We gave you the N96 to document your life and record the making of your album for a couple of months. What was that like?

Well, it was weird, cool, funny, self-indulgent and a little embarrassing, to be honest. But the camera is little, so people don’t really get nervous. You can sit there and be natural, which is really what you want.

There was a lot of fun footage to choose from.

Yeah, I like to have fun, and that sense of looseness, I think, translates on stage. I like to have a good time, i don’t really care about how it’s supposed to go, is it a new song, am I ready or not. I’m just going to go out there and rock and roll, I guess.

You used Nokia viNe to record some of your favorite places in New York before you moved to Austin. What did you think?

To me, the Nokia viNe thing is really cool because it sort of captures the madness of New York City. Just to see all the places you go in one day is pretty hilarious.

It’s like, home, coffee, office, meeting on the other side of town, leave work to practice at the studio for an hour, see my teacher on the other side of town, send out emails to make sure my friends are at the show, then go back to Brooklyn and pick up somebody’s microphone that I need that night…all in one day.

I’ve had this joke for a long time, that if they could attach little red dots on our backs and see where we go in one day in New York, we’d just look like this crazy swarm of angry bees. So I think it’s fun when I come home after a long day, and I look at where I went. No wonder I’m exhausted.

And it’s cool because I have friends all over the world, friends who are living in South America, friends who live in Europe, my grandparents. So it’s fun that I have this viNe that I can send to everyone as I say goodbye to New York, and, you know, here comes the next phase of my life.

What else did you do with the N96?

I have enough of an artist personality that the best I can do some days is get out of the house with my keys and my wallet. So having a camera, a video camera and a voice recorder, it’s with me and it gets me to do things I wouldn’t otherwise do.

I found it’s really, really great for music. I can go back and look at shows and see what I sound like and look like performing, because the experience I have when I’m doing it is so different.

Or I’ll walk down the street and have an idea, and I’ll just record it. Or wake up first thing with music in my head, and maybe I’m not near a piano or the studio, but I can sort of beatbox it into the recorder.

It’s also good for working on songs in progress. If you’re just figuring it out, you capture it as it’s going. Then later, when somebody can’t remember what happens when you get to the bridge, is it an A-flat chord or a D-minor seventh? You go back and it’s all there.

Has technology changed the way you approach the creative process?

The cool thing about today’s technology, to me, is that it’s a lot easier to be creative. I mean, not if you’re checking your email all the time and always texting your friends. You have to make time for it where you shut out everything else. But it helps you remember ideas, and the thing about creative ideas is they’re so spontaneous, and you think you’ll remember them, but you don’t. So technology can be really helpful.

I definitely believe it’s not so much about being polished as it is the soul of it. These days, almost anyone can have the technology it takes to record, edit and produce an album themselves. But I have to tell you, I’m still enamored with technology that has been around for 40 years, especially because it’s my first solo album.

It’s so cool to get in the studio with an electric guitarist and just sing off ideas, like, [sings guitar riff], and the next thing you know he’s doing it. And you say, “Make it sound…a little bit spookier.” And then he presses a pedal and there it is.

It’s like seeing the ideas in your head, like splattered paint on a canvas. And you think, that looks good. I didn’t know I could do that.

You’ll have to keep us posted on what you do next.

Okay. I’m off to Panama for a while, then Philadelphia, then back to Austin. Bye for now!

See more Jessie on Nokia viNe>

What’s new?
New features include:

• Application stability improvements

• Image quality improvements

• Uninterrupted viewing/recording of videos

• Improved Bluetooth interoperability

• Compatibility with Nokia Email service

How to get the update

Option 1: Using your device for a wireless update

1. Type in *#0000# on the home screen, or go to the Device Manager (Menu > Tools > Utilities > Device Manager).

2. Select Options > Check for updates.

3. Follow the prompts to download the update. Remember that you can use Wi-Fi to download the update (there may be data transfer fees charged by your operator).

To see how the wireless update process works, watch this video.

Option 2: Using your PC and USB cable

Get the latest Nokia Software Updater and install it on your PC, then connect your N96 and follow the instructions to update.

While the good news is that the software update preserves your personal data and applications, we recommend you make a backup of your device content before updating the software. Please also connect your device to a charger during the update.

After you get it, let us know: what do you think of the update?

Nokia Music makes it easy to play, download, transfer and manage the music on your PC and mobile. You can also create playlists, rip CDs and have your favorite music with you wherever you go.

Best of all, it’s easy to use. Here’s how to do it:

1. Click here to download the Nokia Music application to your PC.

2. Double-click the file to start the installation process.

3. Once installed, you will see an interactive tutorial. Take some time to browse the many features of Nokia Music.

4. Connect your device to your PC via USB cable. It will appear in the left-hand column.

5. Sync your music.

As you’ll see, it’s a very straightforward process. At the same time, advanced users will find plenty of options to customize the settings as they see fit.

After you try it, share your thoughts below. What do you think of Nokia Music?

Down by the river, the N79 gets unboxed and filmed by another N79.

Take a look and tell us what you think.

The N79 manual is a great reference to explore the full functionality of your N79 camera. If manuals aren’t your thing, check out this guide to a few cool features you might have missed.

Tip 1: How to customize your toolbar

If you go to Options in image mode, you’ll see an option to customize the toolbar shorcuts that appear in the right column in camera mode.

As you can see, you can select and change any of the six shortcuts available. So if there’s a feature you want to access more quickly, you can elevate it to the shortcut level.

Tip 2: Burst mode

If you select sequence mode from the shortcuts list, you will see a range of options other than the standard single shot mode. As you can see in the screenshot above, burst mode lets you capture six quick images in succession, which is great for fast-moving action or other such scenarios. You can also hold the key down and continue to capture images in burst mode until the memory runs out.

Tip 3: Scene modes

If you are taking everyday photos, the standard auto mode setting is a good option. However, if you are taking a certain type of photo, scene modes give you more specified options. Select the “A” icon from the shortcuts and you’ll see the options above, from close-up to portrait to night mode.

Tip 4: Video light

Your N79 has the capability to shoot in low- and no-light situations, which means you can shoot video at night, in a dimly-lit club and wherever else you might want to shed some light on things. The default setting is off, so all you need to do is select the icon highlighted above to switch the video light on.

Do you have some other tips and tricks for the N79 camera?

MUSIC, SONG

Size: 5.0MB

Transfer time: Approximately 2 seconds

MUSIC, ALBUM

Size: 84MB

Transfer time: Approximately 23 seconds

VIDEO, LARGE

Size: 350MB

Transfer time: Approximately 1 minute 33 seconds

VIDEO, EXTRA LARGE

Size: 1.7GB

Transfer time: Approximately 8 minutes 37 seconds

What do you use your N79 storage for?

Join us on the rooftops of NYC as we unpack the N85 and film the whole thing with another N85.

To embed this video, use the embed link in the video player.

Check out more N85 videos and let us know: what do you think of the N85?

The video above was shot on the N85 on its first trip to NYC.

The video below was shot at the same time and streamed live on Qik with the N96 3G U.S. prototype over an AT&T connection - another first look.

Stay tuned for more exclusive N85 and N96 content.

Enjoy a day in the park unboxing the N96, as shot with another N96.

And stay tuned for more exclusive videos of the N96 in action, as well as your first look at the North American N96 prototype, in the weeks ahead.

To embed this video, use the embed link in the video player.

What do you think of the N96?

Fring

Fring enables your N96 to make mobile VoIP calls and chat with friends using your data plan or a wi-fi connection.

EQO Mobile

EQO Mobile is another way to consolidate your contacts and use popular chat services on your N96.

iSync

iSync is a must-have for Mac users looking to synchronize their devices with their computers.

Calcium

Calcium is an easy-to-use calculator that comes in handy when you’re on the go.

Foonz

Foonz is a cool app that makes it easy to do group calling and messaging.

Jaiku

Jaiku is a mobile blogging app that lets you share your availability, location and other info with your contacts.

Jott

Jott automatically converts your voice into email and text messages on your N96.

Mini Friday

Mini Friday is a mobile virtual world where you can create a 3D avatar and interact with hundreds of thousands of people around the globe.

What do you think of these apps? Have you found any others that work well on the N96?