Cell Adictus

Best of SPE, 26 April 2009

We’re pretty sure that if you’re reading this, you’re the sort who likes exclusive, breaking details on Smartphones. We had that aplenty this week. Nokia Experts got the full skinny on the AT&T Nokia E71x in the form of PDF guides and a confirmation of a May 4th release. PreCentral.net scored an internal head-to-head between the iPhone and the Palm Pre. CrackBerry.com saw yet another Storm OS leak.

We’re also pretty sure you like free stuff. So you’ll want to check out the What Would You Do for a Palm Pre Giveaway. We’re also incredibly proud that CrackBerry.com reached – wait for it – One Million Members! They’ll be tossing out celebratory gifts to them this week. WMExperts will be giving away a phone (check there on Monday). Also, did you know that The iPhone Blog is approaching their 1 year anniversary in a couple weeks? Expect some fun to happen there soon, too!

Much more more happened in the smartphone world, so as usual, we bring you our “Best of SPE roundup.” Come take a look at what’s news!

Android Central

Do You Want Your iPhone to Look Like a Windows Phone or BlackBerry?

Our sibling sites, WMExperts and CrackBerry.com have both, coincidentally, just put up posts that show how to make your Windows Phone or BlackBerry “slide to unlock” just exactly like the iPhone. This may be nothing new, as themes and indeed the ability to theme other platforms is almost as longstanding as it is popular in some circles. iPhone Jailbreakers can even get in on the action with WinterBoard. But here’s the thing, if you’re running a Windows Phone or a BlackBerry, why would you want it to look or behave more like an iPhone? (and yes, the same holds true if you hack your iPhone to look/act like something else).

Do you love the iPhone UI but need functionality it doesn’t offer? Are you locked to a non-iPhone carrier and can’t get the iPhone, so will make do with a skin until your contract expires? Do you just love to be able to configure your phone, your way, and change it up as the mood strikes you?

Personally, I re-install and restore stuff so often, I’ve just gotten used to leaving almost everything I can in its default look and with its default settings, so I’m curious as to how the other side rolls.

Those of you with iPhones, any desire to skin it up like a WinPho or a BBerry? Maybe a Palm Pre? (Have you already?) And to those rocking other smartphones and going for an iPhone-look, how’s it working for you?

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Do You Want Your iPhone to Look Like a Windows Phone or BlackBerry?

Skyfire (Alpha) For BlackBerry

There has been a lot of ruckus in the forums the past little while over the announcement that Skyfire was looking for beta testers for their browser for BlackBerry smartphones. For those of you who don't know, Skyfire been available on Windows Mobile and various S60 devices for a while now and is finally here in all it's Alpha glory to all the beta testers who were chosen.

With some cool features already built into the browser it looks to be off to a great start, but it still has a ways to go. We're going to wait before singing its praises too loudly. It wouldn't really be fair to claim it as a winner just yet, afterall, it is still in its Alpha infancy. Yesterday Boy Genius gave us all some hot screenshots. We waited and played around with Skyfire a bit and today we have some more pics after the break of it in action along with some of my initial impressions.

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CrackBerry.com’s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Skyfire (Alpha) For BlackBerry

Best of SPE, 19 April 2009

Each week we bring you the best of what’s happening in the smartphone world in our “Best of SPE roundup.” Come take a look at what’s news!

Android Central

We’re a little jealous of our friends across the pond, as they can pre-order the HTC Magic at the low low price of Zero. The pain is lessened, however, with the (admittedly somewhat difficult) possibility of hacking 1.5 Cupcake onto the G1 – though be warned you may get cut off from Android Marketplace if you do.

CrackBerry.com

To be totally honest, it was actually a pretty slow news week in the world of BlackBerry. This didn’t come as surprise though. With WES 2009 set to kick off in just a few short weeks on May 5th, both RIM and partners are likely saving their news for then. This is RIM’s annual BIG show, and is a must go for anybody in the business of BlackBerry. You can learn more at attendwes.com. On the ever-popular topic of the BlackBerry Storm operating system, Bell customers have been given an official update to version 4.7.0.122 while Verizon 9530 owners are still waiting. Let’s hope VZW releases one soon before there’s a riot!

Nokia Experts

What’s new at Nokia Experts? The new Nokia Experts Accessory Store! It’s stocked up on all sorts of accessories for the Nokia E71, from bluetooth headsets to always-essential spare battery. On the news front, Matthew took a gander at Email on the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, complete with a walkthrough video. Definitely check it out. If you’re a Twitter fanatic, you will want to see the Twittix vs Gravity shootout to see best way to get your Tweet on. There’s plenty more to check out, so head on over!

PreCentral.net

PreCentral.net now sports an all-new look!. We’ve tossed in a boot-load of features as well, most importantly you can now head to the Palm Pre Forums to chat up all things Pre — they’re integrated with TreoCentral so you won’t have to create a new login. Meanwhile, like our pals at Nokia Experts, we have Twitter on the brain. The biggest news, however, has to be when we saw the Palm Pre in the wild. Come join us in the Pre Revolution, won’t you?

The iPhone Blog

Previously on theiphoneblog.com: Apple delivered iPhone 3.0 Beta 3 and we’ve updated our iPhone 3.0 Walkthrough to reflect all the latest changes. (And no, still no Calendar access in the SDK.)

Meanwhile, with Apple’s quarterly results coming next week, we remind everyone that it’s profit share, not marketshare that matters. Also, is Verizon interested in an iPhone 4G? AT&T thinks so and wants to extend their exclusivity — and maybe take back some control over apps? They may already have interfered with SlingPlayer, could Hulu be next?

TreoCentral

Checking in over at TreoCentral, Neal tells us about a couple of new Body Glove cases for the Treo Pro.  Plus we learn about some software mentioned this week; SyncMate, to help you synchronize your WM Treo with your Mac, and pocketwit, a new twitter client for the Windows Mobile platform sporting a ‘unique user interface’.  Also at TreoCentral, we learn what the Top 10 Best Sellers are in Palm OS and WM software in the TC Store. Plus, Annie lets us know about a cool app for your Centro or Treo called Cellfire that is the first ever mobile application that enables you to obtain store and restaurant discounts by using mobile coupons. Annie gives Cellfire a whirl on her Centro, and it’s a fun read!

WMExperts

We’re getting into some new hardware, with exciting things coming from a leaked Toshiba roadmap, a review of the Samsung Propel Pro, the Touch Diamond 2 is in stock in the U.K., and we learned that an unlocked Touch Pro 2 will cost as much as a decent laptop.

We’re also expecting more Windows Mobile 6.5 news at a May 11 “launch” event, we make a case for Windows Mobile eventually supporting capacitive touchscreens, and Sprint made a good change to its warranty system.

First look at Nokia Email on the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic device

I’ve been using and thoroughly enjoying the Nokia Email client on my Nokia E71, especially when compared to the rather lame standard Nokia Messaging application that is included on S60 devices. I LOVE the new Nokia Messaging 2.0 application on the Nokia E75, but that isn’t yet available for any other S60 device. I am really enjoying my Nokia 5800, but the lack of a good email client has been holding me back a bit and I have been making due with the Java-based Gmail application. All of that changed last night when I received an email from the Nokia Messaging team about an offer to test out Nokia Email on the 5800 and I jumped at the chance. It is still in alpha mode, but so far it is running quite well.

I took a short video walking through the new email client/service and also have several screenshots from my 5800 below.

As you can see, all the great UI elements seen before on S60 3rd Edition devices are present here in this version. There are some nice features optimized for the touchscreen too, including a button for attachments, button for sending priority, button for flags, button for replying or forwarding, and cool Groups email support.

Tapping and holding menus are also present in the application. If you tap and hold on an email in the Inbox then you see a menu with options to Delete, Reply, Reply all, Forward, Mark unread, Flag, and Move. You can tap a button in the upper right to sort your Inbox by Subject, Date, Sender, Flag, Priority, Unread, and Attachment. Tapping and holding on an email address gives you options for Send e-mail, Call, Add to contacts, Copy to clipboard, and View details.

All of these options and features really make email a pleasure again on the Nokia 5800 and I am quite pleased so far.

S60 Twitter client shootout: Twittix vs. Gravity

I’ve been a Twitter user since 21 July 2006 and there hasn’t been a S60 application available (other than Java apps like Twibbler) even with millions and millions of S60 devices out there in use. The best choice before now has been an optimized web page like Dabr or Slandr, which are actually good free choices even today. It seems it really does pour when it rains as we have been blessed with two great choices for Twitter dedicated applications over the last couple of weeks. Gravity was launched first, followed very shortly by Twittix.

I’ve posted several screenshots from both applications running on my Nokia 5800 and a video below of both applications running on the 5800 and my Nokia E75. You will find the basic info on both applications below, followed by my thoughts on the differences and performance of them on my S60 devices.

Twittix

As you can see on the Twittix page they state that it is “the best mobile Twitter Client for Nokia Smartphones!” While I do think the client is quite good, I have now purchased two copies of Gravity and find it to be the better client for S60 devices at the moment. The good thing about competition is that this could change as developers improve both applications. UPDATE: A new version of Twittix was released last night that fixes several issues so it now looks like I will have to go buy Twittix for my S60 devices too

Available for $4.95 and is tied to an IMEI number.

Here is the list of features from their website:

• All Twitter functions: Tweet, Reply, Direct Message, ReTweet, Follow, Unfollow, Create
• Search function and Auto Update
• Tabbed view of Timeline, Replies, Messages, Favorites, Followers, Followings
• Get users profiles directly out of tweets; Open URL from any Tweet
• Real time number counter; Followers and Following lists
• Build-in Theme support and Portrait and Landscape Mode
• Support of build-in accelerator
• Symbian Signed certificated; Lifetime free updates
• English and German version available

Here is the list of updates and improvements from 16 April:

• Function “Introduce” added
• Multi-Accounts added
• FullScreenMode (press star key) added
• New download bar added
• Deleting Tweets added
• Symbol for received Tweets, DMs and Replies
• Several improvements of GUI and usability
• Auto-disconnect added
• Direct Start of New Tweet (press & hold any key) added
• Chinese language support added

Twittix works like a traditional S60 application with the menu system being quite familiar. It doesn’t have anything unique or that special as far as the UI goes, but it does work pretty well and I find it better on the 5800 than on the E75 (found I was using the older version on the E75 in my video). See below for more detailed thoughts when I compare the two apps.

There are tabs/pages for timeline, replies, direct messages, favorites, followers, following, and everyone in Twittix.

Gravity

I read that a few people were in the private alpha/beta testing of Gravity and was excited about what I heard was coming. I immediately tried Gravity on my Nokia 5800 and purchased a license for that device within a couple of days. I just recently installed it on a Nokia E75 and bought a second license for the program, although I am not as happy with it on the E75 as I am on the 5800 as I will explain in detail below.

Gravity is available for $9.95 and the license is tied to a specific IMEI so if you have multiple devices you need multiple licenses. Hopefully, if I get rid of a device I can get the developer to switch my authorized IMEI purchase.

Here is the list of features from their website:

• Compatible with Twitter and Laconica
• All functions available on your S60 phone: tweet, reply, DM, follow & unfollow, create favourites, search, auto-update and many more …
• Tabbed view of your Timeline, Replies, Messages, Friends, …
• Setup and use as many accounts as you want at the same time
• Twitter-Search section with multiple search tabs and Twitter Trends
• Post pictures via TwitPic
• Open URLs from any Tweet
• Kinetic scrolling on S60v5 (Nokia 5800 and Nokia N97)
• Theme support on S60v3 (fixed dark and bright theme)

Gravity works like an iPhone application on the Nokia 5800 and it was quite refreshing to find such an application on the S60 platform. I am having an issue with it on my Nokia E75 where I cannot just use the directional pad and scroll up or down between Tweets simply and easily. I find I have to hold down the directional pad and then the scrolling catches up to it, but what happens is I end up going up or down 3 Tweets and it is taking lots of practice getting it to select the Tweet I want to on the display. I know the E75 is a new device and the firmware isn’t finalized, so maybe that is the issue.

There are tabs/pages for timeline, replies, direct messages, my Tweets, favourites, friends, and followers in Gravity.

So what application is the best right now?

1. I know I am probably a fringe case, but I have two Twitter accounts for my own personal usage and one for Nokia Experts. Gravity lets me setup, manage, and post to multiple Twitter accounts and this setting does not appear to be supported on S60 3rd Edition devices. However, as I show in my video, I did find you can setup multiple Twitter accounts on 5th Edition devices with Twittix (added in latest version to all devices).
2. There does not appear to be anyway to post a photo (via TwitPic) with Twittix. Gravity does have this capability, but is a bit limited on what photos can be selected for uploading.
3. Gravity supports kinetic scrolling on the Nokia 5800 and N97 and this works extremely well on the 5800.
4. Gravity has a very cool UI that I prefer, including the cool way you select a Tweet and then see buttons appear for replying, direct messaging, retweeting, etc. The buttons look cooler on the 5800, but still appear in color on the E75 too.
5. Twittix does allow for full screen mode by double tapping on the 5800. This full screen mode toggle does not appear to work on S60 3rd Edition devices like my E75 though.
6. Gravity has a cool Knight Rider/Cylon downloading status bar while Twittix uses the standard Nokia one a new custom download bar that appears in the latest version.
7. You can control the frequency of updates in Twittix while this is setup with a default value that cannot be changed in Gravity.

It is a tough call about which one is best and it comes down to your desire for a slick UI or desire for more control of update frequency and full screen mode. I purchased Gravity before seeing this latest version of Twittix, but now am thinking I need Twittix on my E75 since the selection doesn’t work well on the E75 with Gravity.

Twittix and Gravity on the Nokia 5800

Which is your favorite Twitter application? I am pleased to see both of these and look forward to updates and improvements as people give them regular feedback after more usage.

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