Mozilla Fennec RC 1 now available for Nokia Maemo smartphones to download

In case you missed it, Release Candidate 1 of mobile Firefox a.k.a. Fennec is already available for download on Nokia Maemo smartphones N900 and N810. Yes, this highly advanced mobile Web browser, which a lot of people (including yours truly) have been waiting for, is already on its RC on the Nokia Maemo smartphone platform as earlier promised. Further instructions and information are available at the source links below.

Sources: [Pavlov's Blog, Unwired View]

Mozilla: Firefox mobile only 'days away' from official launch

Nearly two weeks ago, I told you that the mobile version of Firefox (which will first appear on the Maemo OS-powered Nokia N900 smartphone) will not be released before the end of 2009. Well, it looks like I may have to take back my words, because according to the head of the project, Firefox mobile a.k.a. Fennec is only days away from its official launch. And we're talking final version here, not just the RC. This is definitely great news for frequent mobile Web users, more so for prospective owners of the Nokia N900.

Now, if the news of Fennec's 'days away' release date wasn't good enough for you, hear this: Firefox mobile is going to have add-ons. Yes, just like the desktop version. And by the way, Firefox mobile has another nifty feature -- it syncs with the desktop version so that all your bookmarks and browsing history match up and you can switch between desktop and mobile versions without much of a hiccup. Will it work effortlessly? Maybe. Is it worth waiting for, still? Definitely.

Source: [BBC]

First Mobile Firefox (Fennec) RC coming next week, exclusive on the Nokia N900

Mobile Firefox, a.k.a. Fennec, has been in the making for quite a long time now. I remember first writing about it nearly a year ago, saying that a version for Symbian was in the works and planned for completion before this year ends. Well, it looks like Fennec won't make it in this year after all, though Mozilla's VP of mobile Jay Sullivan promises that they will release the first release candidate of the much-awaited mobile browser in a week's time.

Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition announced for the U.S. with $300 USD price tag; Nokia E72 to hit store shelves as well

Click to enlarge
While Nokia recently unveiled the Nokia 2710 Navigation Edition as being a very affordable and quite excellent solution for frequent travelers as they make their way through the roads of their liking, it seems some people just demand to have the same type of functionality on a phone that they can touch and pinch with their fingers to operate. So Nokia has decided to launch a new version of their very first mainstream touchscreen smartphone, also known as the "Tube", the Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition.

This phone comes with most of the same things that made the original Nokia 5800 awesome. But brings along a lifetime's worth of voice-guided Drive and Walk navigation licenses for your region. It is currently being sold in the U.S. for $299 with a map of the entire country, as well as Canada's. Continue reading for more photos of the Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition phone.

By the way, the Nokia E72 is now available in the U.S. as well.

Nokia 2710 Navigation Edition to help make globetrotting more affordable

Nokia has just unveiled the Nokia 2710 Navigation Edition, promising a more affordable navigation solution for frequent travelers and avid cellphone users alike. Dressed in black and quite unassuming, the Nokia 2710 Navigation Edition comes pre-loaded with Nokia Maps with support for GPS navigation assisted by an integrated digital compass.

Nokia X6 going on sale in the UK this Friday

The Nokia X6 music phone, which I featured in a quick hands-on preview just recently, is going to go on sale in the UK this Friday, November 27th. It will be offered through the local operator Orange for £35 per month or unlocked from Nokia's own web store for £449. Orange will also take £25 a month if you can trade in another Nseries phone for the Nokia X6.

This phone is a direct descendant of the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic and builds on its strengths with a few additional (much-needed) features such as 32GB of internal memory, a capacitive toucshcreen display, a slimmer profile and a 5-megapixel Carl Zeiss camera. Nokia rates this phone to keep playing music for 35 hours non-stop, which should be enough to last you for the entire duration of your trip to Baguio this year. If you can get to the UK this weekend and buy it there first, that is.

Source: [AllAboutSymbian]

Acer TD-SCDMA smartphones heading to China, Nokia Maemo smartphones likely to show up soon

Not mentioned among the manufacturers expected to launch Android smartphones at the beginning of 2010, Acer has reportedly placed orders for TD-SCDMA smartphones on Foxconn. It is not specified what kind of smartphones Acer has ordered Foxconn to make for them, but it is likely that these will run the open-source Android operating system.

Nokia is also mentioned in the same report from which the above information is taken, and how Foxconn and Compal Communications are currently competing head to head for Maemo-based smartphones orders from them. So the Nokia N900 may arrive sooner than you think.

Source: [DigiTimes]

Nokia X6 hands-on preview and first impressions

I recently got the chance to sample the upcoming Nokia X6 music phone. One word to describe it? Excellent. Or should I say, "Xcellent"? I was surprised in more ways than one after using it, primarily because I was rather disappointed with the last touchscreen Nokia music phone that I used, which was the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. The Nokia X6 gave me no problems whatsoever during the few minutes that I tried to navigate through its menus and give its built-in features a spin. If you are currently looking forward to putting the Nokia X6 in one of your pockets, you may want to check out this hands-on preview to tide yourself over until "the big day" finally arrives.

The Nokia X6 was first announced back in September 2 during Nokia World 2009. Its official features include 32GB of on-board memory, up to 35 hours of music playback, a 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens and dual-LED flash, and a 3.2-inch 16:9 nHD capacitive touchscreen display. It's the first device of its kind from Nokia to use a capacitive touchscreen display like many other popular touchscreen devices today, and I have to say, it does the job right, as expected.

I mentioned in the beginning of this post that the Nokia X6 gave me no problems at all during the short time that I used it. That doesn't mean I don't realize that a few minutes usage is not enough to give a final verdict on a handset that's not even scheduled to arrive here until early next year (if ever). And also, the Nokia X6 that I handled for this preview was only a prototype, though it seemed to function without any major hiccups at all, hardware or software-wise. So now that those are out of the way, let me tell you more about the phone itself.

[Press Release] Nokia E72 in stores now

Espoo, Finland - The highly-anticipated Nokia E72, a device tailor-made for business and personal messaging is now available in stores. To coincide with the arrival of the Nokia E72, Nokia has also released research* revealing that more people rely on email than on traditional phone calls or text messaging when sending and responding to critical information.

Speaking about the research results, Nokia vice president Ukko Lappalainen said, "The research shows that people are spending an average of five full days per year - equivalent to a full work week - responding to emails. Half of us (46 percent) choose email over voice or text to send and receive important information. The Nokia E72 was designed exactly with this kind of person in mind - it allows the owner to be more responsive and communicate how they want, whenever they want and wherever they are."

Read full Press Release »

[Press Release] Watch this space: Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition launched

Espoo, Finland - Nokia today announced the Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition, an entertainment hub that combines mobile broadcast TV (DVB-H), social networking, music and gaming in one compact 3G device. With mobile broadcast TV consumption on the rise - by 2012 there will be over 300 million people worldwide watching TV on their mobile phones - this handset offers easy access to anyone wanting to enjoy an exceptional live, on-the-move TV experience.

Nokia vice president Mark Selby said, "The introduction of the Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition responds to the arrival of DVB-H broadcast mobile TV networks in new markets and offers an affordable device for new and existing customers alike. Customers are increasingly watching a variety of programmes on their mobiles, such as drama programs, news and sport, for a longer period of time. The Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition has the sound and image quality to hold audiences captive."

Read full Press Release »