The Nokia X3 is a slider-style cell phone with an FM radio, clock, calendar, organizer, Internet access, access to the Nokia OVI store, size converter, temperature converter, currency converter, world clock, Flickr access, a collection of games, a 3.2 megapixel camera and a few more nifty things besides.

Like I said, this is a great phone with lots of options–the radio’s got some pretty good reach to it–but the design is one I don’t much care for.  The radio scans for channels five hundredths of a frequency at a time.  So if you want to tune from 99.3 to 99.8, you’ll have to go from 99.35 to 99.40 and so on until you get there.  No scrolling, either–just one button press after another.  The keypad also has some ridges between keys to separate them.  I find they get in the way more than help.

But all things considered, the Nokia X3 is a great cell phone.

The Good

Lots of features

Good function

Good sound

Good camera

The Bad

Ham-fisted design

Frequency trolling on the radio is a kludge

Score 8 / 10

Source:mobilewhack.com

Source:mobilewhack.com

The v20 of the firmware for Nokia N97 has some notable improvements, such as: better touch screen usability; inclusion of Ovi Maps 3.1 with 3D maps; Nokia Email; improved battery performance and video stability; and VoIP support among other details.

To get the update just launch the Nokia Software updater, or you can also download it via this link.

Source:mobilewhack.com

Just a few months ago, I was browsing Everythingn82.com and stumbled into a post claiming that taking macro videos with a Nokia N82 is possible! Just open the camera, and HIT somewhere near the camera lens cover to enable it. What? I can’t just “hit” my precious phone! Let alone the camera. Intrigued, worried but I still tried it, very carefully. Several times, but nothing happened. There were no satisfying user replies on the post that time, so I assumed the idea was just a joke of some sort.

Until last week, I read about it again, this time an article by Mr. X of FinestFones. Which pointed me to a thread on Symbian-Freak. Turns out the idea is correct, and a handful of users confirmed that it works. I was kinda skeptical to try it again but one of the users suggested a more convincing way to do it instead of hitting the camera. So I gave it another shot. And the result is awesome! It works indeed, I was very pleased. Here’s a sample video I took in close-up mode with my N82:

DISCLAIMER: DO AT YOUR OWN RISK. I have not experienced any problems (yet) but that doesn’t mean you won’t either. The camera module is one of the many sensitive parts of your nokia device. Trying this may lead to unwanted results, as the steps involved abnormally regulate the sensors with applied force. It may also affect other electronic parts of your device, so please be warned.

As suggested by one of the SF users, here’s how I did it.

1. Activate the camera, and make sure it is in video mode.
2. Have a good hold on the lower part of your phone (like the way you would hold a credit card).
3. Carefully slap the phone against the palm of your other hand. You don’t need to apply too much force. With your right hand supporting the lower part, along with minimal force, just let the weight of the phone fall against your left hand with the camera facing your palm. This should now activate macro mode and ready for recording..

You can also opt to be on a much safer side (or at least, it *looks* safer) by doing the “slap” in a faster manner, then stop right before the phone hits your palm, creating a sudden deceleration. Be careful though as your phone might slip off your hand during the process.

Again, do at your own risk. I was pleased to know that it really is possible with the N82, as well as other nseries devices like the N95 and N73. The result is quite remarkable and inviting, but I do not recommend doing this frequently with your device. I would never do it again unless I really need it for something important. Here’s what Mazor of SF has to say about this procedure:

Hmm, this sounds dangerous and I would recommend against doing this to your mobile phone unless you want it to prematurely fail. It sounds like hitting the back of your phone puts momentum force onto the moving lens, which is driven by a motor that control focus into its extreme point. While it may sound harmless, one is actually forcing the focus motor to rotate, which is bad, and will eventually wear out the motor.

I have tested this on the N93, and this does not work, as it seems there is 2 motors in the N93, one that controls focus and one that controls optical zoom. I suspect the linkage of this motors in the N93 is a screw drive approach which is why it would be affected as easily from external impacts on the optical unit.

I wish Nokia would grant this to our phone on next firmware updates. I doubt its presence on the just released firmware for the N82. Automatic focusing on videos would be awesome, but I would be very very contented even with initial focus only.

So, have you tried this trick already? What do you think? Any better suggestions? Or have you experienced any troubles caused by this workaround yet? I would like to hear your thoughts about it..

Source:then82blog.com

The makers of Shozu have integrated Facebook into their popular application, making it easy to upload photos to your “Wall” and albums, either on the spot or after the photo is taken or later when you get a chance. I’ve tested this out over the past few weeks and so far it works very good.

If you don’t have Shozu already get it from www.shozu.com or m.shozu.com from your N82′s browser. To set up Facebook with Shozu you must have access to the PC version and login to your Shozu account.

Follow all the correct steps, then let the application on your device set up everything properly. After that you should be good to go.

As you can see in the second screenshot you can also update your Facebook status and view your friend’s status. I don’t think their is a way to comment on other people’s status right now with the Shozu applicaton.

Do you keep up with Facebook from your Nokia device? What methods to are your favorite? Have you tried uploading photos to Facebook with Shozu?

Source:then82blog.com