Know Thy Time Using SmartClock

How often do you wish you could be notified of the time, only to find yourself in a difficult situation? You could be caught up at work or busy driving your car or reading an important news story in the paper or just too lazy to look at your alarm clock. It can happen to the best of us. This is where SmartClock factors in. As the name suggests, SmartClock is an intelligent talking clock that can read out the current time without ever requiring a keypress, using your S60 3rd Edition phone's built-in text to speech-engine. It can do this via two unique ways:

• Whenever it is brought into the foreground
• After the user has specified a time delay

The best part is that SmartClock, apart from being completely free, is fully configurable and doesn't require any extra keypresses to work.







Once you have SmartClock up and running, whenever you wish to know the current time, simply switch to the SmartClock window and it will read out the time for you automatically. It's as simple as that.

On the other hand, if your phone is a bit out of reach (say, on a bedside table) and yet you wish to know the time after every half hour or so, just specify a delay (in seconds), and SmartClock will continue updating you with the time without fail, after the delay you have specified earlier. Valid values for the delay can include anything -- from as little as 10 seconds to an entire day! Further details are provided in the Help section of SmartClock.

Compatibility:

Compatible with all S60 3rd Edition phones, including Nokia 3250, Nokia 5500 Sport, Nokia 5700, Nokia 6120 Classic, Nokia E61i, Nokia N73, Nokia N80, Nokia N81, Nokia N81 8GB, Nokia N82, Nokia N95, Nokia N95 8GB etc

Download Links:

P.S All the required files are provided below. There is a separate file with detailed instructions included in the download.

- Note that you need to install Python first to your device's Phone Memory. If you already have Python installed to Phone Memory, skip this step and install SmartClock.

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Update: The N73 SMS Reader!

Ever since the first version of the N73 SMS Reader was rolled out a few weeks ago, I've received several requests for additional features, the most interesting one being the ability to read out any existing text message from the inbox or from sent messages. This updated release of the SMS Reader addresses that issue and introduces many new features too.

If you haven't already tried out the previous version or wish to read more about it, have a look at my original post here.

Overview:

The N73 SMS Reader is a convenient and innovative text-to-speech message reader and inbox backup solution for your smartphone. It enables you to take full control of your text messages using simple joystick navigation and reads out all messages for you without letting you strain your eyes to read from the phone screen.

You can also make backup copies of all your messages using the N73 SMS Reader. If you happen to accidentally delete an important SMS, or your SMS database becomes corrupted, you can then rely on the backup copy that the program has created for you.

Key Features:

• Reads out existing text messages straight from the inbox or even from sent items whenever requested
• Reads out new text messages either at user request or immediately when they arrive
• Activity Icon for alerting the user whenever the program works in the background
• Simple and Intuitive controls
• Message Preview Option for displaying the last received message without actually opening it
• Inbox Backup tool for exporting all messages to file

Compatibility:

This program is designed for S60 3rd Edition phones. It has been tested on Nokia 3250, N71, N73, N80, N91, N93, N95 and N95 8GB currently but will work with ALL devices.

Instructions:

Please follow the instructions in the exact order listed as the program might not work otherwise.

• This program uses the latest version of Python for S60. Remove any older versions before proceeding.
• Install the Python for S60 application (PythonForS60_1_4_2_3rdEd.sis) to phone memory.
• Install the script shell (PythonScriptShell_1_4_2_3rdEd.sis) to phone memory.
• Sign the N73 SMS Reader (N73_SMS_Reader_v1_5_UNSIGNED.sis).
• Send it to your phone and install it.

Download Links:

P.S All the required files are provided below.

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Introducing the N73 SMS Reader

Free App Friday may be over, but not here at the S60 Weblog. Disgruntled with the lack of a Text-to-speech message reader on the N73, I decided to work on my own simple, no-frills message reader. The merits of such an application are plenty. Not only is it a convenient way to access your messages by having them read out aloud with minimal fuss, but it is also something that can be of tremendous use especially while on the move -- you could be driving, jogging etc. Moreover, this is a concept that is yet to make inroads and so, is quite fascinating to say the least!

It is a well-known fact that Nokia have already 'blessed' phones like the 5500, 5700, 6120c with a Text-to-speech (TTS) tool complete with different voices, while strangely ignoring the majority of Nseries devices. What is quite absurd is that this is a concept that was perfected around two years ago with the release of SilentComm's commercial TWT SMSReader -- for devices ranging from the Nokia 7650 to the 6600, 6630 and N70. And yet, here we are...

Anyway, the only message reader ever to be released for the likes of the N73, N80, N95 etc was Mobicrac's SMSTalk, which, unfortunately, left a LOT to be desired -- mainly because it could only read 3 words at a time, as ridiculous as that seems.

Ofcourse, that was a purely commercial venture, but one that was inspiring nevertheless. Another feature that I wanted my message reader to have was the ability of saving or backing up all text messages to a separate file. I borrowed this idea from David Siorpaes' SMSDump for the Nokia 6600, 6630 and N70 -- a handy, albeit commercial, utility that was capable of 'dumping' all text messages from the inbox to a text file. Incase your database of text messages got corrupted, you could always rely on the backup created by SMSDump.

After much scouring on the Internet for a message reader, I was finally able to find an app, called TTSMS, created by bugb in Python for S60. Sadly, that didn't work -- but since it was written in Python, it provided enough motivation ;)

Enter the N73 SMS Reader

The N73 SMS Reader (or TTSMS Reader) is a no-frills app that sits in the background and is activated automatically whenever a new message arrives. It requires Python for S60 to run. Upon installing, you will have a new icon labelled 'TTSMS' in the Applications folder of your S60 3rd Edition device.

Key Features:

• Reads new text messages either at user request or immediately when they arrive
• Simple and Intuitive controls
• Message Preview Option for displaying the last received message without actually opening it
• Inbox Backup tool for exporting all messages to file
• Compatibility with ALL S60 3rd Edition Devices (N73, N80, N95 and more)

Special Notes:

Whenever a new message arrives, by default the user is presented a list of three options:

• To read the new message
• To preview or display it
• To ignore it

Upon pressing the Read message option, the TTSMS Reader uses Python's Text-to-speech function to read the message out aloud. There is also a Replay Message feature that automatically kicks in whenever a message has been read, prompting the user for further action.

The Preview message option shows the first few lines of the sms content as well as the sender's number in a pop-up window.

Tip: Note that not only is 'previewing' the message quicker and less cumbersome, but it also gives the user a convenient alibi of 'forgetting' to read a potentially unwanted message as previewing does not notify the system that a new message has already been read.

The Ignore message option works by sending the program back to the Standby or Home Screen.

With Auto Read set to ON, whenever a new message arrives, the TTSMS Reader uses Python's Text-to-speech function to read the message out aloud automatically without requiring any user intervention whatsoever. The user is also prompted with an option to replay the message once it is finished reading.

Other Options:

The Export Inbox as TXT... option saves ALL the messages from the inbox to a text file compatible with Microsoft Word, WordPad etc.

Tip: Once activated, it normally takes about 20 seconds (depending on the size of your inbox) for the program to save all messages. It also displays the total number of messages saved as well as their location on the Phone Memory.

The Minimize and Minimize all options are something I picked up from the Microsoft Windows environment. The former simply minimizes the current window i.e. of the TTSMS Reader whilst the latter minimizes all windows in use and sends the user directly to the Standby Screen.



Known Issues:

- The TTSMS Reader does not install any extra voice packages to the phone. Instead, it utilizes the device's built-in TTS capabilities. So, be wary of the accent (German, perhaps?) as it may not be able to pronounce accurately.

- While actual words are language-independent, numbers will be pronounced a digit at a time, depending on the language set in the phone.

- Once a message has been flagged as old, it can no longer be read. However, I'm working on a solution for dealing with this :)

- Incase of an unknown number, the program will read out the entire number.

Download Links:

P.S All the required files are provided below.

- Note that you need to install Python first to your device's Phone Memory. If you already have Python installed to Phone Memory, skip this step.

- The TTSMS Reader must be SIGNED before installation.

DOWNLOAD NOW

DOWNLOAD NOW (Mirror)

You may receive an 'Update Error' while installing in some cases. To rectify that, download this file instead. Otherwise, use the links given above.

Currently, this app has been tested on the N73 ME and the N95 only. However, it should work on other devices too without a glitch. Comments are always welcome!

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N95 8GB & N73 ME Firmware Updates Available!

Here's something you don't see very often -- Nokia's been really stepping on the gas in releasing newer firmware updates for their phones lately. A new year's resolution, perhaps? For example, just a couple of days ago, they made available version 15.0.015 of the flagship N95 8GB's firmware. To top that off, they released version 4.0750.31.2.1 of the N73 Music Edition's (ME) firmware some days later. Talk about being on a roll.

According to initial reports, the latest set of updates to hit both these phones is more of a speed boost than anything else -- nonetheless, a very welcome addition indeed, given how lethargic the S60 platform can be.

Let's talk about the N95 8GB first. News is that the newer firmware substantially improves the speed of accessing the device's colossal 8GB of flash memory. Apart from that, several under-the-hood changes have been made that have resulted in a faster and thankfully, more responsive, Gallery & Search as well as stability improvements for the Browser as well as WLAN. Plus, they've also thrown in Flashlite 3 and even made night-mode improvements to the Camera. Amazing, isn't it? The N95 8GB, after all these improvements, might just be the device everyone's looking for. If you haven't updated your device software yet, you definitely should.

Anyway, since I don't have a spare one lying around (it's already on my wishlist), I'll just continue with my ramblings on the N73 ME's latest firmware.



Just like the N95 8GB's latest firmware, v4.0750.31.2.1 for the N73 ME fixes a myriad of issues that have plagued the device for quite some time now. More importantly, it makes the phone much, much faster.

Although I haven't taken any pictures yet for verification, according to reports, Nokia seem to have made night-mode improvements to the Camera here, too. This, if true, is something that was much-needed. Although the N73 ME has a top-of-the-line (though not exactly cutting-edge) 3.2 Megapixel camera that performs exceptionally well in most cases, night-mode shots aren't its speciality by a long shot. The main reason, ofcourse, being the blue-haze or bluish-tint problem that is evident on pictures taken under night-mode. On the other hand, day-time shots are perfect and easily comparable to typical point-and-shoots.

Moving on, perhaps one of the most notable changes is in the overall menu navigation speed. Make no mistake, Nokia have absolutely done a brilliant job here. Not only is the phone much snappier now, slowdowns and memory-leaks have completely disappeared too!

To verify, I timed how long it took for various elements (e.g Menu, Contacts etc) to load before and after the firmware upgrade under identical conditions. Results are as shown below.



The column on the right (in bold) lists the times for the latest firmware, whereas the one on the left are for its predecessor. You can immediately spot the differences. The latest firmware, undoubtedly, has made the phone much faster and overall navigation a breeze. Moreover, note that the Camera starting times are virtually unchanged in both cases.

Another area where there's been a substantial improvement is in the amount of available memory for use. With typical use, previously the amount of free RAM available for apps used to hover around 10-11MB. Remarkably, that figure has shot upto 12.5-13MB with the upgrade. What's interesting is the fact that Symbian-Freak is reporting the implementation of Demand Paging with this new firmware, which only goes to confirm the much-improved memory handling capabilities. Note that this isn't the same as the memory available to the user after startup. Think of this as under load conditions :)

All in all, I honestly think that if you own an N73 ME and haven't updated yet, you should definitely get this upgrade without any hesitation whatsoever. It's available free of charge via the Nokia Software Updater. Click here to get it.

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Get There Faster With AppQLaunch!

Let's face it: the Symbian OS, despite all the major overhauls that it has received over the years, is still horribly laggy. Sure, that might not be the case for newer phones (fingers crossed), but the bulk of S60 phones released by Nokia in the past few years all bear this striking resemblance.

For instance, how many times have you wished to run an app that's not present on the Active Standby (or Today Screen) instantly, only to find yourself pressing the Menu button and staring at the phone screen as the feeble processor quietly churns to process your request?

The harsh reality is that this has been the case for so many years now. Fairly recent phones like the N73, N80, N93 etc all go down on their knees (albeit for a few seconds only) whenever you try to open folders from the Menu. Sad as it is, I'd like to think of it as a plague that is endemic to Symbian OS phones. Anyway, here are some other noteworthy observations on my part:

Arbitrary Observations

• One of the areas where Nokia needs to work on is incorporating more items in the Active Standby screen. The current arrangement of 6 or 7 apps is insufficient and sets a limit that tends to be very annoying, as the user constantly needs to assess the best possible combination of favourite applications for him or herself by weighing the practicality of one against another. Bumping that to 12 apps (or two lines worth of apps) doesn't sound like a bad choice.



• The Menu app needs some serious tweaking and memory optimization as no one likes to wait for an eternity while opening folders and the like. Currently, delays of upto 3 or 4 seconds aren't uncommon, even on the flagship Nseries devices.



• Another area that has been sadly neglected for so long now has to be Menu organization. The current setup is very, very clunky and antiquated. I still can't imagine why someone would want a whole plethora of diversified apps, from Bluetooth to Themes to Profiles to the File Manager, all in one place?!! Check the Tools folder if you don't believe me. There really needs to be a logical arranegment of items. Period.

Anyway, that's enough pitiful lamenting on my part.

Presenting AppQLaunch

Moving on, one of the greatest attributes of S60 phones has to be the profound flexibility that the Symbian OS offers. Don't like the way the lethargic menu behaves? Why, simply create something that does the job better. And that, folks, is precisely what Yohanes Nugroho has done for the Symbian community.

AppQLaunch has to be one of the most revolutionary apps of its time. Although it aims to be a simple complement for the Menu app, but it does way more than that. Infact, I have become so dependent on it that it has actually replaced my usage of the Menu altogether. It functions in an extraordinarily simple way. Once installed, all that needs to be done on the user's part is to type the first few letters of the name of the app that is to be run.

Wish to use Bluetooth? Using AppQLaunch, just type in "b" and immediately you'll be presented with a list of apps that start with the letter. I've found that running apps in this way is typically much faster than the painful navigation offered by the Menu.



All in all, a great app. I'd recommend you to install it to Phone Memory. It's very small indeed, weighing in at about 17KB and can safely be run in the background at all times. Furthermore, be sure to set it to function as one of your softkeys -- the Right Softkey is set to respond faster than the Left Softkey by default, so you can set it that way. To make the relevant changes, simply go to Tools > Settings > Standby Mode. Tap "Right Selection Key" and set it to AppQLaunch.



Now, whenever you're in a hurry, remember that you'll always get there faster with AppQLaunch. Talk about a cheesy closing line, heh.

To download it for your S60 3rd edition device, click here to visit the author's site for the free download or get it directly from The Series 60 Weblog by clicking here.

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Learning Python The Easy Way

Hello everyone! You may probably have heard about Python for the Nokia S60 platform. One of the most exciting features of this programming language is that it provides access to several unique smartphone functions, including the camera, calendar, audio as well as telephony amongst other things. This is partly why it has become so popular over time.

Some days ago I stumbled upon an excellent book related to Python for S60 devices. It's called "Mobile Python" and is written by Jürgen Scheible and Ville Tuulos.

Furthermore, for those of you interested, there's an amazing repository of Python code available online for free right over here. This is something that you must check out. There are over 100 examples to try out...from making a simple app that can record audio to making a message reader to taking pictures with your phone camera. The possibilities are endless!

One of the best ways of learning the basics of a language is by going through code examples step by step. That is where Python is so friendly and non-fussy. In case you falter, you'll eventually learn how to correct the mistake just by studying the code. Anyway, if you've come this far, just try this:

• Grab a text editor (notepad will do just fine) and paste the code (try any of the examples above)
• Rename the file to *.py and send it to your phone's memory card (e:\Python)
• Install the Python for S60 application (PythonForS60_1_4_0_3rdEd.sis) on your phone
• Install the script shell (PythonScriptShell_1_4_0_3rdEd.sis)
• Next, run Python from your phone and click "Run Script" to execute the code that you've just sent

P.S If you don't already have Python installed, click here to get it for your S60 3rd Edition phone.

I hope you see how easy it is to make your own programs using Python. The code examples given above are enough to get one started. Anyway, happy python-ing!

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Be Back Shortly!

Hey All! You may have noticed how intermittent and irregular my posting has become in recent times... courtesy of a gargantuan workload that has kept me busy all this while. Infact, I don't even remember when I last posted! *grumble*

Anyway, things are finally back on track...so, stick around for just a couple of more days and I shall return with something novel. For those curious, I've been working on the Flashlight script with the latest release of Python, and things do look good so far... :)

Thanks for stopping by everyone! Until next time!

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The Case of the Exhausted Phone

Greetings everyone! Hope you guys are doing much better than I am. A fried hard drive and more than a dozen phone formats/hard resets later, I'm back! See, a few weeks ago, one of my PC's 120GB SATA hard disks started acting funny when a bunch of bad sectors surfaced out of nowhere.

I tried fixing them with a program called Spinrite, but all was invain and within no time, the drive completely disappeared from Windows! The worst part is that quite a lot of data got corrupted in the process. Sad stuff...especially when you couple that with my recent cellphone woes!

Which brings me to an important issue. Some days ago, my cellphone (an N73 Music Edition) started to (literally) 'die out' under normal usage. For instance, whenever I slid open the camera lens cover to take an occasional snap or two, the phone would automatically switch off as if all the juice had been sucked out of its battery. This would also happen during phone calls, texting etc.

A quick google search revealed that this problem was equally common with other Nokia phones, such as the N93i. The proposed solution? Take the phone to your nearest Care Center (Bah!)

Since I'd been testing new apps regularly, I naturally thought there was a software glitch with one of the apps. Piece by piece, every app installed to phone memory was removed and the phone formatted not once, but multiple times. However, the problem was never fixed. I even suspected this to be one of the shortcomings of the N73's latest firmware update. Luckily, common sense prevailed and I discovered an outrageously simple way of fixing the issue.

The solution: After powering off your phone, remove the battery along with the sim card and set them aside for about half an hour. During this time, clean the battery terminals (i.e the 3 'golden rectangles' that you see on top of the battery) using rubbing alcohol -- or even some leftover cologne will do. Also, be sure to clean the battery terminals present on the phone body as well as the camera activation terminals present on the phone's back cover (i.e. the 2 golden bits that you see on the inside of the back cover). Once our makeshift cleaning liquid's evaporated, simply plug everything back and you're good to go!

I still haven't figured out the reason behind this strange behaviour (rusty terminals?), but hey, I'm not complaining! :)

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N93i & N73: Firmware Updates Available!

If you have an N93 or N73, you should definitely update your phone's firmware via the Nokia Software Updater. As I recently discovered, the newer firmware for the N73, for instance, addresses a plethora of issues that plagued its predecessor.

The download is about 78.4MB for the Nokia N73, entitled V 4.0735.3.0.2 / 4.0736.3.2.1. I really think this is a much-needed update for the phone. While I don't have a changelog that lists all the improvements in this release, some of the most-noticeable changes are listed below.

Changes/Improvements:

• Inclusion of Nokia Maps 1.0 (edition 1.2) for use with Bluetooth GPS devices
• Improvements to the Messaging App
• Improvements to Application Installers
• Updates to the Music Library & Music downloads
• Sleep mode stability
• Autostart issues fixed (finally)
• Improvements to Menu navigation
• Greater amount of free RAM available at startup

Miscellaneous Notes:

• You may (or may not) notice the last few points that I've written about above on the N73. However, on the older version of the firmware i.e. V 4.0727.2.2.1, with sleep mode enabled and the keypad locked, it was sometimes impossible to use the phone as the keypad refused to unlock itself! Thankfully, that seems to be fixed with this release.
  
  
• Autostart issues are another thing. As compared to the older version, the newer firmware finally lets you autostart apps, such as Keylocking utilities (the N73 doesn't have it built-in) or Profile Switchers etc. I'm really glad Nokia's addressed this issue.
  
  
• The phone seems to be much snappier than before and Menu navigation and UI response times are much better. A welcome addition!
  
  
• As mentioned above, there is definitely an improvement in the availability of free RAM while starting (and subsequently using) the phone. Previously, the amount of free RAM used to hover around 18-18.5MB, with all autostart apps loaded into memory. Now this figure's gone upto 19.5MB, which really is a substantial increase!
  
  
• I haven't yet checked for improvements in the Camera department. But I doubt if there will be any, especially since the N73 already has an excellent camera that's easily comparable to standard point-and-shoots. The only improvement that is, perhaps, necessary has to do with reducing the amount of jpeg compression.
  
  
• Before you update, please ensure that you've made a Backup via Nokia's PC Suite to save all messages, contacts, calendar events etc. You can later restore them after updating.
  
  
• If you have a Bluetooth GPS device and are worried about data transfer costs, download the Nokia Map Loader for your PC which lets you download maps from the internet for your phone. It's available free of charge, here.
  
  

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Speed Up Your Phone Camera

One of the more common problems associated with newer multi-megapixel phones from Nokia is the frustrating time delay that's always encountered while turning the camera on. A slight comparison with modern digital cameras immediately puts the coveted Nseries to shame. For instance, it takes the Nokia N73 a good 3-4 seconds to get to the Viewfinder to snap a picture...enough to get your subject distracted with something else. Performance takes an even bigger hit if you're starting from Sleep mode and delays of upto 10 seconds are fairly common.

Relatively newer Nokia phones, especially ones with a mechanical shutter and an autofocus lens (N73, N95 etc), are the most affected in this regard. You must've observed how the screen orientation lazily changes from Portrait to Landscape as soon as you slide open the lens cover to get the camera ready.

However, here's an amazing tip that'll really help speed things up while using your phone camera, making it much snappier than ever before.

The trick is to get the phone in Landscape mode before you're about to use your camera.

Apart from being less taxing for the processor, there also won't be any significant delay between switching screen orientations and the camera will be ready for action in no time! The results speak for themselves. Notice how fast the phone response is when you start the camera from standby/sleep in Landscape mode.



Changing screen orientations isn't much of an issue too, especially with freeware apps like the excellent RotateMe v1.21, available here for the N73 and N80. Once you start RotateMe, simply tap 'Rotate' from Options to switch to Landscape mode (and vice versa).

Another advantage is the fact that Landscape mode isn't a hassle and is quite useable, although initially you'll feel otherwise due to the awkward position you'll be holding your phone in. Furthermore, it's compatible with a plethora of apps and you could, for instance, use it with the excellent free Sega Genesis Emulator, Picodrive, to play a quick game or two of Street Fighter II Turbo or get a much better view of the www while browsing the internet...the possibilities are endless :)

So, next time you're at a party, be sure to have your phone in Landscape mode before you start snapping away!

Screenshots:







UPDATE: If you wish to download RotateMe v1.21, you may do so here. Please note that you must get this app signed prior to using it.

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Wikipedia: Version 1.0 Released!

Waiting period's *officially* over everyone! Yes, you guessed it...the Symbian Wikipedia project has yet again scaled to a new height. As promised, this latest release of the Wikipedia, available as a free download for your S60 phone, now incorporates over 8,500 full-color images! And since it's based on the previous release, that works out to about 3.5 unique images per article!

For those with space constraints on their phones, there's also a text-only version of the Wikipedia that you should definitely try out.

Requirements:

• WinRAR (to uncompress the files). The trial version is available here.
• iSilo (installed on smartphone). The trial version is available here for all S60 devices.

Key features:

• Approximately 2050 full-length articles, more than 8,500 full-colour images and over 3.5 million words (equivalent to a 4,000+ page book in text alone)
• Storage Card & Phone Memory Compatibility
• Keyword Search
• Adjustable font sizes and styles
• Cross Reference Links - tap on a link to easily go to the related article
• An easy-to-use alphabetical index for all articles
• Compatibility with ALL UIQ devices
• Compatibility with ALL S60 devices, from the Nokia 7650 to the N95 :)

Special Notes:

You can either download this as a single file or for convenience, download multiple "dial-up-friendly" parts.

If you're downloading the dial-up version, please note that you need all 15 parts to extract the file. Once you've downloaded all the parts, simply double-click the first part and specify "series-sixty.blogspot.com" (without the quotes) as the password.

Then just click "Extract to" to extract it on your hard drive. You can later send it to your phone via the Nokia PC Suite or beam it via Bluetooth.

Screenshots:











Download Links:

- As a single file

Parts 01-15

- As multiple files

Part 01
Part 02
Part 03
Part 04
Part 05
Part 06
Part 07
Part 08
Part 09
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15

Password: series-sixty.blogspot.com

As an afterthought, I think it's the images that can make all the difference, for not only do you get something that's visually more appealing and easier on the eyes, but it also takes us a step closer to finding that perfect replacement for an actual encyclopedia. Anyway, comments/suggestions are much appreciated! :)

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A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words

So its already been a week without a new post and things seem quite slow here on the S60 Weblog. My humble apologies for not posting any earlier. Anyway, I'm sure many of you must've heard the proverb that is listed in the title before. What am I trying to get at, you ask? The thing is, after releasing the first version of the Wikipedia some weeks ago, I promised to include images in a future version.

Well, the good news is that a newer, updated version of the Wikipedia is almost ready and will be available shortly.

I'm really looking forward to it as this will undoubtedly be BIG...in the sense that in an attempt to make the encyclopedia more visually appealing (and interesting) for everyone young as well as old, I've decided to include several thousand images.

Yup, if you fancy numbers, there will be over 8,500 full-colour images! Stay tuned guys! As always, comments are welcome :)

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Update: The All-In-One Torch!

The latest version of the AiO Torch - the only multi-function torch available absolutely free-of-cost for ALL S60 3rd Edition devices - is finally out guys!

Although I never expected to roll out another release so soon, it's just that the response to the first release was quite encouraging (not to mention the presence of some extra time at hand) that made me do otherwise. Anyway, you'll find that there are a lot of changes in this update.

I, for one, find it to be a very convenient utility as many a times you find yourself groping for the light switch while in a dark room, searching for your keys on the bedside table or even trying to read the menu in a dark restaurant. The possibilities are endless!

If you haven't checked out the initial release yet, I'd recommend you do. You can find it right over here. The most notable changes are highlighted below:

Changes / Improvements:

• An All-In-One Torch / StrobeLight
• Completely re-developed User Interface
• About 30% Brighter Light Output via LED
• Introduction of a Novel ScreenTorch utility
• Compatibility with ALL S60 3rd Edition Devices (N73, N80, N95 and more)

- For a quick startup, I'd recommend you to keep Python in the list of Active Standby apps available on your device for quick retrieval. In order to do that, go to Tools > Settings > Phone > Standby Mode > Active Standby Apps from the Menu and make the necessary changes!



- The ScreenTorch utility works by displaying a white background in fullscreen mode whilst leaving the backlight on. You can use it as a torch or simply to keep the screen bright and well-lit even if you are not pressing any buttons. It can easily be turned off anytime by pressing the right softkey

- StrobeLight Pro, as previously described here, utilizes the camera hardware to produce regular (albeit not permanent) flashes of light (using the LED) every 5-6 seconds

- Please use this script entirely at your own risk. While LEDs have a remarkable service life, they do tend to get hot and adequate heat-sinking is essential. So remember not to close the camera lens cover immediately after extended use

Special Notes:

Note that you need to have Python installed on your phone first. In case you're not familiar with that, follow the steps given below in the order listed:

• Install the Python for S60 interpreter application (PythonForS60_1_4_0_3rdEd.sis) on your phone
• Install the script shell (PythonScriptShell_1_4_0_3rdEd.sis)
• Install the Miso Module for Python (miso-1.92-s60_3rd_self.sisx)
• Send any of the included python scripts (*.py) to e:\Python
• Next, run Python from the Menu and select the script you want to run.

Screenshots:






Download Links:

P.S All the required files are provided below. Note that you need to install the Miso module for Python (included in the package) before running the script.

- For the N73, N75, N81, N82, N93, N95, 6120c etc

DOWNLOAD NOW

DOWNLOAD NOW (MIRROR)

- For the N80

DOWNLOAD NOW

DOWNLOAD NOW (MIRROR)

- For the E90 Communicator

DOWNLOAD NOW



UPDATE: New download links added!

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Is That A Torch Or A Phone?

One of the most sought after features in modern cameraphones is the ability to use your phone as a flashlight. I'm sure many of you must've been looking for a way to use your phone as a torch, using the camera flash, ofcourse. While this was possible on phones like the N70 and N72, it really hasn't been well-implemented on S60 3rd edition phones like the N73, N80 or the N95. Fortunately, there is a workaround that I recently discovered.

Although there are apps like OTStudio's commercial NTorch Lite and Outbank's freeware S60SpotOn that claim to make your phone into a real torch, they have very little practical use since the torchlight is very dim.

Also, S60SpotOn behaves very erratically once you slide open the camera lens cover on the N73 and crashes almost immediately after that. NTorch Lite is better in that regard and quite stable too.

But the fact remains: the light from both these so-called 'torches' is totally unusable in the dark.

While OTStudio's subsequently released versions with 'full brightness' support for the Nokia 5700, unfortunately they haven't come up with a solution thus far for the NSeries lineup, including the N73 and N80. I've even emailed them asking about a version for these handsets, but haven't received a response as yet.

Anyway, onto the good stuff. Recently, while using Python yet again, I discovered a nifty way of making a 'strobe light' that utilizes the camera hardware.

By definition, a strobe light functions by producing regular flashes of light. You'll find that the one provided below flashes once every 5-6 seconds. While it isn't like your regular LED flashlight, it still is, in my opinion, quite a useful feature to have on your phone, plus the lighting effects are very interesting too. As always, do let me know your thoughts on this one :)

And finally, a word of caution. Please use this script entirely at your own risk. While LEDs have a remarkable service life, they do tend to get hot and adequate heat-sinking is essential. So remember not to close the camera lens cover immediately after extended use.

Key features:

• An Actual First-of-its-kind Strobe Light
• Higher Intensity LED Illumination
• Current Status Notification (via pop-up interface)
• Instantaneous Launch
• One-Tap Exit (via right softkey)
• Compatibility with MOST S60 3rd Edition Devices (N73, N80, N95 and more)

Special Notes:

Note that you need to have Python installed on your phone first. In case you're not familiar with that, follow the steps given below:

• Install the Python for S60 interpreter application (PythonForS60_1_4_0_3rdEd.sis) on your phone
• Install the script shell (PythonScriptShell_1_4_0_3rdEd.sis)
• Send any of the included python scripts (*.py) to e:\Python
• Next, run Python from the Menu and select the script you want to run.

Download Links:

P.S All the required files are provided below. The password for the file is "series-sixty.blogspot.com" (without the quotes).

DOWNLOAD NOW

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Wikipedia: Looking Ahead

Looking at the *overwhelming* response the Symbian Wikipedia Project's gotten, I was thinking along the lines of working on a new and improved version of the encyclopedia having a greater number of articles.

However, as amazing as that sounds, there are many restrictions littered along the way. For instance, popular Nokia phones like the N73, N80, N93i and E61i all have an upper limit of 2GB when it comes to memory card size. The N95 (along with the newly-released N81), is currently amongst the few that support upto 4GB.

And therein lies the dilemma. The actual English Wikipedia, with tonnes and tonnes of articles, can certainly not fit in such a small space. However, as done previously, a selection of articles can.

Currently, I was working on doubling the capacity of the article count in the Symbian Wikipedia to somewhere around 5000. Size will definitely remain an issue for future releases though.

Which is why I figured it's best to ask what you, the readers, have to say on this i.e. how much space on the memory card do you think should be reserved for an encyclopedia? Do drop a line or two. Your inputs are invaluable!

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Having iSilo Trouble?

It has come to my notice that some of you are having trouble with the Symbian Wikipedia on iSilo. Given that it isn't the most intuitive ebook reader on the planet, this doesn't come as a surprise. Anyway, here's a short step-by-step guide, complete with illustrations, that's sure to help you out.

Special Notes:

First up, please ensure you've installed iSilo to your memory card. Now send the Wiki.pdb file to your phone via bluetooth or via cable using Nokia PC Suite. In this example, I've placed it in e:\documents

Using iSilo:

• When you run iSilo, you may come across this screen
  
  
  
  
• Using your phone joystick/navipad, navigate to the tab on the extreme right (i.e. by pressing the right arrow a couple of times)
  
  
  
  
• Using your phone keypad, press the "c" key a couple of times until you get to this screen
  
  
  
  
• Now click on "e:Storage Card" and navigate to the folder where you've placed your file. For instance, in e:\documents
  
  
  
  

And there you have it! As always, if you have any queries or comments, feel free to write in :)

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Wikipedia: Finally Available!

Hey guys, if you've tried the demo version of the Wikipedia Encyclopedia I posted earlier, I'm sure many of you must've been eagerly awaiting the latest release of the Symbian Wikipedia. Well, without further ado...Wikipedia is *finally* available for download (for free, ofcourse) on your S60 smartphone! But before you scroll below to download it, I'd like to mention a few things about this release.

Requirements:

• WinRAR (to uncompress the files). The trial version is available here.
• iSilo (installed on smartphone). The trial version is available here for all S60 devices.

Key features:

• Approximately 2050 full-length articles, and over 3.5 million words (equivalent to a 4,000+ page book in text alone)
• Storage Card & Phone Memory Compatibility
• Keyword Search
• Adjustable font sizes and styles
• Cross Reference Links - tap on a link to easily go to the related article
• An easy-to-use alphabetical index for all articles
• Compatibility with ALL S60 devices, from the Nokia 7650 to the N95 :)

Special Notes:

I've split the file into 6 "dial-up-friendly" parts. Please note that you need all 6 parts to extract the file. Once you've downloaded all the parts, simply double-click "Wiki 06.part1.rar" and specify "series-sixty.blogspot.com" (without the quotes) as the password.

Then just click "Extract to" to extract it on your hard drive. You can later send it to your phone via the Nokia PC Suite or beam it via Bluetooth.

Screenshots:






Download Links:

- As a single file

Parts 01-06

- As a single file (mirror)

Parts 01-06

- As multiple files

Part 01
Part 02
Part 03
Part 04
Part 05
Part 06

Password: series-sixty.blogspot.com

Hope you guys enjoy this release! I'm sure you will, since this has really taken up a LOT of time and effort. As always, I'm open to any comments :)

UPDATE: New download links added!

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Wikipedia: An Update

Hope I haven't kept you guys waiting for long. Anyway, I'm terribly sorry for not posting earlier. After a few hiccups along the way, the good news is that I'll finally be releasing the iSilox version of the Wikipedia soon. Unfortunately, I still haven't figured out an appropriate size for resizing images etc, so I've decided to exclude them for now and release a text-only version. Feel free to let me know your thoughts on that :)

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Wikipedia comes to Series 60!

Guess the title says it all for this one...well, the truth is I've been wanting to get a handy encyclopedia for quite some time now for my phone.

Most of us are familiar with Wikipedia -- it's one of the best free resources available online. There's already a Plucker version available but that's only meant for Palm devices and has a small selection of encyclopedia articles, so Series 60 users are out of luck there. There's also a Tome Raider version but the usual incompatibility woes persist and it isn't exactly small-sized.

Sadly, there hasn't been anything worthwhile in this regard for S60 users. However, all that will soon change. Recently I decided to do something about this problem, and starting from today, you can find a small Wikipedia sample for download on my blog for your S60 phone! :)

Fortunately, I managed to find an amazing resource in the Wikipedia CD Selection -- an assortment of carefully chosen articles suitable for print, CD and DVD. Although it is by no means Wikipedia in all its entirety, it still is a very handy reference that deserves a place in everyone's pocket.

Here are some screenshots:



P.S The download below is just a demo as I'm still working on converting the whole thing. The current version is set to expire at the end of this month and currently has 400+ articles of the index S. Also, note that this is just a text-based version of Wikipedia -- without any images etc to keep the size down, as I want it to be used on old and new devices alike. Lastly, you need to have iSilo (an excellent ebook reader) installed on your phone. You can get the trial version of iSilo here for all S60 devices.

I'll eventually be posting the entire selection of articles soon in iSilo format. Keep reading!

DOWNLOAD WIKIPEDIA V 0.5

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Time-Lapse Photography on the N73!

Yup, you read that correctly. In case you're not familiar with the term, time-lapse photography involves the manipulation of time to speed up processes.

Processes that would normally appear subtle to the human eye -- such as the motion of clouds in the sky, the opening of flowers or the growing of plants, people commuting, everyday traffic in the city or even an ice cube melting -- become very pronounced.

Although time-lapse cinematographers use sophisticated (and often expensive) equipment, S60 users can now do the same at no added cost! Infact, all that you need is a simple Python script for your phone, and ofcourse, some sort of a mounting system if you're going to capture moving pictures at any rate slower than the standard 24 frames per second.

Credit goes to Anteater @ the Foozia Blog for developing a Python script for the N80 -- although it is incompatible with the N73. Hence, I decided to play with it a bit and voila! Click here to download! Before running, create a new folder called 'timelapse' in e:\Python

Once you set this up and run the script, it'll ask for a project name, followed by the number of images that should be taken along with the time delay. Other parameters include image size (0.3MPix to 1.3MPix), flash mode, exposure mode and white balance. When its done snapping, you'll get a prompt on the screen. You can later use QuickTime or a GIF Editor to make your own movies. Enjoy!

P.S You need to have Python installed on your phone first. In case you're not familiar with that, follow the steps below:

• Download the Python for S60 interpreter application and the script shell for your phone from here



• For the N73, the files you need to get are named as follows: PythonForS60_1_4_0_3rdEd.sis and PythonScriptShell_1_4_0_3rdEd.sis



• Send these to your phone and install Python, followed by the Script Shell to your memory card.



• Send any python script (*.py) to e:\Python



• Next, run Python from the Menu and select the script you want to run.

UPDATE: This script also works with the E90.

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