N96 News Blog http://www.planetn96.com/blog All about the Nokia N96 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 10:01:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en Know the N96 and want to win a N97? http://www.planetn96.com/blog/know-the-n96-and-want-to-win-a-n97/63 http://www.planetn96.com/blog/know-the-n96-and-want-to-win-a-n97/63#comments Thu, 01 Jan 2009 10:01:52 +0000 admin http://www.planetn96.com/blog/?p=63 Improve the N97
As we know here at Planet N96, the users of the N96 have clear ideas on how the phone should work, how to customise it, and what would make it work better. So who better to tell Nokia how to make the N97 run properly?

Nokia have announced a competition to allow you to design a widget that will be made available on the new Nokia N97. A widget is one of the little programs that will run on the front screen of the mobile phone, or as Nokia helpfully describe it:

A widget is a time-saving element of the device’s user interface, a visual building block that provides an easily accessible single interaction point with an application, which holds and processes data.

The prize - a brand new N97, given to you with your widget, and before the general phone release.

Go here for more information

]]> http://www.planetn96.com/blog/know-the-n96-and-want-to-win-a-n97/63/feed Simple Guide to Getting Your N96 working http://www.planetn96.com/blog/simple-guide-to-getting-your-n96-working/62 http://www.planetn96.com/blog/simple-guide-to-getting-your-n96-working/62#comments Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:33:48 +0000 admin http://www.planetn96.com/blog/?p=62 Broken N96

Many people seem to forget that the N96 is a complicated piece of electronics, much more than a mobile phone. So it should be of little surprise that, like any modern computer, it needs updating and tweaking as time goes by.

Agreed, some of these updates seem to have been required a little too early in the short life of the N96, however the two firmware releases seem to have resolved a lot of the early issues.

It is likely however that if you own a N96, that you will get some problems, with something not working as you would expect, or the phone doing something strange or unexpected.

There is a simple guide over at our N96 Forum on solving N96 problems.

]]> http://www.planetn96.com/blog/simple-guide-to-getting-your-n96-working/62/feed Bruce ‘N96′ Lee Video Ad http://www.planetn96.com/blog/bruce-n96-lee-video-ad/61 http://www.planetn96.com/blog/bruce-n96-lee-video-ad/61#comments Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:19:19 +0000 admin http://www.planetn96.com/blog/?p=61

Friday fun, courtesy of Nokia and the Bruce Lee n96.

We’re really not sure what is going on here or why ping pong and the N96 go hand in hand. If you can shed any light on it, let us know!

]]> http://www.planetn96.com/blog/bruce-n96-lee-video-ad/61/feed N96 to get ‘Comes With Music’ treatment http://www.planetn96.com/blog/n96-to-get-comes-with-music-treatment/60 http://www.planetn96.com/blog/n96-to-get-comes-with-music-treatment/60#comments Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:29:55 +0000 admin http://www.planetn96.com/blog/?p=60 Planet N96 suggested some time ago that the N96 would be perfect for the Nokia ‘Comes With Music’ service, and now it looks like the service may be offered with the handset.

Good news, as it would mean unlimited music downloads to help fill up the 16MB of memory on the N96.

Bad news though that this will not be retrospective, so existing N96 owners would not be entitled to use the service. We can see a lot of loyal Nokia N96 owners, the early adopters in particular, who are already somewhat upset by the poor initial firmware release, being really put out by this, and with some justification.

Also, it is not expected that these handsets will be available until after Christmas - and that can not be good for pre Christmas sales of the N96.

]]> http://www.planetn96.com/blog/n96-to-get-comes-with-music-treatment/60/feed Time Lapse Photography, N96 style http://www.planetn96.com/blog/time-lapse-photography-n96-style/59 http://www.planetn96.com/blog/time-lapse-photography-n96-style/59#comments Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:48:47 +0000 admin http://www.planetn96.com/blog/?p=59

Whilst rather ordinary - just a drive to work - this video demos the rather cool time lapse photo feature on the N96, with a shot taken every 10 seconds to create a video a couple of minutes long.

What could you do with this feature?

]]> http://www.planetn96.com/blog/time-lapse-photography-n96-style/59/feed VoIP on the N96 http://www.planetn96.com/blog/voip-on-the-n96/58 http://www.planetn96.com/blog/voip-on-the-n96/58#comments Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:13:55 +0000 admin http://www.planetn96.com/blog/?p=58 There was some concern when it was first announced that the N96 would not have the SIP client that allowed VoIP direct from the handset.

Nokia said this would not matter because there were other third party applications available that would handle this, and so there are.

It would seem however that Nokia were concerned enough about the criticism to try and resolve it annd have announced their own application to allow settings to be changed directly on the N96. You can read about it here: http://conversations.nokia.com/home/2008/12/nokia-blew-it-big-time-with-voip.html

To be honest it does not seem something that our forum users have found to be a problem, but if this is useful to you, report your feedback and let Nokia know via the pages of Planet N96!

]]> http://www.planetn96.com/blog/voip-on-the-n96/58/feed N96 Firmware v12.043 now out http://www.planetn96.com/blog/n96-firmware-v12043-now-out/57 http://www.planetn96.com/blog/n96-firmware-v12043-now-out/57#comments Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:26:46 +0000 admin http://www.planetn96.com/blog/?p=57 For all those waiting for the firmware update for the N96, you will be pleased to hear it is now available (at least in some areas) for download via NSU and OTA (Over the Air for the uninitiated, available by pressing *#0000#).

V12.043, available for some product codes has been performing well for those people who have reported to have updated via non Nokia recommended methods, and there is a list of improvements delivered from the N96 v12 firmware, as posted in our forum by user Hardcore-Hulk.

This software update is meant to make the N96 all it was supposed to be – if you have an N96 update and let us know your thoughts.

]]> http://www.planetn96.com/blog/n96-firmware-v12043-now-out/57/feed Nokia N96 with added Bruce Lee http://www.planetn96.com/blog/nokia-n96-with-added-bruce-lee/56 http://www.planetn96.com/blog/nokia-n96-with-added-bruce-lee/56#comments Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:56:53 +0000 admin http://www.planetn96.com/blog/?p=56 Nokia are releasing a limited edition Bruce Lee N96, especially for the Hong Kong market.

There is even a Bruce Lee doll in the package.

The Bruce Lee Nokia N96 costs 8,788 Chinese yuan (about $1,286)

]]> http://www.planetn96.com/blog/nokia-n96-with-added-bruce-lee/56/feed New N-Gage Game - Mega Monsters http://www.planetn96.com/blog/55/55 http://www.planetn96.com/blog/55/55#comments Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:27:48 +0000 admin http://www.planetn96.com/blog/55/55 Melbourne, Australia and Espoo, Finland - Mega Monsters, the latest N-Gage game from Nokia Games Publishing, introduces players to the biggest monster smash on mobile. The result of a mad scientist combining his supply of adorable animals, a borrowed gene splicer and a surplus government nuclear reactor, each Mega Monster provides an evil blend of cute and killer. With the intuitive one thumb control, players direct the Mega Monster of their choice to do what monsters do best - destroy!
“Mega Monsters is made for those of us who love monsters and who like nothing more than stomping through buildings and crunching a few tanks and helicopters along the way,” said Dr Mark Ollila, Director, Games Publishing, Nokia. “The 3D graphics and fully destructible environment let you set your inner monster loose and smash through city after city.  Exciting game personalization options help create a cruch-tastic game that will be hard to put down. Mega Monsters is going to be the biggest monster smash on mobile.”
Mega Monsters features rich 3D graphics with a fully destructible environment where players can destroy anything in their path.  While on the rampage, players must ensure their Mega Monster destroys selected targets and can pick up dozens of special items, including clothing and other items, to add character to their creature. Each Mega Monster develops its abilities, powers and appearance as it progresses through different missions, and can also gain new powers by hooking up with other Mega Monsters.
Players can stomp and smash through a series of existing city environment or they can create their own map and challenge others to beat it by uploading it to the N-Gage Arena.  Players can customize their game by uploading a picture from their mobile device’s gallery to use on an in-game billboard. When being monstrous becomes too much, players can also switch sides and join the defense force to build an indestructible monster-proof city, or challenge friends to real-time head to head combat action
Mega Monsters is being developed in collaboration with Firemint, a leading Australian independent games studio with a particular focus on designing and developing high-end 3D titles for portable media devices. Firemint is an International Mobile Gaming Award winner for Excellence in 3D.
]]> http://www.planetn96.com/blog/55/55/feed O2 rumored to be stocking N96 http://www.planetn96.com/blog/o2-rumored-to-be-stocking-n96/54 http://www.planetn96.com/blog/o2-rumored-to-be-stocking-n96/54#comments Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:40:19 +0000 admin http://www.planetn96.com/blog/?p=54 mobiletoday.co.uk report that O2 are to bow to pressure from customers and start stocking the N96. Like other operators they will not be totally subsidising the device on the lower tarrifs, and will only be free on a £75 per month tarriff.

As vodafone offer the N96 for free on their £45 per month tarriffs, this seems expensive.

O2 said:

The N96 has been available through our indirect channels since launch and now we are stocking it through our direct channels following a regular review of our product range.

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