Nokia it seems has finally understood the importance of mobile application stores and the rising popularity of social networking. After making the Ovi maps available completely free of cost and creating new features in the Nokia Music Store, where in the Digital Rights Management feature will now be removed, the Finnish mobile phone manufacturer has now announced the availability of Skype calling application for all Nokia Symbian powered phones.

The all new Skype application has again been introduced as a completely price free application for all Nokia users and will require a wifi connection or a mobile internet for it to work. This all new social networking application is resembles the original Skype in design and has almost all features enabled in to it. The users who wish to this awesome application will be able to receive incoming calls from Skype numbers and will also be notified when their contacts are online. There is also an easy to use integration tool for the contacts, that allow the users to export their contacts on the phone to the Skype application.

The Skype application for Nokia phones is said to be compatible with all current generation Nokia cell phones that are running the latest version of Symbian operating system. Some of these handsets are, Nokia E71, Nokia N96, Nokia N85, Nokia 5320, Nokia 6210 Navigator, Nokia 6220 classic, Nokia N78, Nokia N79, Nokia E63, Nokia E66, Nokia N82, Nokia E51, Nokia N95, Nokia N95 8Gb, Nokia N81, Nokia N81 8 Gb, Nokia E90, Nokia E72, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, Nokia N97, Nokia N97 mini, Nokia X6, Nokia 5530.

According to Jo Harlow (Sr. V.P, Smartphones, Nokia),

“Symbian is enabling us to bring smartphones to more and more people and ensures scale for our solutions and compelling services, such as Skype. We’re seeing around 1.5 million downloads a day through Ovi Store now and believe that the Skype client for Nokia smartphones increases the amount of downloads further.”

Via Nokia Conversations

Since the launch of the Nokia Ovi Music Store, service has been proved extremely useful for users to explore new music and artists and has been widely used by numerous music enthusiasts across the globe. However, one of the major drawbacks of this service was the DRM (Digital Rights Management), that came with the downloaded tracks, wherein these tracks were confined to a single handset or a single computer. This created a lot of uncomfortable situations for the users, as the downloaded could not be played on any other device.

However, now it seems Nokia has finally addressed this concern and is well on its way to make its global Ovi Music Store, a one stop destination for music lovers, without the DRM garbage, as the company has announced that, it would now be offering downloadable music via the service, absolutely DRM free. Nokia has already made the Ovi Maps a completely free service and with the removal of the DRM restrictions, the Ovi Store could soon become a very happening hot spot for Nokia handset users.

Nokia had already switched to the DRM free Ovi Music Store in Russia in the month of November last year and with the addition of Nokia India Music Store to the list of DRM free services, the company’s efforts for expansion in some of the most lucrative mobile phone markets in the world, such as India could very well succeed in a a short time.

According to Nokia,

“Nokia Music will soon become Ovi Music. This means all the tracks you download will be DRM-free, MP3 files that you can now play on a PC, Mac or any personal music player! Plus, as part of the change to Ovi, we’ve enhanced our search capability so it’s easier than ever to find the music you want.”

Via The Symbian Blog

One of the foremost and the most vocal advocate of environment conservation, Greenpeace has releases the results for its much anticipates ‘Guide to Greener Electronics’. This one of a kind environmental scoring is conducted on 18 of the biggest names in the field of computer hardware and mobile phone manufacturing and the organization’s efforts to rank these entities since the year 2006, has brought been quite fruitful in its crusade to save the environment.

The three major criterion that must be met by the companies to pass this environmental audit are some of the most basic ones that some companies have been following. As per Greenpeace demands, the manufactures need to reduce to eradicate the use of harmful material in their products, the companies need to take the responsibility for recycling the obsolete products and most importantly the firms should ensure that their operation shave the most minimal impact on the environment.

Here is the list of of the the companies that were evaluated by Greenpeace along with their scores

• Nokia took the first place with 7.3 pts in the Greenpeace ‘Guide to Greener Electronics’ audit, as the company earned points for reducing toxic usage, but lost points on energy.

• Sony Ericsson came second with 6.9 pts  for reducing to toxic usage, but fell short in the recycling department.

• Toshiba grabbed the third sport with 5.3 pts for reduction in the use of toxic materials.

• Philips got 5.3 pts, losing points due to its inability to spread the word about the systematic phase out of hazardous substance in legislation.

• Apple settles with  5.1 pts for its reduction of toxic substances and e-waste criteria.

• LG Electronics grabbed with 5.1 pts, due to its postponing of the toxics phase out.

• Sony got 5.1 pts due to lack of support for the stronger chemicals legislation.

• Motorola saved face with 5.1 pts, and lost points due to the same reason as that of Sony.

• Samsung settled for 5.1 pts, due to its failure of phasing out of the hazardous substances.

• Panasonic got 4.9 pts, mainly due to the e-waste and recycling. However, the company remained at the top in terms of energy.

• HP received 4.7 pts for support for global emissions reduction.

• Acer got 4.5 pts which remained just as that of the last audit.

• Sharp received 4.5 pts mainly due to its lack of information on toxics elimination.

• Dell got 3.9 pts for its reduction in carbon emissions.

• Fujitsu received 3.5 pts, better than the last time,  due to the reduction in carbon emissions.

• Lenovo got 2.5 pts, due to its delay in the toxics phase out.

• Microsoft received 2.4 pts due to its failure towards the support of strong chemicals legislation.

• Nintendo was given the black eye with 1.4 pts and the last place, as the company’s scores remained the same the last audit.

Via Eco Geek & Greenpeace

The phenomenon of mind control isn’t something that is seen everyday and the term is largely associated with negativity as mind control is mostly associated with coercion and forced persuasion. However, the prospects of mind control are now evolving from their devious intentions to that of entertainment, as is proven by the all new game developed by NeuroSky exclusively for Nokia N97. The Brain Maze game for the Nokia N97 has been designed and developed to ascertain the directions provided by the brain and in combination with the NeuroSky Mindset Headset. This all new state of the art gaming headset allows a user to control the game via brain interaction.

The Brian Maze mobile game has been designed and developed specifically for the Nokia N97 and is completely compatible with the NeuroSky mindset headset. The idea behind this revolutionary technology is to explore the possibilities of controlling games and programs, by simply putting your mind to it, thus making them absolutely hands free. The users playing Brain Maze would first have to achieve a state of concentration, either by mediation or by attention, thus making their brains adapt to control the game.

Via The Nokia Review & Nokia Forums

Nokia, which is one of the biggest and foremost names in the world of mobile and smart phones has reportedly filed an all new patent in the U.S Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO), according to which the Finnish handset manufacturing giant is planning to begin work on a radical new idea for smart phones. As per this innovative thought, we could might see the future Nokia models wit flexible displays, meaning that the users will be able to change the shape of the phone as per their choice and needs and the phone would perform a number of tasks, judging by the shape pf the display.

The theory behind this one of a kind creative move is to enable the consumers use shortcuts for various just by folding the display of their Nokia phones. For example, if a users creates the shape of a can with the flexible display, the device would immediately recognize the pattern and locate the nearest bar or pub for the user. In another instance, the shape of a bowl would would in turn make the device display list of restaurants in the vicinity of an user. Turn the display into the form of a wheel and the phone would provide directions for the nearest gas station.

About two years ago, Nokia announced its intentions of creating a smart phone, based on the principles of morphing, that would include nano technology and the device would be able to take any shape and could be extended to any lengths the users could imagine. As per the patent filed by Nokia,

“A user interface and a device incorporating such user interface having a flexible screen capable of being small and mobile while still allowing several user actions to be taken is desirable.”

Via Slashgear & Go Rumors

Folks at the Greenpeace have been trying very hard to convince the electronic companies to get rid of toxic chemicals while producing the electronic items. They have been encouraging these companies to make products, which are free of the worst hazardous substances. At the CES 2010, Greenpeace has just released their latest edition of the Guide to Greener Electronics, which showed Apple, Sony Ericsson and Nokia as the leading examples of producing chemical free gadgets.

The latest company to join them is HP, which was targeted big time by Greenpeace in 2009 for failing to adhere to the norms of producing chemical free products. The good news is HP has come up with the industry’s first Microsoft Windows based desktop to be free of brominated flame retardants and polyvinyl chloride right from the wall to the mouse itself. This is such a welcome change. On the other hand, Samsung still fails to stick by the rules proposed by Greenpeace.

Apparently, Samsung has imposed January 2011 as the deadline for producing toxic free new models of notebooks and. At present they only have their latest mobile phones as the examples of toxic free products. Interestingly, they haven’t cited any definite deadline of producing toxic free TVs and other household items. I wonder why Samsung is playing such a spoilsport by defying the good rules.

Via: Tumblr

The environmental protection group Greenpeace launched yesterday in the international Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the 14th edition of its Guide to Greener Electronics shows that companies which take care of the environment to stop using hazardous chemicals in their products.

In a press conference, Casey Harrell, a spokesman for Greenpeace, said he believes it’s time to talk less and do more for the removal of toxic chemicals. The companies that were better qualified, according to the ranking, were Apple, Sony Ericsson and Nokia.

Apple was even better the company listed in the list, achieving top marks in its line of products, including computers, notebooks, monitors and mobile phones, all free of BRFs (flame-retardants brominated) and PVC plastic.

Harrell said Greenpeace does not want companies to create one or two environmentally friendly products, but to change its entire lines to fit. For the group, they should support the creation of legal prohibitions to end the use of any toxic substances in electronics.

The world press agency Agence France-Presse says that, during the fair, many companies try to prove that products are environmentally friendly. Among them, the new mini notebook Sony’s Vaio W Series, which features a plastic chassis made from recycled CDs and also a case of recycled plastic made from bottles.

Via: Greenpeace.

If you had been wondering which is the latest controversy in the Corporate World, it has got something to do with Nokia. Nokia has made a complaint to the International Trade Commission (ITC) of the United States against Apple! Apparently, Apple violates all the patents that Nokia has registered. It includes not just phones, but also portable music players and computers.

User interfaces, cameras, satellite technology and power management are some of the areas which are in use by Apple but were originally conceived by Nokia. It is not clear how the alleged patent infringement case would end, and it is likely that there would be an off the scene agreement between the two companies.

Interestingly Apple had sued Nokia too, and the disputes may involve millions of dollars and may hurt both of them. Apple has declined to comment but we can sort of imagine what might happen when it comes to courts and infringements. However, it is unlikely that any outcome would affect consumers, unless the case is very strongly towards Nokia and that is not likely to happen.

Via: Technologia

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Mozilla has said that the Fennec, the Firefox version for mobile phones, is “a few days” the launch of its first official release.

In a BBC interview, the vice president of mobile for Mozilla, Jay Sullivan, said the mobile browser is undergoing final tests and can be launched before the end of the year. The Fennec initially operates only in tablet N900, Nokia. Mozilla, however, said it has begun the development it for Windows Mobile and Android.

A Fennec version for iPhone should take a long time due to the traditional restrictions imposed by Apple in the development of some programs for the platform, said the executive.

Besides the possibility of being downloaded from the Mozilla site, Fennec will also be offered by the Nokia mobile applications store, Ovi, according to Sullivan.

The Fennec is being developed by Mozilla since the first half of 2008 and the first test versions were released between the end of last year and earlier this year. Statement made at the beginning of the project showed that the Fennec has an interface with the initial User’s bookmarks alongside a big symbol which opens new pages.

Each time the button is pressed, the interface moves away to accommodate all open pages. Commands are found at the bottom of the screen to access services like Delicious and Google Maps.

Image credit.

Via: BBC.

It seems that, the immense craze that is currently going on with Google’s mobile operating system, Google Android, seems to be not having any effect on the consumers in Europe, where even with a great deal of advertisements, regarding the mobile powered by Google Android, the consumers still prefer to stick to the more conventional Symbian and Java based handsets. The revelation was brought on by a survey conducted by the research firm IDC.

According to Francisco Jeronimo (Analyst, IDC),

“Consumers steer clear of Google’s OS and sell-out is below everyone’s expectations. Consumers recognize the Google brand, but still do not understand what Android is. The lack of devices available didn’t help to raise awareness, though this is expected to change, with more handsets from LG, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, and other vendors hitting the market soon.”

Google is still waiting to launch the updated version of the Android in the year 2010, which is Google Android 2.0 and with the consistent arrival of ever evolving new mobile phones, consumers might even shy away from the Android, because of the delay in the new Android version.

One of the major mobile operating systems, Symbian OS which is most widely used by one of the leading mobile phone manufacturers, Nokia has still maintained its grip on the market, especially in Western Europe with 48% of the market under its belt.

Via Reuters.