Just downloaded IE 9  from Microsoft Testdrive Site , a mere 14.7 mb download , it’s a developer  /  platform preview version   1.9.7745.6019

The installation went smooth and in a couple of minutes it’s up and running

To use it as a browser , you have to click on Page option than open to type in the web address , there are no tabs .

• Speed Demos -  With the following tests

• Flying Images
• Text Size Animated
• Test Justification Animated
• Map Zooming and
• Pulsating Bubbles
• HTML5 Demo

• Border Radius
• CSS3 Selectors
• DOM Events
• DOM Style
• HTML T-Shirt Designer

• Falling Balls
• SVG-oids
• Business Charts
• Organization Charts
• Atlas zur Europawahl

We tried a few tests , loved the Flying Images in Speed Demo with 36 logos comprising of IE , Chrome , Firefox , Opera and Safari going round and round at 60 FPS without a hitch -  Does it shows Microsoft wants to stay in harmony with other browsers Just a thought

In Map Zooming , we zoomed to Karachi , alas for which no maps were available , but still we had a glimpse of someone’s pool somewhere in Central Michigan

The HTML 5 Demo , T-Shirt designer worked well with on the fly HTML changes  as I drew on the T-Shirt

I was unable to check the Graphics Demo correctly as some of the application were not working well and one which did -  only zoomed on the Pie Chart and I was unable to play  the SVG-oid

Overall the preview of IE 9 is great , if this is what Microsoft is bringing out in future , it’s good bye other browsers for me

Have you tried it , even if not what you think of it  do inform us in comments

What’s your idea of a perfect mobile phone , do you want one with a behemoth 5 inch – Capacitive Touch – 21:9 ratio -  Screen along with a QWERTY keyboard  or a 3 inch non touch with a candybar design and a 4:3 ratio screen , Nokia is there to tell you whether it’s possible or not at Design By Community

Design By Community  is a Nokia initiative to find what what people want in their cellphone  and also educate them in what’s possible .

When you move the sliders , while making your phone , you can see the progress Slide going from Not Ambitious Enough to a Perfect Match to Way Out there zones and at Nokia Conversations ,

Design by Community is a multi stage process and in stage one we are designing our phone with our perfect specs ( and which Nokia things is not Way Out There )

In the second week , from March 22nd , the focus will shift on Size and Shape , from clamshells to candybars to side sliders which one you like

3rd week , from 29th March , we can choose Material , how about a Teflon coated or even bullet proof Kevlar coated device

From 5th April , we can choose between Symbian or MeeGo as our choice OS sorry no Android or Win 7 mobile will be offered , but will be fun to see how many want them on a Nokia

Connectivity will be addressed on April 12th , you want WiMax or Bluetooth 3.0 ,  tell it all in this week .

19th April onwards , the shutterbug in us will rise and we can choose the Camera , can Nokia fit a Hasselblad instead of Carl Zeiss , only time will tell , what you prefer more mega pixels or a better lens you it choose it than and how about some decent range optical Zoom ( I use a point and click with 26 X optical so my demand is huge )

Enhancing your Nokia is the final  choice you can make 26th April , from cases ( how about a snake skin one )  to headsets or how about a jewel studded , Swarovski adorned loop , Nokia wants us to show them our Bling as the last choice

What will happen after that ,  umm even I don’t know , may be Nokia will reveal the ultimate phone in May but that’s only me talking

Microsoft has just announced at Mix10 , availability of their Development Tools for Windows 7  mobile , to make it easier for you we have posted the software and their links here

Download From the following links 

1) Windows Mobile Developer Tools CTP  which includes

• Visual Studio 2010 Express for Windows Phone CTP
• Windows Phone Emulator CTP
• Silverlight for Windows Phone CTP
• XNA 4.0 Game Studio CTP

Total Download Size :  41 KB – 326.2 MB – Depending on selected components

OS Requirement : Windows 7 and Windows Vista

System Requirements :  3 GB of Disk Space , 2GB Ram , DirectX 10 capable graphics card with a WDDM 1.1 driver ws 7

2) Expression Blend for Windows Phone.

The following downloads are required to enable Expression Blend Add-in Preview for Windows Phone:

• Expression Blend 4 Beta (Expression Blend 4 Beta can be installed side by side with Expression Blend 3)
• Windows Phone Developer Tools
• Microsoft Expression Blend Add-in Preview for Windows Phone
• Microsoft Expression Blend Software Development Kit Preview for Windows Phone

Download Size :  1.8 MB

OS Requirements : Windows 7; Windows Vista; Windows XP Service Pack 3

System Requirements : 2 GHz or faster processor , 1 GB RAM or more  , 10 MB of available hard-disk space , 1024 x 768 or higher-resolution monitor running at 24-bit color depth or higher

ZDNEt is reporting that Microsoft posted Silver Light for Symbian code on March 11th along with asociated developer tools but immediately took it down ,  now during  MIXX 2010 , it’s expected that Microsoft and Nokia may announce it’s availability . 

As quoted on ZDNET -  “The installable executable file enables users to run Silverlight applications on the Nokia S60 5th Edition platform. The executable file includes the Silverlight runtime for Nokia S60 5th Edition devices, the Silverlight runtime for Nokia S60 5th Edition emulator, sample applications, and developer documentation.”

The addition of Silverlight to Symbian platform will open it up for more rich web based applications which could run on multiple devices and attract more developers to the world’s leading Mobile OS -  Symbian .

Today , I went to see my friends at Nokia after a long time and man they had a surprise for me , not one but three prototype devices for emerging markets .  I couldn’t take snaps of them but still could talk about the one I loved the most , the Nokia 1280 , believed to be the most inexpensive Nokia ever.

Announced in Jakarta -  Indonesia on 4th Nov 2009 , the phone is meant for the emerging markets costing only Euro 20/-  but with Nokia 1661 selling in Pakistan for almost the same price , I expect the price to be around Euro 15 or less for us .

When I hold the phone , despite the price point , it didn’t felt cheap at all instead  it was sturdy and quality could be felt from the hold . As the phone is meant for the emerging markets , quality is paramount for Nokia as this phone may represent the most important and in some ways the most expensive investment ever made and consumers like these for whom Euro 15 -  20 is equivalent to long term life savings , quality is the most important factor which also determines their future purchase and preferred brand when their lively hood enhances with the use of better communications through cell phone .

Nokia didn’t only relied on quality on market this phone , frills like

• Availability of multiple changeable covers 
• FM Radio with 3.5 mm jack which also serves as hands free
• Large Dust Resistant keyboard
• Torch
• Hands Free Speaker
• Easy to Use Menu

plays an important part to provide the much needed features which the people in emerging countries require.

If you live in rural Pakistan , sometimes FM Radio is the only mean of entertainment you can get , even if one has access to TV , the lack of electricity resulting in 12 – 18 hrs of load shedding means more acceptability of FM Radio and to pass time in the darkness , the built-in torch lights the way and if the phone fells , it’s sturdy built , dust resistant keyboard and scratch resistant display keeps the investment safe and with upto 22 days of standby time and 8.5 hours of talk time , less time spent charging is ensured

Nokia has not only worked on the hardware , in software part too although running Series 30  , 5 different people can use the phone with their separate phone books with a total capacity of 500 numbers  cutting down the overall cost of ownership . The phone also carries upto 250 SMS and A Speaking Alarm clock wakes people up along with MP3 grade ringtones to add some chimes to their lives.

For Pakistan it’s a perfect phone , with Nokia 1200i already a huge success in the market , Nokia 1280 is expected to rule the segment where cheap , non reliable ,  non brand Chinese phones are making their way .

I won’t be wrong if I call it a gift from Nokia to emerging markets where quality , reliability and value for money matters the most .

Nokia is facing the heat of competition in Pakistan and the company not known for aggressive marketing is coming up with new approaches to market the Nokia 5230 , their most inexpensive touch handset around .

Introducing the Nokia 5230 Experience Bus –

Parked outside The Forum ,  an upscale Mall in Karachi , the Nokia 5230 Experience Bus was something out of ordinary , managed by Marksman , a Brand Activation company , outside of the bus was fully covered with Nokia 5230 , and their recent  ad ,  as dark it was outside , the inside of the bus was glowing Blue with Recaro type Racing seats in the front and picture of a screen showing screencap from Need For Speed Shift .

The best part I like was the hands- on experience , there were 3 guys inside with Nokia 5230 , the one I talked to Mr Sarosh , had the one configured for Gaming ,i.e. had the Need For Speed Shift installed on it ,  I asked him a few questions and found Nokia had trained them well  .  He was not only fluent in specs about his own 5230  but also had the information about competition i.e Samsung Genoa and Corby , knew about Symbian and it’s advantages over Java based phones and of course about OVI Services -  Kudos to Nokia on that . The Video below shows Mr Sarosh presenting the Nokia 5230 in Nokia Experience Bus

Another great feature was the large touch screen replicas of phone , which were linked with the phone and fully functional mobile interfaces , powered by Remote S60 Professional .

In conjunction with the Experience Bus , Nokia also had a lucky draw for Nokia 5230 and for that they were giving out OVI Service booklets hoping people will read it . 

Overall it was a good experience , I like the setup and the Experience concept but being me , I cannot resist giving out some pointers .

The Bus was parked at the far end of the park with out much lights , try to highlight the bus or it’s going to be missed by the people who parked outside. 

A banner could have been placed at the entrance of Forum like many others , I found out about the bus , when a young chap wearing Nokia T-Shirt approached me to fill out a form .  He and others cannot cover everyone in the mall so a banner at the entrance would have helped .

That’s it , I loved the experience and the knowledge of the people .  Look out where this bus stops next . 

QIK Premium  was launched a week ago and became my first OVI Store paid download for a sum of Rs 233.90 or USD 2.75

What was so special about QIK Premium that I who never wanted to paid for a software bought it ?

Well QIK Premium supports High Quality Video uploads to QIK  Site , it lets me download my videos off the site ( else I can copy using Real Downloader )

The experience in best on phones with 3MP Cameras and above and if you are using Carl Zeiss lens , it will be better .

You can also share videos on Facebook , Twitter , YouTube and send them through email and SMS

Getting QIK Premium is easy ,

Go to Store.OVI.com , search for QIK Premium ( There is also a free version if you want to try it )

depending on where you are you can end up paying Euro 5 , USD 5 or if you in a ‘Developing’ country like me only USD 2.75 .

Once the application is installed , login or create your QIK account and start recording and streaming your life live on the internet. You can also share your location upto street level or get tracked live on a GPS enabled cell phone . 

Once you are done recording you can send the Video link to a person, to a group , share on Facebook , Twitter , YouTube and even Brightcove ( subscription required )

So are you ready to QIK it , I’m follow me at www.qik.com/schawlaf

Skype , the leading provider of VOIP services has long been in use or mobile devices , able to provide free SKYPE to SKYPE and low cost SKYPE to landline calls worldwide it’s been a favorite VOIP application for millions.

The advantage of SKYPE is that it can work on almost any mobile phone directly through Skype App such as on iPhone and selected Nokia phone , comes inbuilt in Nokia N900 integrated with phonebook or work via a variety of 3rd party applications such as Fring on many other phones. With the ability to work on EDGE / 2.5 G distortion free  , SKYPE had been keeping millions in touch with each other for FREE.

Last month at Mobile World Congress , SKYPE  announced their Skype App for Symbian meant for the following Nokia handsets  

• 5320
• 5530
• 5800
• 6210 Navigator
• 6220 Classic
• E51
• E63
• E66
• E71
• E72
• E90
• N78
• N79
• N81
• N81 8GB
• N82
• N85
• N95
• N95 8GB
• N96
• N97
• N97 mini
• X6

      I for one uses SKYPE  to keep in touch with my family , my kids are very young ( 5 and 8  ) to keep a cell phone although both are proficient enough to use any of the models I carry on me , so I’ve setup SKYPE on their computers to easily call me wherever I’m with a touch of a button so I may be in Barcelona attending MWC or in my office just 5 min away from my house , they can call me

SKYPE app for Symbian is easy to download and use , just go to www.skype.com/m  on your phone’s browser ,  download the SKYPE application 4.51 MB in size   install it and you are ready to make VOIP calls

The Skype application when started will ask your login credentials , if you don’t have a SKYPE account , you can also create one on the go .  You can have multiple SKYPE accounts on the same application , manage your profile ,  buy SKYPE Credit to make landline calls , Manage your subscription status , Online Number , Voice Mail .

You can choose to see all contacts and SKYPE Online contacts only and in settings can even setup Call Forwarding and Privacy settings i.e if you want anyone or only your contacts to see and contact you .

Over all Skype for Symbian is an easy to use app for people who want to keep in touch for a low price ( not for Pakistan ) and use VOIP on the go  How do you use SKYPE inform us in comments

Farhan

It’s been a year when first You Tube Client for S60 was released , in that year it has seen millions of downloads and became one of the top applications on Nokia OVI Store.

Within the year the client saw many updates which slowly added features to it and it’s latest reincarnation Version 2.4.4 , Youtube added a number of important features as

• My Account Support which adds Login and   access to your own videos
• Favorites Access You favorite a video on your desktop or on phone , you can see it all places
• Query Suggestions -  for relevant suggestions

In my overview of the application , I loved the new Carrousel Type UI which I used to scroll through my videos ,  I was able to play my videos without any frequent buffering on EDGE connection ( Google has not mentioned but it seems they have worked on media streaming too )

You can download YouTube For S60 from m.youtube.com/appin install on your Nokia Phone

Folks we have started a new Video Blog , called Tech On Tv

Tech On Tv had been on our agenda for long but due to one factor or another we were missing it , finally it’s up and running and even posted the first video

Nokia 1661 -  Made for Pakistan

Do visit it and tell us what we are missing and what we need to put up there as it’s your feedback which counts the most for us

Regards

Farhan