Made in Singapore - Roadmate

A innovative application - Roadmate (http://i.sh2sg.com/symbian/) you can find out the most updated carpark rates, ERP rates, petrol prices and live traffic news in Singapore. Roadmate uses Google static map indicating 66 ERP gantries, 215 petrol stations and 785 carparks so far with daily update. As a symbian phone user, we sincerely wish to see more of such practical and useful local apps...

MyMobileWebs.com adds 4 more Links

MyMobileWebs adds 4 more Links on 6 Feb 2010- BBC, TheGuardian, Hotmail Mobile & MSN Mobile.
MyMobileWebs.com added this 4 links from the feedback of its users since its launch on 2 Feb 2010.

Get your news update from BBC news. A reader reported that it is a must to visit BBC Sports for EPL updates.

One of the more popular mobile news site that is comprehensive with images.

Check your email account in the mobile version of Hotmail...

News, updates, search engine, etc...

From the Blogger's Desk - NETS launches iNets

E-payment services provider NETS launched iNets you can pay your utilities, credit card or telco bills, buy movie tickets, or pay for season parking - all on your mobile phone. 15 service providers including SingTel, StarHub, UOB, OCBC, Cathay Cineplexes and SP Services are tapping the system, and Nets is looking to get more merchants on board. Things that users could soon pay for via iNets include airline tickets and tours, food and beverage, motoring services, prepaid top-ups, and e-books.

Links:

1) http://www.todayonline.com/mobile/html/1133_EDC100204-0000117.html

2) http://www.asianbankerpublication.com/A556C5/Update.nsf/0/632D27DD87CB5508482576BF003240F3?Opendocument

From the Blogger's Desk - Can Install Windows 7 on Nokia???

This may not be new to some but I came a Windows 7 emulator for Symbian devices. It was tested and found to work well with Nokia 5800.


After shocking the mobile market with a previous emulater for Window XP in Nokia devices- iXP, MMMOOO released a Windows 7 emulator for Symbian devices this time.


You can buy this apps for US$4.99 at
http://shop.immmooo.com/affiliates/product/product_view.php?product_id=112&u_id=599#Overview

Personally, I have enough of the routine Windows Desktop on my laptop every day... But if you are looking to impress your friends with this trick, why not???

A Brand New Way to Surf on Your Mobile - Introducing MyMobileWebs.com

Announcing a brand new way to surf the mobile webs, boosting 19 links to the most well-ultilised mobile webs in Singapore, MyMobileWebs Beta Version is formally launched today on 2 Feb 2010. No more running through a long list of bookmarks in your mobile or searching of apps that fill your screens, just bookmark this site to meet your most demanding needs from reading news and checking your favourite tv programme schedule to seeking directions on the road and carpark rates. The beta version comes with a search engine powered by Google and is optimised for screen resolution 320*240. MyMobileWebs is set to gain popularity among all mobile users with the introduction of more touch screen phones and cheaper data plans. (http://www.mymobilewebs.com/)

Get your daily dose of news from this popular news channel in Asia.

A mobile version of CNET Asia, one of the world's leading technology news provider.

Stay in touch with your friends with this web and mobile messenger which supports various instant messaging services including Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo!, AIM, Google Talk, ICQ, Facebook, and MySpace IM.

Read updates on your social networking account - Facebook.

Check your emails in your Gmail account.

A mobile version of gothere will provide drivers and commuters taking public transport with directions on how to get to your destinations and estimated cab fares.

Hardwarezone will provide you with the latest price list of your favourite gadgets.

Wondering where to go for your meals? Hungrygowhere will list and provide ratings of the restaurants  that are near your current location.

Check the timing of your favourite TV shows on Mediacorp TV.

Rain or shine. Get the latest weather forcast from NEA.

Make your LTA enquiries, view traffic news/alerts, find out ERP rates or get the latest results of  the COE results from OneMotoring Mobile.

You can find out bus routes details, operating hours and frequency range by selecting the bus service number of SBS Transit and SMRT Buses.

Check the carpark rates before you decide where to park.

Latest results of 4D and Toto... Odds of soccer games...

Details of first and last train in all the SMRT stations.

Programme listings on Starhub Cable TV.

Another source of news from Today...

A mobile version of free web-based , collaborative, multilingual encyclopedia project- Wikipedia.

Check where to catch your favourite movies...






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Money Not Enough - JabpLite

Another financial management tool- JabpLite has many features to help you keep track of your finances, for example:

• Multiple accounts (ie. different bank accounts, credit cards, etc)
• Default and user-defined categories
• Regular transactions (ie. save the transactions you do regularly) 
• Track your investments
• Standing Orders (yearly, monthly, daily with any frequency), automatically generated on the due dates
• Future Balance calculations (see if you will have enough money to last until pay day!)
• Net worth calculation
• Top ten expense categories (see where your money is going!)
• Foreign currency accounts with automatic revaluation when FX rates

JabpLite comes with a sister program JabpFile, which allows smartphones running MIDP 2.0 to exchange data with a PC via a memory card. You can import or export QIF files to work with other PC-based financial programs. You can also backup your data and, when the time comes, move it onto your next phone!
(http://www.freepoc.org/viewapp.php?id=58)

From the Blogger's Desk - Nokia Surprise!

Although Apple has been dominating the headlines with its iPhone and recently, the launch of iPad, Nokia Corp the largest mobile phone manufacturer of the world, declared fourth quarter 2009 financial results, with net income up 60% year-over-year.

Nokia attribute the better than expected performance to reasons like increasing market share in the high-end high-margin smartphone market as well as effective cost-cutting measures taken by management. In the fourth quarter, Nokia added four new touch-screen smartphones to its existing three touch-screen models. Nokia is expecting to maintain its current market share for mobile handsets in 2010.

Links:

1) http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2010/01/nokia_q4_earnings_are_looking_good.html

2) http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/29915/Nokia+Surprises+in+Fourth+Quarter

From the Blogger's Desk - What does iPad remind you of?

Just a day after Apple announced its new tablet computer, its name of the new product- iPad is already drawing sneers and jeers from people around the world- especially ladies. It is not surprising as the name- iPad easily reminds people of feminine products. There were questions if there were any ladies in Apple marketing and on how Apple would have not considered such a significant detail. At the time, Japanese electronics company Fujitsu says it owns rights to 'iPad' name, not Apple. Fujitsu built a handheld computing device complete with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and VoIP support, called the iPad in 2002.

Despite all these, I have reasons to believe that the iPad will sell well just like the other Apple products as they have a very specialised market.

Links:

1) http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/27/the-ipads-name-makes-some-women-cringe/

2) http://www.pcworld.com/article/187966/um_apple_about_that_ipad_name.html

3) http://www.pcworld.com/article/188100/fujitsu_says_it_owns_rights_to_ipad_name_not_apple.html

Never Get Lost - Google Map for Mobile

Google Maps (for a time named Google Local) is a basic web mapping service application and technology provided by Google. (http://www.google.com/mobile/maps/index_.html)



Google maps app will enable you to see your location on the map even without gps. Drivers can obtain general directions on how to get to their destinations. The Real-time traffic function helps traffic commuters  to find the fastest route.This app also offers instructions on how to get to where you want to go via public transport.

From the Blogger's Desk - Nokia's Free Navigation for Everyone.

Believed to be countering Google's Android phones that offer a free, full-featured GPS application, Nokia announced that it will make the premium version of Ovi Maps, which includes turn-by-turn directions and traffic alerts, available for free . Currently, Nokia is offering its premium Ovi Maps app for 74 countries in 46 languages on only 10 GPS-equipped Nokia models: N97 Mini, 5800 XpressMusic, 5800 Navigation Edition, E52, E55, E72, 5230, 6170 Navigator, 6730 Classic and X6. Nokia N97 users will soon receive the free premium Ovi Maps as well.

Links:

1) http://www.pcworld.com/article/187341/nokia_strikes_back_at_google_with_free_gps_app.html
 
2) https://www.nokia.com.sg/explore-services/ovi-maps

From the Blogger's Desk - Apple Launch iPad

After introducing its first iPhone in 2007, Apple launched a new touchscreen tablet computer on Wednesday dubbed the 'iPad', seeking to carve out a niche between the laptop and the smartphone.

Apple is launching an online "iBookstore" for the iPad and touted its abilities as an electronic reader of books, newspapers and magazines. They believe that the iPad is going to make a terrific e-book reader, not just for popular books but for textbooks as well.



The most basic iPad model, with 16G of memory costs US$499 (S$701) while the higher end model which includes 3G wireless connectivity and 64G of memory costs US$829 (S$1165).

Links:
1) http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/TechandScience/Story/STIStory_483137.html

2)
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20100128/ttc-us-it-company-computer-media-interne-0de2eff.html

Portable Movie Player - DivX Mobile Player

Don't have MobileTV on your Nokia phone? No problem. Just download this DivX Mobile Player to watch movies on your symbian phone.(http://labs.divx.com/MobileDownload)

Beware! This app is going to take up a lot of place... Actually, it doesn't... Your movies will...

From the Blogger's Desk - Google’s Android Mobile OS Will Outpace the iPhone, Others

Another reason for starting this blog is this article that I read online that Google’s Android Mobile OS Will Outpace the iPhone, Others. (Source: http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/1575-Chart-of-the-Week-Google-s-Android-Mobile-OS-Will-Outpace-the-iPhone-Others)

Believing in "read only the right stuff", it's easy to notice that Google’s Android Mobile OS Will Outpace the iPhone and others but not Symbian OS which is expected to remain popular in this forecast. Although it will drop to 39% of the total available market by 2012, Symbian will still control the greatest percentage of the market. Android-powered mobile handsets will have an estimated 14.5% of the worldwide mobile phone market by 2012, passing the Apple iPhone and other OS due to Google's innovative and integrated applications.

English not powderful (powerful) - Dictionary & Translation Pro

I had a friend in the army who reads the dictionary to pick up 10 new words a day. Are you surprised that he's a PSC scholar?

Dictionary & Translation Pro offers easy one-touch access to an extensive online English dictionary, thesaurus, and translation service supporting a wide set of languages including Hindi, Arabic, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and many more. The online dictionary features near to million words and is constantly updated by a community of language professionals. (http://store.ovi.com/content/22123?clickSource=homepage)

Pros: It does not hurt to have a dictionary in the phone.
Cons: Someone might call you a nerd?

Forget Me Not - Hack Proof Password Manager

I had a similar application on my palm. It enables me to gain access to all my passwords by just remembering one.

Hack Proof Password Manager avoid the frustration of a forgotten PIN or Password. (http://www.bitsforfree.eu/prod_detail_015.php)

It is a free application to securely store and quickly access passwords, PINs, credit card numbers, accounts and all other personal data.



Features

• Keep your personal info secure but at hand all the time
• Only one password to remember
• 12 different input templates with 8 free text fields
• Automatic lock after a period of inactivity
• Preconfigured Templates include: Credit Card, Bank Account, Internet Banking, Document,  Internet Provider, Website Login, Email, PC Password, Network Login, Combination Lock, Mobile Phone & General Purpose

Money Matters - Money Manager

MoneyManager is a handy and user-friendly solution to track your transactions. (http://www.8mobile.org/moneyManager.aspx)

To keep it simple, MoneyManager enables you to keep track after your transactions, categorize transactions into groups of your choice and record your financial transactions. You can view/delete a monthly report of your expenses and start a new database for the next month.
 
Don't worry, ladies. You can still shop while keeping track of your expenses.
 
Functions:

• Insert: Enables to create a new transaction, specifying amount, category, date and note.
• Modify: Modify selected transaction detail.
• Delete: Delete selected transaction.
• Clear Month: Delete all transctions for selected month.
• Statistics: Group by category monthly transactions.
• Email: Enables to send an email with attached monthly report in Excel or CSV format.
• Categories: Manage (Insert/Modify/Delete) your categories.
• Preferences: Enables to view monthly transactions ordered by data, ascending or descending.

Pros: Particularly useful for keeping track of credit card bills. (Instead of keeping the receipts in my thick wallets.)
Cons: You have got to be disciplined to key in your transactions.

Give Me Enough to Survive - Snaptu

What is Snaptu? (http://www.snaptu.com/)

Snaptu is a free mobile service that offers you a selection of fun and useful applications. It is a fast and easy way to access the Internet on your phone.

Snaptu boasts a number of mobile applications that allows you to access your social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. You can read news on news sites like Reuters, BBC & The Guardian. Other apllications include Gmail, Google Calendar, Picasa, Flickr, Sudoku, a fine Dictionary, Cricinfo, AccuWeather, etc.

Previews of some applications:

• Live FootBall Scores allows you to see Matches being played, Tournaments, My Teams and News.
• AccuWeather allows you to add a city and get weather updates on a daily or weekly basis.
  
• The Guardian News Reader with various categories of news, sports, etc.
  
• Access your Picasa account tosearch for Photos and view public albums.
  

Pros:

1. It's free...
2. Easy Navigation
3. Download in small byte size rather than huge chunks of content.

Cons:

1. MyMovie and London Tube are UK-based only

From the Blogger's Desk - Edition of S60 and Phone Models

Check the version of Symbian OS in your mobile phone below:

S60, version 0.9
• Nokia 7650

S60 1st Edition
• Nokia 3600
• Nokia 3620
• Nokia 3650
• Nokia 3660
• Nokia N-Gage
• Nokia N-Gage QD
• Sendo X
• Sendo X2
• Siemens SX1
S60 2nd Edition
• Nokia 6600
• Panasonic X700
• Panasonic X800
• Samsung SGH-D720
• Samsung SGH-D728
• Samsung SGH-D730
• Samsung SGH-Z600

S60 2nd Edition, Feature Pack 1
• Nokia 3230
• Nokia 6260
• Nokia 6620
• Nokia 6670
• Nokia 7610

S60 2nd Edition, Feature Pack 2
• Lenovo P930
• Nokia 6630
• Nokia 6680
• Nokia 6681
• Nokia 6682

S60 2nd Edition, Feature Pack 3
• Nokia N70
• Nokia N72
• Nokia N90

S60 3rd Edition
• Nokia 3250
• Nokia 5500 Sport
• Nokia E50
• Nokia E60
• Nokia E61
• Nokia E61i
• Nokia E62
• Nokia E65
• Nokia E70
• Nokia N71
• Nokia N73
• Nokia N75
• Nokia N77
• Nokia N80
• Nokia N91
• Nokia N91 8GB
• Nokia N92
• Nokia N93
• Nokia N93i
• Samsung SGH-i570

S60 3rd Edition, Feature Pack 1
• LG KS10
• LG KT610
• LG KT615
• Nokia 5700 XpressMusic
• Nokia 6110 Navigator
• Nokia 6120 classic
• Nokia 6121 classic
• Nokia 6124 classic
• Nokia 6290
• Nokia E51
• Nokia E63
• Nokia E66
• Nokia E71
• Nokia E90 Communicator
• Nokia N76
• Nokia N81
• Nokia N81 8GB
• Nokia N82
• Nokia N95
• Nokia N95 8GB
• Samsung SGH-G810
• Samsung SGH-i400
• Samsung SGH-i408
• Samsung SGH-i450
• Samsung SGH-i458
• Samsung SGH-i520
• Samsung SGH-i550
• Samsung SGH-i550w
• Samsung SGH-i560
• Samsung SGH-i568

S60 3rd Edition, Feature Pack 2
• Nokia 5320 XpressMusic
• Nokia 5630 XpressMusic
• Nokia 5730 XpressMusic
• Nokia 6210 Navigator
• Nokia 6220 classic
• Nokia 6650 fold
• Nokia 6710 Navigator
• Nokia 6720 classic
• Nokia 6730 classic
• Nokia 6760 slide
• Nokia 6790 Surge
• Nokia E52
• Nokia E55
• Nokia E71x
• Nokia E72
• Nokia E75
• Nokia N78
• Nokia N79
• Nokia N85
• Nokia N86 8MP
• Nokia N96
• Samsung GT-i8510 (INNOV8)
• Samsung GT-I7110
• Samsung SGH-L870

S60 5th Edition
• Nokia 5800 XpressMusic
• Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition
• Nokia 5530 XpressMusic
• Nokia 5230
• Nokia N97
• Nokia N97 mini
• Nokia X6
• Samsung i8910 Omnia HD[7]
• Sony Ericsson Satio

(Hopefully, Symbian OS will continue to develop and this list will be updated along the way...)

From the Blogger's Desk - What is Symbian OS?

Let's not get too technical here... Anyway, it is just for general knowledge. If you are looking for more, visit Wikipedia...

Symbian OS is an open source operating system for mobile phones primarily used on Nokia advanced or data enabled smart phones. Several device manufacturers from Nokia® to Sony/Ericsson® have committed to the new and open project that Symbian has announced for its mobile phone operating system, Symbian OS. The support for the much established mobile platform is far and wide, though much of the press lately has centered around Apple's iPhone® and other offerings including the rumored Google Android OS for mobile devices. (Source: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-symbian-os.htm)


The first 'open' Symbian OS phone, the Nokia 9210 Communicator, was released in June 2001. Bluetooth support was added. Almost 500,000 Symbian phones were shipped in 2001, rising to 2.1 million the following year. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbian_OS)

Community sites and portals dedicated to the development of Open Source programs for smartphones running the Symbian OS include:
http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/
http://www.symbian.org/
http://www.symbianos.org/

From the Blogger's Desk - INTRODUCTION & WELCOME

While the world is crazy over the iPhone and the introduction of Android-powered mobile handsets, it is easy to forget that the Symbian OS is the world's most popular mobile operating system, accounting for 45% of smartphone sales. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbian_OS)

Nokia users like me would be wondering if we should get our iPhones when we are eligible to upgrade with our respective service providers. Unarguably, it is the latest trend to own an iPhone with so many users around the world and thousands of apps provided by Apple and third parties in the market. At least in Singapore, we have seen the latest wave of iPhone craze when two major mobile service providers - Singtel and Starhub secured rights to carry the iPhone as the latest product in their catalogues of handphone models. In my office, a colleague of mine has been bragging about his latest acquisition of the iPhone and its functions of his apps. In fact, he's just one of the five colleagues of mine who have swapped a Nokia for a iPhone this month.

To keep the story short, I was not tempted to give up my Nokia just yet. I've always questioned the speed of the development of hardware versus the pace of the introduction of software. It seems like before we could grasp the full functions of our new toy, we see a new model of phone in the market. It is indeed amazing to see so many retailers of second hand phones doing well when there are easily 3 to 4 such "shops" buying and selling used phones. Most of these phones were exported, I was told by a vendor when I bought and sold a Samsung Pixon, making some money in the process. To put my point across simply, it is not how "big" your TV is but how many channels you could watch on it.

Not everyone needs a iPhone. For me, I use my Nokia mainly for calling and sending sms. However, it does not hurt to use our mobile phones for some additional functions. Fanciful themes and apps does not appeal to me as I drive and definitely do not have the luxury of playing with my phone to pass time on my journey home. I owned a palm some years back and was looking out for similar apps on my Nokia to serve my needs so as to organise my life a little bit more. In the process, I found threads on the forums posted by some fellow nokia users seeking apps to enhance their phones. Thus, I started this blog to share more about my finds and review some of the apps that may be basic but very useful.