Meet CTB Nokia E6 Giveaway Winner!

I dropped by at a coffee shop in Parkmall in Mandaue City this morning to handover the prize to the lucky winner of our Nokia E6 Giveaway.



CTB friends, meet Ms. Bebie Cuyos Salvado! Her real name is Jocet Cuyos Salvado and she is from Medellin, Cebu. She is currently working at Lexmark International and though not exactly a regular reader of Cebu Tech Blogger – she actually have learned about the blog for over a year already.

The Nokia E6 is her first smartphone so it’s a bit overwhelming she can now experience Symbian to a whole new level. Nokia E6 is rocking Symbian Anna by the way, the latest version of the Symbian platform available today. Again, congratulations! And a sincere thanks to Nokia Philippines for sponsoring the contest! ‘Till next time…



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And the Nokia E6 Winner Is…

Thanks to all who joined this giveaway and as scheduled, CTB will announce today the lucky winner.

(Drum roll, please…) So we already have our official winner for the Nokia E6 giveaway, and it’s none other than…



Phew… Better you check the video after the break.





Now, you know. It’s Bebie Cuyos Salvado!



Congratulations for winning the world’s first Symbian Anna smartphone!



Please send me a PM on Facebook or drop an email to bertpadilla[you-know-what-is-this]gmail[you-also-know-this]com for instructions on how to claim your prize… And oh, don't forget to prepare yourself for a photo-shoot! Perhaps, Nokia is excited to see you holding its gorgeous device! Seriously, yeah -- we'll have a photo-shoot. Again, congratulations!



Of course, a sincere thanks to Nokia Phillippines for sponsoring this contest.



CTB plans to launch more giveaways in the future, so I suggest you free up your ports for our pings to receive the latest updates. You may subscribe either by E-mail or by RSS Feeds. Follow me also on Twitter.

Intel Gearing Up for Tizen, Says Goodbye to MeeGo

MeeGo, an open source mobile OS collaborated by Intel and Nokia to merge Moblin and Maemo projects is now partially dead.

As Nokia abandoned the MeeGo project to Intel in favor of Microsoft’s Windows Phone, the chip maker has decided to transition MeeGo to another open source project called Tizen.

We believe the future belongs to HTML5-based applications, outside of a relatively small percentage of apps, and we are firmly convinced that our investment needs to shift toward HTML5. Shifting to HTML5 doesn't just mean slapping a web runtime on an existing Linux, even one aimed at mobile, as MeeGo has been. Emphasizing HTML5 means that APIs not visible to HTML5 programmers need not be as rigid, and can evolve with platform technology and can vary by market segment.

Like MeeGo, the Tizen project is being administered by The Linux Foundation and is designed to support multiple device categories, including Tablets, Netbooks, Handsets, Smart TV, and In-Vehicle Infotainment systems.



Intel partners this time include Samsung, ACCESS, Panasonic Mobile, NEC Casio, NTT DoCoMo, SK Telecom, Telefonica, and Vodafone.



Nokia however, has already released its first MeeGo handset – the Nokia N9. And the first release of Tizen and its SDK is expected in the first quarter of 2012. [via]

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Nokia N9 Philippines Price and Release Update

Our friends over at Espoo just announced the Nokia N9 is already heading to stores starting today, of course with an expected landfall in the Philippines soil, well, if I have to throw a wild guess -- sometime in October.

Just in case you missed it, the Nokia N9 is a Meego-powered smartphone announced during this year’s Nokia Connection event in Singapore. It’s the first handset I’ve ever seen to feature an all-screen display in the frontage, that is, a 3.9-inch AMOLED display without a Home button. It got a pretty decent 8MP shooter with Carl Zeiss lens, 1GB RAM, an optional 16/64GB storage, and 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor and PowerVR SGX530 GPU packed in an OMAP3630 chipset. Also under its hood include the 3G radio, aGPS, Wi-Fi, USB OTG, NFC capabilities, front camera, and 1450mAh power source – all housed in a polycarbonate unibody construction.



Nokia N9 Specs



Meego 1.2 Harmattan OS

3.9-inch AMOLED screen @ 854×480 pixels, with curved Gorilla glass

1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 CPU (OMAP3630 chipset)

PowerVR SGX530

1GB RAM

8MP AF Camera with Carl Zeiss, wide-angle lens, dual LED Flash

720p HD video recording @ 30fps with stereo sound

2nd camera for video calls

16GB/64GB internal storage

MicroSD, up to 32GB

3G (HSDPA: Cat10, 14.4 Mbps; HSUPA: Cat6, 5.7 Mbps)

Wi-FI 802.11 a/b/g/n

Bluetooth 2.1

NFC

GPS, A-GPS

MicroUSB v2.0, USB On-the-Go

3.5mm AV jack

116.45- x 61.2- x 7.6-12.1mm

135g

1450mAh battery



The Nokia N9 has Euro price tags of EUR 480 and EUR 560 for 16GB and 64GB, respectively, before applicable taxes or subsidies. So I guess based on the current ex-rates, Nokia Philippines will introduce this handset starting at Php 28,200 for the 16GB variant and Php 33,000 for the 64GB model. We still have to confirm the official prices from our Nokia friends though, at least by now you already have an idea how much to prep to get this device. Stay tuned!

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Help Save the Environment by Downloading WWF-Philippines App on Your Nokia Phone

Where ever you go and whatever you do, saving Mother Nature should be on our top priorities today.

From the research and development of electronic devices we use, to manufacturing, testing and shipping of the final product – it becomes a necessity of the whole process having an innovation that will support the advocacy of saving the environment. And part of that is what Nokia is doing in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature - Philippines (WWF-Philippines).



As a response to the call to conserve the environment and its endangered species, Nokia has partnered with World Wide Fund for Nature - Philippines to bring you the WWF-Philippines app, an application which “comes with a fun yet educational game to entertain mobile phone users while helping them learn more about local endangered species.” So how exactly Nokia help the World Wide Fund for Nature, you ask? Well, through monetary assistance. For every download of the WWF-Philippines app, Nokia will be donating P10 to WWF-Philippines to support its local programmes. Of course, that wouldn’t happen if you’re not going to take part of the cause.



So if you got a Nokia handset like the Nokia 5230, Nokia 5233, Nokia 5250, Nokia 5530 XpressMusic, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, Nokia C5-03, Nokia C6, Nokia C6-01, Nokia C7, Nokia E63, Nokia E7, Nokia E71, Nokia E72, Nokia N8, Nokia N97, Nokia N97 mini, Nokia X6, and Nokia X7 – you may want to head over to the Nokia Store and download the WWF-Philippines app. It’s a free app after all so I guess it’s worth a try.



Click to Read Press Release

Do your share in saving the Philippine environment through your Nokia phone



Now more than ever, the call to conserve the environment and its endangered species has never been more strongly amplified and seriously pursued. People and organizations around the world are pooling their efforts and resources to bring these significant endeavors to fruition so that future generations might still enjoy a green and habitable planet. Nokia, the world’s No. 1 mobile phone brand, drives environmental and social responsibility initiatives across all areas of its operations.



Its most recent effort is a partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature - Philippines (WWF-Philippines), the local office of the world’s largest conservation organization. WWF-Philippines was founded in 1997 to spearhead efforts in the conservation of endangered species and threatened habitats throughout the country. Nokia and WWF-Philippines collaborated to launch the WWF-Philippines app for Nokia phones – aimed at raising public awareness on various efforts towards conservation, environmental education and climate change action in the Philippines .



“Nokia’s partnership with WWF-Philippines signifies the company’s unwavering commitment to this important advocacy. With this educational app, Nokia will help spread the word on environment awareness and species conservation to its growing number of users here and around the world,” said Rhomel Marcojos, senior services marketing manager of Nokia Philippines .



The partnership is likewise a vital effort for WWF-Philippines in its pursuit to reach out to more people. “WWF-Philippines is constantly looking for new ways to help Filipinos understand how crucial it is to conserve the range of species and ecosystems here in our country,“ explained Lory Tan, chief executive officer and vice chairman of the board of trustees of WWF-Philippines. “Apart from maintaining our incomparably rich biodiversity, conservation allows us to work with communities to sustain the productive areas that we depend on for our basic needs.”



“Our partnership with Nokia has made it possible for us to reach millions of mobile phone users across the Philippines , and for those users to help WWF in its work here simply by downloading the app,” he added.



The WWF-Philippines app comes with a fun yet educational game to entertain mobile phone users while helping them learn more about local endangered species. Expect local species like the butanding (whale shark), pawikan (sea turtle), dugong (sea cow), Calamian deer, mouse deer, Philippine crocodile, Philippine eagle, tarsier, true giant clam, and warty pig to engage you in an exciting game that will keep you entertained and enlightened at the same time.



With this partnership as well, Nokia is extending financial assistance to WWF-Philippines. For every download of the WWF-Philippines app, Nokia will be donating P10 to WWF-Philippines to support its local programmes.



Let your Nokia phones be a valuable tool in helping save the environment and protect our local endangered species. The free app is now available for download from the Nokia Ovi Store on the following Nokia handsets: Nokia 5230, Nokia 5233, Nokia 5250, Nokia 5530 XpressMusic, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, Nokia C5-03, Nokia C6, Nokia C6-01, Nokia C7, Nokia E63, Nokia E7, Nokia E71, Nokia E72, Nokia N8, Nokia N97, Nokia N97 mini, Nokia X6, and Nokia X7.



Download the WWF-Philippines app now by going to www.store.ovi.com and searching for WWF Philippines or go directly to http://store.mobi.com/content/137635 using your mobile phone.

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Forget About Ovi, We’ll Use “Nokia” Starting Today

That’s right! Starting today, we’ll be using the “Nokia” branding in all products and services related to Ovi.



We can recall back in May that Nokia announced its plans to discontinue the Ovi brand and will go into rebranding all services under the main and more popular “Nokia” brand. Though this move won’t disrupt the entire service roadmaps, what this means is simply a rebranding. That is, your favorite applications like Ovi Maps will be called Nokia Maps, the Ovi Store will become Nokia Store, the Ovi Mail to become Nokia Mail, and etc. Of course that will also mean replacing Ovi logos with just Nokia.

Ovi Store Renamed to Nokia Store

This transition has already begun in July and Nokia said it’s expected to be completed by end of this year. In fact, when I visited the Ovi Store earlier today – I noticed it has already been renamed to Nokia Store and the Ovi logo was replaced as well. I’m pretty sure the site’s URL will soon redirect to a new one sans the word “ovi”.



So as early as now, I encourage you to make use of the new brand name for anything Ovi-related to avoid confusion. To be honest, I find it quite hard to explain to non-techie people what is “Ovi” and how it is associated to the phone maker, so I’m glad to see Nokia centralizing its services and unifying its identity just under a single brand. Nokia, that is.

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Microsoft Apps Coming to Symbian This Q4

I think you got to believe that despite switching to Windows Phone for its future high-end handsets, Nokia won’t abandon Symbian fans out there that have been using the platform for years.

In fact, as a proof for its plans to push more updates in the future and continue providing software support until at least 2016, Nokia will bring Microsoft Apps to Symbian. These Microsoft Apps would be delivered as a software update to Symbian Belle handsets sometime in Q4 of this year. And if you’re wondering what apps you can expect on this update, these are actually free business productivity tools, majority of which were not included in Nokia’s business-centric smartphones like the Nokia E6 (which we are giving away!), including:

• Microsoft Lync 2010 Mobile – for cost efficient IM, presence, audio and web meetings on-the-go.


• Microsoft PowerPoint Broadcast – quick broadcast of presentations directly from PC to mobile.


• Microsoft OneNote – rich note taking with images. Syncs with Microsoft SkyDrive.


• Microsoft Document Connection – single view to documents stored on mobile, including email attachments as well as documents on Microsoft SharePoint 2010 sites.

And early next year, Nokia says it will release another update to Microsoft Apps for Symbian Belle, particularly Microsoft OneNote sync with SharePoint; and the Finnish phone maker will also make Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint as native apps in the Symbian platform, the first time in history that these MS Office applications run outside MS Windows.



I, myself, wanted to get my hands on my first Symbian Belle device and am honestly pretty much excited about this. How about you?

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Highest Average Downloads Per App Goes to Nokia Ovi Store, 160 Percent More than Apple App Store

The stats say it all; Nokia has lesser number of applications on its Ovi Store compared to Apple App Store.



With more than 1 billion downloads to date, the total number of approved iOS apps has already reached the 500K mark; while that of Symbian platform is still trailing less than tenth of Apple’s figure. But is it really a bad thing for Nokia? Well, not always, according to German-based research firm research2guidance. Nokia having fewer apps at its Ovi Store means lower competition between app publishers, and could be an advantage for its apps to be downloaded several times in a day giving the fact that Nokia has large user base. And the same goes to other players like Microsoft and RIM.



Based on previous quarter's results of its smartphone application monitoring report, the firm says “that those applications published on the less popular platforms, such as WP7 marketplace or Blackberry’s AppWorld, generate significantly more downloads compared to the Apple App Store.”

Click to enlarge

From the figure above, the Nokia Ovi Store has received 160% more on average app downloads than Apple App Store. The Windows Phone 7 Marketplace and the BlackBerry AppWorld also received higher average app downloads than Apple App Store with 80% and 43% more, respectively. Apps from Android Market, however, were downloaded daily 5% less than iOS apps in the previous quarter.



Well, seems quite promising for Symbian developers, indeed. But it would have been better if we can see which and what type of apps are being downloaded. Press release follows below.



Click to Read Press Release

Apps On Nokia’s OVI Store Had 2.5 Times Higher Download Numbers In Q2 2011 Compared To Apps on Apple App Store



The “average app” has a better chance to generate downloads on “non-hyped” platforms.



Despite all the hype around the major platforms Android and iOS, publishers are still overlooking the hidden potentials of the niche players. The Q2 2011 results of our smartphone application monitoring report indicate that those applications published on the less popular platforms, such as WP7 marketplace or Blackberry’s AppWorld, generate significantly more downloads compared to the Apple App Store.



Significantly lower competition, yet a sufficiently large user base that desires apps, are the major reasons for this. Symbian still retains, by far, the highest potential user base. Even though its users are incomparably less active than iOS’s heavy downloaders, it still generates significant download volumes to Symbian publishers. This is largely because whilst Apple boasts of its 400,000 apps, the OVI store contains less than a tenth of that number.



Looking into average numbers, the Android Market stands not far behind the Apple App Store. This quarter, the average Android App attracted just 5% less users than iOS. Competition is harsh.



However, going in for very small niche platforms may not be the best idea either. LG World! and Samsung’s App Store are struggling to generate user attention. Although LG has less than 3,000 apps and as a result it is much easier to be discovered there, its user base is just too low.



Although the Symbian platform is seen by some developers to be clumsy and outdated, as well as Nokia’s transition to WP7 which has fuelled discussions as to when Nokia will give up its platform completely, the current status seems to be promising. Recently, Nokia reported the launch of three new Symbian Smartphones and confirmed that these will not be the last of the products, nor updates, to be delivered on Symbian.



Find other important Q2 2011 market developments in the new volume of the research2guidance Smartphone App Market Monitor. The third volume of the report includes a special interest chapter on mobile retail market.

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Create Your Own Version of Nokia Tune And You Could Win $10,000!

Heck who do you think can forget, should I say, the world’s popular message alert and musical ring tone on a mobile phone?

Even if you’ve never owned a Nokia phone ever, I’m pretty sure with the people around you, you can easily recognize the signature of this tune.







That’s what we call the “Nokia Tune”. Do I still need to tell you about that? Well, here’s the primer.



The first phone to carry the Nokia Tune is the Nokia 2110 back in 1994. It originates from the composition “Gran Vals”, by the Spanish classical guitarist and composer Francisco Tárrega. And for the record, the Nokia Tune is played for an estimated 1.8 billion times per day or about 20,000 times per second. I won’t bore you with stats so I guess better straight to the point.J



Create your own version of the Nokia Tune and you could win $10,000



That’s right. Nokia launched a global crowdsourcing campaign to challenge people to get creative and compose their own versions of the iconic Nokia Tune. Entries can be heard, voted on and submitted at http://nokiatune.audiodraft.com.

Nokia, together with AudioDraft, world experts in crowdsourcing audio creation, are looking for a tune that is fresh, expressive, original and creative, yet distinctively Nokia. Entrants are encouraged to experiment with both old and new Nokia Tunes and can also create their own musical parts, sounds and arrangements. The tune should be a maximum of 30 seconds in length and the deadline for submission is October 2, 2011.

Nokia says ten finalists will be selected on October 5, 2011. Five finalists will be selected by public votes ("Likes") and five finalists will be selected by a Nokia and AudioDraft professional jury. The winning tune will be selected by the jury featuring some of the most respected names in the audio branding industry.



An overall winner and five runner-ups will be selected on October 7, 2011. The five runner-ups will be awarded a prize of $1,000 US dollars with their work available for download in Ovi Store. The winner will be awarded a prize of $10,000 US dollars and will be featured in Nokia's Brand Book. The winner’s work will be included in over 100 million Nokia devices and also be available as a free download in Ovi Store.



So if you think you got what it takes to winning this competition, go check this out!

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CTB Gadget Giveaway: Nokia E6!

The Nokia E6 is undeniably one of the hottest handsets today, being the first (together with Nokia X7) to carry the latest and gorgeous Symbian Anna OS.

Designed as a business-centric smartphone, the Nokia E6 features touch functionality as well as full-QWERTY keyboard, together with the standard hardware specs in mid-range category today which include 680 MHz ARM 11 processor with 2D/3D Graphics HW, 1GB of ROM, 256MB of RAM, 8GB internal memory, and most notably for photography enthusiasts – this phone got the best in Nokia’s E-series with an 8MP shooter.



And as we believe this phone has what it takes to be your first Symbian Anna device, CTB will be giving away one (1) Nokia E6 to our friends, loyal readers, and fans! This phone is currently selling at Php 17,820 here in the Philippines, but this can be yours for FREE! Read on for the full mechanics…



CTB Nokia E6 Giveaway Mechanics



How do I join?



• The contest is open to anyone, anywhere in the Philippines.

• To become an eligible participant, one must have an active Facebook account.

• Relatives of CTB editor, Bert Padilla, up to 3rd degree are not allowed to join the contest.



What do I have to do?



The contest will run for 1 month, from September 1 to 30, 2011. Winner(s) will be identified through raffle (see more details below) and will be announced on October 3, 2011 (Monday).



1. Join Cebu Tech Blogger Facebook Fan Page by clicking the Like button below.



2. Join Nokia Philippines on Facebook by clicking the Like button below.



3. Share this contest to your Facebook friends by clicking the Share button below.

Share







4. Go to CTB Facebook discussion page by clicking this link and participate on the topic:



"Name any Application or Game from Nokia Ovi Store that is compatible with Nokia E6, the smartphone running the latest Symbian Anna software."



5. Post the name of the App together with its link to the Ovi Store in the discussion.



Example:



Name: Skype

Link: http://store.ovi.com/content/20924



Name: Chess Lite

Link: http://store.ovi.com/content/33857



Name: Transformers: DOTM – Trailer 2

Link: http://store.ovi.com/content/127005



Name: TF3 – Voicetone 4

Link: http://store.ovi.com/content/144130



You can check more apps from Nokia Ovi Store [Link]; just make sure you select an app compatible with Nokia E6.



• Every comment is equivalent to 1 entry. 1 Entry is equivalent to 1 raffle ticket. Participants can submit up to 5 entries to increase chances of winning, but MAKE SURE ALL ENTRIES ARE UNIQUE (see tip below), that is, you have to name a different application from previous entries. Entries submitted beyond the maximum entries allowed are deemed invalid. You are not allowed to comment more than 5 entries 1 entry on the same day (thanks, damnvixen!). Each entry should be submitted on a different date from September 1 to 30, 2011



• Submitted entries after September 30, 2011 will be deemed invalid.



How will CTB select the winner?



• Each valid entry will be listed in a spreadsheet, powered by Google Docs. The spreadsheet will be made public, with read-only access to participants so you would also be able to track all your entries. [Link here]

• Since you are allowed to submit up to 5 entries, each entry will get a corresponding number in the spreadsheet. Each will also have a corresponding link to your Facebook profile and a link to your entry in CTB Facebook discussion page.

• The corresponding number of your entries may not necessarily be sorted in order. It can be placed before or after other participants’ entries, depending on when you submitted each entry.

• The winner WILL BE DETERMINED by RAFFLING THE NUMBERS OF ALL VALID ENTRIES, using Random.org True Random Number Generator.

• To make it more exciting, CTB will raffle all valid entries 5 times, and the NUMBER GENERATED ON THE FIFTH (5TH) DRAW will be declared as the THE OFFICIAL WINNER.



How do I get my prize?



• Your Nokia E6 may be claimed from Cebu City, Philippines. However, this will depend upon whether the sponsor decides to deliver the prizes of the winner personally or by courier.

• The winner will be notified through their Facebook account. For a reason that a participant is not using his/her real name on FB, CTB will request the winner to verify the account.

• The decision of the judges is final and irrevocable.



Update: Tip for Valid Entries



As mentioned above, please submit UNIQUE APPS or GAMES that are COMPATIBLE with NOKIA E6. “Unique” means the name of app or game hasn’t been submitted already by other participants.



1. To make sure you are submitting unique apps, use the “Find” function in the spreadsheet (Ctrl+F). If your query didn’t return matching entry, then you got a unique app; else, you have to select another app or game.

2. To choose an app or game that is compatible with Nokia E6, select first the phone. To do that, click Select your phone (beside the Language drop-down list in Ovi website). In the Nokia phone Selector, select Full keyboard (since E6 is a QWERTY smartphone). Finally, look for Nokia E6-00, and then click OK.



So, that’s it! If there’s anything unclear for you, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below. Join now!



On behalf of CTB community, we extend our sincere thanks to Nokia Philippines for sponsoring this contest.J

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Nokia’s Create 4 Millions Contest for Developers and Consumers, Now Gives Pinoy Devs a Break

You’re a big fan of Nokia? Whether you’re a developer or an avid consumer of Nokia apps, you’re good to join Nokia’s global competition – Create for Millions!

Basically, the Create for Millions contest brings consumers and developers together, well, to create applications for Nokia’s Series 40 handsets.



For consumers, you can submit best ideas for the applications you’d like to see on Nokia’s Series 40 mobile phones. “Authors of the winning entries will get to see their ideas come to life at the Nokia World event later this year, and can meet the developers who created them. In addition to a free expenses-paid trip to the event to be held in London in October, winning consumers can play with their new app on the latest Nokia Series 40 phone that will given during the event.” Not bad, huh?



If interested, you can submit your ideas in one of the three categories which include Health and Education, Social Networking and Location, and Games and Infotainment via this link.



Developers on the other hand are invited to submit Java and Web-based apps for Nokia Series 40 phones in four categories:

• In the Know, focusing on news and locally relevant information;


• Fun and Games, games and entertainment apps;


• Emotional Closeness, social networking apps;


• Access to Knowledge, life improvement apps such as education and health.

Up for grabs in this contest is a whopping 1 million Euros of cash prizes. Developers can win one of the 10 cash prizes for each of the four categories, with a top prize of 50,000 Euros in each category. “Top apps in each category win a variety of non-cash prizes, such as user experience reviews and app marketing assistance. Special prizes will also be awarded to apps that showcase the best touch feature, the best location-aware app, and the best overall Series 40 web app.”



If you think you got what it takes and interested of winning this competition, just hit this link.



And here’s the exciting part for Pinoy Devs. Aside from the possibility of winning the global prizes worth a total of 1 million Euros, Nokia Philippines will also give awesome prizes to local participants for the following categories:

• Best S40 Java app - Php 50,000


• Best S40 Java game - Php 50,000


• Best S40 Web app - Php 50,000


• Most downloaded S40 Java app by Nov 30 - Php 75,000


• Most downloaded S40 Java game by Nov 30 - Php 75,000


• Most downloaded S40 Web app by Nov 30 - Php 75,000

Submission of entries is until September 20, 2011, so what are you waiting for? Click here to get started!



Click to Read Press Release

Win €1 Million and an all-expense-paid trip to London in Nokia’s ‘Create For Millions’



Nokia, the world’s no. 1 mobile phone brand, once again puts the spotlight on creativity as it launches “Create For Millions,” a global competition that brings consumers and developers together to create applications for Nokia’s Series 40 mobile phones. Create For Millions also provides developers an opportunity to bring Java and web apps to millions of consumers worldwide and win their share of cash and prizes valued at one million Euros.



Nokia’s Series 40 mobile phones play a key role in Nokia’s strategy to bring the Web to the next billion, particularly in emerging markets, where a consumer’s first web experience is often through the mobile phone. As the largest mobile platform in the world by volume, more than half a billion Nokia Series 40 mobile phones are in consumers’ hands today.



Winning consumers fly to London for Nokia World event



Nokia’s Create For Millions challenges consumers to submit their best ideas for the applications they’d like to see on Nokia Series 40 mobile phones. Authors of the winning entries will get to see their ideas come to life at the Nokia World event later this year, and can meet the developers who created them. In addition to a free expenses-paid trip to the event to be held in London in October, winning consumers can play with their new app on the latest Nokia Series 40 phone that will given during the event.



Consumers are encouraged to submit ideas in one of three categories: Health and Education; Social Networking and Location; and Games and Infotainment. Additionally, consumers can vote on entries and comment or collaborate on ideas already submitted.



Winning developers win 1 million Euros



Nokia’s Series 40 phones have experienced more than 35 percent growth in download volumes in the past two months, making up about a quarter of the total downloads from Nokia’s Ovi Store. Nokia’s Create For Millions enhances this growing opportunity with a competition featuring a prize pool of cash and prizes worth one million Euros.



Developers are invited to submit Java and Web apps for Nokia Series 40 phones in four categories: (1) In the Know, news and locally relevant information apps; (2) Fun and Games, games and entertainment apps; (3) Emotional Closeness, social networking apps; and Access to Knowledge, life improvement apps, such as education and health.



There will be 10 cash prizes for each of the four categories, with a top prize of 50,000 Euros in each category. Top apps in each category win a variety of non-cash prizes, such as user experience reviews and app marketing assistance. Special prizes will also be awarded to apps that showcase the best touch feature, the best location-aware app, and the best overall Series 40 web app.



“With Nokia’s newest Series 40 Dual-SIM mobile phones, such as the recently released Nokia C2-03 equipped with Nokia Browser, consumers are enjoying third-party web applications with a fast, rich user experience and significantly lower data costs,” said Rhomel Marcojos, Senior Services Marketing Manager. “This competition connects ideas generated by consumers with the creativity and skills from developers, aiming to create great, locally relevant applications together.”

Consumers can learn more and enter the app idea challenge by visiting www.nokia.com/create4millions. Developers, on the other hand, just visit http://developer.nokia.com/create4millions. Submission of entries is until September 20, 2011.

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Nokia 700, 701, and 600 Gets Official: The Smallest, Brightest, and Loudest Nokia Phones

Alongside Nokia’s announcement of Symbian Belle, the Finnish phone maker also unveiled three new phones to carry the newest version of its OS.

First up is the Nokia 700 which is claimed as the smallest smartphone in the world. Well, just measuring at 110 x 50.7 x 9.7mm and only weighs around 96g, this tiny device is undeniably small. But it got decent specs like 3.2-inch ClearBlack AMOLED display with gorilla glass, 1GHz processor, 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, NFC support, 2GB storage expandable up to 32GB via microSD, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HSUPA 3G support, FM radio, and 1080mAh standard battery. The Nokia 700 is coming in cool grey, silver/white, coral red, peacock blue and purple varieties. It’s expected to be available in Q3 with a Euro price at EUR 270 without local taxes and operator subsidies.



Next up is the Nokia 701 which is according to Nokia, is the smartphone in the world with the brightest screen. Uhmm… Really? Well, with its 3.5-inch IPS LCD display with ClearBlack technology, the phone is said to create a combination of excellent brightness and contrast which determines the phone’s luminance. And like the Nokia 700, it’s also wrapped with Corning’s Gorilla Glass technology to prevent scratches from brawny pressures in any surface. The phone got an 8MP full-focus shooter with dual-LED Flash, plus a front-facing camera for video calling. Also under its hood are 1GHz processor, 8GB storage expandable up to 32GB via microSD, HSUPA 3G, WiFi, NFC, Bluetooth, GPS, FM radio, and 1080mAh standard battery. It measures 11 x 56.8 x 117.3mm and weighs 131g. The Nokia 701 will be available in steel dark, silver light, amethyst violet, and white variations and is expected to come to market in the third quarter of 2011. Euro price before local taxes or operator subsidies is at EUR 290.



And last but not the least, the Nokia 600 – the Finnish loudest phone. Loudest, huh? I think it got the same phon rating with Nokia X1-01, the music-centric dual-SIM phone which can also deliver the same loudness level of 106 phons. In any case, the Nokia 600 features a 1GHz processor, 3.2-inch nHD display, 5MP camera with LED Flash, NFC support, 2GB storage expandable up to 32GB via microSD, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HSUPA 3G support, FM radio, and 1080mAh standard battery. Basically this phone only differs from Nokia 700 because of type of its display (not AMOLED). It measures 111 x 53 x 13mm and weighs 100g. It will be available in black, white, pink and lime from Q3 of 2011 and will cost around EUR 180 before local taxes and subsidies.



We’ll be eyeing on this new Symbian Belle phones and will just keep you posted once it lands in the Philippine soil.

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Nokia C2-03 Touch and Type, Dual-SIM Phone Official TVC – Out Now!

Nokia sent us in advance a copy of the official TV commercial for Nokia C2-03, and I’m sure Bosing (aka Vic Sotto) will score again his fans for his humorous yet awesome endorsement.

Nokia C2-03 is the third Dual-SIM phone from Nokia and also the third to don a Touch and Type form-factor. It’s already available here in the Philippines starting Friday, August 5; and will retail for Php 4,490. You can learn more about this handset from here.



You’ll see Nokia C2-03 official TVC airing on national TV channels, but you’ll be among the first to watch it online. Check this out!

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Nokia C2-03 Philippines: Price, Specs, Features, and Availability Update

Nokia Philippines is all set to release the Nokia C2-03 here in the country come Friday, August 5.

Nokia C2-03

The Nokia C2-03, first announced back in June at the Nokia Connections 2011 in Singapore, is a Touch and Type phone featuring Dual-SIM functionality. It’s actually the 3rd Touch and Type phone in Nokia’s line-up following Nokia X3 and C3, and also the third Dual-SIM phone following Nokia C2-00 and Nokia X1-01.

Nokia C2-03

Like Nokia C2-00, the Nokia C2-03 is also built with the Easy Swap feature which allows users to insert a new SIM by opening slot on the side of the phone and without having to turn off the phone or removing its battery. Nokia C2-03 carries the Series 40 platform and is pre-loaded with apps like the new Nokia Maps and Nokia Browser for Series 40. With a 1020 mAh battery under its hood, it’s promised to offer up to 5 hours talk time, up to 35 hours music playback, and up to 400 hours in standby mode. The phone also features a 2MP camera capable of taking still phones and recording videos.



Nokia C2-03 will be available in Chrome Black and Golden White (see comment below). Suggested retail price here in the Philippines is Php 4,490. Check notable specs and official press release after the break.



Nokia C2-03 Specs and Features



Dual-SIM, Dual Standby

SIM 1: GSM 900/1800

SIM 2: GSM 850/1900

Symbian Series 40

2.6 inches TFT Resistive Touchscreen, 240 x 320 pixels

10MB Storage, expandable up to 32GB microSD

2MP camera, 1600x1200 pixels

Video recording, QCIF @ 15 fps

GPRS

EDGE

Bluetooth 2.1 w/ A2DP

MicroUSB 2.0

FM Radio tuner w/ FM recording

1020 mAh Li-Ion battery

103 x 51.4 x 17 mm

115 g



Click to Read Press Release

Swap Sims in Seconds with the new Nokia C2-03



Are your friends and loved ones using different mobile networks? Have you got several SIM cards to make sure you stay in touch without busting your budget? Now, you can stay connected with everyone even if they are using different networks with the Nokia C2-03.



The Nokia C2-03 has the revolutionary Easy Swap innovation exclusively from Nokia. This means that you can just open the SIM card slot on the side of the phone and put the new SIM card in. There’s no need to reboot the phone because you can swap your SIMs in seconds! Plus, it remembers the settings for up to five separate SIM cards, each of which can be personalized with a dedicated name and preferred call, SMS or data experience.



The Nokia C2-03 is the third Touch and Type device Nokia has introduced within less than a year. Touch and Type means consumers get the best of both worlds, the accuracy of a keypad for text, email and documents with the quick touch pad for browsing music or navigating the phone makes mobile use a breeze.



Nikka Abes, Corporate Communications Manager for Nokia Philippines, explained that the launch of the Nokia C2-03 is part of the company’s strategy to provide greater, more differentiated choices for consumers. “We want to enable more Filipinos to connect to the internet with a better, faster, more convenient and more affordable mobile web experience,” she said.



The all new browser of the Nokia C2-03 compresses data to lower internet costs, has a localizable homescreen, and offers easy access to web applications and favorite content. Other features include a 2mp camera, 2.5” display, stereo FM radio, and media player. It supports up to a 32GB memory card for thousands of photos, videos and music files for entertainment on the move.



There’s more! When you buy the Nokia C2-03, it comes with a Smart SIM card that comes with amazing freebies equivalent to an amount of PhP6,960. Enjoy free Unlimited Facebook access when you download Smart’s Facebook Mobile App by simply texting FB to 211. You will also get free 300 ALL Network Text and 20 minutes Smart to Smart Calls for 2 days for 12 months!*



The Nokia C2-03 will be in stores first week of August. It has an SRP of PhP4,490.



*First month is free while succeeding months would require topping up at least Php 199 per month to avail of the same offer every 2nd of the following month.



About Nokia

At Nokia, we are committed to connecting people. We combine advanced technology with personalized services that enable people to stay close to what matters to them. Every day, more than 1.3 billion people connect to one another with a Nokia device – from mobile phones to advanced smartphones and high-performance mobile computers. Today, Nokia is integrating its devices with innovative services through Ovi (www.ovi.com), including music, maps, apps, email and more. Nokia's NAVTEQ is a leader in comprehensive digital mapping and navigation services, while Nokia Siemens Networks provides equipment, services and solutions for communications networks globally.

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Nokia 500 Announced: Price, Specs, Photos, and Videos – Check This Out!

I was expecting Nokia will introduce a new Symbian Anna device in the future that is better than Nokia E6 and Nokia X7 to compete with higher end smartphones, but surprisingly – the Finnish firm just announced a new Nokia 500 smart phone that definitely will contend in the entry-level category.

The Nokia 500 is a slate phone boasting a much higher 1GHz processor compared to E6 and X7 (though no GPU here folks) and running Nokia’s latest Symbian Anna operating system. Measuring 111.3 x 53.8 x 14.1mm and weighing just 93g, this phone is certainly lighter than Symbian^3 devices out in the market today. It flaunts a 3.2-inch capacitive touch screen display with nHD resolution, which is technically around 640 x 360 pixels, or the same resolution we got from Nokia N8.

Also under its hood is a 2GB internal storage expandable up to 32GB, 5MP camera (full focus), standard 1110 mAh Li-Ion battery, and support for the standard wireless technologies like 3G, GPS (with A-GPS), and WLAN, as well as connectivity like Bluetooth 2.1, USB 2.0, and a 3.5mm connector for audio and video.



The Nokia 500 will start shipping before this quarter ends with a price of 150 Euros or around Php 9K excluding local taxes or operator subsidies. It would be available in black and white, with additional three different-colored back covers in the package.



More of Nokia 500 once it lands here in the Philippines, but for the meantime – check out specs and pair of videos after the break.



Nokia 500 Specs



Symbian Anna OS

1GHz processor

3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen, 640 x 360 pixels

2GB memory, external microSD up to 32GB

5 MP camera, full focus

GPRS/EDGE

3G (HSDPA 14.4Mbps, HSUPA 5.76Mbps)

WiFi 802.11, b/g

GPS, a-GPS

Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP, EDR

microUSB 2.0

3.5mm AV connector

1110 mAh Li-Ion (BL-4U) battery

111.3 x 53.8 x 14.1 mm

93 g











[via]

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Got Talent in Visual Arts? Join Nokia Ovi Theme-Making Contest to Win Php 25K and New Nokia C7

Any techie yet talented visual artists here? If you think you can hardly showcase all your drawing flairs on the 3rd season of Pilipinas Got Talent, perhaps you would be interested of joining Nokia’s theme-making contest instead.

Dubbed as “Ovi Theme-spirations 5”, the fifth installment, hence the name, of Nokia Ovi Theme-spirations online theme-making contest has already set in to accept entries until July 31st, 2011. And this time’s competition is centered around the theme “My School Pride”, which basically conceptualize, uhmm… well, your school pride! Up for grabs include Php 25,000 cash plus a brand-new Nokia C7, only if you make it up to the grand finals. Ten finalists will be selected until August 1, 2011 – in which all will automatically win Php 10,000 each. Three grand prize winners will be announced on October 17, 2011 and each will receive Php 15,000 cash and Nokia C7! Just in case you don't know yet what the Nokia C7 can do, well, with Symbian^3 OS under its hood - it can actually drive a BMW car at a distance.



As I’ve said, deadline for submission of entries is set on July 31st, so you’ve got only 10 days left. To learn more about the full mechanics, click here.



For first timers, the Nokia Ovi Theme-spiration contest has been crafted in an effort to exhibit artistic works of the “Pinoys” which can be used as wallpaper or phone theme for Nokia handsets. Chosen theme entries in the contest will be converted to Nokia theme files and will be made available for free download in Ovi Store.



You can check out press release after the break.



Click to Read Press Release

Let your Alma Mater shine in Nokia’s ‘Ovi Theme-spirations 5’



Wear your school color loud and proud by coming up with creative themes that show your school pride in the fifth installment of the highly successful Nokia Ovi Theme-spirations online theme-making contest.



Students get a chance to represent their respective schools and create works of art that can be used as wallpaper or phone theme for Nokia Symbian S40 or S60 phones. Your creativity can win you P25,000 plus a brand-new Nokia C7.



The contest is open to participants 15 years old and above. All you have to do send original photos or artwork that centers around the theme “School Pride.” Get inspiration from your school’s official colors, mascot or historical landmarks to bring in that unique quality to your designs. Your creation must include background images and color schemes for menus and highlights.



Your entry’s background image file format should be in jpeg, gif, or bmp file format and should have a maximum size of 500kb. For the color scheme, you should specify in your email the specific colors for menu and text when they are in active and inactive mode. Email your entries together with your full name, email address, home address, mobile number and birth date to themespirations@ovi.com. Deadline of submission is on July 31, 2011.



A total of ten (10) finalists will be chosen. Five (5) finalists will be picked every selection date, which is scheduled on July 18 and August 1, respectively. All participants whose entries are selected will automatically win P10,000 each.



Chosen theme entries will be converted to Nokia theme files and will be made available in Ovi Store for free download. Downloads from September 1, 2011 until October 15, 2011 will be valid for the final tally to determine the three grand prize winners.



The three grand Prize winners will be announced on October 17, 2011 through the Nokia website. In case of ties, the prizes will be awarded to the entry that was submitted to themespirations@ovi.com first. Each of the three winners will receive P15,000 and a Nokia C7!



The entries will be judged based on originality, creativity and number of downloads.



Let this be your chance to show your school spirit and put it there on every Nokia phone by joining Ovi Theme-spirations 5. For more information, visit http://www.nokia.com.ph/ovithemes.



About Nokia



At Nokia, we are committed to connecting people. We combine advanced technology with personalized services that enable people to stay close to what matters to them. Every day, more than 1.3 billion people connect to one another with a Nokia device – from mobile phones to advanced smartphones and high-performance mobile computers. Today, Nokia is integrating its devices with innovative services through Ovi (www.ovi.com), including music, maps, apps, email and more. Nokia's NAVTEQ is a leader in comprehensive digital mapping and navigation services, while Nokia Siemens Networks provides equipment, services and solutions for communications networks globally.

To receive latest technology updates, you can subscribe either by E-mail or by RSS Feeds. Follow me also on Twitter.

Nokia WP7 “Sea Ray” Revisited with Full 360-degree Tour [Video]

Remember that Nokia phone leaked last month which was claimed apparently as the first Windows Phone 7 handset from the Finns?



Well, it’s here again – showing more of its beauty at a closer look, even at its early development. Just in case you missed it, this phone is codenamed “Sea Ray” and has a resemblance of the Meego-powered Nokia N9. Though the video below reveals Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 running on the prototype unit, the full 360-degree tour details further the external build of the device.



It has an all-screen frontage with narrow bezel, volume control together with a camera button in the right side, rear camera with LED Flash (perhaps still Carl Zeiss), 3.5mm audio jack, and HDMI port at the top. It looks like there’s no front-facing camera though which I guess sort of downside on high-end phones. Hit the video after the break and do let me know if I still have this good eyesight.J [via]





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Nokia Siemens Networks Opens R&D in Philippines

A new research and development (R&D) facility of Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) opens Monday at the University of the Philippines-Ayala Technohub in Quezon City.

NSN’s research facility named NetworkLabs is said to be the biggest of its kind in Southeast Asia, and the first ever R&D facility in the region that is internationally recognized in the telecommunications industry as it services and supports all R&D teams around the world.

“NSN chose the Philippines for NetworkLabs in Asia among other countries because of its confidence in the country’s vast resource of skilled engineering students and graduates from reputable universities,” NSN Asia Pacific head Paul Tyler said to the media.

“NSN aims to provide the opportunity for the Filipino engineers to showcase their skills and knowledge on a global scale without having to leave their families yet benefit from the training, work exposure and globally scaled challenges NetworkLabs has to offer,” Tyler added.

NetworkLabs is a 2-billion Peso research facility with focus on developing new technologies that will support advancements in third-generation (3G) and fourth-generation (4G) wireless network technologies. The firm is expected to hire 500 workers by end of 2011 and the number is projected to double by 2012. NetworkLabs will also partner with the country’s top engineering schools like Mapua Institute of Technology, De La Salle University, University of Sto. Tomas, University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University. [via]



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Nokia X7 Philippines Price and Availability Update, Scores Cameo in Transformers 3

This serves as an update for those who have been waiting for the arrival of Nokia X7 here in the Philippines.

Nokia X7

The entertainment-centric Nokia X7 was announced back in April, and it’s already available locally with a suggested retail price of Php 21,275. I personally saw the handset being displayed at Nokia stores in SM Cyberzone, and I’m sure it’s also available in Ayala Center Cebu as well in other gadget stores in the city.



Interestingly, Nokia did score once again a cameo of Nokia X7. The X7, together with other latest Nokia handsets, appear several times in the third installment of the fictional movie, Transformers. Although one couldn’t easily identify the models of the phones in the movie.

The threequel, Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon, features Nokia Ovi Maps in 3D on Nokia X7 running Symbian Anna. I’ve seen the movie at SM IMAX last night and it reminded me when Nokia also showed off Nokia N8 in Tron Legacy. Transformers 3 is a great movie, folks. I recommend you to watch it.



Nokia X7 Specs



Symbian Anna OS

680 MHz ARM 11 processor

Broadcom BCM 2727 GPU

4-inch AMOLED screen, 360 x 640 pixels

256 RAM, 1GB ROM

8GB memory, external microSD up to 32GB

8 MP camera with fixed focus and dual LED flash

720p HD video recording @ 25 fps

GPRS/EDGE

HSDPA 10.2Mbps, HSUPA 2.0Mbps

WiFi 802.11, b/g/n

GPS, a-GPS

Bluetooth 3.0

microUSB 2.0

3.5mm AV connector

FM Radio Tuner

1300 mAh Li-Ion battery

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A Glimpse of What is Called Nokia N5

It seems like Nokia is having series of leaks of its upcoming handsets.

Last week, a phone codenamed “Sea Ray” which is apparently the first Windows Phone 7 device suddenly popped-up in the blogosphere despite the precautions made by the company’s CEO in an attempt to keep every single detail of the much-anticipated Windows phone secret.

And now, we got another one – the Nokia N5. And if you think the UI from the image above looks similar that of MeeGo, you probably got yourself wrong. The Nokia N5 will apparently rock the latest version of Symbian OS, the Symbian Anna. Just recently, Nokia outs 2 Symbian Anna handsets – the Nokia E6 and Nokia X7 – and what this leak means to us is there are more Anna devices coming. It’s not just N5 as we also have to expect the phone’s younger siblings, the Nokia N6 and N7. The folks over at Excellular.co.za confirmed that Nokia N5 will be available in 2 colors. And the photos below speaks for the phone to feature 5MP camera with LED flash at the back, loud speaker at the lower portion, front-facing camera, touchscreen display with Call and Menu buttons below it, as well as volume control and camera shutter buttons on the right side.

That’s all we got for now, but surely we’ll be eyeing on this one – so just stay tuned. [via]

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