Nokia Download! PC Client

Recently, Nokia launched Download! PC client. It allows users to connect their phones to PC and access content which were originally available via Download! only. This is a great news for users. Even the free content available at Download! add up to over 3 GB, include 30 language packages for Text-to-Speech and over 50 maps. With the PC client, users can get as much as they want with low-cost/free (and faster) PC Internet access, and get more out of their expensive phones. I've added Nokia map to my 6120 classic.

Download! - a preloaded application on several Nokia phones which allow users to browse and download region-specific contents. Some are free, some charges, and some try-for-free.

What concern end-users the most is not the long download time (GPRS is relative slow) but the traffic cost (no true-unlimited GPRS in HK yet). Especially, 3.0 applications are mostly build by the free GCCE compiler, not the thousands Euro ARMV compiler (which only available for Symbian.com customers to purchase only). Compare with ARMV compiled, GCCE compiled application could be 3 to 10 times larger in size. Which cost end-users more $ for download.

So, isn't it great ot have the Download! PC? Go grab one now! (Only available for Windows OS......... and MacOS if you have virtual Windows)


Nevertheless, I found that I couldn't download the Presenter.jar probably. So I download the Presenter.jad, open it using Notepad, and find the following line and download the file using a normal browser:

MIDlet-Jar-URL: http://cgw.nokia.mobi/ntp-cgw/dl?m=6120c&l=en&o=13&c=454&a=cn&ci=00e116a382fddc48373ea9da&cl=3.2.734&cp=S60&cmcc=454&cmnc=03&ovf=false&cc=30668&d=D2745&content=1188476529539

Desktop Pass-through problem in ActiveSync 4.2

When Pocket PC connected to Windows' ActiveSync, it not only able to sync data with Outlook, but also able to connect to Internet via the PC being connected to. However, I got an error "The page you are looking for connect be found due to unknown error. 0x80072f78". This problem has prevent me to update my Avantgo.

Since my router at home has broken down for unknown reason, I cannot get my Acer n300 connect to Internet. So, I made a rough search online and found the following pages:

Activesync 4.2 now available for download from Jason Langridge's WebLog - MR Mobile!
ActiveSync 4.5 and Weatherpanel problem from Aximsite.

Both pages has point out that the error is due to new ActiveSync has "a problem with Desktop Pass-through ... caused by a Layered Service Provider (LSP) that use the Windows TCP/IP stack." This known issue can be solved by enabled the LSP by modifying the registry manually. This solution has absolutely *no* warranty and use at your own risk!

Open the registry (run RegEdit), locate: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows CE Services\, and add "AllowLSP"=dword:0. Restart your ActiveSync. You may kill the process using Task Manager, and restart from Start menu. Alternatively, you can reboot your computer (of course).

This work for my Acer n300 and ActiveSync 4.2, on Window XP Pro (English).

打造廣東話輸入法

之前利用OpenVanilla的伸延特性，和其他網上資源，在Mac上打造了我自己的大易輸入法，至今還在修改著.cin檔，今次便要打造廣東話輸入法。

先說說別的廣東輸入法：CantonIM 廣東輸入法。這個看起來很好又簡單的輸入法，在我的Mac上跑時，總會令我的程式自行關閉，就好像Mac內置的大易輸入法一樣（每當打出「衰」字時，必炒）。這個問題，另一個Blog也有提及（Madthiu's PALACE）。所以，試了沒多久後就放棄了。

為什麼明明在用大易輸入法，還要造一個廣東話輸入法呢？除了讓我執筆忘字時可以有點幫助，還有是因為我無意間找到Alan888發放的廣東話輸入法。那兒提供的文件雖是供中文Windows的輸入法編輯器使用（也有方法讓英文Windows使用），但只要略加修改，也可以放在OpenVanilla上使用。修改部份請看comments。

修改完成後，存儲成UTF-8的canton.cin於~\Library\OpenVanilla\[Version]\UserSpace\OVIMGeneric\。動新啟動OV後，在Perferences裡便何以使用了。

Freeware

Not all software sell for money. There are lots of great freeware online. Here are a few I found last week:

Freeware for Symbian
Not a pool with thousands of applications but most of them are quite good, and free. For example, cClock is an alternative to the Large Time screensaver. It disables the deep sleep mode in Nokia 6120 classic, which turn the screen totally off after some extended idle time. Turning off the deep sleep mode might scarify more battery power, but the time (and date) will remain on screen all the time.

rotateMe
This applications will rotate the screen from portrait to landscape for some S60 3rd Ed. phones. There is same built-in feature on Nokia E60 but not others. On N95, you can trigger landscape mode that by the slider. But when you open the keypad, it becomes portrait immediately. This application should work on N73 and N80 (I ain't sure), but will NOT work on E50 and 6120 classic (I'm sure).

Using ebooks on Symbian S60 3rd Ed. smartphones
Recommended Mobipocket Reader and QReader. And I like their landscape mode option. It is real landscape on 6120, that is even the menu are in landscape. As I remember, it will not work on E50 (and will corrupt the application, forever).

Dockables! - System Utilities
One of the best function, except creating shortcuts for sleep or turn off, is to power off the screen immediately. This is a great thing for people who has iMac next to the bed and leave the computer on for whole night. We finally can turn off the screen, except using some black-color screensavers.

ScreenRecycler
I would really like to try it sometime.

Others findings:
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/productivity_tools/sketchbox.html
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/ipod_itunes/thefilter.html
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/math_science/octex.html

Transferring SMS from S60 2nd Ed. to 3rd Ed. Phone

Background

Back to the 2005 Christmas, when I got my first S60 phone, I tried to transfer my SMSs from a Nokia 3120 to the new Nokia N70 (2nd Ed). Unfortunately, no luck because the PC Suite didn't support that. What I can do was to copy the messages manually to any folder other than the Inbox. So, those Inbox messages were moved to somewhere else and they always show "to me" (not from whom).

10 months later, I bought my second S60 phone, Nokia E50 (3rd Ed). Again, I tried to migrate all my SMSs from N70 using the Transfer program on E50. Still, it failed. Although E50 sent N70 an updated Transfer (aka Data Move), the two programs still not allow SMS transfer. This features seems only work between 3rd Ed. phones. So, I didn't give up my N70. In fact, since E50 is a 2G phone while I've 3G service subscription, I used N70 most of the time.

Another ten months past, I got myself another S60 phone - the Nokia 6120 classic (3rd Ed FP1). Yes, it seems that my upgrade period is 10 months. If so, I should able to get a new phone by next June. Well, gotta see what so good is release by that time. I ain't too interested in N81 nor N82, may be a hand-on experience will change my mind.

Unlike my second phone which has no features but a device for testing programs (oh well, it's slim, but, so what?), the 6120 is a 3G phone with HSDPA. Camera is same as N70, 2MP with flash (why's Nokia still selling 2MP for the third year?), plus the body is slim, there is no reasons for not upgrading. So, my question comes again: how to transfer SMS from N70 to 6120.

This time, I got a solution...

Solution

If you prefer to store messages on phone memory, you will need three phones to do the transfer, otherwise you don't need a middle-phone:

• source phone - 2nd Ed (ex. my N70),


• destination phone - 3rd Ed (ex. 6120 classic), and


• middle phone - 3rd Ed (ex. my E50).

Steps:

1. On your source and middle phones, set memory card as storage for messages. On destination phone, set that to phone memory. To change the settings, go to Messaging > Options > Settings > Other > Memory in use > [memory card]. You will be prompt to copy message or not. Select yes for the source phone and yes for keep original. For others, up to your preferences.


2. After the copying is completed, read the memory card with a computer and copy the folder \system\mail\ to your computer (always as a backup). Now, you can put the source phone and its memory card away.


3. Access the memory card of your middle device, browse to \private\1000484b\. You will find a "Mail2" folder, rename it to anything. Copy your "Mail" folder and rename that to "Mail2". Insert the card back into the phone. Now, you can access all messages, SMS, MMS, Bluetooth and Infrared.. etc, on your middle phone.


4. Last step is simple, open the Transfer program on both 3rd Ed. phones, set up a sync profile between your destination phone and the middle phone, and synchronize text messsages. Done.
   

Nokia Text-to-Speech

Nokia S60 phone has built-in text-to-speech. However, my new 6120 phone has only English preloaded. They didn't give us enough information to download package for other languages. Somehow, it took me a little more than a minutes to google the right page: http://www.nokia.com/A4286225.

iSync and 6120

There is no official 6120 plugin for iSync. Many people are looking around, including me. And here I came across the solution at Nokia Discussion forum. Obviously, more and more people using Mac nowadays, which is great. People are start making their own software.

After install the "custom-made" plugin, I got Phoenix (N70), Penguin (E50) and Panther (6120) all synchronized with my Mac. Hooray! But... life isn't as easy as we wish... I got a Synchronization Failed.

[Panther] An unexpected error occured.
Device "Panther" synchronization failed

I ain't sure where the problem is. But on second try and I disabled the sync with Calendar, I got no error now.

Nokia 6120 classic

I bought my third S60 phone tonight, the Nokia 6120 classic. Compare with my N70 and E50, the good points are smaller in size, 2MP camera with flash (same as N70), S60 3rd Edition FP1 (better OS), faster CPU and more run-time memory and most importantly, a lower phone price.

I've been search for offer from my operator. First I check out the 3 Counter at Fortress. They offer my $1380 for the phone + $750 prepaid, $150 rebate and a 1GB MicroSD. So, with $1980 I can take the phone away (but later on, they said it's out of stock and I have to return on next day). The terms is 15-month contract and a EasyPlus VAS (2MB data/$28/mo). However, they told me to visit a 3 Shop, downgrade my account to 2G (get a new SIM card) and couple days later upgrade to 3G (get another new SIM card). I just hate to do such "stupid" steps to get a new phone. So, I visited the 3 Shop tonight. What they offer me is $1330 for 6120 + $800 prepaid. Nothing else but a 18-month contract. So, my money is back. And I can go purchase a 2G MicroSD for less than $200 (I'll visit B-Tech tomorrow).

This little phone is so great that my mom wants to get one too.

Widgets Preference Pane

Widgets Preference Pane helps you to manage all the widgets in Mac OS. I tried the "untested" Intel version. It seems great as I can move some widgets to the desktop. Now I can have a nice clock always visible and the miniStat 2 always running (without registration).

Export Outlook Express Message Rules

Export Outlook Express Message Rules - PC Magazine, February, 2003 by Neil J. Rubenking
(Original article here)

This article is great for those who use Outlook Express and its Mail rule daily. I've around 30 mail rules set up. It would be headache if I've to recreate them one by one after reinstall, recover, transfer or what-so-ever. In fact, I've done it twice due to new machine and harddisk failure.

Here, I posted some key notes for easy reference. The credit shall goes back to original author.

1. OE 5/6's mail rules store in Registry HKCU\Identities\[GUID]\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express\5.0\Rules\Mail\. GUID is strings of alphabets in curly brackets.
2. If several identities (GUID) exists, check each subkey for yours. Export from "Mail" key of your identity.
3. Find your identity on target machine by same technique. Edit exported reg file using Notepad. Replace old GUID by new GUID. Save and import it.
4. You may need to recreate those missing folders in new OE.