Nokia E71 Blog For Fanatics

Security: How To Remote Lock Your E71 From Another Phone

2009-11-09T12:11:00.001-08:00

Let’s say you leave your Nokia E71 at school and don’t want your classmates seeing those luvvy-duvvy text messages you send to your girlfriend. Or maybe you can’t find your phone and don’t want anybody using it. The E71 has a great security feature called Remote Lock built in. Many people overlook or don’t notice this feature, but I think it’s a must-have for everyone with an expensive smartphone and sensitive data.

What does remote lock do? It allows you to send a unique message to your phone from another phone and it will lock.

You need to create a special phrase like “locke71” or anything you can remember. If you need to lock your phone so that nobody can access it or the files on the memory card you can send an SMS with that phrase you created from any phone to your phone and it will completely lock up immediately. The only way to unlock it is to use the phone’s lock code that you will create if you haven’t already.

Be sure to make a lock code that you can remember. The default code is 12345 if you have never set one up before. If you forget your lock code I do not know how to unlock the phone. Maybe someone here knows better than I do.

Does anybody already use this feature? Has anyone ever needed to use this feature?

Black Nokia E72 Available For Preorder $469, Still Not Attractive To Some

2009-10-03T08:45:00.001-07:00

Just a quick heads up to the E71 users (few it seems) who are making the jump to the Nokia E72. Nokia’s newest Eseries flagship device has finally went on sale at Amazon for under $500. The E72 features a 5mp camera, 3.5mm audio jack, usb charging, slightly bigger keys, a newer version of Symbian S60 (including icons and menu transitions) and of course a slightly updated design.

I really wish Nokia would’ve went balls out with this “E71 upgrade” and added a 2.8” screen, heck I would’ve been happy with a 2.6” screen. For me all the other upgrades are worth it, although I agree with all the naysayers that the Nokia E72 is what the E71 should have been in the very first place.

Nokia E72 Unlocked Phone-- US Version with Full Warranty (Zodium Black)

Regardless, it is what it is. No other device I’ve owned has ever been as reliable and stable as my E71. The E72 will only improve upon that.

However, those looking for a new device might want to see what the upcoming N97 2.0 firmware has in store for us. Mobile Fanatic “EverythingBlaxx” has recently got a chance to try out the firmware due to drop next week and is mightily impressed, even saying the firmware brings the N97 to E71 stability. Not to mention the N900 is “supposed” to ship this month as well.

Nokia N900 Unlocked Cell Phone/Mobile Computer with 3.5-Inch Touch Screen, QWERTY, 5 MP Camera, Maemo Browser, 32 GB--U.S. Version with Full Warranty

Nokia N97 Unlocked Phone, Touchscreen, 3G, 5 MP Camera, A-GPS, 32 GB, MicroSD Slot, and Integrated Ovi Applications--U.S. Version with Warranty (Black)

Enjoy the weekend everybody!

Nokia E72 Hands On Video Demonstration

2009-09-23T09:11:00.001-07:00

While news of the E72 has been scarce and having 0 announcements at Nokia World 2009, I cant get my mind off the amazing E-series handset that is looming in the shadows. While I did find the N900 interesting I feel the E72 is going to be even better. For the past year I have been using the E71, and its been one of the best phones I have ever used. The speed, the style, the keyboard, everything (but the camera!) is simple amazing. Although I own the N97, I find it hard to pickup since its capabilities are much more limited and I feel the E71 is simpler and more accessible.

Luckily some new video popped up today courtesy of FoneArena that shows the interface and how quickly things are being processed. The UI is simply gorgeous (the fade effects are exactly whats needed to bring life to S60). Also there is a bit of web surfing and Nokia Messaging, plus Optical Navi in action (who needs a touch screen when you have that?!). This video shows us exactly what the 600mhz processor is going to accomplish. A smoother, more stable experience. So in short what we are used to with the E71 but BETTER! While we bide our time for the release, enjoy the short clip below.

Preorder The Nokia N900 Now At Amazon

2009-09-17T08:06:00.001-07:00

For those of you looking for a new form factor or just another device to compliment your E71 you might find it interesting that Amazon.com is taking preorders for the Nokia N900 right now. Surprisingly the device is selling for under $600, I thought it would go for over $650 given it’s great specs and popularity. Amazon currently has the N900 priced at $588.99 as shown in the link below, but that price can change at any time.

Nokia N900 Mobile Computer Unlocked Cell Phone

Features:

800 × 480 pixel resolution
TI OMAP 3430: ARM Cortex-A8 600 MHz, PowerVR SGX with OpenGL ES 2.0 support
Up to 1GB of application memory (256 MB RAM, 768 MB virtual memory)
Full QWERTY onscreen keyboard
Quad-band GSM EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 WCDMA 900/1700/2100 MHz
Maximum speed PS 10/2 Mbps (DL/UL)
Adobe Flash™ 9.4 support
Video recording at up to 848 × 480 pixels (WVGA) and up to 25fps
Video playback file formats: .mp4, .avi, .wmv, .3gp; codecs: H.264, MPEG-4, Xvid, WMV, H.263

Video:

As you can see it does not feature the Symbian S60 operating system. Instead it runs Maemo, which is what Nokia has used in it’s internet tablets such as the N810. The N900 is a beast considering my home PC only has 512mb RAM and a 40gb hardrive. Add a 16gb microSD card in the N900 and you have yourself 48gb. Yikes!

AT&T Users Beware: The N900 has 3g bands for North America – but they only work with T-Mobile. No clue why Nokia chose to go this route after so many of it’s unlocked smartphone fans switched to AT&T.

I’m curious to know how many of you are interested in the Nokia N900 as your next smartphone.

Visit the Nokia N900 preorder page for more details.

E71 Browser: Opera Mini 5 Adds Copy & Paste, Multiple Tabs, Plus A New Look

2009-09-16T08:23:00.001-07:00

Looking for a new browser for the E71? Already a hardcore Opera Mini user? Then you’ll be happy to know that Opera Mini 5 is now available for download and boy does it bring some solid updates. Opera is calling it “the next generation of mobile browsing”. Most dumbphone owners should be ecstatic about this latest release, but even smartphone people like myself are extremely impressed by what this browser brings to the table.

New Features Include:

tabbed browsing
copy/paste text on a page
UI update from previous version
password manager
speed dial w/ thumbnails
plus all the other great features Opera Mini has always had.

Since this is a beta version, you won’t be able to sync/import bookmarks. Good thing is when you install this version it won’t overwrite the previous version so don’t worry about losing bookmarks.

Screenshots:

Thanks to @e71fanatics twitter followers @taike_hk, @bbc_913, @gt_p, and @Abhinav08 for the screenshots.

Copy/Paste From The Browser

It’s amazing that Opera Mini – a java app – can give us this function and the built in S60 browser cannot.

Regardless, here is how to copy/paste from Opera on the E71:

Hold down the shift key and use the navipad to select the text you want. Copy option should be visible on softkey at this point. Then press and hold shift to paste...

Thanks to @jon_iz on twitter for the tip.

Don’t forget to modify all your settings. There are a ton of options to choose from.

Download

Visit m.opera.com/next directly from your E71 to download.

Have you tried out this latest version of Opera Mini? Be sure to leave us your favorite tips.

Bluetooth Headsets For The E71: So Many Choices, Which To Choose?

2009-09-07T21:22:00.001-07:00

Picking a bluetooth heads to compliment your Nokia E71 can be a challenging task since there are so many choices out there. There are many different brands and types to choose from, even Nokia is in the bluetooth market. Some of you may be looking for a good bluetooth headset just for making calls and others may be looking for a killer stereo bluetooth headset so you can avoid wires and the uncommon 2.5mm headset jack. The sound out of my stereo bluetooth seems to be much better than the headphones that came in the box with the E71.

I’ve personally been using the same stereo headset for over a year – the Nokia BH-501. I’ll show you that pair, along with a few others from Nokia and a chart of the best sellers.

Nokia BH-501

Product Description:
Listen to stereo music wirelessly from your compatible device, and switch effortlessly between music and phone calls with the Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-501. Control your phone calls from the buttons integrated into the headset. The large, comfortable earpieces wrap around your ears so you know they're secure while you're on the move. When you need your ears for something else, the headphones fold up for compact storage.

Specs:

Weight - 2.4 ounces
Buttons - On/Off, Answer/End, Volume, Voice Dialing
Charger - Same as Nokia E71
Bluetooth Profiles - Headset Profile (HSP), Hands Free Profile (HFP), Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)
Transmission Length – 30ft
Run Time - Approx. 11 hours; Standby Time - 150 hours

Obviously I highly recommend this pair since it’s the one I use. Only drawback is the lack of music playback buttons.

Reviews: Read 19 customer reviews.

Price: Buy the Nokia BH-501 Bluetooth Music Headset at Amazon $54.88.

Nokia BH-503

Product Description:
The large, comfortable earpieces wrap around your ears so you know they're secure while you're on the move. The right earpiece includes music playback controls (pause, reverse, forward) as well as a dedicated control for accessing your mobile phone when a call comes in. The headset provides up to 11 hours of talk and music playback time and up to 210 hours (8.75 days) of standby time. The Nokia BH-503 wireless stereo headset is for you if you appreciate excellent audio quality, great wearability, and laid-back design. This headset lets you lose yourself in the music knowing you won't miss a call.

Specs:

Bluetooth version: 2.0+EDR
Bluetooth profiles: Headset Profile (HSP), Handsfree Profile (HFP), Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), Audio Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP)
Operating range: Up to 10 meters (33 feet)
Control keys: Power and call management, music playback (play/pause, reverse, forward), volume
Talk time: 11 hours; Music playback: 11 hours.

I personally haven’t tried these, but if I were to upgrade my 501’s I would go with this headset.

Reviews: Read 14 customer reviews.

Price: Buy the Nokia BH-503 Wireless Stereo Headset for $59.88.

Nokia BH-103

Production Description:
Now these headphones are badass. The BH-103 are like a wired headset, except the control sits around your next and then stops. The wires go over your shoulders and into the ears. Listen comfortably to your music - and to others - in stereo sound with the changeable earplugs, and hang the headset easily around your neck for hassle-free music and conversation.

Specs:

switch between music and calls automatically
Manage calls easily with the single multifunction button
Support for voice dialing and redialing (with compatible device)
Listen in comfort with soft earplugs and durable neck strap
Talk up to 7 hours with up to 150 hours of standby time
Stay informed on status changes with the colourful LED indicator

Price: Buy the Nokia BH-103 Bluetooth Headset $42.47.

Top Selling Bluetooth Headsets

Whenever I shop online I make sure to watch the bestsellers list to see what other consumers are buying and read reviews. The Amazon.com bluetooth bestsellers list shows the Plantronics taking the top spot, following by Samsung and Motorola. That list includes standard bluetooth headsets, not only stereo.

What’s Your Favorite?

I would really like to know which bluetooth headset the readers use and if you like it. In about a month or too I’ll be shopping for a new pair myself, as of right now I’m looking at the 503’s by Nokia.

Not shopping in the USA? Visit the Amazon International Sites.

Part 1: Uploading Pictures From E71 To Facebook With Shozu

2009-08-29T07:41:00.000-07:00

Admin Note: swestar brings us one solution to uploading photos to Facebook from your Nokia E71. In a few days Mike will show you Part 2 with another solution. More options the better. Right?

Ever wanted to quickly upload a picture to facebook after you've captured it? Instead of Email or MMS there's this free service called Shozu acclaimed to keep your social web mobile, here's a usage scenario for Shozu in 3 simple steps:

1) sign up on the Shozu website - download the supported application (You activate your facebook account on the site) Supported platforms: Symbian,WM, Blackberry and Iphone OS

2) snap a photo, tell Shozu you want to upload it to facebook

3) when you answer yes, it automatically uploads it to facebook

Not only does ShoZu support batch uploading of photos or videos to Flickr (only photos) YouTube (videos), and Facebook (only photos); it also interacts with Blogger, Box, Twitter, Cellfish, Kodak Easyshare Gallery, LiveJournal, Picasa Web Albums, Windows Live Spaces, Wordpress, and many more sites (see complete list).

Go to Shozu.com today.

Mobile Facebook On The E71 Thanks to Opera Mini

2009-08-29T07:35:00.000-07:00

While touchscreen phones have been given a costumized facebook treatment you might think other non touch phones like the E71 are left behind. Well that's not entirely true. Any other S60 phone that supports a decent browser like the S60 built in browser or Opera Mini can enjoy a little facebook love on the go wherever they are by typing m.facebook.com in the browser.

The mobile version of facebook is all about providing essential information (notifications, message inbox and friend requests) simpel and easy to spot on the homescreen after you've logged in. Looks like I got a message in my inbox!

Navigation is very simple, some people might miss all the facebook widgets that sadly are not supported in the mobile version but overall a pleasant experience replying inbox messages and leaving quick comments in the status updates.

As you can see in my profile picture above, thumbnail support enables you to browse photos and friends profile pics. You can't upload photos saved on your mobile wich is a shame, but I've found Shozu a good alternative for uploading pictures to my albums on facebook with few key presses (a short preview of Shozu is going to be posted in a couple of days)

All in all, the mobile version of facebook is worth checking out. It gives you a fairly basic status information on the go for small datacosts. Let us know how it's working on your phone. Screenshots are from a Nokia E71 with latest firmware version.

My Daily Companion: Nokia Sporststracker For E71

2009-08-24T12:23:00.000-07:00

There's a service that I've been using for about eight months or so that I still use on a day to day basis and it's a joy to use. Well to be honest it wouldn't have been a joy to use if it wasn't for my Nokia E71 handset and the S60 platform it's running on. This is a small preview to demonstrate the power of the S60 platform and the Sportstracker application that I use on my phone to track and upload my daily workouts. Here's a sneak peak with screenshots to demonstrate what I mean:

I start my workout by choosing type of activity (walking, running, cycling, skiing, rowing etc.) wait less than a minute for the GPS to lock and choose my settings for the workout. A setting that I use sometimes is If I want to auto track my laps, every kilometer for instance. As you can see in the above screenshot I'm running multiple applications in the background, listening to some great music hooked on A2DP bluetooth stereo headset that keeps me on the move all uploaded on my 8GB microsd card.

Another application I occasionally have running in the background is Nokia Maps. Sometimes I go on a discovery jog around in unfamiliar terrain or ditching the buss to get where I wanna go, with Nokia Maps I got pedestrian mode to guide me whenever I feel exploring new places. When I'm done, I stop my workout and glaze at my diary (daily, weekly, monthly view) and select todays workout to see how I've done compared to the week before.

>

I upload my workouts so that friends can see them, post them on my blog or just contribute to the groups I like (my uploaded workouts help the group maintain a high popularity ranking in the sportstracker community) The other day I gave some of my readers on my www.swerunner.com (a runner's journaling blog) a chance to follow my race live embedded on my blog thanks to the Nokia Sportstracker Live Workout setting, you just press share workout with community and it's live online.

The power of the E71 S60 handset:
During my workout I use wireless stereo bluetooth headset along with GPS, 3G connection (always online, receiving emails) music player is on maximum volume and other apps going on in the background and the phone chews it all like a small chewing gum. I start my round with two battery bars left, confident the phone will last at least an hour and a half of workout time and it did while capturing these screenshots. No doubt I've been spoiled by the stability and performance of the Nokia E71, now it's grown to be a life-companion and I bring it with me running those challenging kilometers, a joy to use really.

Email On E71: Review Of The Nokia Messaging Service

2009-08-23T12:40:00.000-07:00

Admin Note: Please welcome swestar, the newest addition to the E71 Fanatics Team. Follow him on Twitter.

There are plenty of choices when it comes to receiving and sending emails on your E71 device. The first one you'll probably try out first is the built in email client. Simple and easy to use, type in your email address and password then the device will pick up the settings needed. However the dull interface might be a turn off. How's it compared to Nokia's other emailing solution? The Nokia messaging client for S60 that's also free of charge with a bit more spiced up interface and smoother look and feel. Let's have a look at both in action:

Built-In Email Client

On standby screen the built in messaging client shows an email inbox icon (highlighted in yellow) and clicking on it takes you to the accounts and folders for the email accounts you've setup. As you can see the highlighted account in yellow with a small icon on the right means I'm retrieving new emails and that my account is online.

Some screenshots of the actual inbox showing a header, date and first row of the highlighted email and you can attach photos, videos, and other files while composing a new email. Unlike Nokia Messaging's auto-find contacts by letters, I have to digg in contacts to get to the person I want to email. The whole format reminds me alot of simple sms texting.

Nokia Messaging Application

Nokia Messaging on standby reveals a bit more information about your latest emails in your different accounts. The UI is very fluid with some nice settle transitions when navigating between icons. Every account gets a nice big icon showing the Gmail, Ovi and MSN logo etc. The little green circle on top shows the activity of syncing my inboxes.

The Nokia Messaging can view full HTML emails and has the neat auto-find contacts search which saves a few seconds of digging in contacts. The green text is an indication of copied and pasted text separating it from the rest. The Nokia Messaging client is lately being shipped on the latest E-series and N-series devices wish is a big step forward compared to the built in messaging client. Here's the link to the Nokia Messaging website with full instructions on how to get the application working on your device. If you have any trouble installing or setting up your account, leave a comment below and I'd be happy to answer them the best I can!

E71 Instant Messenger Apps: Battle Of The Big Three

2009-08-19T21:49:00.001-07:00

The way we communicate is always changing. No longer are text messages relied upon as the sole form of fast mobile communication. Many people tweet their status and post Facebook updates from their mobile phones, and E71 users can login to their favorite chat protocols and hold a conversation with friends via text in real time.

The three E71 instant messaging applications I will show you in this article are Nimbuzz, Palringo, and Fring. I won’t be going into detail about how each app works, instead I will give a rundown of the features so you can then choose which you like to use. All these applications are free.

Nimbuzz

Developer Description:
Nimbuzz is a multi community mobile social messaging and VoIP provider, combining VoIP, instant messaging, and (geo) presence. The free application lets users connect and interact with their buddies across popular communities, including Skype, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, ICQ, Google Talk (Orkut), AIM, and social networks including Facebook and MySpace. From one contact list users can call, chat, share files and location, and more, with all their friends in one place. All you need is an internet enabled mobile phone with an internet connection. The free application is available on the mobile, web, PC, and Mac!

Mike’s Note: New version lets you update your Twitter status.

Learn more about Nimbuzz.

Fring

Developer Description:
Using your handset′s internet connection, you can interact with friends on all your favourite social networks including Skype®, MSN Messenger®, Google Talk™, ICQ, SIP, Twitter, Yahoo!™ and AIM®. You can listen to music with your Last.fm friends, check out what each other are up to on Facebook, receive alerts of new Google Mail™ and tailor make your very own fring by adding more cool experiences from fringAdd-ons™. fring puts all your online friends into one, dynamic fringFriends™ buddy list, which is always connected so you can enjoy free calls and instant messaging with all your online friends, see their real-time status, and even find each other’s actual location.

Learn more about fring.

Palringo

Developer Description:
Palringo is the ultimate Instant Messaging client for mobile phones and computers. Now you can chat with all your buddies, no matter what IM they use, all from one universal Instant Messenger. Supports: Windows Live Messenger ® (MSN), AOL ® Instant Messenger (AIM), Yahoo! ® Messenger, Google Talk ™, ICQ ®, Jabber ®, iChat® / MobileMe ®, QQ ®, Gadu-Gadu ®, Facebook Chat (Alpha).

Learn more about Palringo.

What Do You Use?

I would like to know what everyone loves to use and why? My personal favorite is Nimbuzz because of the interface, but I am willing to give Fring another try since I’ve heard good things about the latest version. Palringo – well I tried it the other day and just wasn’t digging the UI. Maybe next time.

Are You Getting Excited About The E72? Many Will Upgrade From E71

2009-08-18T16:05:00.001-07:00

I’m not exactly sure when the release date is for the Nokia E72 is but it should be drawing close since it’s now been awhile since it was officially announced. As the time draws near more and more people will get excited about the Nokia E72 and it’ll be interesting to see how many die-hard E71 users will upgrade.

Right now I’m a huge fan of the Nokia N97, and the E71+N97 makes a great combo. When I’m using my E71 I really miss having a 3.5mm audio jack and a decent camera. The E72 will solve both of these problems. It’s really smart that Nokia is releasing the E72, why not bank off the huge success of the E71.

Besides those two additions, E72 users will also get Symbian S60 3rd Edition, Feature Pack 2. There are a ton of small upgrades in Feature Pack 2. To name just a few…

Fullscreen caller ID picture.
play windows media files with no problem.
show time in the Menu, not just homescreen.
browser is much faster.
eye candy theme effects.
Nokia Messaging built-in.
much more stable overall.

That’s just off the top of my head. I’m sure many of you can add to that list for me.

My pal Jeb Brilliant is also a huge fan of the Nokia E71. In a few recent blog posts he expressed his enthusiasm for the E72…

I have been using the E71 for a while now and I can’t seem to put it down. I tried reviewing the N97 and E75 and couldn’t keep my sim in either. It is just an amazing device and I keep telling people how amazed I am because it is a year old and I still keep going back to it. So now I hear from Eldar that the E72 is even better then the E71 which I suspected it would be. Nokia doesn’t take the E series lightly. This means that Nokia is going to sell boat loads of these devices and accross the world it will be the “it” phone to have if you go for a QWERTY keyboard handset. I think

I’m like most people in that I see the E72 as a worthwhile upgrade. I won’t stick to the E71 if I can get an E72 with a 5mp camera that blows the E71’s paltry 3.2mp (always with a blue tint) camera out of the water. For me the camera and the feature pack 2 upgrades make the phone worth upgrading for. At least I won’t have to carry around 2 phones now, 1 for taking pictures and one for everything else.

Jeb is a perfect example of an E71 user ready to make the jump to the E72. Click here to read the entire article “E72 Is My Next Phone”.

Mr. Brilliant then follows up that article with another, this time about the camera…

Now what I think may change things for people is the 5mp camera built in. It is not N97 quality but I think people will start to leave their point and shoot cameras at home and start relying more on their phone. We’re already seeing this but the E72 is the first business class Nokia that will have a 5mp shooter. It will give people the option to leave their pocket camera at home. Or in my case leave the N97 or N79 at home.

While I don’t think a phone camera – even the N86 – can truly replace a point and shoot, it will surely have me leaving it at home more often. As is the case with my N97, and previously my N82. Read Jeb’s full article.

Check out this Nokia E72 commercial…

Click here to read a detailed review of the Nokia E72 by Mobile-Review.com.

I’m looking forward to hearing some of your thoughts about the E72 and if you’ll be upgrading from the E71.

News: Nokia And Microsoft To Join Forces For New Mobile Office Suite

2009-08-12T23:00:00.001-07:00

This is just quick tidbit that has been going around the interwebs today. Will this affect the Nokia E71? I don’t think so. But then again Microsoft Office Mobile is pictured on the E71 above so who knows. I’m sure many of you will be Eseries fans for a long time so you eventually will see the fruits of this deal. Nokia & Microsoft have announced today their new partnership to bring an official Microsoft Office Mobile Suite to Nokia smartphones, starting with the Eseries.

From the press release:

NEW YORK — Aug. 12, 2009 — The worldwide leader in software and the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer have entered into an alliance that is set to deliver a groundbreaking, enterprise-grade solution for mobile productivity. Today, Microsoft Business Division President Stephen Elop and Nokia’s Executive Vice President for Devices Kai Öistämö announced the agreement, outlining a shared vision for the future of mobile productivity. This is the first time that either company has embarked on an alliance of this scope and nature.

Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will begin collaborating immediately on the design, development and marketing of productivity solutions for the mobile professional, bringing Microsoft Office Mobile and Microsoft business communications, collaboration and device management software to Nokia’s Symbian devices. These solutions will be available for a broad range of Nokia smartphones starting with the company’s business-optimized range, Nokia Eseries. The two companies will also market these solutions to businesses, carriers and individuals.

More here.

Some of the features will include:

The ability to view, edit, create and share Office documents on more devices in more places with mobile-optimized versions of Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft OneNote
Enterprise instant messaging and presence, and optimized conferencing and collaboration experience with Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile
Mobile access to intranet and extranet portals built on Microsoft SharePoint Server
Enterprise device management with Microsoft System Center

I think most people are happy with QuickOffice already, but it seems this new partnership will bring more to the table.

What are your thoughts on this?

Free Application: PhoNetInfo Gives All Your E71 Information In One Place

2009-08-09T15:30:00.001-07:00

If you’re looking for a great utility application for the Nokia E71 then PhoneNetInfo should be on your list. It’s a very simple application that gives you all the numbers, specs, and info about your E71. Best of all, it’s free.

Details:

PhoNetInfo retrieves detailed phone and network information such as firmware version; IMSI; IMEI; SIM card and battery status; WLAN IP, MAC, MTU and speed, bluetooth MAC and device class; network mode, name, signal strength, (cell) ID and country code; CPU speed, type and architecture; RAM and ROM; running tasks; MMC & SD Card; supported camera formats, etc.

Thanks to the developer Patrick Frei for making such a useful application. One great use is the “copy to clipboard” function. It comes in handy when I need to send someone my IMEI number via text message or email from my E71. I also love how it gives me the battery level as a percentage.

Check out a few screenshots:

I didn’t show all the screenshots, just the most important ones. If this application is extremely valuable to you please consider leaving the developer a small donation.

I know many of you will ask if this works on the Nokia E71x. I’m not 100% sure, but I assume it will. Maybe one of you can verify for us.

Download

The basic version is already signed and can be installed straight away. A more advanced version is unsigned. Personally the basic version is enough for me, and that’s the version I used for these screenshots.

Click here to visit the download page.

Facebook Functionality For E71 Added To New Beta Version Of Gravity

2009-08-03T21:32:00.001-07:00

The extremely popular Twitter application for the Nokia E71 called Gravity has recently been updated to include the basic functionality for Facebook status updates. The developer Janole is always hard at work updating the application, adding new features and fixing bugs. But this recent update is the first public beta release for everyone to try out.

At this point Gravity is more of a Twitter application than a Facebook app. If you use Twitter then you really want to try out Gravity, but if you only use Facebook then it might not be worth your $10. A few months back I review this E71 twitter application and many of you decided it was worth the buy.

To add the Facebook functionality to Gravity go to “Info & Updates” and update to the latest beta version. Once you install the latest version you can go to “Add Account” and see the Facebook option. At the moment it seems you can only read updates and comment to friends. You can also update your status. I would love to see the option to add photos and see/get Facebook notifications, something that is lacking on the E71.

Screenshots:

If you haven’t already, click here to download Gravity and start your 10 day trial.

How To Take A Screenshot On The Nokia E71

2009-07-30T19:35:00.001-07:00

Here is one I haven’t covered. Many Nokia E71 and E71x users have asked me how I take my screenshots for the articles here at the blog. It’s quite simple actually thanks to a very kind Symbian developer named Antony.

Why Take A Screenshot?

Maybe you want to show a friend how to do something via email. Maybe you want to post in the E71 forums a screenshot with a problem you might be having or an application review.

Download Screenshot By Antony

Click here to visit his website and download the application. Version 3.01 works just fine even though it isn’t listed.

I recommend using the <X backspace key as the shortcut since the E71 doesn’t have a dedicated camera key.

Google Search Application, Maps, And Youtube Updated For E71

2009-07-27T21:13:00.001-07:00

Last month I showed you the official Google Search App for the Nokia E71. It has recently been updated along with other mobile applications from Google including Youtube and Google Maps. The Youtube application and Google Search app just got a few bug fixes and performance upgrades, while the Google Maps application received a few important new features.

Google Maps for Mobile has been updated in a huge way. They have now implemented something called Layers which lets you add layers of information on top of the maps. This includes traffic alerts & incident reports, points of interest with wikipedia information, and especially cool is your own maps that you’ve added from your PC. Below is an example from Google of how My Maps works for mobile.

Here is an example of how My Maps can come in handy.

Layers on the Map: Latitude locations + My Map

Since my wife and I love participating in cycle touring events on our tandem bike, we thought our challenge for this year -- 1500 KM of riding in Audax UK's Super Randonneur Series -- would make for a great environment to test the Layers functionality while on the go.

The first thing we wanted to try was My Maps. This feature on Google Maps on desktop becomes even more useful with the ability to access them from my phone. We're not alone in wanting this -- it's the fifth most requested feature on the Google Mobile Product Ideas page. It was great to trace bike routes and add places to stop on the computer, add the My Maps layer in Maps for mobile with a few clicks, and see them up on my Nokia S60 handset from our bike.

That was an example given to us by the folks at Google. I highly recommend upgrading to this version of Google Maps on your E71.

Get The Latest Applications

To get all these updates visit http://m.google.com from your E71’s browser.

To learn more about Google Mobile Suite visit this link from your computer.

Why Buy An Unlocked E71 Instead of E71x And Nokia Looks To Break Into U.S. Smartphone Market

2009-07-20T08:21:00.001-07:00

It’s been about 3 months since the Nokia E71x has been available I’ve seen and heard many mixed reactions about the AT&T version of the E71. Most of the reaction has been bad, that the phone is locked down and preinstalled applications cannot be removed. Some find that not all applications for the Nokia E71 unlocked work on the E71x. Those that have had BOTH devices say things like “the E71x is a completely different device… so restricted and tied up.”

We haven’t really heard Nokia speak on the differences between a locked and unlocked device especially here in the United States, until now.

some rss readers cannot see video below.

It may seem kind of silly that people don’t know what a sim card is, but sadly that’s the truth here in North America. I’m happy to see Nokia making commercials geared towards North America. I’m sure it won’t end up in a TV commercial, so what exactly is Nokia planning on doing with this video? Thanks to CJ for finding the video. If you are looking for a E71 unlocked vs E71x comparison post click here.

Buy Nokia E71 Unlocked Phone for $319.99 from Amazon.

Nokia To Sell More Carrier Branded Phones

Recently Nokia has implied that they are ready and eager to take on the North American smartphone market, a place that is dominated by love for the Apple iPhone and full of die hard Blackberry fans. Recent comments by a top Nokia executive shows that they are ready to grab the bull by the horns and take on North American with a full head of steam. An article at ComputerWorld states…

Analysts see that as a subtle move by the engineering-focused Scandinavian company to start using American marketing techniques. The Surge slider device, jointly developed with AT&T Inc., includes a physical QWERTY keyboard, noted Frimere.

"Our strategy is to get as many devices into U.S. carriers as possible," Frimere said in an interview. "We want to be No. 1 in the U.S."

What a bold statement to make for such a huge challenge this will be. But you know the saying “Go big or go home”. Hopefully Nokia backs up these statements.

What is this Surge slider device that is mentioned? It’s yet another qwerty Symbian phone coming to AT&T. From the press release…

Dallas, TX, USA - Now you can carry your clique with you in your pocket. AT&T* and Nokia today announced the availability of the Nokia Surge, a socially supercharged smartphone powered by the nation's fastest 3G network. Available online and in AT&T stores on July 19, the Nokia Surge is an ideal device for active consumers who like to stay connected whether using IM, text or email, sending multimedia messages, AT&T Video Share, or updating and connecting via their favorite social networks.

In addition to an impressive suite of messaging capabilities, the Nokia Surge offers a powerful browsing experience, including Flash support to view most sites in full HTML or watch YouTube videos. Nokia Surge allows users to post messages, images, videos, and comments to web sites like Facebook on-the-go with the pre-installed JuiceCaster application.

"Launching at 79.99 USD with a complete email solution, downloadable applications and full HTML browser with Flash support, Nokia Surge hits the sweet spot between a quick messaging phone and a smartphone because of its low-price and strong feature set," said Michael Woodward, vice president, Mobile Phone Portfolio, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets.

It’s good to see more Symbian powered smartphones coming to AT&T but I would like to see them less “locked down” and more open, closer to an unlocked device. And personally I can’t see Nokia selling many smartphones with a 2.2” inch screen like the Surge has.

Do you think the North American smartphone market can be cracked by Nokia? What are your thoughts on the AT&T Surge?

Forums Are Back & Deal Alert: 2.5mm Headphones For $5.69 - 80% Off

2009-07-18T13:03:00.001-07:00

Well it’s been a really long and antagonizing week for many E71 fanatics including myself. Since last Saturday the forums have been down. I apologize for the downtime, turns out the server went over the traffic limit the same guy that my EXTREMELY reliable (no joke) server guy went on a long camping trip. Well he’s back now and all is well. I got a ton of emails and tweets from many of you asking about the forums and thanking me for the community. I’d like to say thanks to all of you for the support. I noticed a handful of people are already posting today. Sweet! Click here to visit the E71 forums.

Deal: 2.5mm Samsung Headphones In Ear Style

These headphones are just what you need if you don’t want to fiddle with a 2.5mm-3.5 adaptor for normal headphones. Plug them straight into your Nokia E71 and enjoy your jams. They also have answer/call buttons, but I’m not sure about the mic. You might still need to have the E71 near you so people can hear you.

Prices start at $5.69 (original price $29.95). Not sure how long this deal will last.

Click here for the product page.

If you have a pair of 2.5mm headphones that you like let us know what they’re called.

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

E71 & Sound: Make Your Music Sound Better With These Tips

2009-07-15T23:10:00.001-07:00

One of the few weaknesses of the Nokia E71 is the music experience and audio quality. Now we know that the Eseries is meant to be strictly business, but times are changing and convergence between work and play is becoming standard. I like to use my phone as my dedicated mp3 player at home, in the car, and at even at work. It’s still bums me out that the E71 doesn’t have a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, but hey what can you do? Well, there are a few alternatives…

You can find a good 2.5mm To 3.5mm Stereo Audio Jack Adapter on Amazon.com for really cheap so that you can use any headphones you want. Eforcity also has the adaptor (pictured below) for $1.49 and ships worldwide. Link

Or if you dislike the adaptor (like me) there are plenty of good quality 2.5mm headphones for the E71.

But don’t take my word for it…

World famous Symbian theme creator tehkSeven has already wrote up a great article about optimizing the sound quality of the Nokia E71. He showcases his favorite headphones and adaptors, along descriptions and photos! Mr. tehk even gives some great tips that I have never thought about like turning OFF all the extra sound settings in the music player to get a better sound through your headphones. I have personally tried these tips and I’m pleasantly surprised at the better sound quality, especially through my car speakers. Click here to read the entire article.

Are you happy with the music sound quality of your E71? Hopefully these tips by tehkSeven will help you out.

My Thoughts On The Nokia N97 vs. E71; Photos Galore

2009-07-14T07:21:00.001-07:00

I’ve been using the Nokia N97 as my main device for about 4 weeks now so I’ve had plenty of experience and time to compare it to the Nokia E71. As many of you already know, the N97 is Nokia’s latest Nseries flagship device featuring a 5pm camera, large 3.5” high resolution screen, Symbian S60v5 touch interface, 32gb hard drive and a full qwerty keyboard. The N97 is Nokia’s first Nseries smartphone to feature a full qwerty keyboard which is the primary reason many E71 users are attracted to the N97.

In this article I’ll compare my experience with the Nokia N97 to my trusty E71. Hopefully this helps many of you that are on the fence come to a decision. All of the photos can be clicked to see the full size.

Price Of The N97

First off, let’s get this out of the way and take a look at the price of the Nokia N97. Amazon.com has the best prices and service around in my opinion and have the N97 priced at $599.99 while the E71 is competitively priced at $300. So while you are reading the rest of my review keep in mind the N97 is double the price.

Typing: N97 vs E71

The Nokia N97 features a full qwerty 3 row keyboard. The buttons are more spread out than the E71 but they don’t have as much tactile feedback. The tactile feedback of the N97 can be compared to those cheap calculators with soft rubber buttons. For this reason I need to have the keypad sounds turned on. The buttons of the N97 are larger than the E71, but also completely flat.

The spacebar on the N97 is also set to the right. Many people have complained about this, but once you get used to it there is no going back. Personally I think this was a great move by Nokia to keep keyboard at only 3 rows.

Which am I faster on? I would say I can type the same speed on both devices. Which am I more accurate on? I am more accurate on the N97 than the E71, mainly because the keys are more spread out. Granted your fingers have to move farther apart to type, but over time your hands get used to this.

Who wins? I am more accurate on the N97 but the E71 is more comfortable. I think in the long run I’d rather type on the E71 to prevent cramping when typing long emails or blog posts.

Operating System & Browser Speeds

The operating system on the N97 is S60 5th edition while the E71 has S60 3rd edition. The menu speed on the N97 is very fast and supports transitions. But when starting a new sms without multiple apps open in the background it tends to slow down. The N97 has less RAM than the E71 so the performance is not as good. The Nokia E71 is true workhorse, I’ve never had it lock up or shut down apps on me. On the N97, if you have more than 3 or 4 applications open at once more than likely something will close down. For heavy users you won’t be too happy with this situation. Hopefully Nokia can fix this problem with firmware updates.

Who wins? The E71 hands down is the clear winner in terms of OS speed and performance.

On the other hand the browser has been significantly upgraded on the N97 and S60v5. It’s a lot faster than the E71 and pages are more fluent. The N97 features kinetic scrolling with touch which is a lot nicer to use than the d-pad on the E71. I was pleasantly surprised with the browsing experience of the N97. It’s comparable to the iPhone.

Who wins? Hands down the N97 wins.

Form Factor & Size

This is a big part of the decision making process for many folks. In pictures the N97 looks HUGE. When I opened the box and held it in my hand I was surprised that it is not huge, but still big. It is chunky and bulky, but when you put the two on top of eachother the measurements are the same. I’ll let the photos below allow you to decide.

The form factor of the E71 is also much better because it’s one solid piece. The N97 has a slide up form factor and it’s extremely tight. Normally I hate moving parts on my devices, but this time Nokia nailed it on the head with this state of the art slider. After a month of heavy use it still feels the same way it did when I first pulled it out of the box.

Who wins? The E71 wins. One solid piece in my opinion is the best form factor and the N97 is much thicker. With that said, I am very happy with the slider quality of the N97.

Build Quality

The Eseries has always been known to have the best build quality in Nokia’s lineup. We already know the E71 is covered in metal and is made of solid parts. The build quality of the N97 helps bridge the gap between the Nseries and Eseries. Normally Nseries devices are made of strong plastic, but the N97 has a chrome metal trip around the screen helping it to look and feel very solid. The rest of the phone including sides and back is still made of hard plastic. Overall the N97 has a nice feel and is made of quality parts. No wobbles or loose areas are found except for the battery cover. There is a small gap between the battery cover and the battery which makes it feel loose. A fix for this has already been found, eliminating this problem.

Who wins? The E71 takes the cake in this department because of the metal battery cover.

Everything Else?

All the other areas I will list are mostly going to be winners for the N97 because it is a Nseries device which is more geared towards media consuming and creating.

Screen – N97 wins.
Battery life – They have the exact same battery. But in terms of life, E71 wins – barely.
Audio quality – N97 wins.
Call quality – Tie.
Video playback – N97 wins.
Camera/Video capture – N97 wins.
Storage – N97 has 32gb built in & microSD slot. N97 wins.
Business purposes – N97 close behind, but E71 wins because Adobe Reader is free.
Customization – N97 has homescreen widgets/fullscreen wallpaper. N97 wins.

Am I leaving anything out? If so let me know

Let’s Tally Everything Up

If you look at all the major factors I talked about before the “everything else” section the Nokia E71 comes out the clear winner taking 4 out of points.

If you look at all of the factors I’ve covered, the N97 takes the lead at 7 wins, 6 losses, and one tie.

So if you don’t need all the extra features of the N97 then you should definitely hang on to your E71. But if those extra specs are something you’d like to have then you’re going to have to shell out the extra cash and be willing to give up the E71 size to get the Nokia N97.

It’s hard to justify the cost of the N97, but easy when you add up what you’re getting. The sound quality is on par with an Apple iPod. The camera quality (in decent lighting) is equal to a cheap digital camera. And the huge screen experience acts as a great GPS device in the car.

In the end it’s all up to the needs and wants of the user. Hopefully this review has helped you out if you were thinking about buying the N97.

E71 Shortcuts: Create Dozens Of Custom Key Combos To Launch Nearly Any App Or Task

2009-07-13T07:30:00.001-07:00

We buy these Nokia smartphones because Symbian is one of the most customizable operating systems right? Well I’m going to show you an E71 AND E71x application that will let you to take it to the next level and create our own custom key combinations to launch anything from applications, files, bookmarks, or even start a sms to a specific contact. I’ve been using this application for a few months now (I know I’m lagging on the review) and it has pretty much transformed the way I use my device.

The application is called Cute Keys. It allows you to create keyboard shortcuts that perform specific actions. With Cute Keys you can create shortcuts for following actions:

Open chosen application installed on the mobile
Open selected file or document
Call a certain recipient
Open selected contact from your contact book
Change Bluetooth status
Send SMS/MMS/email to selected recipient
Browse selected website

Description:

Every shortcut is set of two, three, or even four buttons on your mobile keyboard. Mostly you can use two buttons, one of which is a special button, and the second one is a number button. Mobiles with QWERTY keyboard allow more possibilities; there you can create the shortcuts similar as you do on your PC.

There is no limit for the number of shortcuts created, their number is only limited by the hardware.

Please note: You can not use two number buttons in one shortcut, you have to use at least one special button or joystick.

Screenshots:

As you can see in the first screenshot I have a shortcut to my Google application and a few shortcuts to send a text to various contacts. I use the spacebar + any number to launch whatever applications I want. For sms shortcuts I use the @ + any number. Keep in mind it’s not good to use the shift or function keys since we already use those when typing.

The great thing about Cute Keys is I can launch whatever task or application I want from any screen. Now I don’t have to dig through the menu or contact list. This can make us extremely efficient. It’s just a matter of memorizing our shortcuts. To make that easier for instance to send an sms to Nick, I made the shortcut @ + 9 which is also @ + N. I suppose I should make all of my shortcuts like that so it’s easier to remember.

While Cute Keys is not free, it is worth the $9.99 you have to drop to keep the full version after the 10 day trial period expires. The free 10 day trial period gives you the FULL experience of Cute Keys, nothing is left out. So it can’t hurt to try it right?

Click here to learn more about Cute Keys by SymbianGuru.

Click here to download it directly to your Nokia E71 or E71x.

It Seems The New E71 Firmware Has Increased The Photo Quality

2009-07-04T13:51:00.001-07:00

First off, happy 4th of July to all the American readers. I hope you’re enjoying some bbq and beer today with friends and family. I don’t normally blog on holidays, but I thought this would be a good topic to ponder today. A few days ago I told you guys that the new firmware doesn’t really bring anything that makes me want to rush and update my E71. The hassle of having to reinstall all of my apps, themes, and contacts just doesn’t sound fun, especially since the version 300.21.012 firmware didn’t seem to bring any huge updates or fixes.

But this morning I was checking the forums and noticed and post by active member Nima_Mohseni in the firmware topic. Nima showed us photo samples of quite a nice collection of Coca Cola cans taken before and after the firmware was updated to the latest version. Check out the photo samples below…

Old E71 firmware:

New E71 firmware…

Looks like a very big difference doesn’t it? The old firmware looks blueish with a lot of grain and the new firmware looks more natural with a lot less grain.

These images has me second guessing my original statements of not rushing to upgrade the firmware. As it stands – I can’t anyways since it seems it’s not available in North American yet.

I would love to see if others of you are noticing an improvement in photo quality. If any of you can link to your before and after photos that would be great. If you don’t want to upload them you can email them to mike@e71fanatics.com and I can try and get them posted in this article.

Enjoy the holiday and the weekend everyone. Oh and big thanks to Nima for posting these photos!

Can The E71 Handle A 16gb microSD Memory Card?

2009-07-03T12:02:00.000-07:00

The Nokia E71 is capable of handling any microSDHC memory card up to 32gb. Many people have been asking me on Twitter and via email if it was possible for the E71 to have a 16gb memory card. I'm sure you'll be glad to hear that indeed this is possible. Having that much storage capacity in your E71 allows you the freedom having a ton of music, videos, pictures and files on your smartphone without having to worry about running out of space.

Where To Buy

Amazon.com always has great deals on memory cards for the E71. I recommend you look for the class 4 or 6 speeds since they are faster than the class 2, although class 2 is what I use and it works good enough for me.

Amazon: 16gb microSD cards - all classes.

Is 16gb too much for you? Amazon has the 8gb memory cards
starting at like $14 bucks. If you're still using the 2gb card - c'mon it's time for an upgrade!

Do you have a lot of storage space on your E71? What size card do you use?

New E71 Apps In The Ovi Store

2009-07-02T22:22:00.001-07:00

Have you checked out the Ovi Store lately? It has recently been updated and now includes a few applications that you might find handy. Personally I was let down by the Ovi Store upon launch, but over the past 3 weeks I am happy with the content they are adding.

Still though, I would like to see more – many more free applications for the E71, as Ricky from Symbian-Guru recently mentioned. It would be nice to have all my favorite applications in one place, especially when I update my firmware and my entire device is wiped out. That’s a topic for another discussion, so for now I’ll continue with the Ovi Store updates.

New Applications include…

Opera Mini – Very fast web browser
Qik – Stream live video to the web and upload to your Facebook from the E71.
Skyfire – A more advanced browser, a little to chunky for me. Great for heavy browsing, includes flash content.
Palringo – Free instant messenger; includes Gtalk, Facebook Chat, Yahoo IM, etc.
Photobucket – Upload your E71 photos to your Photobucket account.
Flyscreen – RSS reader, twitter, social sites, etc.
Nokia Magnifier – Use your E71 camera to magnify anything.
NeoReader – Scan barcodes to get more info on a product.
Powerboot – Choose applications that you’d like to startup when your E71 starts up.
HourPower – Have your phone tell you the time every hour or at the press of the button – out loud!

Those are all FREE E71 applications found in the Ovi Store. There are more of course, I just picked up the ones that I recommend. Those don’t include many of the great commercial applications that you can find as well. You might notice that those are starting to get cheaper and cheaper to buy… very cool! Don’t forget you can visit store.ovi.com from your PC browser if you don’t feel like digging around on your E71. Stayed tuned to another post I’m working on to show you all of the applications I have installed on my E71. Sort of like the feature that Gerrymoth was doing over at Nokia Addict (a good read).

Have you checked out the Ovi Store lately? Let us know if have downloaded any cool apps or themes you’d like to share. Don’t forget you can visit store.ovi.com from your PC browser if you don’t feel like digging around on your E71.

Nokia E71 Blog For Fanatics

Security: How To Remote Lock Your E71 From Another Phone

Black Nokia E72 Available For Preorder $469, Still Not Attractive To Some

Nokia E72 Hands On Video Demonstration

Preorder The Nokia N900 Now At Amazon

E71 Browser: Opera Mini 5 Adds Copy & Paste, Multiple Tabs, Plus A New Look

New Features Include:

Screenshots:

Copy/Paste From The Browser

Download

Bluetooth Headsets For The E71: So Many Choices, Which To Choose?

Nokia BH-501

Nokia BH-503

Nokia BH-103

Recommended By Readers

Top Selling Bluetooth Headsets

Part 1: Uploading Pictures From E71 To Facebook With Shozu

Mobile Facebook On The E71 Thanks to Opera Mini

My Daily Companion: Nokia Sporststracker For E71

Email On E71: Review Of The Nokia Messaging Service

E71 Instant Messenger Apps: Battle Of The Big Three

Nimbuzz

Fring

Palringo

What Do You Use?

Are You Getting Excited About The E72? Many Will Upgrade From E71

News: Nokia And Microsoft To Join Forces For New Mobile Office Suite

Free Application: PhoNetInfo Gives All Your E71 Information In One Place

Facebook Functionality For E71 Added To New Beta Version Of Gravity

How To Take A Screenshot On The Nokia E71

Why Take A Screenshot?

Download Screenshot By Antony

Google Search Application, Maps, And Youtube Updated For E71

Get The Latest Applications

Why Buy An Unlocked E71 Instead of E71x And Nokia Looks To Break Into U.S. Smartphone Market

Nokia To Sell More Carrier Branded Phones

Forums Are Back & Deal Alert: 2.5mm Headphones For $5.69 - 80% Off

Deal: 2.5mm Samsung Headphones In Ear Style

E71 & Sound: Make Your Music Sound Better With These Tips

But don’t take my word for it…

My Thoughts On The Nokia N97 vs. E71; Photos Galore

Price Of The N97

Typing: N97 vs E71

Operating System & Browser Speeds

Form Factor & Size

Build Quality

Everything Else?

Let’s Tally Everything Up

E71 Shortcuts: Create Dozens Of Custom Key Combos To Launch Nearly Any App Or Task

It Seems The New E71 Firmware Has Increased The Photo Quality

Can The E71 Handle A 16gb microSD Memory Card?

New E71 Apps In The Ovi Store