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Facelock app hits the Ovi Store, Symbian handsets frame your face for security

Joseph Volpe — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 04:43:00 EST

Unlocking your phone doesn't get any easier than a simple patterned swipe or pre-set pin. But for the fussy amongst you, there's an alternative solution to make you feel both confidently futuristic, and downright ridiculous. Facelock, the facial recognition security app announced back at Nokia World 2010, has finally mosied on over to the Ovi Store, beta tag in tow. The screen lock tech functions pretty much as you'd expect: once you've set a static image of your face as a code, the front-facing camera will then match it up to your mug and, presto magico, you'll have access to your device. The free app is apparently compatible only with Symbian 3 handsets, although those rocking Anna and Belle shouldn't encounter any difficulties. Ready to face / off with your phone? Then hit up the source link below to download the gratis goods.

[Thanks, Jerry]

Facelock app hits the Ovi Store, Symbian handsets frame your face for security originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Oct 2011 04:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ovi Store follows the pack with integrated app updates, charms us with refined algorithms

Zachary Lutz — Wed, 25 May 2011 03:50:00 EST

Sure, the Ovi Store may be getting a name change, but this week Symbian^3 users will get an upgrade to the familiar storefront complete with application updates and more relevant suggestions. After signing in, the client queries Nokia's servers and then notifies users of relevant new versions with a green flag inside the account button. It's certainly not revolutionary, but it's nice to get a feature that's otherwise taken for granted. Additionally, the S^3 crowd will be treated to Top Free and Best Sellers lists that are specific to their device and locale. For example, if E72 owners are especially fond of reeling in Fishing: Off the Hook, these downloads won't affect the results for N8 handsets. The same logic is applied to application suggestions, where Ovi Store provides recommendations based on the habits of similarly situated users. In other words, it looks like we'll soon learn who loves Angry Birds most of all. Any takers?

Ovi Store follows the pack with integrated app updates, charms us with refined algorithms originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 May 2011 03:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia slams door on Ovi label, rebranding everything to Nokia Services

Vlad Savov — Mon, 16 May 2011 03:26:00 EST

Nokia's Ovi Store, Ovi Maps, and Ovi everything else will soon be getting a name change. The Finnish company has announced that it's "evolving" its software brand identity by renaming its service offerings to Nokia services, starting with new devices in July and August. This transition is expected to last into 2012 and was pretty much inevitable in the wake of Nokia's hookup with Microsoft earlier this year. Part of that agreement was for Nokia software, Maps in particular, to be made available in other Windows Phone devices and across Microsoft's range of services, so it makes sense for Nokia to literally put its name on its wares. Nothing structural will be changing about software roadmaps or plans up in Finland, this will be just a new nameplate atop the same strategy as outlined previously.

Nokia slams door on Ovi label, rebranding everything to Nokia Services originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 03:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NFC version of Angry Birds coming to the Nokia C7 as part of the Symbian Anna update

Dana Wollman — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 18:59:00 EST

Those angry birds just keep on coming. Weeks after announcing a spin-off exclusive to Amazon's App Store, Rovio is previewing a version indigenous to Nokia handsets -- specifically, those with Near Field Communication chips. Angry Birds Free with Magic (how's that for a mouthful?) includes five "normal" levels, along with 15 others that players unlock by tapping their phones together. In total, you'll need three friends with cutting-edge phones, as each one helps unlock five levels. Oddly, though, Angry Birds continues to be a single-player game, even after you've joined forces with your buddies to help each other advance. For now, it'll be available to C7 owners as part of the upcoming Symbian Anna update, though other Nokia handsets with NFC chips will get the game this year. Rovio also says it's working on a full version, which will be available in the Ovi store. For now, you can head on past the break to see a short video of some cartoon phones and cell-shaded piggies.

Continue reading NFC version of Angry Birds coming to the Nokia C7 as part of the Symbian Anna update

NFC version of Angry Birds coming to the Nokia C7 as part of the Symbian Anna update originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia announces Symbian 'Anna' update for N8, E7, C7 and C6-01; first of a series of updates (video)

Vlad Savov — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 04:00:00 EST

And now it's completely official: the new and freshened up version of Symbian we saw leak out over the weekend is indeed coming to Nokia's latest batch of handsets. The N8, E7, C7 and C6-01, the phones that ran what was formerly known as Symbian^3, will all be getting it "over the coming months," while the newly announced X7 and E6 devices will ship with it preloaded. The change list includes real homescreen scrolling, an overhauled browser, and yes, even a QWERTY onscreen keyboard in portrait orientation. There's also new iconography and heavily refreshed Ovi Maps, which now include predictive search. Nokia is resolute in its belief that Ovi Maps is the best mapping solution on the market, and Microsoft's decision to integrate it into Bing would suggest that's true.

The "Anna" Symbian update will be the first of a series and has been driven almost entirely by consumer feedback. Nokia also shared some Ovi Store stats with us. There are now five million downloads per day going on from the company's app repository, which now includes more than 40,000 apps in total. 158 developers have passed a million downloads each. Full PR and video overview of the enhanced OS after the break.

Continue reading Nokia announces Symbian 'Anna' update for N8, E7, C7 and C6-01; first of a series of updates (video)

Nokia announces Symbian 'Anna' update for N8, E7, C7 and C6-01; first of a series of updates (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia E7 review

Myriam Joire — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:15:00 EST

Over the years, we've seen a steady stream of business and messaging-centric landscape QWERTY smartphones come and go, with HTC arguably leading the pack via its collection of Windows Mobile, Android, and WP7 devices featuring sliding keyboards and tilt-out displays. But few of HTC's offerings are as iconic or memorable as Nokia's line of Communicator clamshell phones -- starting with the Nokia 9000 in 1996, continuing with Symbian S80 models, and culminating with the Nokia E90 atop S60v3. The Nokia E7 is the latest Communicator in this distinguished series and the manufacturer's current flagship device, dethroning the Nokia N8 which continues on as the company's media mogul. A lot has changed in the six months since the N8 was introduced, including Nokia's recent partnership with Microsoft and the stunning announcement that it will be adopting Windows Phone for future high-end smartphones. So, is the E7 -- which is finally shipping in the US -- the greatest Communicator to date? Can it carry the torch for Symbian in the immediate future? And more importantly, how does it fare in today's shark-infested Android and iOS waters? Jump past the break for our full review.

Gallery: Nokia E7 review

Continue reading Nokia E7 review

Nokia E7 review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia sucks at Photoshop

Vlad Savov — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 04:57:00 EST

Oh man, is this the new version of Symbian? If so, it looks magical.

[Thanks, Jaris]

Continue reading Nokia sucks at Photoshop

Nokia sucks at Photoshop originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 04:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple maintains lead in mobile app store revenues, but its share is shrinking fast

Vlad Savov — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 07:21:00 EST

Growth. You don't have to be Gordon Gekko to recognize that exponential growth in revenues is the mark of both a buoyant industry and, on an individual level, a healthy participant within it. Kudos must, therefore, be handed out to all the top four app stores globally, as each one expended its total revenues by over 130 percent between 2009 and 2010. Interestingly, Apple's growth looks to be slowing down as the App Store begins to reach a saturation point on smartphones, while Nokia's Ovi Store and Google's Android Market blossomed during 2010 by multiples of 7.2 and 8.6 times their 2009 size. Apple's share at the top has shrunken as a consequence, a trend that looks likely to continue when Windows Phone 7's Marketplace and the Ovi Store are melded into one through this year and beyond.

Apple maintains lead in mobile app store revenues, but its share is shrinking fast originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 07:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia and Microsoft enter strategic alliance on Windows Phone, Bing, Xbox Live and more

Vlad Savov — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 02:32:00 EST

It's happened. Former Microsoft exec and current Nokia CEO Stephen Elop has married his future and his past in the holy matrimony of a "strategic alliance." Windows Phone is becoming Nokia's "principal smartphone strategy," but there's a lot more to this hookup -- scope out the official press release just after the break. Microsoft's Bing and adCenter will provide search and ad services across Nokia devices, while Nokia will look to innovate "on top of the platform" with things like its traditional strength in imaging. Ovi Maps will be a core part of Microsoft's mapping services and will be integrated with Bing, while Nokia's content store will be integrated into (read: assimilated by) Microsoft's Marketplace. Xbox Live and Office will also, as is to be expected, feature on these brave new Microkia handsets. An open letter on Nokia's Conversations site, penned jointly by Stephen Elop and Steve Ballmer, sets out the foregoing details along with the following statement of intent:

"There are other mobile ecosystems. We will disrupt them. There will be challenges. We will overcome them. Success requires speed. We will be swift. Together, we see the opportunity, and we have the will, the resources and the drive to succeed."

Nokia and Microsoft enter strategic alliance on Windows Phone, Bing, Xbox Live and more originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 02:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia X3-02 Touch-and-Type review

Myriam Joire — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST

It's a difficult time for feature phones, with smartphones fast becoming a viable option at the low-end of the market. On the one hand, most users are expecting smartphone features such as touchscreens and WiFi from their feature phones. At the same time, some folks still want an affordable, solid device that focuses primarily on making calls and sending text messages, with the occasional foray into entertainment and data-based communication. The Nokia X3-02 Touch-and-Type (not to be mistaken with the other Nokia X3) attempts to be that device, by adding a dose of touch and WiFi to the venerable Series 40 platform. Does it succeed? Read on.

Gallery: Nokia X3-02 Touch-and-Type review

Continue reading Nokia X3-02 Touch-and-Type review

Nokia X3-02 Touch-and-Type review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ovi Store hits 3 million downloads a day

Chris Ziegler — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:35:00 EST

Nokia's chatting up the fact that it just broke the 3 million download per day milestone in its Ovi Store, backed up by 400,000 new developers in the last 12 months alone and a total of 92 developers who've crossed the 1 million total download mark. Interestingly, the download rate pales in comparison to Apple's App Store, which is raking in over 17 million downloads a day at last count -- despite the fact that Nokia still dominates market share and boasts Ovi Store compatibility with some 126 (yes, 126) models. We'd probably chalk up the disparity to the fact that Nokia users still aren't used to getting content from the Ovi Store alone -- S60 was brought up in a world where .SIS files came straight from developers or one of several third-party app stores, not from a central source -- and it seems that some of that philosophy continues to live on in the Nokia community. On a high note, the company says its Qt toolkit has now been downloaded over 1.5 million times, a critical fact considering that both Nokia's MeeGo and Symbian offerings going forward will be rallying very, very hard around the Qt ecosystem. Follow the break for the full press release.

Continue reading Ovi Store hits 3 million downloads a day

Ovi Store hits 3 million downloads a day originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia Z500 MeeGo tablet leaked on Ovi Store?

Thomas Ricker — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 07:10:00 EST

A Nokia tablet running MeeGo has been churning through the rumor mills since early summer. Speculation, however, began as soon as Nokia and Intel joined forces on the open source OS back in February. Eldar Murtazin, the ultimate Nokia insider, was first to give the Nokia tablet a name: Z500. Fast forward to yesterday, when reports first surfaced of people successfully replacing valid handset names in the store's URL with "Z500." Instead of being rejected as an unsupported device, the store seemingly accepted the Z500 device name as you can see in the screenshot above (the Ovi store now rejects the modified terminal ID string). Eldar had this to say on Twitter in response:

Rumour mill. As far as I know Nokia Z500 (Nokia Meego tablet) is under question. Nokia arent happy with price/features.

So now we have a name and with any luck, we'll see a MeeGo-based Nokia tablet sometime in 2011 as followup to its Windows-based Booklet. If not, then we'll always have the WeTab.

Nokia Z500 MeeGo tablet leaked on Ovi Store? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 07:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's latest Calling All Innovators developer contest features AT&T involvement

Chris Ziegler — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 14:45:00 EST

Nokia has made no secret of the fact that improving its long-tepid relationship with the North American market is a priority -- but we'll admit, we didn't expect AT&T to throw its weight behind a rather massive Symbian developer contest this quickly. The concept is simple: develop and submit an app targeting the N8 by January 28 of next year; the best one (in Nokia's eyes) gets a cool quarter million, while 17 (yes, seventeen) runners-up get $150,000, which is still a pretty gigantic number. What makes this fascinating is that although AT&T had dipped its toes in the Symbian waters a few times over the years, it currently offers nothing but the Vivaz and refurbished E71x units -- and it hasn't announced any plans to carry the N8. Considering the size and scope of this contest, Nokia's definitely putting its money where its mouth is -- it seems to understand the importance of building a healthy third-party app catalog to drive a platform's success -- and we imagine AT&T's got some announcements of its own in the coming months. Just a hunch.

Nokia's latest Calling All Innovators developer contest features AT&T involvement originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's app development strategy: Qt, Qt, Qt (video)

Vlad Savov — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 06:22:00 EST

Been wondering about Nokia's strategy for conquering the rapidly expanding app space? Great! So were we, which is why we joined up with a recent dev event carried out by the Finnish company for an update on how and where things are going. It's a familiar narrative by this point: Qt is all set to become the way that Nokia-friendly apps are made -- whether it be for Symbian smartphones or MeeGo-powered mobile computers, coffee machines or infotainment consoles. Nokia did stress that its developer workflow has also been streamlined dramatically, and promised coders a better distilled experience that treats their time and money like the valuable commodities that they are. It's an encouragingly frank discussion of where things have gone wrong in the past and how Espoo intends to remedy them in the future, and we've got it all on video for you after the break -- no reading required!

Continue reading Nokia's app development strategy: Qt, Qt, Qt (video)

Nokia's app development strategy: Qt, Qt, Qt (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 06:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia updates N900 to version 1.2 in UK, closes door on MeeGo

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 25 May 2010 03:48:00 EST

You've overclocked it and hacked it to run OS X and Android, now you can return your N900 to its native Maemo 5 OS with the launch of a version 1.2 software update. The V10.2010.19-1 bump now available in the UK (global on Wednesday) packs several enhancements including face-to-face video calling, improved Ovi Maps, and a better email experience with bundled Facebook IM Chat and the ability to accept or decline event invitations from the inbox. You'll also see a number of new games when the Ovi Store switches over on Thursday.

And after much speculation, Nokia's also admitting that MeeGo will not be officially supported on the N900 once the Intel / Nokia OS is device ready. Nokia will continue to support the core Maemo OS, however, as demonstrated by today's update. Regardless, we're sure that the N900's active fan-base will deliver a MeeGo update outside of official channels, especially since the N900 is already being used as a platform for ARM-based MeeGo development.

[Thanks, Pasu]

Nokia updates N900 to version 1.2 in UK, closes door on MeeGo originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 May 2010 03:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia Ovi Maps let you do navigation instructions with your Own Voice

Vlad Savov — Tue, 04 May 2010 08:31:00 EST

Yo TomTom, wake up and smell the competition. While the original gangster of navigation devices is still mulling over an app store, Nokia has raised the smartphone pathfinding bar a little higher by letting people record (and share) their own voice instructions. It's not the most complex process in the world, you just get the extra Own Voice app to go with the latest version of Ovi Maps and set your vocal talents free. At the end you'll get a neat little voice pack to utilize on your handset or to share with the world, which is surely just dying to hear your Mr. T impressions. Let the silliness commence!

[Thanks, Brent R.]

Nokia Ovi Maps let you do navigation instructions with your Own Voice originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia launches Ovi App Wizard, will probably lead to Ovi-population problems

Joanna Stern — Mon, 03 May 2010 08:00:00 EST

Nokia's Ovi Store may still be seriously losing in the app war to Apple and Google, but something tells us Espoo's betting on its new Ovi App Wizard to help it gain some ground. Putting mobile software creation in the hands of the code-illiterate, the auto-generated application wizard lets anyone -- and we mean anyone -- turn any RSS or Atom feed out there into an app, and publish it to the Ovi Store. Surprisingly, it really is that simple. While we could have made a personal app with our Twitter and Facebook feed, we went ahead and finally made an Ovi Engadget app by simply going to oviappwizard.com and going through the four step process -- we put in all three RSS feeds, uploaded our logos, tweaked the colors and hit publish. According to Nokia it should only take 24 hours for the app to be approved -- yes, there's some sort of approval process -- but we're still waiting for our app to show up in the storefront so we can download it on our N97. There's the ability to serve up third party ads, but you'll have to prove that you own the content you've placed in your app. Again, super simple, but we're a bit wary of the sorts of apps that will start to pop up, and not sure we need everyone's own personal feeds/sites overtaking the store. But we'll let you be the judge of that -- go on, hit the read link, create an app, and Ovi-populate.

Gallery: Ovi App Wizard hands-on

Nokia launches Ovi App Wizard, will probably lead to Ovi-population problems originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 May 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ovi Store warmed over with fresh look, new features

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 03:08:00 EST

Nokia's Ovi Store got a little more awesome this week thanks to a makeover that brought a handful of minor changes -- nothing Earth-shattering by any stretch, but in this app-centric mobile world we're now an inseparable part of, we figure that every little bit helps. Actually, they've made changes both to the mobile and desktop clients, with the mobile side focusing on better and easier access to details about apps that you're looking at buying; they've also switched from a three-star rating system to five stars based on user feedback. On the desktop side, you've now got a list-based view of search results, and you're more aggressively asked to select your device to make sure you're not seeing any content that your particular device can't use. The updated Store is available immediately, so enjoy -- and go buy a few bubble level apps, why don't you?

Ovi Store warmed over with fresh look, new features originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 03:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Qik Premium: video downloads, higher quality, Nokia only for now

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:36:00 EST

Qik has finally gotten around to charging its customers this week with the announcement of Qik Premium, a new service that employs both a new phone client and some tweaked back-end stuff to offer users a handful of new features. The biggies appear to be MPEG-4 video downloads straight from the uploaded segments on Qik's site and some sort of higher-quality transcoding algorithm with faster playback that won't be available to standard, non-paying folks. That's not all, though -- Qik Premium is the gift that keeps on giving, because they're working on the ability to upload videos from your phone's in-built camera app next. To kick off Premium on the right foot, Qik's going back to the platform where it started -- Symbian -- for a new release for S60 that's available now in the Ovi Store; long-term pricing is an open question, but for the month of March, they're running a $4.99-a-year special.

Qik Premium: video downloads, higher quality, Nokia only for now originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia updates N97 with free Ovi Maps, just as promised

Richard Lai — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:07:00 EST

It was only a week ago when Nokia shook us with its free turn-by-turn navigation update, but the poor old N97 got left out in the cold. Not any more though, folks! In fact, the new Ovi Maps for N97 was delivered one day earlier than promised, and can be found "through the software update client in the device." Thanks, Nokia, but don't forget your N900 fans, too.

[Thanks, @old_no_7uk]

Nokia updates N97 with free Ovi Maps, just as promised originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia Ovi Maps with free turn-by-turn navigation hands-on

Richard Lai — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:31:00 EST

Now that we've heard the big news from Nokia's London press event, it's only natural to get our hands dirty with the upgraded Ovi Maps. The preloaded map does indeed load much quicker than its old network counterpart, and hey, did we mention it's free too? Enjoy the photos and video after the break with your breakfast.

Gallery: Nokia Ovi Maps -- free turn-by-turn navigation announcement and hands-on

Continue reading Nokia Ovi Maps with free turn-by-turn navigation hands-on

Nokia Ovi Maps with free turn-by-turn navigation hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia Ovi press event this Thursday, 'big news' promised

Tim Stevens — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:59:00 EST

If you're a Nokia lover who is currently jealous of all the Apple fans and their current state of delicious expectation, we're happy to say that now you too can savor a little anticipation. Nokia is sending out invitations to an event this Thursday, January 21, indicating it will "share some big news with you." Well, not with you exactly, but rather with us media-types, and you can be sure we will then pass it along posthaste. But what will Nokia be sharing? We hate to spoil the fun, but we can't imagine it'll be anything other than the revamped Ovi Store the company has been talking up lately -- that said, we're always up for a surprise.

Nokia Ovi press event this Thursday, 'big news' promised originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's Maemo Ovi Store looking rickety, 'beta' label well-deserved

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:05:00 EST

Bugs are to be expected in brand-new apps and platforms -- particularly when they're clearly marked with a "beta" sign -- but it starts to get a little hairier when there's money involved. One of the early crowd favorites in Nokia's Ovi Store for Maemo appears to be the game Angry Birds, which is available with a €3 level pack -- problem is, plenty of folks have discovered a way around actually paying the cash, which becomes a big problem for the developer very, very quickly. The level pack has since been removed, probably the best move until Nokia can figure out what's going on here and issue a patch. In the meantime, looks like it's back to the ol' repositories.

Nokia's Maemo Ovi Store looking rickety, 'beta' label well-deserved originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia N900 gets first software update, but don't expect much

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:26:00 EST

Nokia has announced that it has started pushing the N900's very first post-launch update, but apparently it's not anything crazy like Maemo 6 (yeah, we know it's not even close to ready, but you know you want it) or system-wide portrait orientation support -- instead, it's just a minor bump designed to prepare the set for the upcoming launch of the Maemo-flavored Ovi Store. That's great news for anyone looking for a more unified way to get paid apps on the phone, a significant step towards making Maemo a more consumer-friendly platform than it is at the present. Look for the update to be available globally within the next day or so, both over-the-air and via Nokia Software Update on your desktop.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: We're being told that the Ovi Store's now accessible from the device at store.ovi.mobi -- anyone care to share stories of success or failure? Thanks, Matija!

Nokia N900 gets first software update, but don't expect much originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's Ovi Store now available on AT&T, still not competitive

Christopher Grant — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:50:00 EST

As revealed by Ralph de la Vega at AT&T's CES Developer Summit this morning (liveblog here) and singled out by CNET, Nokia's flailing and heretofore not-available-on-AT&T Ovi Store is finally available on Ma Bell, complete with direct billing. As of today, Nokia users can snag the usual assortment of apps, games, and ringtones and have the purchases billed directly to their mobile carrier. CNET reports that Nokia devices like "E71x, the Surge, the Mural, the 6650, the 6555, and the 6350" are working today and that "more [Nokia] devices soon coming to AT&T's network will be able to access the Ovi Store." Next step: Make it an experience worth visiting!

Nokia's Ovi Store now available on AT&T, still not competitive originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia taking Ovi Store criticism to heart, planning revamped version to rival App Store

Darren Murph — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:29:00 EST

Not quite sure if you've noticed, but some pretty significant shifting is going on in the heart of Espoo. Just days after Nokia announced that it would be closing up its flagship shops in London, New York and Chicago, in flies this: a new Ovi Store is already in the works, and if all goes well, it'll be available for public use as early as next Spring. For those keeping tabs, that's right around a year after the (admittedly tumultuous) launch of the existing platform, which has yet to live up to the firm's own expectations according to George Linardos. In case you're wondering (and c'mon, you're wondering), Mr. Linardos is the head of products at Nokia's media group, and in speaking with the Financial Times, he confessed that the Ovi Store "had been outpaced by Apple." He also admitted that the chorus of complaints from end-users were driving the next version, noting that his company has "screens up in [their] offices running Twitter feeds [of gripes] all day long." In fact, he likened the act to "sitting there and getting punched in the face."

As for the next go 'round, he's looking to take a "tortoise and hare" approach when it comes to competing with Apple, who he himself claims "radically changed" the world around us when the App Store was introduced. As it stands, George sees the Ovi Store as a "jambalaya" of services, with Ben Wood -- an analyst at CCS Insight -- proclaiming that "none of those [work] properly." In the future, Ben has confessed that Ovi needs "to get all their ducks lined up, including hardware, software and services." So, what exactly will said ducks look like early next year? We're told that new features will include "in-application payments, a redesigned user interface that makes apps easier to discover and faster operation," and beyond that, the outfit is also looking to toss in recommendations based on the app purchases of their friends. This is definitely stirring stuff to hear from someone deep within Nokia's lairs, and it certainly makes us all the more excited to see what the next generation will bring. Nothing like a little competition in the market place to really light a fire up under someone's posterior, right?

Nokia taking Ovi Store criticism to heart, planning revamped version to rival App Store originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skyhook's Maps Booster makes S60 navigation more awesome for $2.99

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:31:00 EST

There's solid evidence from its success on other platforms that Skyhook's unique WiFi-based positioning system makes a big difference in GPS usability on handsets -- and if you're looking for it on your Nokia, your moment has arrived. Maps Booster for S60 runs quietly in the background, augmenting the phone's built-in GPS capabilities to deliver faster, better results (theoretically, anyway) no matter what application you're using, which seems to make it a solid purchase if you spend much of your time trying to find your way through urban canyons, heavy vegetation, or some combination thereof. It'll be available early next week for $2.99.

Continue reading Skyhook's Maps Booster makes S60 navigation more awesome for $2.99

Filed under: Software, Symbian

Skyhook's Maps Booster makes S60 navigation more awesome for $2.99 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ovi Store loosens the leash a bit, allows re-downloads

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:47:00 EST

One of the purely theoretical benefits of an on-device app store is that you don't need to worry about archiving and managing apps you've bought in the past -- your download and purchase histories are magically managed up in the cloud, and if you need anything again in the future, it's there waiting for you. After all, you've already bought and paid for the goods -- the least they can do is let you grab the software at your leisure, right? Well, Nokia's Ovi Store has suffered more than its fair share of growing pains as it seeks to take the unified app management strategy to S60 and Series 40, and one of the biggest pain points has been the Store's iron-clad unwillingness to let folks download their stuff a second time; that's finally being fixed, though, and it seems that the new policy has apps tied to a user's account rather than the device itself, which is exactly how it should be. Things seem to be a bit wonky at the moment -- not all content can be re-downloaded and getting the re-downloads to even work at all requires a delicate balance of "right" software and hardware -- but it's a step in the right direction.

Filed under: Software, Nokia, Symbian

Ovi Store loosens the leash a bit, allows re-downloads originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's Ovi Software Development Kit released to invited and excited Javascripters

Tim Stevens — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:16:00 EST

Nokia's Ovi Store launched in late May -- and then promptly crashed. The company has long-since gotten everything working smoothly and so is now so confident about its stability that it's letting other developers in on the party. Coders proficient in HTML, CSS, and Javascript can apply for access to the beta SDK, invitations for which are being doled out right now. The navigation-focused kit includes a number of UI widgets and controls that will help any 'ol app sport the clean, understated Nokia look, as well as things like the Ovi Navigation Player API, which makes nav-related apps much easier to get up and running. Nokia's not giving any indication of just how long the line at the door is or what criteria it's using to judge who gets past the red velvet rope into this shin-dig, but we'd recommend at least a shave and a clean shirt before applying. Vids excitedly discussing this wondrous new world are embedded below.

[Via Nokia Conversations]

Continue reading Nokia's Ovi Software Development Kit released to invited and excited Javascripters

Filed under: Software, Nokia, Announcements

Nokia's Ovi Software Development Kit released to invited and excited Javascripters originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's Ovi Software Development Kit released to invited and excited Javascripters

Tim Stevens — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:16:00 EST

Continue reading Nokia's Ovi Software Development Kit released to invited and excited Javascripters

Filed under: Cellphones

Nokia's Ovi Software Development Kit released to invited and excited Javascripters originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's X6 follows the 5800's footsteps, while the X3 brings Ovi Store to Series 40

Paul Miller — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:24:00 EST

We'd be tempted to use the word "featurephone" on the X6 (pictured) if it wasn't Nokia behind the handset, pumping the relatively chubby 0.55-inch thick form factor with 32GB of storage, a 5 megapixel camera, a dual LED flash, TV-out, and a 3.2-inch touchscreen. The phone is also a Comes with Music only handset, so don't expect to get all boring and old with this phone in your pocket -- or to pay for a voice plan that doesn't include the service. Otherwise, the phone seems to be a slightly slimmed down Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, sporting the same OS, A-GPS (with Ovi Maps), and we suppose a similar resistive touchscreen. Nokia was kind enough to include a free copy of Spore along with the Ovi Store, and plans to ship the handset in Q4 2009 for 459 Euros (about $652 US) before subsidy.

The X3 is a much tamer affair than the X6, offering a 2.2 non-touchscreen, a slide-out keypad, and Series 40 for an OS. There's a 3.2 megapixel camera, but you'll have to spring for a microSD card if you need significant onboard storage. What's new is that the X3 is the first Series 40 handset to include the Ovi Store, which should help it edge out the competition when it comes to functionality. The price isn't bad either, at 115 Euros (about $163 US) before subsidy. It'll be out in Q4 as well.

Update: We've added a brief video after the break.

Read - Nokia X6

Read - Nokia X3

Gallery: Nokia X6

Gallery: Nokia X3

Continue reading Nokia's X6 follows the 5800's footsteps, while the X3 brings Ovi Store to Series 40

Filed under: Handsets, Nokia, Symbian

Nokia's X6 follows the 5800's footsteps, while the X3 brings Ovi Store to Series 40 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's X6 follows the 5800's footsteps, while the X3 brings Ovi Store to Series 40

Paul Miller — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:24:00 EST

Update: We've added a brief video after the break.

Read - Nokia X6

Read - Nokia X3

Gallery: Nokia X6

Gallery: Nokia X3

Continue reading Nokia's X6 follows the 5800's footsteps, while the X3 brings Ovi Store to Series 40

Filed under: Cellphones

Nokia's X6 follows the 5800's footsteps, while the X3 brings Ovi Store to Series 40 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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N-Gage trials make the leap to the Ovi Store

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:32:00 EST

Nokia's Ovi Store duplicates one of N-Gage's main lots in life -- to serve as an over-the-air distribution channel of paid and trial apps -- and in the long term, it certainly seems to make sense that Espoo would be looking to merge the two initiatives into one. The company hasn't announced anything to the effect just yet (and even if it did, it'd have to find some creative way to duplicate N-Gage's social aspect), but it's now taken one small step by porting game trials over to the Ovi Store. If you want the full game you'll still need to buy it using the N-Gage app, so the maddening duality of Nokia's software strategy still basically continues as-is for the time being -- let's just hope this is a promising sign of things to come.

[Via Phone Arena and ZOMG its CJ]

Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Handhelds

N-Gage trials make the leap to the Ovi Store originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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N-Gage trials make the leap to the Ovi Store

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:32:00 EST

Filed under: Games, Software, Nokia, Symbian

N-Gage trials make the leap to the Ovi Store originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's N86 8MP now shipping worldwide

Darren Murph — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:02:00 EST

Just under two months. That's how long it took Nokia's N86 8MP to go from FCC to store shelves here in America, as the cats in Espoo have just announced to the world that the aforementioned cellphone is now shipping globally. In case you've forgotten, this 8 megapixel slider touts variable aperture, a mechanical shutter and automatic motion blur reduction, not to mention 8GB of internal memory and a microSD card slot. There's no official mention of price, and as of right now, the phone's not even listed on Nokia's American e-store; still, based on early estimates, we'd say you best break out the bank just in case.

Filed under: Handsets, Nokia, Symbian, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA

Nokia's N86 8MP now shipping worldwide originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's N86 8MP now shipping worldwide

Darren Murph — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:02:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Nokia's N86 8MP now shipping worldwide originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Symbian looks to seduce iPhone devs with free Nokia 5800s, world destroying robo-duckie

Paul Miller — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:02:00 EST

Sure, we feign a lack of bias, but deep down in our hearts we only have one love: Symbian Foundation's robo-duckie mascot. Unfortunately for Symbian, it's going to take all the charm it can muster to win over the iPhone App Store's crop of cash-flush developers. Symbian was apparently at WWDC today, doing its best to woo, with all-day festivities involving coffee, food, a "hackathon," prizes, and free Nokia 5800 handsets for attendees. We're expecting Ovi Store to fill in with some solid €1.00 beer drinking simulators and Zippo lighter apps any second now.

Filed under: Software, Nokia, Symbian

Symbian looks to seduce iPhone devs with free Nokia 5800s, world destroying robo-duckie originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Symbian looks to seduce iPhone devs with free Nokia 5800s, world destroying robo-duckie

Paul Miller — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:02:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Symbian looks to seduce iPhone devs with free Nokia 5800s, world destroying robo-duckie originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's Ovi Store overwhelmed at launch, apology issued

Darren Murph — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:43:00 EST

Where's the fail whale when you need it, right? Early yesterday morning, Nokia flipped the switch on its Ovi Store, claiming that it's app market would potentially reach some 50 million users around the world. Unfortunately for Nokia, it seems as if all 50 million attempted to check things out at the same time. Web-wide, users were griping that things just weren't working out, and we're not talking about small packets of flustered users. In fact, Nokia was forced to admit that "shortly after launching, it began experiencing extraordinarily high spikes of traffic that resulted in some performance issues," and judging by reactions, we'd say "some" is now a front-runner for understatement of the year. Have things smoothed over for you today? Are you even bothering to check?

Update: Nokia has apologized for the gaff and has reportedly added server capacity to handle the demand. Question is: is the fix working?

Filed under: Games, Multimedia, Software, Nokia, Misc

Nokia's Ovi Store overwhelmed at launch, apology issued originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 May 2009 12:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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