geraner's blog

Using Navigon MobileNavigator6 1st post

Since some days, I'm using Navigon MobileNavigator6 on my Nokia N95 while being on vacaton in Hungary.
The map for Hungary is quite ok. Mainroads are included and and especially in towns the GPS is just great! You can search by POI (Points Of Interests) and easiely find Hotels, interesting things to see and so on.
Also the Navigation on the road works very good in general. I like the feature to see the allowed speed on the maps and then the voice "Attention!" if you driver xx km/h faster then allowed. (alert @ speed can be adjusted)

But yesterday the Navigon MobileNavigator 6 took us on very new roads. Ok, I wouldn't call them for roads. More like field-ways!? I don't know. Just see the pictures enclosed.

At least my girlfriend could pick some berries out of the car, while driving on those roads, as you can see on the picture. :-)

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I will continue make some pictures and document who the navigation with MobileNavigator6 works. Soon I will be in Romania. Will see how good the maps are there. Will be back soon with more information.

Navigon MobileNavigator6 for Nokia N95

Hi,
Today I bought Navigon MobileNavigator6 for my Nokia N95. Nice to know, MobileNavigator6 supports the internal GPS of the Nokia N95.
For compatibility information read on Navigon's homepage.

After downloading the 2715 MB (2,7 GB) large file, I unpacked the .zip file and started the install process.
First, you have to remove your memory card from your N95 and to connect it with an card-reader to your Computer.
Starting the program installation is asking you which language you want to use during the installation. I used Swedish.

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Now the installation process can start.

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And you are being asked to connect the memory card to your computer.

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Once the memory card is entered, the program shows whether Mobile Navigator 6 is already installed or not together with the size of the memory card and remaining free space on it.

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As a next step you can select the maps which you want to install. While selecting one map, the program shows you on the Europe-Map and in written letters which countries are included in the selected map-category.

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Now, you select the languages which you want to be supported by the program. (Interface and voice guide)
For some languages, only voice in local language is supported. The interface will then be in English.

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Finally you will get a short summary of what you have selected for the installation (Maps & Languages)

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And so the copy process starts. It took for me about 5-10 minutes.

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Now you have to insert the memory card in your Nokia N95 again. By during this, the N95 automatically detects the program and the install process is starting. In my case, it took about 3 - 4 minutes. After this, the Navigon MobileNavigator6 can be found in the program menu on your N95.

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When starting the program, the following nice picture with animation will follow together with the request to enter the registration code.

Now I just want to show some screenshots of the program itself. I haven't had the possibility yet to test it but I will do this during the next days. Also shown that it finds the internal GPS of the N95 and use it. - Great!

When you want to navigate to another place, you will get this menu where you in the top right side can select the country. In my case S for Sweden is selected. In the fields bellow you can enter the place you want to drive to.

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In the menu for the guide you can select different things. For example change the map view from 2D to 3D as shown in the pictures bellow.

Also a to switch from day-view to night-view is possible. The picture in the middle is the day-view on the right picture the night-view.

This should be everything to start with. I just want to give you a short impression about the program which could be a real competitor for NokiaMaps which already is installed on the N95. But with Nokia Maps, using a full 1-year voice navigation for Western Europe costs 89,99 Euro. Buying a 1-year voice navigation for Eastern Europe costs about 59,99 Euro. If you want both together you pay 149,98 Euro which you have to pay again if you want to renew it after one year with Nokia Maps.

Navigon MobileNavigation6 with the maps for whole Europe (West & East) you can get for 99 Euro at this place.
And it also supports the internal GPS on your Nokia N95.

Will be back later with review about the usage during my vacation.

Truphone - VoIP for your Nokia mobile

Hi,

About two weeks ago, I read about Truphone in some Nokia/Symbian Forum on the internet.
Truphone is a small application which you install on your internet and then can call via your Wireless LAN or 3G (UMTS) over the internet instead of using your mobile providers rates.
The great thing is, that calls to landline numbers in about 40 European countries are for free until the 31th of December 2007 according to Truphones homepage. (if you sign up until the 30th of September) And it's true! I tested it. It works great! :-)
Let me write a little bit out this great program for your Symbian device.

The program you can download via your mobiles network connection WLAN, 3G or GPRS.
You are doing this by sending a SMS with the text "install" to the number +44 7624 000 000.
Then you receive an SMS with the link to download the program and to install it. At the same time you get one more SMS with your phone number and login data.
I found on YouTube a video who shows in detail how this whole process is working. Quite easy! Just click on the link and watch.
The installation and first registration was quite easy. No problem for me.

The program itself, can connect via WLAN or 3G to the truphone server in UK. Also the program has a lot if configurations which can be set. For example is it offering to send SMS via the truephone server instead of your GSM prover. You can adjust to use while sending an SMS or predefine one default. I used my GMS provider.
See here some pictures of the adjustment possibilities in the program.

As you see in the second picture, as connection point you can also select your 3G network. Due to the fact that I don't have a data flatrate, I was not testing the program on my 3G network. Only via WLAN. But accoring to Truphones homepage the 3G network is supported as well. So if you are having a 3G contract which includes a data flat-rate you can use truephone where ever you can call with your phone. :-)

I have adjusted the Truephone on "autostart" which means it automatically starts when the defined WLAN network is available. I must say, it works great! As soon as I'm at home, the VoIP sign and the WLAN sign in my N95 is showing on the display.

Now about the calls.
If you are calling, then you go into your contact lists... I was using the "landline-numbers" of my friends in Germany and Sweden and then I just select "InternetCall" instead of normal "VoiceCall".
That's all. Just press the "ok" button and the phone starts to call your contact via the Truephone application installed on your mobile. And you can call for free on many landlines in Europe.

The data transfer during a VoIP call with Truphone is about 3,7 kB/s out and in. (Total about 7,4 kB/s).
One day called a friend for about one hour. The total data transferd during this 1 hour call was about 25 MB.

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So I really recommend that you only are using the Truphone at home on your WLAN if you don't have a data flatrate on your 3G contract.

One last comment about the call quality.
Well acutally there is no comment about it, because I couldn't hear any different compared with normal voice calls. Also my friends who I called didn't realized that I called them over the internet. So the voice quality is really impressive!
Install the program and give it a try! Maybe with Truphone it will also be after the 31th of December 2007 free to call landline numbers in 40 countries.
I read in on there homepage that they had this "free call" offer first until the 30th of June this year, but they finally keppt it now until the 31th of December. So lets see what the future will bring.
But the program itself is great! I just love it! It works perfectly and it gives me free landline calls to all of my friends in Germany and Sweden.

Enjoy the world of Truphone!

Regards
Geraner

TrendMicro Mobile Security for Symbian S60 3rd

Hi,

A couple of days ago, I installed TrendMicros Mobile Security for Symbian OS S60 3rd on my Nokia N95.
Due to the fact, that I have a TrendMirco License for Internet Security 2007 on my computer at home, TrendMicro allows me to download and install it's software for mobile devices for free. And I can use it during my regular License period without paying extra for it. I like that idea! :-)

Enclosed you will see some print-screens I took of this program. It includes an Antivirus and Firewall.
I copied an Eicar-Test ZIP file on my memory card. After disconnecting the phone from the computer, TrendMicro Mobile Security detected this "test virus" directly.
Also the firewall is easy to configure, which was necessary to make Music-Streaming working. I just had to look in the firewall log to see which IP adress has been blocked when MusicStreaming over 3G didn't work. Then I configured the firewall to allow traffic from this IP adress and everything was working again. Easy as it has to be!

F-Secure has also an Antivirus and Firewall product for Symbian S60 3rd devices which I didn't tested so much.
Kaspersky is soon comming out with a simular program for Symbian S60 3rd devices.

The question for me only is, is it really necessary to have an antivirus product on your symbian mobile?
I send this question to Kaspersky and I'm waiting for an answer. See my post.

In general I like the idea of TrendMicro to offer there customers an free protection for their mobile devices during a valid license period for normal computers. Just without paying extra for it. Great!

Regards
Geraner

2007/07/07

Just a small testvideo taken with my N95 and uploading it to my Vox-blog.

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Firmware Upgrade for N95

Today a new firmware for my Nokia N95 was released. No question for me... I had to do the firmware upgrade directly! :-) I whole upgrade-process including downloading took about 15 minutes.

/Geraner

2nd Picture biketour

A try to send a second picture from the same bikingtour. :-) Enjoy!

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Pictures Biketour

My first upload and blog-entry upload with my N95 via WLAN-connection. The picture was taken during a nice evening bikingtour in Stockholm area.

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