Ovistore Improvements, Room For More

The Ovistore team have announced some improvements which have been implemented from user feedback. These improvements were put in place to make users experience of the Ovistore more pleasant and positive. Whilst the latest improvements (see below) do go some way to improve the experience there are still some functionality missing, which both Apple's Appstore and Android's Marketplace include.

Improvements in the Ovistore

• Make it easier to browse, search and discover content
• Improve the quality of content reviews (eg: change from 3 to 5 star rating system)
• Provide more product information to help you decide what to buy

Whilst these 3 significant improvements do enhance the experience of the Ovistore there are some pretty obvious features misssing;

Categories - As yet I can't find any way to search by a specific category. Whilst the Ovistore does a good job in splitting Apps, Games, Audio&Video and Personalisation into their own categories, finding a way to further narrow down categories isn't easy nor at first glance simple enough. Example below:

Trying to find all apps in Social Networks, needs the user to browse to an app that is in that category in order to be able to find the category menu for Social Networks. Making this easier to access should be a pretty simple implementation. This would I personally find be a great way to further narrow down and find specific apps/games, it's much more pleasant I find when browsing the Android Marketplace and Appstore, who have it implemented and the experience is a lot positive.

Ovistore also suffers from a poor search function. Upon entering a criteria to search, usually the results are vaguely associated with what was input. Unlike the Appstore which does it on the fly, the Ovistore isn't and time is usually wasted trying to find specific word related software. A longer process than should be required.

It's always a positive to see improvements being made to a service one uses, and improving and adding functionality is one way of keeping customers and having them return and keep using the service. Hopefully some of these issues can be addressed in the next round of improvements, as clearly they are successful features which are already being used by Ovistore's competitors.

UPDATE: Having visited the Ovistore a few more times, I have recently come across this section, which seems to solve the problem with categories I mentioned above. Whether this is new I'm not sure, but it's definitely the first time I've seen it. If this has been there all this time, why I haven't I noticed it? Is it my ignorance and inability to navigate a website or poor UI design? I think a mixture of both. Whatever the reason, this helps finding stuff in the Ovistore a lot easier.

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In The Name Of Progress

As handsets have come and gone, mobile OS' are born and progress, some live and evolve whilst others die I have found myself unable to quite grasp a handset which will captivate me like my trusty Nokia N95 has ever since I purchased it. The mobile market is now a much more competitive place than it has ever been, there are choices upon choices to be made. Whilst there are those that always need to be on the forefront of tech, and those that are content with basic features of a mobile phone, we all have our own unique individual needs and expectations from a handset.

On Monday, I made a choice (or was actually forced into making a choice) to take a step forward into deciding which handset I wanted and more importantly I NEEDED as a primary device. The N95 has served it's time, it's the longest I've ever held onto a handset. I find there are a few key factors which made this possible;

Growing Up

I no longer feel the need to be in the front of THAT queue, I don't necessarily need the top end handset with all the latest and best features, something I've realised whilst maturing as a person. I realise now, having the best, most mega-pixels, the slickest looking and latest device isn't always what it's promised to be.

I no longer feel the need to be the early adopter, in fact I no longer tolerate having a buggy handset which will be fixed with a firmware update, I no longer tolerate companies trying to justify putting out handsets with buggy firmware and charge a slice of the moon. Hence why I've never purchased a device on release since the N95.

N95 Is Still A Workhorse

No matter how many people commented in the last 6 months why I still carry it around, it still does everything I needed it to do. Browser - yes, camera - yes, e-mail - yes, what else is there? Even now, the camera is not such an issue for me. I can't see how many handset's which can boast a feature the N95 still can't do to this day? Is it worth spending all that money just so I can get a handset which has more apps or games? Whilst the N95 still supports a fair share of apps and games, focus is clearly moving away from it, but the main reason I'm moving along is because of the battery life. My N95 is knackered, and after more than 3 years of service, it deserves a holiday.

One Handset To Rule Them All

This handset doesn't exist, well not on a large scale. What is a perfect handset for one person's needs or desires, can be totally different to someone else's. This is what makes the mobile space so interesting. Conflicting views, different needs, and affordability.

So what's next for me? Well I have a few criteria which I need filled before deciding on my next handset;

• Great Browser - this needs to be native and built in, I'm not a fan of installing a 3rd party browser, I need it to be integrated into the OS, deep integration with full web functionality.
• E-Mail - this is important to me, this also needs to be supported natively and quite extensively. I have 3 accounts which I'm always connected to, keeping up with e-mails is a major factor.
• Battery Life - This is the major decision why I'm moving on, the N95's battery life isn't adequate enough. My usage since purchasing has increased, dramatically. I need a handset which can cope with a full days usage, constantly. Not like the lame examples of "typical" usage demonstrated by manufacturers, the real life isn't a few hours of this, and a few hours of that. The real life is always on, always connected and always in usage. That's my real life.

Looks like a perfect example of a Blackberry? Perhaps, but I haven't had too much exposure with Blackberry handsets so I can't make a decision on that. My other choices are the Nexus One or the latest iteration of the iPhone. As I will be buying SIM free a fairly affordable handset is also required, something the iPhone will not be if we look at previous and current price points.

For now I have a Nokia 5800 XpressMusic handset to play with until I decide, why? It runs the latest Symbian version, which gives me a few more choices to play around with Apps from the Ovistore, something the N95 was hindered with -  a clear indication Symbian S60 3rd Edition will be dead within 1 year or so. Whilst I play with it and wait to make a decision I'll try and post up a few of my impressions of the handset and the services it has to offer.

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N8 Leaked, Unibody Design With Serious Specs

It's been a while since we've had a Nokia leak that's got the fanbois (well not fanbois, they get excited over anything) and geeks excited. This handset dubbed the N8 is allegedly going to be one of many new handsets coming from the Finnish giant which would indicate a refresh of the N-Series naming scheme and the roll-out of Symbian ^3 devices.

In usual leak standards we only have some poor pictures all watermarked to the extreme, but the pictures do give off some authenticity (if Nokia experts are to be believed). The handset itself seems to sport a more industrial design with visible screws, whether these will be cleaned up on final release product is yet to be seen. Some of the features can be seen in the pictures;

• 12 Megapixel Camera with AutoFocus, Xenon flash and Carl Zeiss optics - a tried and tested partnership which was a success in the N82 and a feature the community has been screaming for since, well the N82 itself.
• 3.5mm jack and HDMI - moving on to the next gen of TV out options finally.
• 3.5inch screen - this is clearly a guess and information on what resolution and which type of screen hasn't been revealed for sure yet. Although it's to be pointed out the Bulgarian blog does mention it being 4 inches big and WVGA (800×480) resolution, which is in keeping with current top end Android handsets and the N900.
• Unibody design - this is definitely a first from Nokia, but we've seen with the HTC Legend it's possible and perhaps an indication of things to come.
• We can also expect the usual support for MicroSD and MicroUSB ports which is the standard for most handsets currently, whilst MicroUSB has been agreed in Europe to become the standard for charging.

Personally I have to say the device physically does look a bit rough, some might say industrial, but I think it misses some elegance. My main issue isn't the hardware specs or design, the main issue for Nokia at this point doesn't stand with hardware and features. They will need to deliver a great OS. Symbian^3 is being touted as the saving grace for a company which is slowly losing long term admirers with  the emergence of Android and the iPhone, so the most important issue would be how the OS comes across. The leak (if istis true) doesn't help Nokia, is now expectancy is building up and they might now not have the time to deliver the device in their own time.

I for one hope they don't rush things and deliver a product which hasn't been rushed out because of this leak, I want a device which is delivered according to their time-line and quality. One that delivers first time what we expect a Nokia device to be able to do.

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Google Maps For Android 4.1

image courtesy of GoogleMobileBlog

Google Maps for Android 4.1 is now available, which comes with some nifty little features; Search 'n Swipe, Latitude Widget and Live Maps Wallpaper. Although Search 'n Swipe is a nice little UX feature, the Latitude widget and Live Maps Wallpaper especially might be more gimmicky than anything else. Although no one's going to complain on having access to features you might never need or want.

Latitude widget and Maps live wallpaper
Once you’ve updated to Maps 4.1, you’ll also have a couple different ways to put Maps up close and personal on your phone. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could quickly find your nearest friends or glance at the traffic conditions around you without opening Maps? Add the Latitude widget to a home screen panel to see your nearest Latitude friends by pressing the “Menu” button from the home screen and selecting Add > Widgets > Latitude. On Android 2.1+ phones, you can also turn your home screen into one big, updating map using the Maps live wallpaper. Press the “Menu” button from your home screen and select Wallpaper > Live wallpapers > Maps. Now you can see nearby friends or a map each time you open your home screen.

To use the Live Maps Wallpaper you will need to be running Android 2.1, whilst the other features are available for handsets running Android 1.6 with Google Maps available in the Marketplace. Check out the video below showcasing the new features.

Video courtesy of Stefan from Intomobile.

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Nexus One Sales Low, Operators Have Power

In comparison to the iPhone and Droid the Nexus One hasn't scratched the surface of penetration Google might have hoped for when it announced the handset. Whilst the iPhone and Droid have sold in excess of 1 million handsets in their first 74 days, the Nexus One in comparison has only shipped around 135,000. So why is this the case?

Removing the case of the actual time when the Nexus One was announced and released in comparison to the iPhone and Droid the only other major issue is the availability of the Nexus One. Whilst it is essentially available in more places on initial release, it's available without being subsidised (with the exception of the US & T-Mobile). This is crucial because the people in general do not like to buy mobile handsets outright. They prefer to purchase it via a contract agreement over several months, it's safer for them and easier to manage. The average Joe does not have enough money left over every month after bills and expenses to buy a SIM free handset costing over £300+. Especially more so in this recession we're experiencing.

The consumer has been used to getting free and cheap subsidised handsets for so long that the thought of paying for a handset almost comes as a shock. The amount of time I've heard someone complain about the fact that their upgrade is costing them money and why their handset isn't free is too many. As the mentality of the consumer has been influenced by the operator for so long, the expectancy that every handset should be free on a tariff and on upgrade is natural. Hence why this is the major problem the Nexus One is facing currently. With no operator deal yet, the average consumer just won't buy a handset outright any more. It's a rare occasion. Only enthusiasts and those desperate for change will do so, EVEN if buying a handset SIM free is cheaper in the long term than an 18 or 24 month contract. They just don't have that cash to hand nor are they willing to part with it. That is the age we are in right now.

The lack of sales is down to Google badly timing their availability of the handset itself and their stance to directly sell globally without any major subsidy involved, especially in Europe. In the long term the Google model will eventually have to change or the mentality of the consumer will, either way one things gotta give.

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Worringly Vodafone Snatches Up HTC Legend Exclusively

News is coming through that Vodafone have tied up an exclusive deal with HTC for their Legend handset. The Legend is the successor to the very successful Hero. Vodafone has posted up an image which indicates it is going to be a Vodafone exclusive. Great news for current and potential Vodafone customers. But is it good news for the rest of us?

The HTC Legend is an exemplary piece of mobile kit, it's uni-body design and SenseUI overlay is going to attract a lot of attention. Much like the Hero it will be a success, mainly for 2 very specific reasons:

• It's a natural upgrade for those that currently own a Hero and would like to stick with something similar. With a refresh of design and a few little upgrades it would be welcome upgrade for the not so fussy and cutting edge.
• The Legend is aimed at the mid-range market, which is very successful and usually more affordable than the top end. Mid-range handsets usually sell a lot more and appeal to a larger audience.

Whilst these two reasons may be a good positive for Vodafone customers and Hero owners or those that happened to fall into both categories, worryingly if this exclusive deal is going to last for anything longer than 9 months, then it could be bad news for the market and consumers in general. Purchasing a Legend would most definitely mean either getting a Vodafone contract, or buying it SIM free, leaving minimal room for competitive pricing. Which usually equates to it being more expensive and less flexible for the consumer.

What's even more worrying is that, there is talk Vodafone will be giving the Legend the 360 treatment - blasphemy! It's pretty clear I'm not a fan of Operator branding of handsets, as a fan and enthusiast I prefer my handsets to be pure and enjoyed as the manufacture intended to be. I'm not against branding by operators IF they do it right, but that's a BIG IF, as history has shown operators do not get them right and usually the user suffers a horrible experience from outdated firmware, unwanted extras and hideous UI modifications.

I'm hoping this exclusive deal is not a permanent or long one and hopefully there will be more choice for users to enjoy what is potentially a gorgeous, modern device which oozes style, sophistication and openness.

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Opera Mini Comes To Android

Opera has released Opera Mini for the Android platform. Opera mini is pretty much the most widely used 3rd party mobile browser on the planet. Now Android users who missed Opera Mini on their Android handsets can enjoy their familiar experience in browsing once again. Whilst I personally think the browser on Android is on par with most others in the market, it's good for all to have a choice.

Opera mini offers many powerful features found on desktops to mobile users. Tabbed Browsing, Download Manager, Speed Dialling and Password Management can be found here whilst there are also some mobile specific features like Mobile View. It also comes with Opera Link, which synchronizes your bookmarks and Speed Dials between your desktop and mobile. Assuming you also use Opera on your desktop.

Android users looking to obtain Opera Mini should head on over to http://m.opera.com/next on their handsets browser.

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Youtube For Windows Mobile & S60 Updated

It's taken a while and many updates but finally users can login in using their accounts and access their favourites on Youtube. Whilst the addition of a new home-screen for larger displays improvements in speed have also been added. The latest version of this app now is optimized for speed. It seems Google feels speed is what users want when using this app. I for one wouldn't mind it being faster, but also maybe a function to save videos and watch them when offline might also be something to look into for the future builds.

In today’s release we have added search query suggestions, ‘My Account’ support, and a new home-screen user interface that is optimized for larger screens. Now when you log into your YouTube account on our phone, you can view your favourites, subscriptions and playlists from wherever you are. Let’s say you have recently found an amazing basketball shot video and favourited it on your desktop PC. When you’re at the basketball court with your friends, all you need to do is launch the YouTube app and go to your “Favourites” to show it to them.

For now one major issue has been resolved whilst improving on general usability of the app itself. Users of Windows Mobile and  Symbian S60 should head on over to m.youtube.com/app in their handset's browsers to download the latest version and enjoy logging in and accessing their favourite youtube videos at their fingertips.

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Sony Ericsson Satio Software Update

Image: John Karakatsanis

Sony Ericsson is going to release an update for their 12 Megapixel camera touting handset - the Satio, which proved to us, that it does take some seriously good pictures but usually crashes and dies right after doing so. Whilst also being pretty large and with a poor battery, the Satio was taken off shelves by Carphone Warehouse and many other big retailers in the UK previously because of software issues.

The Satio runs on Symbian S60 5th edition but has a Sony Ericsson UI covering the ugliness that is Symbian S60. So what can users who were unlucky to have purchased one and stubborn enough to stick with it, expect from this update? Well according to Sony Ericsson's Product Blog:

• Support for WVGA video recording – The already great video recording will be enhanced to fit the wide screen format and hence resolution is also slightly increased to 864 * 480 pixles. (the preset size will still be VGA, user has to change to get WVGA)
• Upload of pictures to Facebook – It will be possible to upload pictures directly from the picture menu you have on the home screen or from the Media UI.
• Youtube video uploading – It will be possible to upload videos to Youtube directly from the Media UI.
• Conversational messaging – “Conversations” will be nicely integrated in the messaging menu in order to easily find and inspire to more conversations with your friends.
• DLNA support – The new software will support DLNA media server for easy transfer of audio and still pictures. (Note that video is not supported)
• UI improvements – On top of above, several minor UI improvements have been done in order to optimize the user experience.
• The Facebook application that is now available on PlayNow for free download will be included in the sw.

The update is expected to be available on in the coming days, why there isn't an official date, I don't know, but users should head on over to http://www.sonyericsson.com/update to find out if it is, and gto et their handsets upgraded.

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Novatel Wireless MiFi 2352

I've been sent a Novatel Wireless MiFi unit to review. The initial business of reviewing this unit has been far from simple. The first unit was sent over to me but came with a SIM card that didn't to work. I have been sent a 2nd unit now with updated firmware (as I've been informed) and didn't come with a SIM card, this has now been rectified and I have connected and used the unit using my Nokia N95.

Not so much luck with connecting it with my PS3 so far, I've run into a few problems - the PS3 doesn't accept the WEP code which has been secured to the MiFi unit, I'm not sure whether this is a PS3 issue I will have to investigate, but as it has worked with my Nokia N95, I think the problem might be with the PS3 (see pics below):

The Novatel Wireless MiFi is another choice in the market which is growing recently. Since I reviewed the 3UK MiFi unit, there have been many others released across the globe. Personally I would still say design wise, the 3UK MiFi is still one of the hottest looking devices out there. It's also a lot smaller and elegant than the Novatel Wireless MiFi.

The Novatel Wireless does have some features of note though, integrated GPS is one, whilst it also shared many other features like MicroSD, and also has support for Windows, Mac and Linux.

To find out more about the Novatel Wireless MiFi you can visit the product web page. I'll be testing the unit in the next few days, if you have any questions or tests you'd like me to try out, or suggestions on how to solve the issue with my PS3, feel free to leave a comment below or send me a Tweet.

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Xbox 360 Live For Android

Xbox Live! who have Android handsets rejoice, now there's an App for that! Yes, you can now login in to your Xbox Live! accounts on your Android handsets thanks to this app. It gives users the ability to login and check their accounts.

Designed for hardcore Xbox 360 gamers and Android owners, 360 Live is a gorgeous looking application that shows your friend’s Xbox Live stats such as their gamerscore, online status, gamer pictures, avatars, latest games, achievements, send/receive messages and much more.

The app costs $2.50 and is available in the Marketplace now.

Firstly the functionality it offers is good and the ability to check who's online, and check for messages is great. Adding friends and replying to requests is great. What I would like to see would be the ability to remotely login in and start your Xbox, download the latest patches, demos, games whilst you're away from your Xbox, so once you get home all is completed and ready for you to just enjoy. Now wouldn't that be great?

Any PS3 owners who develop for Android, might be kind enough to look into doing this for PSN? I'm looking at you @geekyouup in particular.

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