Nokia Beta Labs have released another update for the Ovi Maps 3.06. The latest update allow you to check-in to Foursquare and Qype. It also have a new feature. For now, you have the ability to add a public place!

• New! Support for Foursquare and Qype! – check in to Foursquare as you check in with us and share where you’re at and what you’re up to on your favourite social networks. Our list keeps growing! You may need to match the place on Ovi for us to the corresponding one on Foursquare or Qype, but we’ll remember that link. Next time you check into the same place you won’t have to do that anymore.
• New! Adding a public place - you’re one Check in away from becoming mayor at your favorite coffee place but Ovi doesn’t know it yet? Add it with a few simple steps and you’re ready to Check in. Once it’s been reviewed everyone else will be able to find it in Maps, too.

Oh and you don't have to download the latest version of Ovi Maps 3.06. You will have to wait for up to 12 hours to get the new Social Networks fetched by your phone.

And here are the know issues for this update:
New Check in translations: Some languages contain fairly bad translations. We’re aware of issues in Greek, German and Finnish so far. Let us know if you see any other translations that don’t make sense!

New Qype check in: Qype has a 3-minute time limitation for a second checkin in that timeframe. If you don’t wait at least 3 minutes until your next check in, it will fail.

New Check in: If you’re trying to post to a location-based social network (Foursquare, Qype) and that network doesn’t know any places for the area your in, checking in will fail for that network with a generic error message. Retrying won’t help :-) we’re working on a more accurate error message for this case. Sometimes private check in fails and pressing the “Retry” button claims that all posts have gone through, even though nothing was posted after all.

New LiveJournal or Hyves: When you add a LiveJournal or Hyves account, only the username can be used (the text incorrectly claims that your email address also works).

New Doing your first Foursquare & Qype checkin: Please be aware that it might be the case that you have to wait up to 12 hours to get the new Social Networks fetched by your phone.



Head on at Nokia Beta Labs and give your feedback. It's important for them to improve Ovi Maps. ;)

In case you didn't noticed, there is a new update available for your Symbian^3 phone named Quick search update. It is categorized as a recommended update. To get the latest update, open Menu > Applications > SW update. 

Alright! This is the first tip that I will post here on our blog. Here you go!

    "Did you know the alarm will still sound even when your phone is switched off? So power down, save your battery, and relax - your phone will still wake you in the morning."

Be sure that the active profile is not set to "Silent" mode. If so, your phone will still alarm but you'll not hear it.

What can you say about this tip? Did you know this? Let us know on the comments section below.

Ovi Maps 3.06 is now already on it's final build and brings major updates and new features. The latest version is v3.06 10wk50 b12.

There are new software updates available for your Nokia N8 and other Symbian^3 phones, too. To get the latest updates, open Menu > Applications > SW update.

Status: 14th Feb 2011

The release schedule for N8 PR1.1 is attached as an Excel file.

To check the Software Update availability for your phone, please first search for your country and then have a look for your specific productcode. (Your productcode information can be found by typing *#0000# on your N8.)

Status "Published" means that the software update is available for download

• via your N8 (use Menu > Applications > SW Update > tick N8-00 Device Update and then follow the on screen prompts) or
• via PC (connect your phone via USB and use OviSuite).

 If you need more instructions just post here and we'll assist you.

Status "In creation" means your version is currently with our software teams and we will release it in week07. We can't give a specific day here, but you can switch on the automatic software update check in your phone (via Menu > Applications > SW Update > Options > Settings > Auto-check for updates) and your N8 will prompt you as soon as the new software is available.

Head on to Nokia Support Discussions to know more and download the file.

Source: http://discussions.europe.nokia.com/t5/Software-Updates/Official-Nokia-N8-PR1-1-Software-Release-Schedule/td-p/923407

Engadget posted the first ever Nokia Windows Phone 7 concept and it do really look sexy! Maybe it will be the successor of the sexy Nokia C7. Are you gonna get one in case Nokia will develop this concept device? Let us know on the comments section below.

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/11/exclusive-nokias-windows-phone-7-concept-revealed/

GLOBAL – Today in London, our two companies announced plans for a broad strategic partnership that combines the respective strengths of our companies and builds a new global mobile ecosystem. The partnership increases our scale, which will result in significant benefits for consumers, developers, mobile operators and businesses around the world. We both are incredibly excited about the journey we are on together.

While the specific details of the deal are being worked out, here’s a quick summary of what we are working towards:

• Nokia will adopt Windows Phone as its primary smartphone strategy, innovating on top of the platform in areas such as imaging, where Nokia is a market leader.

• Nokia will help drive and define the future of Windows Phone. Nokia will contribute its expertise on hardware design, language support, and help bring Windows Phone to a larger range of price points, market segments and geographies.

• Nokia and Microsoft will closely collaborate on development, joint marketing initiatives and a shared development roadmap to align on the future evolution of mobile products.

• Bing will power Nokia’s search services across Nokia devices and services, giving customers access to Bing’s next generation search capabilities. Microsoft adCenter will provide search advertising services on Nokia’s line of devices and services.

• Nokia Maps will be a core part of Microsoft’s mapping services. For example, Maps would be integrated with Microsoft’s Bing search engine and adCenter advertising platform to form a unique local search and advertising experience.

• Nokia’s extensive operator billing agreements will make it easier for consumers to purchase Nokia Windows Phone services in countries where credit-card use is low.

• Microsoft development tools will be used to create applications to run on Nokia Windows Phones, allowing developers to easily leverage the ecosystem’s global reach.

• Microsoft will continue to invest in the development of Windows Phone and cloud services so customers can do more with their phone, across their work and personal lives.

• Nokia’s content and application store will be integrated with Microsoft Marketplace for a more compelling consumer experience.

We each bring incredible assets to the table. Nokia’s history of innovation in the hardware space, global hardware scale, strong history of intellectual property creation and navigation assets are second to none. Microsoft is a leader in software and services; the company’s incredible expertise in platform creation forms the opportunity for its billions of customers and millions of partners to get more out of their devices.

Together, we have some of the world’s most admired brands, including Windows, Office, Bing, Xbox Live, NAVTEQ and Nokia. We also have a shared understanding of what it takes to build and sustain a mobile ecosystem, which includes the entire experience from the device to the software to the applications, services and the marketplace.

Today, the battle is moving from one of mobile devices to one of mobile ecosystems, and our strengths here are complementary. Ecosystems thrive when they reach scale, when they are fueled by energy and innovation and when they provide benefits and value to each person or company who participates. This is what we are creating; this is our vision; this is the work we are driving from this day forward.

There are other mobile ecosystems. We will disrupt them.

There will be challenges. We will overcome them.

Success requires speed. We will be swift.

Together, we see the opportunity, and we have the will, the resources and the drive to succeed.

Source: http://conversations.nokia.com/2011/02/11/open-letter-from-ceo-stephen-elop-nokia-and-ceo-steve-ballmer-microsoft/

After the Angry Birds Seasons update, the classic Angry Birds also got an update to version 1.4.3. Again, just open up the Angry Birds and tap the update button and you will be redirected to the update page.

UPDATE:
It seems this version only brings bug fixes as no new levels has been added. I will update this post if the 1.5 update is already out.

I just checked if the update for Angry Birds Seasons is now available and to my surprise, it is now available! Just open up Angry Birds Seasons and tap the update button and you will be redirected to the update page.