LinkedIn Gets The Asha Touch

Business professionals, be aware, LinkedIn is now ready for download among Asha Touch smartphones.

LinkedIn is a vital tool for millions of professional people around the world. The world’s largest professional network on the Internet offers easy ways to connect with old and new business contacts, keep up to date with what’s going on in your industry, and find out more about peers you haven’t met yet, as a chance to prepare for meetings and expand your professional network.

LinkedIn is now available as an app for the Nokia Asha 501 and other full-touch Asha devices, making it even easier to stay in touch with colleagues. 

The app is made up of four main features:
• Update Stream: Keep up to date with your network and access information about your industry. You can like, comment and share updates to stay in the loop with what’s going on.
• Inbox: Accept connection requests and communicate with your contacts.
• Search: Search through the global network of over 225 million LinkedIn members. There’s also a People You May Know feature, which suggests professionals you may know and want to connect with, based on your current contacts.
• Profile: Check out your own profile, and see who’s been viewing you. You can reach out to them with a message or an invitation to connect.

LinkedIn for Asha smartphones is not just about existing members though, but also about attracting new members to the site with a sign up button.

The app comes off the back of a long-standing partnership between Nokia and LinkedIn with the company’s Windows Phone app winning plaudits across the media. The app supports six languages (English, Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Malaysia, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian and Spanish), and now available as a free download from Nokia Store.

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Apps powering the Philippine version of Nokia Asha 501

Nokia recently launched Nokia Asha 501, the newest eye candy smartphone. The beautifully built smartphone enable users to use multiple apps at the same time with its multi-window browsing, ideal for a ready to go games, productivity tools that elevates the bar in Nokia smartphone experience.

The new Nokia Asha 501 brings you different applications that will bring the world at your hands in just a few swipes.

Want to know what’s happening in the road? Try the MMDA apps to easily access traffic updates in the metro any time, anywhere. This app is reliable when you want to avoid traffic jams to and from your school or job.

If you want to know more of what’s happening around, you can count on the ABS-CBN News for the latest news and public affairs and to supply you the information that you need. Or if you’re looking for the news all over the world, CNN can supply you the freshest reports that give you a glimpse on the other side of the world.

Accessing the virtual world is easy with Opera Mini browser which offers you a more convenient mobile web browsing. It enables you to connect to the internet faster and visit your favorite social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

When you’re looking for a stress reliever, Plants vs. Zombies lets you escape the world and engross yourself in entertainment. This game will keep you occupied whenever you want to take a break from doing an assignment or task.

Nokia Asha 501’s applications give everything you need in just one phone. In just a few clicks and swipes, you can find your way to different worlds and guarantees to accompany you whenever and wherever you want to.

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Nokia Store App: SkyFiles, A SkyDrive Client

SkyDrive is a cloud hosting service that allows users to upload and sync files online of up to 7 GB free storage space and then access them from a Web browser or application client of computers, laptops, tablets, among the rest of the supported mobile internet devices. Files uploaded could be kept private, share with other contacts, or make public for everyone to access.

One of the aforementioned application client is SkyFiles, the one and only SkyDrive client for Nokia Symbian phones. Created by INFOTECH, the client provides an easy upload and download of images, photos, videos and documents to your SkyDrive. All users have to do is choose the source and destination folder on both tabs (Phone memory and SkyDrive) and click the Download or Upload button. Their is a double tap to open the file.

It has a free version with limited number of supported file formats for upload and without the ability to save password making it burdensome, and a Pro version worth PhP20.00 locally, that provides password saving; 3 views - detail, tiles and large icons; the ability to upload of all file types with unlimited file size; file operations like copy, move, delete and right side scrolling bar.

The application is one of my most used on my Nokia N8 at the moment, the phone having been used as my primary camera, gorge a lot of images both personal and for the blog, with SkyFiles, I can upload and save these pictures directly to the web so it won't take more of my phone's memory. From the SkyDrive cloud, I can access the pictures later to my laptop and sparing me effort to use the USB pc connector.

SkyDrive also became my primary storage device lately, since I had enough using USB flash drives since my last one got corrupted losing all my work files. Now, I can access all my files instantly on my mobilephone via SkyFiles.

Developers just needs to improve the user interface more, its not as slick and intuitive like other apps and that upload seems to be disrupted with the phone goes to standby mode. They somehow need to access the phones system so the phone stays active until files gets totally uploaded.

But even with this drawbacks, the app is still worth downloading. It has all the features that would make every SkyDrive user happy. Meanwhile, if you don't have a SkyDrive account yet, create one via this link. Download SkyFiles HERE.

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Nokia Store App: MusicTweet, Now Playing!

Ever want to share the music you're currently listening to, tweet it fast and effortlessly with musicTweet on your Nokia Belle device.

Created by DzSoftware, the social network app by just opening it, automatically takes information about the currently playing track in the music player and creates a tweet from it to be readily send. Users also had the option to edit information's before sending.

I like the apps simplicity and spontaneity in sending tweet but I hope the developer could add more to it like maybe, adding album image to the tweet so it would look attractive, or adding more information's like the album title whatsoever.

Anyways, the app is definitely worth downloading for music sharers and lovers. CLICK HERE for the Nokia Store download link, its FREE!.

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Live, Learn, Make a Difference With Nokia Life+

One of Nokia's premium and strongest service on its stable was Nokia Life Tools, launched in 2009,  the free cloud-powered web app service was designed to address information gaps in emerging markets across the world and takes pride for being the first and the largest mobile life improvement information services suite delivering personalized and hyper-local information daily on topics of relevance across Education, Health, Agriculture and Entertainment.

Nokia takes the service further with Nokia Life+, the latest evolution of the widely-used Nokia Life service. Nokia Life+ offers the following new features and service:

- Life-enhancing information services designed for the specific needs of young consumers in developing markets. It brings rich text- and image-based content in a fun and engaging manner featuring a smartphone user interface.
- Life Skills and Live Healthy, in simple to read English language.
            
Life Skills: For teens, communication skills, interpersonal skills and time management matter a lot. Young adults meanwhile, want skills around preparing & looking for jobs, preparing & managing small businesses, or managing personal / home /small business finances.

Live Healthy: Health has universal appeal as proven by internal research and the growth of mHealth services across the world. Living healthily is a universal aspiration and Nokia Life+ addresses that desire by providing information on living well through the Live Healthy service.

- In some countries, local versions of Nokia Life+ will be offered. These come with additional, locally relevant services and/or in local language, providing consumers a truly localised mobile internet.
- Nokia Life+ services are supported by an ecosystem of reputable, global and local content partners who carefully tailor information specifically for the services.- Nokia Life+ is available on the entire range of Nokia Asha smartphones, including the Asha 308 and Asha 309, and other Series40 devices.
- Nokia Life+ can be used via the cloud-powered Nokia Xpress Browser, which brings efficiencies of up to 90% data compression, allowing users better control of data costs. Nokia Life+ can also be downloaded from the Nokia Store. The new and enhanced Nokia Life+ comes with new services and is available in the following markets: The English language service currently available in Nigeria, Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh, South Africa, Malaysia, Kenya, Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Singapore, US, United Kingdom, Ireland, Tanzania, Uganda and Ghana.
- Localized Nokia Life+ will be available in India, Indonesia and China during Q4’12.

Looking forward to try this app on my Nokia Asha 200, hopefully its fully supported. Watch this space for my review on the app.

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Viber now officially available for Symbian Belle and Symbian 40 Devices

Heard about Viber? Its one of the popular application in iOS that allows users to make free phone calls and send free text messages to anyone who has the application installed, now its finally available for download among Symbian Belle and Symbian 40 devices, free of charge.

I learned about it a few months ago from a cousin of mine in the US who wanted to talk to me via the application, but unlike her iPhone, Symbian devices can only use the text messaging feature at the moment, but at least.


Some of the apps feature includes its seamless integration to the phone that identifies your Viber using contacts and communicating with them right on. There is also no need for users to import contacts, search for usernames and send out invitations, all you need to do is select a contact and connect all you want.

To download Viber, CLICK HERE!

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Official Twitter App For Nokia Series 40 Devices Now Available

Are you in to Twitter? Nokia has made available the new, free Twitter for Nokia app for Series 40 phones. You don’t have to be the last to know about the latest news and updates from your friends, industry experts and favorite celebrities.

With the new Twitter app, you will experience some of the richest functionality an app can bring to your Series 40 device, delivering much of the same functionality found on smartphones.

You can post your own Tweets and follow others’ Tweets. With the @Connect feature you can see your mentions and new followers. Using the #Discover feature you can browse the most interesting Tweets from around the world.

This new app brings Twitter to hundreds of millions of feature phones around the world.

So check out the Nokia Store today (http://www.store.ovi.com/) and download the free Twitter for Nokia app to enjoy this popular social networking and microblogging service right on your Series 40 phone.

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Nokia Store App: My Elba Cookbook

I love to cook, I wouldn’t take the role of a morning mess sergeant if I don’t, but unfortunately my knowledge in cooking is very limited and I would want to learn more the easiest way possible. Well, this had been addressed in a modern tech way via My Elba Cookbook, a FREE downloadable app on Nokia Store for Symbian devices.

The cooking app promised a master chef's prowess for users with the variety of food recipes it offers. Well, I couldn’t agree less, it has all the best Filipino and pasta dishes and desserts, all created by the chef masters themselves.

The app's concept was exemplary but their were more to it that I really like, for instance, the clean and attractive user interface, the home view was a barrage of available recipes with a lusty image presentation. This is a proof that you can never go wrong with food images, they will always look pleasant to the eye. Home view page is divided into two categories, the Random Recipe and the Recently Viewed.

Clicking the individual title open the recipe page with an image, short description, ingredients and the cook button at the bottom which will open the step by step method in cooking with each step presented in a single page, another of my favorite feature. A swipe to the right will swiftly open the second step and so on.













There is also a brilliant feature called Shopping List that automatically itemized the recipe's ingredients with a check button before each for ticking. This will make the gathering of ingredients easy and exact. Timer is also provided on the options menu together with a Unit Converter, all of which are necessary to make the cooking experience pleasurable. Glossary on the options menu features the full lists of recipes saved on the application’s database.

I could see myself using the app often, I do hope they will update its database with new recipes every once in awhile especially those whose ingredients can be locally obtained.

Overall Rating (1 Highest – 5 Lowest): 4













This is a must have app for every food lovers in the world!

To download the app, CLICK HERE! The application is compatible with Nokia Belle, S60 and S40 devices.

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Nokia Store App: Inquirer News Reader

News, vital as it is since time immemorial, people just can’t get enough information’s on current events, politics, sports, entertainment among others. But unlike before when people have to go to the nearest newsstand to buy newspapers or magazines, the medium had speedily evolved at the dawn of internet era and the rise of smartphones, a huge percentage of people nowadays access news via these technologies.

In the Philippines, the country’s leading newspaper brand had embraced the evolution by creating their very own WRT application for the country’s leading mobilephone brand and operating system, the Inquirer news reader app downloadable FREE at Nokia Store for Symbian devices.

The app is plain and straightforward, opening it will show the following categories; Breaking News, General News, Opinion, Sports, Business, Entertainment and Lifestyle. Clicking the categories will show the headlines of the most current news and events as well as showing the entire story upon clicking the headline title. Easy and effortless for users.

But as trouble-free as it is, the application is too simple that it’s bland. After having experienced the likes of CNN or ESPN for Symbian, Inquirer news reader becomes archaic by comparison. I hope they will update the interface and make it modern and fun to use.

Anyways, I’m just playing geek, what matters here are the stories and information’s that the app offers and it never fell short on that. This is a must have app for news hungry individual on the go.

Overall Rating (1 Highest – 5 Lowest): 3













Internet connection is needed in updating news per category and the application is compatible among Nokia Belle, Symbian 60 and Symbian 40 devices. To download the app, CLICK HERE!

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Nokia Store App: Munch Punch, Dish-cover!

Who in the world doesn't love food? It’s one of the most basic human need, but with utmost probability, we all have the same questions when it comes to the matter, the perfect food to eat at a time being, in which restaurant or coffee shops offers the most delicious and sumptuous dishes of them all and where to find them.

You might probably go and search the web for answers or asked your friends and colleagues but I would regard these measures dreary and time consuming, there is one application for Nokia Symbian Phones that can do these best quickly with a geographic pitched, the Munch Punch, Dish-cover!, a free application on Nokia Store.

And how helpful and informative was the app? Superb I would say, its one of the best search tool that will not only help users spot nearest restaurants by Name or guide them to the best restaurants by location but an app that becomes a virtual table menu where users can access the foods offered and the price of each. That's how comforting it is.

The application will also let you access feedback's and suggestions from users if there were any, or allow users to post their own comments. You will know the best and the worst food and services offered per establishment ahead before going.

Other stellar feature of the app includes contact numbers and a link to Delivery orders, both equally impressive as that of the aforementioned.

On my part, the application suites me best for being an ardent traveler and a food scout. I'm fun of going places I’ve never been too and loves to dine in every possible new places. Before, I have to search for restaurants or food shops manually by going around the city block or search online, now, I only need to type the place where I’m at and presto, it will show me all lists and locations of nearby restaurants together with their menu’s, specialties and price at a glance.

I’ve used Much Punch before but sad to say that my previous concern were still existing like the lack of Nokia Maps support amounting to the absence of a crucial Navigation option that users will have walk around to manually search the identified location or the incomplete data information's as to the list of food shops, just to mention a few. Absence of both I believe still defeats the application’s purpose which is to Dish-cover!

Being new then, I gave them the benefit of excused, but it’s been 2 years and the app is still short of information’s by comparison to my on spot observations. Being free app does not also give them enough reasons to update and upgrade as they could earn by advertisement. They must do something to improved the application. I very much love the apps purpose and idea that I don’t want it to be put to waste.

Overall Rating (1 Highest – 5 Lowest): 3

To download Much Punch, CLICK HERE!

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Nokia Store App: Cluedo, The Mobile Crime Scene Investigation

Mysteries, clues, crimes, these were just a few of my "sui generis" amusement. Kind of weird but I've always been interested on the world of thrills and mystifying stuffs, puzzles, issues, among the rest of the mind boggling scenarios that makes me quiver for answers and solutions. These are few of the reasons why the game Cluedo captured my attention on the long lists of downloadable applications on Nokia Store. Its a propensity by itself.

Game Setting and Story

The game starts with a murder at a Glamorous party. The main character here is a budding reporter who wants to solve the case by conducting his own thorough investigation. He needs to identify the culprit/s, the weapon/s used in the murder and the surrounding circumstances, be it aggravating, mitigating, circumstantial, among others.

How? The player will need to gather facts and substantial evidence's by talking to the characters and analyze their subsequent actions and reactions, among the rest of the must needed interactions. The player will also need to gather vital objects and indetify the best possible weapon/s used in the murder. Aren't these interesting or not?

Characters

The characters of story of course revolved around the people present in the party, they were socialites, businessmen, sexy women, regular workers among others. Players have to scrutinized them one by one to established their innocence or guilt.

The main character will also be gauge as the game progress from a mere intern to a full pledge reporter. So far I'm still on the intern stage without a benefit of doubt.

Difficulty level

Fairly Difficult, the game was mind boggling, analytically challenging and skilfully requiring. Its no less than a murder case that you need to solve with lots of elements involved. Basic instructions and guides were given though at the start of the game but not quietly explained that it took me sometime to figure things out.











You also don't have to worry if the game cannot be cracked easily, it was designed that way.

Graphics and Animation

Sub par, in fact, the game doesn't even had much of these aspect. What users can see were images with overlay character graphics that they can interact. There were even no moving characters on the game. It was too simple that you get bored easily unlike the most eye catching and 3D-riched games in the market. The game was simply too bland.

Overall Rating (1 Highest – 5 Lowest): 3

The game was generally average, yes it was interesting and challenging to play specially when your starting to discover places, gather objects of interest and meet characters that you would want to play all day long but it wasn't visually attractive. Even with a good plot and mentally accosting scenario, the makers choose a basic gaming approach making the image overlays annoying at times with its long and dragging conversations and instructions. I personally want physical action on my games aside from being intellectually asserting.

The game also has a confusing game pattern, you'll have to open several game windows or click bunch of menu's and sub-menu's to be able to do something basic, for instance, the opening collected stuffs, etc. But even with these smallish glitched, I still love the game, overall.











Recommendations

The game fits perfectly to individuals who love mystery, crimes and challenges. You would really enjoy it at your hearts desire. On the other hand, it doesn't fit youngsters nor individuals who doesn't want complicated fun. The game is dofficult to accomplished.

To download Cluedo, CLICK HERE!

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Mobile Office Apps for Symbian

With the business world going mobile and consumers demanding quick, real-time decisions, and effectively handle time-sensitive issues. Nokia in partnership with Microsoft® delivers a suite of familiar Microsoft productivity applications to Symbian Belle devices, enriching the comprehensive communication, collaboration, and manageability features of these devices.

With mobile Microsoft Office apps, you can get more done when you’re on the go, connecting to core productivity services such as corporate email and collaboration and instant messaging (IM) tools. Requiring no additional infrastructure investments, mobile Office apps offer enhanced flexibility to help provide business advantages to Symbian device users and significant value to existing Nokia business customers.

Do the following on Lync 2010 Mobile:

• Single and multi-party IM and federation with other IM services
• View contacts with photos and up-to-date presence
• Quick access to contacts and search from Global Address Lookup
• Direct entry into audio meetings without passwords
• Outside voice support for cellular calls
• Support for Office 365 Lync users

OneNote Mobile has the following features to brag about:

• Create and edit notes with text, bullets, checklists, and photos
• Syncs with Windows Live™ SkyDrive® and OneNote on your PC
• Store notes locally and then sync them once you check in
• Notebook sharing to keep everyone in sync and up to date
• Support for Office 365 OneNote users

Word Mobile

• View documents with improved fidelity
• Save or send documents while preserving tables, SmartArt, charts
• Pinch/zoom and rich support to easily view and edit documents

Powerpoint Mobile

• Utilize desktop fidelity viewing
• Edit presentation text and speaker notes
• Browse slides quickly with Outline view
• View broadcasted presentations

Excel Mobile

• View rich data and charts from anywhere
• Preview and quickly navigate to the content you want
• Insert formulas
• Modify data by accessing more than 114 formulas

COMPATIBLE DEVICES

Symbian Belle: Nokia E6, Nokia E7, Nokia X7, Nokia C7, Nokia C6-001, Nokia N8*, Nokia Oro, Nokia 500, Nokia 603, Nokia 700, Nokia 701

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Nokia Store App: Zombiewood, Drop Dead Delighting

From the very first Zombie movie made by Victor Halperin in 1935 entitled White Zombie, mega hit movie series Resident Evil, hundreds of Zombie movies from 7 continents, countless addicting PC Games like Plants vs Zombies, to popular TV drama, The Walking Dead, people seemed to have an undying love and frightful devotion to mindless flesh eating corpses. Now these fanatic synergy takes another form via Zombiewood, a mobile game fully dedicated to these icons of death.


I myself love Zombie movies so when I was given a chance to choose a mobilephone game to play around, I picked this primarily above the rest.

Game Setting and Story

The game takes you to a Zombie infested Hollywood, California. The main character of the game will have to undergo tasks per stages to succeed 68 levels of furious battles and struggles on top of his primary mission, to find the girlfriend that disappeared when the chaos begun. He needs to shoot, beat and burn Zombies to ashes for love and survival. Hhhmmm?

There is also a point system were players get to collect coins in exchange for weapons, gear upgrades, power ups such as dynamites, flamethrowers and more, a notable motivating feature. Users would want to shoot as many zombies as they can to gain points. Game setting also includes 13 maps and vehicle rides.









Characters

There were quite a few interesting zombies to poke around, the fast running ones that will make you squeal with its deathly gusts, the annoying fat heffalumps called Paparazombies who carries a camera and makes you dizzy as it shoot pictures, and the girlfriend that the main character is about to save. Additional characters will pop out as the game progressed.

Difficulty level

Above average, it’s not that the game was mind boggling or skilfully requiring, what makes it difficult was its confusing game controls and mechanism. You would really find it hard to shoot in the intended direction as it automatically aim with a continuous fire to nowhere. There is also difficulty in controlling the movement of the character using a virtual directional pad. It’s not the same as mechanical ones were you can just press the buttons as hard or soft as you can without constraint. But then I consider these minor flaws that you can adopt in a long run; it just need a little time to get used to.

Graphics and Animation

I would say below average, it wasn’t as eye catching like the leading 3D-riched premium games at the moment or as intuitive and smooth but I believe it suffice to the game’s price. Currently, it’s being sold for PhP50.00 on Ovi Store, a value that is worth a week or two of full fun and thrill.

It also have some cool effects like the exploding bombs and gun fires, quite enough to make the experience smashing.









I notice a few subtle lags though in the execution of commands. This must have something to do with the phone I'm using having only 680Mhz processor but nonetheless, it doesn't spoil the fun.

Overall Rating (1 Highest – 5 Lowest)

3 stars - The game was generally average, yes it was action packed and fun since you get to crushed and burn zombies, had a simple goal and mechanics and best of all, affordable for a game of 68 levels but on the other hand, the game is not very much appealing graphic-wise, has a confusing game controls and mechanism and worst, an annoying sound effects (I'm referring to the girl squeaking like whore). It would have been much enjoyable if the navigation controls were more interactive with a minor friendly sound effects.

To cap everything up, the game truly masked to the never ending love of people to Zombies, senseless yet enthralling.

Recommendations

Its a PG 13 game for its violence and rampage. It doesn't fit youngsters nor individuals with a weak of heart being generally difficult to accomplished. On the hand, the game is highly recommended to adventure seekers who wants thrill and endless challenges and those who doesn't care fiddling virtual keypads.









To download Zombiewood, CLICK HERE!

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PAC-MAN®, Final Fantasy among the rest of the 22 NAMCO BANDAI Vintage Games heads to Nokia Store!

PAC-MAN®, RIDGE RACER Drift, Flight Control, SOULCALIBUR®, ACE COMBAT NORTHERN WINGS(TM), Final Fantasy, RIDGE RACER® Drift, BRAIN EXERCISE(TM) with Dr. Kawashima - GALAGA® Special Edition, etc., these were just a few famous classic games from BANDAI Games that will start rolling via Ovi Store as Nokia and NAMCO BANDAI announced its partnership.

This is in line with Nokia's augmentation of the Asha touchscreen range, a family of colorful devices with great experiences designed for young, urban and aspirational consumers. Consumers will be able to take advantage of a new touch screen experience that makes mobile web browsing fast, with easy access to social networks and, of course, a great gaming performance.

Among the phones that befits the featured games best are the beautifully crafted Nokia Asha 311, a fast and fluid 3.5G capacitive touchscreen device and powered by a 1GHz processor to provide a great internet experience; the bright and edgy Nokia Asha 305, a fun and affordable phone that features the exclusive Easy Swap dual SIM and its twin device, the Nokia 306, a single SIM model, and becomes Nokia's most affordable Wi-Fi handset to date.

These titles are priced between USD0.99 (PhP40.00) and USD2.99 (PhP)125.00. Mobile gaming fans in more than 52 countries will be able to purchase titles without the need for a credit card, via Nokia's extensive direct billing agreements with over 145 operators.

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Nokia 808 PureView, The Inclusive Apps

Or should I say the unofficial inclusive applications of a Nokia 808 PureView having use a prototype version of the phone. These apps could be changed or removed in the final software version but nonetheless still worth featuring on the blog.

I didn't have enough time though to open all since I have to cover 3 other phones but somehow I’m already familiar with some of them.

1. Silent Film Director

The name of the app speaks for itself, it’s a kind of application that would allow users to create a movie or video directly on the phone. With its superior camcorder feature, the phone is a potent device for making independent films and movies. Well, I'm seriously considering to make one if I get to own the phone, I'm a big movie fan and it would be best to challenge my artistic self every ones in a while.

2. DLNA Play

Still related to the phones ability to shoot excellent still images and videos, the app allows easy syncing and playing of files to any DLNA compatible devices and share them to a wider audience. Oh well, I don't have any of these devices in the house so I probably won't be able to use it.

3. Joikuspot

The phone has the Joikuspot application that allows the phone to become a Hotspot and share its data connection to other WIFI capable devices. This is a third party application and sold individually to other Symbian device, I'm not sure if it will be offered free on the phone. Joikuspot is Symbian’s answer to the tethering capability of iPhones and select Windows Phone and Android devices.

4. Angry Birds
5. Asphalt 6
6. Block Breaker
7. Bounce
8. Let’s Golf 2

Quite a number of games on the phone, these made the kid part of me very happy but I'm not sure if they are full versions of the game. I predict that I can only play at least two of these games religiously. I don't really play much on my phones lately except in really boring circumstances.

Well, that’s about it folks! Then again I have to remind everyone that the phone is not the retail version so there might be a lot of changes on the apps line-up. Looking forward to try all of this individually given a chance or when I get to buy one in the future. (Cross my finger!)

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Blob, The One and Only Blogger App for Symbian

Just like the rest of the Symbian smartphone using bloggers around the world, Blob, is an answered prayer to a long time request, which on my part, dates back last year via these article about Nokia N8, a Symbian running device, not going well as a Bloggers phone having no dedicated client app for Blogger, well, a developer answered the challenge by creating the very first one.

The app promises the following features:
- Read, edit, create and delete posts and comments in different blogs
- HTML5 enabled post viewer
- Add labels, set custom publishing date and time in posts
- Comes with one of the best and convenient rich text editor ever made
- Smooth, fast and clean UI

...but did it lived up to expectation? Can I really write an article directly on my lust green Nokia N8, without my laptop?

Well, as much as I wanted to, my first blog post attempt was unsuccessful because the version I have is the FREE one that has no blog posting feature. I need to install the full retail version to be able do so, but nonetheless, I had an overview of how it works.

The app was a huge challenge on its own, it has only limited features, like for instance, in the writing mode where it only shows 7 options like Bold, Italic, Underline, Strike, Link, Paragraphs and Image; it uses only an HTML set-up; it doesn't have any direct photo or video upload, that users need to upload them online and get there links before they can be added to the blog post; and that the client automatically fits articles to its predetermined format.













In addition, if you're using a touchscreen phone, the virtual keypad might also be a problem. It wouldn't be as comfortable to use compared to a full mechanical QWERTY keypad. Users will have to adopt to the virtual set-up that might take sometime to get use to.

A few remedies were available online though, for instance, SWYPE, a virtual keyboard mechanism that enables users to input words faster and easier through one continuous finger motion across the screen keyboard, can definitely address the keyboard issue. On the image addition, users can upload images to Flick'r, Twitpic or any other image hosting sites, by copying its url using the copy and paste feature of the phone, then attached it to the image url and its done.













Overall, its a good start but I would love to see fixes on the aforementioned problem specially on direct photo or video upload to Blogger and the apps format fixation. I hope it won't take the developer sometime to address this issues.

To download Blob, CLICK HERE! Full version is worth PhP20.00 locally ($1 worldwide).

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