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

Overview of Gravity’s Features:

• Compatible with Twitter and Laconica
• All functions available on your S60 phone: tweet, reply, DM, follow & unfollow, create favourites, search, auto-update and many more …
• Tabbed view of your Timeline, Replies, Messages, Friends, …
• Setup and use as many accounts as you want at the same time
• Twitter-Search section with multiple search tabs and Twitter Trends
• Post pictures via TwitPic
• Open URLs from any Tweet
• Kinetic scrolling on S60v5 ( Nokia 5800 and Nokia N97 )
• Theme support on S60v3 ( fixed dark and bright theme )

Having Gravity installed on your Nokia N82 really enhances the Twitter experience. I’ve reached more friends and gained more followers because I’m able to be online more often. Many readers from this blog follow me and ask me questions about their N82 throughout the day.

With that said – Gravity is probably the best $10 I’ve ever spend on an application for my smartphone. That’s right – it isn’t free but that is fine with me. It has been worth every penny. It comes with a nice and long full trial. If I remember right it’s 10 days.

One last thing I’d like to mention is the battery use of Gravity. I had it running for 6 straight hours today, sent about 15 texts, 10 minutes of calls, 10 minutes of browsing, and tons of tweets. Only lost about 2 bars in that time.

Click here to learn more about Gravity.

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter. If you’d like to connect with fellow N82+Twitter users leave your usernames below.

Source:then82blog.com

I knew there was already an application called Timebar, but this app was unsigned. I hate dealing with unsigned apps so I’ve been on the lookout for one that you can install without any problems. This is where FreeTimeBox comes in to rescue us. I’ve had it installed on my N82 for a few weeks and have come to rely on it. Great thing is this application is already signed!

For some reason I cannot take screenshots for examples, the time doesn’t show up on the image after I take it. Below is how it looks on my Nokia E71…

If you’re wondering why I’m not showing you how it looks on the N82 it’s because I took the picture with my N82. If I try to take a picture of the N82 with my E71 it looks like utter crap. E71 camera sucks. Right now the N82 is the only good camera I have.

Say you don’t want the time to show up on a certain application. For instance it automatically shows on the homescreen. Obviously I don’t need that. Go into the settings and you can “blacklist” certain applications. To find this setting go to Settings > Time Display > Black/White List Apps.

You can also configure the position of the clock (if you want it on the top that works too!), which pre-installed font is used, the font size, color, bold, italic, opacity, background color, seconds, time format, and a whole lot of sync settings. I’m unsure exactly what the sync settings do. Maybe sync the timezone of your N82 with the current location? I don’t use this feature.

Click here to download and enjoy!

Source:then82blog.com

Google App For Mobile

If you already use Google applications like Gmail, Maps, Youtube, the Reader website, etc on your N82 then the official Google Mobile App is for you. What is does is creates shortcuts to all the applications you use in one place and also gives you opportunity to search Google and launch your web browser. Use the delete key from the homescreen to open the screen above for quick access to your Google shortcuts and Search.

Google Maps For N82

Google Maps for Mobile has been updated in a huge way. They have now implemented something called Layers which lets you add layers of information on top of the maps. This includes traffic alerts & incident reports, points of interest with wikipedia information, and especially cool is your own maps that you’ve added from your PC. Below is an example from Google of how My Maps works for mobile.

Layers on the Map: Latitude locations + My Map

Since my wife and I love participating in cycle touring events on our tandem bike, we thought our challenge for this year — 1500 KM of riding in Audax UK’s Super Randonneur Series — would make for a great environment to test the Layers functionality while on the go.

The first thing we wanted to try was My Maps. This feature on Google Maps on desktop becomes even more useful with the ability to access them from my phone. We’re not alone in wanting this — it’s the fifth most requested feature on the Google Mobile Product Ideas page. It was great to trace bike routes and add places to stop on the computer, add the My Maps layer in Maps for mobile with a few clicks, and see them up on my Nokia S60 handset from our bike.

Seems cool right? I’m personally loving the new version of Google Maps.

Youtube Application For The N82

Youtube for the N82 has been updated to run faster and smoother. I showed this application to you awhile back ago, so if you haven’t updated be sure to get it done. It’s a real Youtube application in the native Symbian .sis format, not a watered down web version.

Get The Latest Applications

To get all these updates visit http://m.google.com/maps for your N82’s browser.

To learn more about this from your pc visit this link.

Source:then82blog.com

1. Open the message you want to copy from
2. Options > Forward. This will give you a chance to copy and modify the text in that message.
3. Hold down the # key and highlight the text you want. While holding down # push the copy key and now it’s on the clip board.
4. Go to your web browser or email that you need to paste the text in and once again hold down the # key and push paste.
5. Go back and delete the forward message you were creating.

Source:mobyuniverse.wordpress.com