Strategy

Futurice – PhotoBlog

Posted on by charlie

This is not another blog client. Futurice has thought through all the requirements to make this an easy to use mobile app with subscription and bililng issues all worked out. A good example of a mobile app tied into a Web service.

Ah, but they can do this because they own both the server and mobile app side of things. I think the skill they have on both sides of the connections helps them come out with such great end to end solutions.

Link: Futurice.

Futurice PhotoBlog is a full-featured multilanguage mobile photo blogging system for sharing photos with friends. You will automatically get your own username.blog.futu.info website where you can post images. For the service provider there are many billing options.

Innovation

Futurice PhotoFeed

Posted on by charlie

Cool app. I love these guys. Wish I could dream up other apps with them.

Link: Futurice.

PhotoFeed – a free mobile photo feed reader

Photofeed is an application that brings your favorite photo blog feeds directly to your Nokia Series 60 phone. The application is free and you can subscribe any feed that implements ATOM with some mobile optimizations.

I’ve had some great discussions with them regarding mobile-friendly issues in Web 2.0. Here is one example of something that could use a bit of help if there were a standard mobile Atom feed. But, right now, feeds are sloppy because everyone is using a broadband PC.

The Narrative

thee blog ov al_iguana – Nokia 6680 and Three

Posted on by charlie

Another happy customer. Basically, 3 has a great network that users won’t use. Now, how’s that for ‘cutting your nose off to spite your face’?

Link: thee blog ov al_iguana – Blog Archive – Nokia 6680 and Three.

My wonder-phone has a flaw. a serious flaw. because I’m on Three. I can’t access the internet. They’ve blocked it. No blog clients. No RSS readers. No Wap. All I can do is visit Three’s website. A Pay website. Want to read the news? Each item costs 50p. The weather? 50p.

Wake up guys!

Strategy

Nokia – PCS’98: Nokia introduces new TDMA digital phones designed for consumers who value ease of use and individuality – Press Releases – Press – About Nokia

Posted on by charlie

My first mobile phone was a Nokia 5160.

Link: Nokia – PCS’98: Nokia introduces new TDMA digital phones designed for consumers who value ease of use and individuality – Press Releases – Press – About Nokia.

The Nokia 5100 series further demonstrates Nokia’s commitment to individuality and ease-of-use, featuring Nokia’s innovative and highly intuitive Nokia NaviKey concept- a new feature that lets phone owners use a single button (the NaviKey) to easily access all the powerful functions of the phone.

Can you imagine what my experience with mobiles would have been if I had started with another phone from a different manufacturer? I so took to the phone that, thereafter, I flogged every non-Nokia phone I reviewed because they were so hard to use (I had something to compare them to). I remember, for example, using a phone that was impossible to use and having a hard time doing anything basic, like saving numbers to the contacts or trying to call an already-dialed number from the log. Sheesh!

I’ve been a bastard about the mobile experience ever since.

What really puzzles me is that the phone came out about 7 years ago and still manufacturers are struggling with their phone UIs. What’s that all about

The Narrative

Alex de Carvalho: Solitary Mobility vs. Mobile Sociality

Posted on by charlie

Found this while reading Alex’s site. Alex got this via Michael Heilemann, Binary Bonsai. Read what Alex’s insight is on this exchange.

Link: Alex de Carvalho: Solitary Mobility vs. Mobile Sociality.

Christian Lindholm created a stir while presenting Nokia’s new products, including the N90 transformer, at Reboot 7.0:

"If you own an iPod, please stand up". [Most conference attendees stood up]

"Now take the iPod out of your pocket", [only] two people can produce their iPod.

The point: "If it’s not in the pocket, it’s not mobile".

 

Christian always comes up with these simple insights. I was blessed to spend so much time soaking up his thoughts. In a way, I was tutored by him while delving deep into my old Navi-key (his idea) Nokia 5160 (my first mobile) and Series 60 (his baby)  and came prepared to his Lifeblog group with my own insights collected while not under his wing. Working with him was a real mentoring sort of thing. In so many ways, Christian and I complemented each other and showed each other new things, but also, we (to the frustration of many) found a great synergy that we fed off of and kinda gave us a great burst of energy to accomplish the zany things we did. Also, he gave me so much support to do what I did – it was essential to my success.

Wow, we had fun while it lasted.

Sigh. I don’t know if Christian and I will end up together again, the situation is still so murky. Nonetheless, my next gig now has to take it to the next level. That’s a tall order. I wonder who can offer that? Or will I have to go it on my own?

Tips & Tricks

oreilly.com — Online Catalog: Nokia Smartphone Hacks, First Edition

Posted on by charlie

I’d be willing to read it, rate it, and review it if someone were to give me a copy. 😉

Link: oreilly.com — Online Catalog: Nokia Smartphone Hacks, First Edition.

Now you can learn how to take full advantage of Nokia’s powerful mobile devices, known as "smartphones." Learn how to take screen shots, access Internet content, use email and messaging, and so much more. It’s the only guide available today that lets you unlock all of Nokia’s time-saving secrets.

Qualifications: I have been using Nokia smartphones for 5 years (9110,
9210, 7650, 3650, N-Gage, 6600, 7610, 6670, 6630, 6680, N70 – have I missed any? – and I’ve played with practically all the other ones). I also have written many reviews over the past 10 or so years.