrive home, open door of car to get out.
Have my N91 and iPhone in my lap, both drop to the concrete.
One survives without even a scratch.
The other does not, pics follow:
(click on the thumbnail for a bigger image)
This was the first time he dropped the iPhone, from a height of maybe a foot or two (as he as getting out of the car - not standing upright). The highly reflective surface of the iPhone kinda masks the cracks in the image above, but it is quite spectacular in real life.
The cost to fix it? $249. Ouch.
Granted, most people aren't as careless as me, but one drop? Perhaps Tim should have used the $249 to get a titanium case for the iPhone to begin with?
- Carol.
Let's take a commercial break from the, um, "commercials". Here we have a comparison between Nokia and Apple of a different sort: Who is greener?
The Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics is currently in its fourth edition. It is a ranking of the top 14 manufacturers on their use of harmful chemicals and electronic waste recycling.
Nokia has been a consistent top performer, clinching the top spots in the first two roundups, and falling behind only Lenovo in the third. Greenpeace says: "Nokia is on top because they've already phased out PVC, and met or exceeded a wide set of benchmarks we've laid down to reduce the amount and toxicity of electronic waste piling up in Asia and Africa."
Apple, on the other hand, was at the very botton in the second and third editions of the guide. It moved up this time "as a result of Steve Job's "Greener Apple" pledge to phase out PVC and other chemicals from their product line." But "loses points for not have a green product on the market and for a weak take back program."
Here's a detailed look on how the companies line up.
It's things like this that make me proud to call myself a Nokian, in addition to the fact that we make some really awesome devices. A company that cares about its consumers and their environment.
That's all for now! We will resume our scheduled programming shortly...
- Carol.
From Boo Hoo For You, we move to a very different part of the world, with what I can only imagine as starkly contrasting mobile lifestyle and usage.
According to Daily Monitor, some of the latest Nokia multimedia handsets are now available in the Ugandan market. These include the N93i, N95 and N76.
"I can confirm that these state of the art phones are here at very competitive prices for the Ugandan population," said Mr Akashar Kumar the General Manager for Midcom, the authorised Nokia dealer.
I remember reading a while back about the Village Phone initiative in Uganda, presented by Jan Chipchase.
The Village Phone extends regular base station cellular coverage from around 15 kilometers to around 30 kilometers through the use of a village phone kit - an antenna and ten meter cable and a coupler connected to a regular Nokia 1100 mobile phone plus of course, a micro-finance loan. The net result? In a number of cases it provides the first convenient, reliable and affordable connectivity to the outside world for many rural communities as well as providing a stable income for the local entrepreneur that takes out the loan.
While it might not be profitable for the entrepreneurs, I wonder what kind of impact it would have on the rural communities if the Nseries devices are introduced as their "Village Phones". For most, the multimedia phone would also be their first digital camera, first media player, first camcorder, and first internet browser. But their introduction to this multimedia experience would likely be as a community, around a shared device; rather than individually with a personal device.
"What happens when people share an object that is inherently designed for personal use?" Jan and colleague Indri Tulusan delve into this question and more in the essay: Shared Phone Use. Still a compelling read for me the second time around. The same device, say an N95, will be so different in terms of meaning, usage and experience in a different pair of hands.
Sometimes, it's not just about what technology can do, but also the human reaction and behaviour towards the technology. What does your Nokia (Multimedia) device mean to you? A necessity, a status symbol, or perhaps both? and more?
- Carol.
Update: Shortly after posting this entry, I came across a 2-day old article by BBC News - Designing mobiles for the world - where they interviewed Jan Chipchase. He examines how people use mobile phones in their daily lives, and it is with the understanding of human behaviour in various context of culture and landscape that can influence the direction of future designs.
Like many of you, my S60 devices are so much a part of me that I feel lost without them. But besides depending on your devices for daily activities such as connecting with friends and families, keeping appointments and creating memories, what are some the more interesting and special things that you do with your S60 device that others might be surprised to learn about?
Here's your chance to share your idea(s) and perhaps even win a prize! Ricky Cadden, editor of Symbian-Guru.com, is hosting an S60 video contest in celebration of the half-year mark of his website being live. He is looking for videos of the most creative thing you do with your S60 device. The prizes are yet to be announced, but I think watching each others videos and perhaps learning a thing or two is plenty reward in itself!
And it's not everyday I see a contest like this that doesn't preclude Nokia employees from participating :) Rules and details are on Ricky's site, but the contest is ongoing for a month until June 25th, you can enter as many times as you want, and readers get to vote for the winner from the finalists! So start shooting and sharing, all you proud S60 device owners!
- Carol.
Networking:
Network modes can be dynamically changed between Dual mode, UMTS, and GSM without having to restart your device. You can change the Network modes by opening the Settings application and selecting Phone -> Network -> Network mode. In S60 versions prior to 3rd edition FP1 when you changed the Network mode the phone would restart in order to apply the change.
USB Mass storage:
The USB Mass storage mode can be activated in any profile and without closing applications. Connect the USB cable from your computer to your S60 3rd edition FP1 device and choose Mass storage from the menu that pops up. The device will go into Mass storage mode and the files on your Memory card will be accessible from your computer without having to close applications and without going to Offline mode. It is a nice improvement since you can still receive calls or have applications open in the background while transferring files on your memory card.
In the first S60 3rd edition release prior to FP1, when USB Mass storage is used all open applications are closed and the device is put in Offline mode.
Note: I saw these improvements on the Nokia N95 but they should also be present on other 3rd edition FP1 devices as well. Leave a comment if you have an FP1 devices (ie. N76) that you've tried the above on, or find the described features aren't working the same on your device.
While this is not really related to S60 Multimedia, I couldn't resist posting it:
This is in fact part of a marketing site by Symbian, called "Boo Hoo for You!", focusing on Symbian smartphones in Japan, shaming us "Western" smartphone users (thus the "boo hoo"... if you didn't watch the video).
I don't think it is so much about how more advanced some of the technology is in Japan, as it is about how integrated all these technology is in their daily lives. Here we are talking about advanced PIM and Multimedia features in our phones decent enough to replace stand-alone PDAs, cameras and MP3 players etc. But for the Japanese, their cellphones are literally replacing their wallets and keys.
When you're running late and rushing out the door, do you reach for and grab your camera or your keys?
Then again I wonder about security of these devices. The biometrics feature will prevent someone who steals your phone from using it, but it doesn't prevent the phone from actually being stolen (or lost, or misplaced... as some of us scatterbrains are prone to do.) And what about battery life? When you use a device for everything from shopping to transport throughout the day, what happens when you reach home late at night and the phone is out of juice and you can't unlock the door?
Kevin (Korpi), would you care to comment? I'm interested in your viewpoint since you actually live in Japan and I've only spent a few hours in Narita Airport.
Back on the Boo Hoo site, you can check out the Japanese smartphone features, download the Boo-Hoo ring tone, watch the BHFY clip (which I've already embedded above), and even win a Symbian smartphone! (But I'm guessing it will be a Japanese one based on the FOMA platform rather than S60, and will only work in Japan...)
(Special thanks to Kevin Scott for the forward!)
- Carol.