Coffee Break

after a long and extensive search over the internet for a suitable GPS application that provides turn-by-turn navigation, i've finally settled with Garmin Mobile XT, in order for it to work you'll need a phone with a built in GPS, or at least a stand-alone bluetooth GPS receiver.

it should work with almost any GPS enabled nokia, and with the latest GPS-enabled smartphones and Palm Treo, Samsung Blackjack, Motorola Q, T-Mobile Dash and more.

WARNING: first off all please back up all you're phone data, and memory card before you proceed any further, i had to learn the hard way.

Here’s how to install Garmin Mobile XT on your Nokia:

1. Download to your computer the Garmin Mobile XT for Symbian S60 3rd Edition, Ver. 5.00.10 from this link.

2. Download to your computer Garmin Mobile XT Free Basemap, Ver. 4.xx.xx from this link.

3. Download to your computer Garmin Mobile XT Support Files, Ver. 4.xx.xx from this link.

4. Download GM-MySInMXT.exe from this link. (these are Malaysia and Singapore maps set, you have to be registered before you could access the site) (or you could alternatively search for other maps)

5. Connect your Nokia (via memory storage) or memory disk to your computer and make sure it’s detected by your computer. i find it more convenient to connect it through a memory card reader.

6. Now, run the recently downloaded files on the computer, one after another (just by double clicking), in this order:

1. v4.xx.xxx Support File,
2. v4.xx.xxx Basemap File
3. GMXT v5.00.10
4. Garmin Mobile XT for Symbian S60

When prompted to choose storage space, always choose the phone’s memory (or memory card).

7. Disconnect phone memory from computer. It’s time to configure Garmin on your phone. Go to your phone’s File Manager >Garmin >Applications >Symbian >RES >GarminMobileXT.sis and install the .sis

If you can’t find GarminMobileXT.sis, check the root directory, it should be there. Install the .sis as per normal. (if still not found just search in the folder)

8. After that, in your phone go to Applications> run Garmin Mobile XT. It won’t connect to GPS satelite yet, so just ignore it.

9. You should have received your device unlock code from the manufacturer of Garmin, however if you haven’t, there are instructions on the Internet to guide you on how to get yours ;)

10. Copy the device unlock code and paste it in a notepad, then save the file as SW.UNL

11. Reconnect your phone/memory to your computer.

12. Copy the SW.UNL file into this phone directory \Garmin\

13. Then, run GM-MySInMXT.exe, and copy gmapsupp.img into \Garmin\

14. Disconnect your phone from your computer.

15. Go to Applications >Garmin Mobile XT >Settings >System >Remote GPS >Select ‘Use Attached/Built-in GPS’ >Enable and it’s all done.

16. Wait for satellite signal to strengthen and then you can start navigating around various places with confidence!

NOTES:

>this method was installed successfully on Nokia 6110 navigator and also Nokia E71.

>Garmin Mobile XT was preferred as there's no charge for viewing the maps once you download them into your phone you'll have FREE navigation, or at least for Malaysia.

>i tried to install Middle East maps as well, but you'll need to find the maps and download them following the same method.

Disclaimer: I'm not responsible for any damages to your phone or any loss of data during the installation, I'm only sharing my experience with you, so please use it responsibly.

FEATURES

* Blue Earth is the world’s first solar-powered touchscreen handset.
* The “Blue Earth” phone is equipped with a solar panel located on the back of the handset’s battery, with a 10-minute charge from the solar panel would allow a user to make a call for three minutes
* While the panel will extend time between recharges it will not replace conventional charging altogether.
* Made from PCM, a recycled plastic from water bottles, the phone boast an “eco” mode for efficiently adjusting screen brightness, backlight duration and Bluetooth usage.
* An “eco walk” app / built-in pedometer to tell you how much CO2 emission you’ve saved by walking instead of driving.
* Detailed technical specs, pricing or release dates are unknown yet.

A winner of the the year 2008, one of the best smart phones out there. The Motorola ROKR E8 comes with a very snazzy dynamic keypad that changes depending on which feature you are using. As you can see on the next picture if you are using it as a phone, then the ROKR E8 shows a conventional numeric keypad - if you're using the camera, then it shows camera controls, and for multimedia playback the ROKR E8 shows music keys. Motorola calls this technology ModeShift and in the case of the E8 is is combined with a speed sensitive "FastScroll" navigation wheel, which makes it easy for users to scroll through media libraries or menu options.

Motorola aren't saying exactly how the ROKR E8's ModeShift keypad works - looking at the positioning of the virtual keys, it does appear to be a logical extension of the fixed hidden controls that we first saw on the LG Chocolate, with each button in a unique position. This makes more sense than the expensive Optimus Maximus approach where everything is an individual active display.

Get past the clever keypad, and the Motorola ROKR E8 turns out to be a pretty capable multimedia phone. It can play back MP3, MIDI, AAC, WMA, WAV, AMR and RealAudio music formats, comes with 2GB of internal memory (expandable to 4GB with a microSD card) and it has a landscape format (wide) 2" 320 x 240 pixel display for video playback. The ROKR E8 can also be used with a variety of wired and wireless headsets and speakers. There's an FM radio too.

Somewhat disappointingly, there's no SDHC support for high-capacity memory cards, the camera is a basic 2 megapixel affair with no autofocus or flash and the ROKR E8 lacks 3G or WiFi. Of all these shortcomings, the memory is probably the most significant - 2GB or 4GB is less than even the Apple iPod Nano.

Motorola say that the ROKR E8 will be available during Q1 2008, although no pricing information is currently available.

source [Mobile Gazette]

The newest addition to the Nokia Arte line takes the lightweight carbon fiber and molds it to fit the form of the new Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte. Aside from carbon fiber, other components of the mobile phone include stainless steel, titanium, and polished glass.

The slider looks real good on pictures; let’s hope it does in real life too. The woven pattern you see on the picture is the part made of carbon fiber, but besides making the unit look good, it lends the mobile phone strength and makes the handset lightweight. The Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte shares the same features with the other phones in the Arte line. It has 3G connectivity, a 3.2 megapixel camera, and an OLED display. Other features include tap-for-time feature which lets users tap the surface below the display to show the time, and turn-to-mute feature which silences calls by turning the phone upside-down.

Unfortunately, the Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte is a tri-band GSM that remains Europe-bound for now. It’s expected to cost around EUR1,100 (that's about $1,600) when it launches this Q3 ‘08.

source [Link]

Law enforcement has commissioned a new electronic capture device, surveillance, and intelligence operations called the Cellular Seizure Investigation Stick, or CSI Stick, unfortunately it is also available to the public. It is manufactured by a company called Paraben, and is a self-contained module about the size of a BIC lighter. It plugs directly into most Motorola and Samsung cell phones to capture all data that they contain. More phones will be added to the list, including many from Nokia, RIM, LG and others, in the next generation, to be released shortly.

When you connect the device to the data/charging port, it sucks data from the phone such emails, instant messages, call log, etc…no trace will be left behind that the information has been compromised, nor any risk of corruption.

so next time, think it twice when you give your phone to somebody even for short time.

source [CNET News]

here's something i found funny, but possibly true. enjoy

What is the next step that you would take if your expensive mobile phone or iPod gets wet in the rain or your drop it in a wash basin?

Such accidents are not very uncommon. Adam Curry once dropped his iPhone in the toilet. Venadium went for a swim while the iPod was still in his pocket. Leo Laporte did something similar to his cell phone. Virgo soaked his iPod when a bottle of Diet Coke fell over his trousers.

Since the warranty for most electronics does not cover water damage, what can you do to revive that wet gadget ? The answer is in your kitchen.

Power off the device (if it’s not off already) and try to completely cover the iPod or iPhone in a bowl of rice. Rice being a natural desiccant will help absorb the excess moisture. Let it try for at least 24 hours and DO NOT try to charge the device.

If your gadget has a removable battery, dry it separately to speed up the whole drying process.

This home-remedy is cheap and worth giving a try before you rush to the Apple store for a replacement.

Ernesto Londoño successfully managed to fix his wet BlackBerry phone after he left the device soaked overnight in a bowl of uncooked rice.

[Link]

why not to try next time your gadget gets wet, might not have many options anyway.