Nokia and EA – exclusive experiences for Nokia Windows Phone users (+40 Free EA games for S40)

Apparently there’s going to be some Nokia Windows Phone exclusive games from EA.

Next, they are going to bring 20 of the world’s best games to Windows Phone for Nokia. “This time, we’ll be designing our games for an awe-inspiring experience on Windows Phone for Nokia,” he said, noting that they plan to publish 10 games from EA as well as games from Chillingo, their indie publishing arm. There will also be seven games from the Hasbro line-up for Nokia users worldwide.  

“That’s the best games for free plus exclusive content for Nokia users. It’s a big win for Nokia’s consumers worldwide,” Barry said.  

S40 are getting some Nokia EA love too, with 40 free games from EA. That’s pretty cool. BTW, although you might have reservations on quality of games for S40, on the 1GHz devices, they don’t look too bad. Quite impressive actually, considering the specs and price.

http://www.developer.nokia.com/Community/Blogs/blog/nokia-developer-news/2011/10/27/new-apps-prove

The Nokia line of Windows Phones is essentially like the Nexus line in terms of exclusive features first, making them for that alone, highly desirable.

We know already that these are coming exclusively with Nokia Music and Nokia Drive, the latter of which I find a deal breaker (voice turn by turn navigation out of the box, thank you Nokia).

There are also some exclusive Nokia WP features – such as improved accuracy on capacitive keys to avoid mispress. I gathered that eventually this will be shared for the benefit of the entire ecosystem of WP devices.

Although some might see this as Nokia giving away their advantages, Another way to look at this is that Nokia are trying to grow in and WITH a promising NASCENT OS. Right now it is in its best interest to make this platform grow and be desirable for all. There’s no point being the biggest fish in the pond. BTW, with things like Nokia Maps for all, Nokia will be getting a bigger share of users, so more opportunity to make revenue as Nokia Maps becomes more widely available.  Keeping things first for a while though is a trend I’d like to see continue for Nokia. Share, but share later.

Sajith A.R

Windows 8 reactions on Twitter visualized!

Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system is getting very positive reactions according to a new infographic put together by social media tracking company MashWork. The company has been tracking tweets about the revamped Windows platform since its first limited preview back in June with a good portion of the reactions collected from the recent Microsoft Build developer conference. Continue after the cut for the full infographic.


The data include 65,968 messages shared on Twitter between June 15 and September 22. About half of the tweets favored the Windows 8 Metro UI when compared to Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. The tweets also generally focused on Windows 8′s fast boot times, Xbox Live integration, and the new Windows App Store.
“The most interesting thing I found was that people were so receptive to Windows 8 on a tablet,” said MashWork founder Jared Feldman in an interview with VentureBeat, noting that the data skewed towards the tech savvy. “A lot of times when you get very well-educated people, who know all the products on the market, they evaluate new things and immediately start hating and ripping it apart.
“What we found for the most part was that people are genuinely excited about Windows on a tablet — so much so that we actually have developer clients who are using this infographic to drum up excitement for Windows 8 before getting their hands on a developer kit to create apps (for the new platform),” added Feldman.
For more details on the recent Windows 8 developer preview, make sure to check out our complete guide as well as our hands-on with the Windows 8 tablet.

iPhone 4S Hands-On

The Apple iPhone 4S is here, and as soon as Tim Cook’s keynote was over we spent some hands-on time with the new iOS 5 smartphone. Much of the magic is now hidden behind a familiar face, but things like Siri, the boosted camera and a core speed improvement will be enough reason for many to upgrade. Check out our full first-impressions after the cut.


The fact that Apple has left the external design unchanged may frustrate many would-be upgraders, though it’s hard to be too disappointed when the handset – even over a year old – remains the thinnest smartphone around. It’s still 9.3mm thick, impressive when you think Apple has made it a single World Phone with support for both GSM and CDMA networks. We won’t be able to speed-test the HSPA support until we have more time with a review unit, but Apple is promising speeds that are the equivalent of what some networks – and rival devices – claim is 4G. Still, we compared load times of the New York Times homepage over Verizon’s EVDO Rev.A connection and Apple’s WiFi network, with only a couple of seconds difference.
In the hand it may feel like the same device, but in practice the “S” in 4S could easily stand for “Speed.” Now with the dual-core 1GHz Apple A5 inside, with what is claimed to be 2x the performance and 7x the graphics speed of the iPhone 4, it’s all round a faster phone. Navigating between apps has never been slow, but there’s literally no lag to be found. Webpages rendered instantly, while pinch-zooming was silky smooth.

The camera app – 2-3x faster, Apple says, than rival devices such as the DROID Bionic – is further evidence of the speed boost. Simplicity has always been one of the iPhone photography strong points, and while there are new settings options in the iPhone 4S, such as image stabilization and control over exposure, it’s still very intuitive. For the first time there’s 1080p Full HD video recording, at 30fps, while the VGA resolution front camera – which also supports 30fps – handles FaceTIme video calls.
Siri is arguably the main draw. Apple’s new voice-control assistant, Siri makes promises that we’ve learnt to be wary about over the years, but after a brief test we’re surprisingly impressed. Easily activated, with a new microphone icon on the regular on-screen keyboard, Siri managed just what it did on-stage during the keynote. We could ask it local information, such as the weather or to find nearby stores, while online searching and complex questions for Wolfram Alpha were handled with little delay. Speed can be the killer for services like this – people just won’t wait if their phone takes 30 seconds to look up an answer – but Siri delivered in just seconds.

Even complex tasks, like accurate transcription, seems comfortably within Siri’s abilities. It’s the interaction between existing data – like calendar entries – and new commands, such as setting up appointments by voice that are likely to really impress users, however. Usability is slick as well: whether you’re in the lock screen or the homescreen, you can hold the iPhone 4S to your ear and Siri will automatically kick in. Again, we’ll have to put it through its paces when we review the iPhone 4S, but first-impressions are very, very good.

Factor in the fact that the same accessories will work with the iPhone 4S as do with the iPhone 4, and that the pricing is the same, and there’s plenty to like.
Update: Apple wasn’t allowing live photos and video from the hands-on session post-keynote, so we’ll have to wait for the review to show you all the details!

Steve Jobs Tributes: Visionary and Leading Light

A visionary, a great entrepreneur and the “leading light” of the digital age: some of the most prominent names in the tech industry and beyond have joined in praised Apple’s Steve Jobs, who passed away yesterday at the age of 56. Uncompromising and focused, Jobs was responsible in no small part for a ground shift in computing, and his death has prompted an outpouring of tributes in the hours since the announcement. We’ve gathered together some of the comments that have particularly caught our attention, as we think on what Jobs achieved in his time with us.


Microsoft co-founder and current chairman Bill Gates was for many years pitted as Jobs’ arch rival, and points out that he and the Apple founder were “colleagues, competitors and friends” for more than half their lives:

“I’m truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs’ death. Melinda and I extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to everyone Steve has touched through his work.
Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives.
The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.
For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely.” Bill Gates, chairman, Microsoft

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak told the BBC that Jobs’ strength was in”the little details, the tiny little nuances between one product or another.” He would remember him for “knowing what made sense in a product” and Jobs’ “very quick mind”. Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama describes Jobs as “a visionary”:

“The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Steve’s wife Laurene, his family, and all those who loved him.” President Obama

Sergey Brin and Larry Paige, Google co-founders, highlight Jobs’ focus on user experience and his “passion for excellence”:

“From the earliest days of Google, whenever Larry and I sought inspiration for vision and leadership, we needed to look no farther than Cupertino. Steve, your passion for excellence is felt by anyone who has ever touched an Apple product (including the macbook I am writing this on right now). And I have witnessed it in person the few times we have met. On behalf of all of us at Google and more broadly in technology, you will be missed very much. My condolences to family, friends, and colleagues at Apple.” Sergey Brin, co-founder, Google

“I am very, very sad to hear the news about Steve. He was a great man with incredible achievements and amazing brilliance. He always seemed to be able to say in very few words what you actually should have been thinking before you thought it. His focus on the user experience above all else has always been an inspiration to me. He was very kind to reach out to me as I became CEO of Google and spend time offering his advice and knowledge even though he was not at all well. My thoughts are with his family and the whole Apple family.” Larry Paige, CEO and co-founder, Google

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook founder, emphasizes the potential world-changing power that technology can have, a reminder that, just because we may not all own an iPhone or other Apple product, the technology we do use inevitably bears some element of its design or concept to products Jobs had a hand in.

“Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you.” Mark Zuckerberg, CEO, Facebook

Apple and Samsung have, most recently, been locked in fierce legal battles over innovation and design, but CEO Choi Gee-sung of the Korean company put that aside to praise Jobs’ “revolutionary” input to the industry and his “innovative spirit”:

“Samsung Electronics is saddened to hear of Chairman Steve Jobs’ passing and would like to extend our deepest condolences.
Chairman Steve Jobs introduced numerous revolutionary changes to the information technology industry and was a great entrepreneur.
His innovative spirit and remarkable accomplishments will forever be remembered by people around the world. We would like to again express our sincerest condolences to Mr. Jobs’ family and his colleagues” Choi Gee-sung, CEO, Samsung Electronics

Sony was said to be Jobs’ great inspiration, with one-time Apple CEO John Sculley claiming in an interview last year that the Japanese company became “Steve’s point of reference” for the setup of the Macintosh factories and the focus on design and build quality. Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer suggests that Jobs’ own legacy will be one of inspiration:

“The digital age has lost its leading light, but Steve’s innovation and creativity will inspire dreamers and thinkers for generations” Sir Howard Stringer, CEO, Sony

Meanwhile, popular web comic xkcd (make sure to mouseover the picture for the alt text) commemorated Jobs in its own bittersweet way, one of numerous online tributes (including the wide-spread “Thanks Steve” Apple logo at the top of the page, a design by art student Jonathan Mak). Finally, 9 to 5 Mac dug up a video of Apple’s first “Here’s to the Crazy Ones” commercial, where Steve Jobs narrates the iconic advert. It seems a fitting way to remember a man who had a huge impact on an industry we love.

Bio-Diesel

A simple brewing formula.

The recipe for making biodiesel is very simple although there are plenty of dangers involved. This recipe is here for information purposes only and we do not recommend that you attempt to make biodiesel at home. Protective chemical proof gloves, an apron, and goggles must be worn, and vapours released are poisonous so a dust mask is recommended.

Vegetable oil is too thick to use directly in a diesel car's engine. Therefore its viscosity must be reduced using a chemical process which strips the glycerin from the esters (vegetable molecules). By replacing the glycerin with an alcohol (methanol or ethanol) by the process of transestrification we obtain a useable fuel - biodiesel. As vegetable oil is acidic, an alkaline (sodium hydroxide NaOH also known as lye or caustic soda) is used to break the molecules.The following details are for new unused oil. If you intend to use old vegetable oil then the amount of sodium hydroxide must be modified to take into account the increased acidity and extra free fatty acids that need to be neutralised before they gunge up your fuel lines.

To make a sample amount of biodiesel - e.g. 1 litre you need the following:
1. 1 litre of vegetable oil.
2. 200 millilitres of methanol (95% pure).(This is not Methalated Spirit)
3. 5 grams of sodium hydroxide.

The first step is to dissolve the sodium hydroxide in the methanol to generate sodium methoxide. This must NOT be done in a plastic bottle as the sodium hydroxide will attact the bottle and fill it with holes. Instead use a large glass jar with a very tightly fitting lid. Drop the sodium hydroxide into the methanol, replace the lid immediately, and shake/swirl the mixture for around 10 minutes until all of the sodium hydroxide has dissolved. A lot of heat will be generated during this process.Then this solution is added to the vegetable oil which has been pre-heated to 60°C. Get a 2 litre plastic drinks bottle and a funnel. Pour the warm oil through the funnel into the bottle and then (in a well ventilated area) add the methoxide. Remove the funnel and replace the top on the bottle screwing it down tightly. Shake the bottle vigorously for 30 seconds. For best results shake the mixture for 5 seconds four times over the space of one hour.The mixture can then be left to settle with biodiesel appearing at the top, and glycerine at the bottom. Within an hour most of the glycerine will have settled out, but it is best to leave the mixture overnight to settle more fully. Next morning slowly pour off the biodiesel to use as fuel and put the glycerine on your compost heap or use it to make soap.

To improve the quality of your biodiesel it should be washed in order to remove the soap it contains. To do this pour your one litre of biodiesel into another two litre bottle. Add 1/2 litre of 40°C water gently to the bottle. Replace the bottle top tightly and then turn the bottle end over end gently for 30 seconds. As long as you are gentle, the cloudy (soapy) water and biodiesel will seperate quickly. Turn the bottle upside down and slowly release the water (which will form a layer at the bottom) using your thumb as a valve. Repeat this process 2 or 3 times slowly increasing the level of agitation and the length of time you rotate the bottle. By wash four and five you can shake the bottle fairly vigorously. If you shake the bottle too early you will create an emulsion that will take days if not weeks to settle out. When you have finished the water should come out of the bottle pretty much clear. Then you can leave the biodiesel for a couple of days to settle and dry afterwhich it will be clear and ready to use as fuel in your diesel engined car.

This same process with modifications can be used for larger quantities. Industrial process are also similar to this but some methods are incorporated into them to make them faster and also more efficient but the basic idea is same.

(Kanika Science Fair Theory behind Electricity from salt water,Human battery &Biodiesal

https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1-lMnEsXfYZha-KN8vdpgxH9To2hEe13SIMGeqCTCuzA

Video: Photo Browser 2.0 demoed on Nokia N8, available at Ovi Store

Do you remember that cool looking app called Nokia Photo Browser? It made S60 and S60 5th devices look extremely modern with that cooliris like photo browsing experience. a demo of Nokia Photo Browser 2.0 on the Nokia N8 which is available at Ovi Store. (Note: not from Nokia, but looks a lot like that Nokia app)

• Tilts when scrolling
• 
  
• It has that nice magnifying glass mode when you long press
•  
• I don’t think camb078 showed it, but it should have face detection feature. When you double tap on a face, you centre in on just faces and you can swipe left or right to the next face.  
•  
• Not sure if this works instantly or needs some time to collect all the pictures on your phone like the old photo browser. (Well, even the gallery asks to refresh media every now and again) Update: Camb078 says it took 40 minutes to get his 1000 photos. Well once you’ve done that the successive pics taken won’t take long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OatT1yJIQBg

Get it from Ovi Store:

http://store.ovi.com/content/64435

Nokia Sleeping Screen Updated: Install away from C drive to save space

Nokia Beta Labs have released an update for their popular Sleep Screen App. You can now thankfully install it anywhere, which means AVOIDING C:Drive which is positively anaemic.
Disk space is also saved as your own sleep screen images are compressed.

http://betalabs.nokia.com/blog/2011/09/07/nokia-sleeping-screen-beta-updated-install-now-on-any-drive?

• Nokia Sleeping Screen can now be installed on any drive. We recommend “Mass memory” so that it does not occupy valuable C: drive space.
• User-created images are now compressed when saved to the installation drive. This too saves on disk space.
• Added error texts in Settings UI if Qt Quick Components are missing or out-of-date.
• Bug fixes in 2nd clock-only theme (the so-called “Tron clock” with blue animated rays)

Draw Slasher Available for Symbian^3

One of those games was Draw Slasher, a very popular iOS game, like a bloodier version of fruit ninja – with pirate zombie monkeys.
 you can get it on Ovi Store for Symbian^3.

http://store.ovi.com/content/185398

Symbian Belle – the Facts & the Features

The next version of Symbian, called Symbian Belle, is announced today. 

Hot on the heels of the Symbian Anna release, the latest version of our smartphone operating system looks and works better than ever before. Headline features are gorgeous new widgets, more customisation options, new apps and built-in NFC functionality. As before, the upgraded operating system will be available on new Symbian smartphones and will be made available as a free update for users with phones running Symbian Anna.

Symbian Belle adds to the work done by Anna to improve and modernise the Symbian experience. Here are some of the highlights of what you’ve got to look forward to:

Free-form, resizable, live widgets:
widgets like the clock, email, music player, favourite contacts and the calendar have been redesigned and now come in five different sizes. They can also be resized and rearranged to create a completely personalised set of screens. There are also new ‘Toggle’ widgets for tasks like switching on Bluetooth and changing profiles.


More homescreens:
 with Symbian Belle the maximum number of homescreens rises from three to six, so now you can have absolutely everything close at hand.

Improved status bar: the status bar sports a modern, flat look and incorporates a pull down notifications tab that incorporates common settings and notification of incoming messages, missed calls and the rest.

Modernised navigation: the navigation and options bar at the bottom of the screen sports a modern, new look, similar to that first seen on the Nokia N9.



New apps: a new suite of powerful business apps from Microsoft includes Lync (IM for businesses, like Microsoft Communicator), Sharepoint, OneNote, Exchange ActiveSync and PowerPoint Broadcaster.

Informative lock screen: the lock screen now tells you about missed calls, messages in your inbox and more, so you can check your phone at a glance. You can now also add a coloured wallpaper to your lock screen.

NFC devices: With Symbian Belle, Near-Field Communications (NFC) is now deeply integrated into the operating system, so you can share pictures, connect with accessories, and check-in – all with just a tap.



Visual multitasking: Now you can flick between larger live images of your open apps to see what’s going on at a glance and move quickly between your apps.