Nokia Messaging service

Developer : Nokia
Function : Messaging and email
Platform : S60
Available at : http://email.nokia.com
Price : Free

When Nokia first announced that they were stopping the distribution of BlackBerry Connect on their devices, I saw this as a waste as their release of the E71 was their best work based smartphone yet. However in recent months, Nokia has unveiled its new messaging service which in all accounts seems to rival RIM’s push email service.
Now what I really like about Nokia Messaging, isn’t its push email but the fact that you don’t need a subscription to the BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) that is only available via Maxis or Celcom. So for those of you (like me) who are using a DiGi data line, you now have push email in your Nokia phones, what more fully integrated within the system.

Speed at which the email is pushed to the phone varies however. At times I’ve been able to receive email almost immediately after it was sent but at times there will be a 2 to 3 minutes delay, which isn’t really much of an issue as you still get your emails fast.

The user interface is slick and really simple to use and the best part is that setup is really, really easy. All you need to do is input your email and password and from there the Messaging Service will automatically setup the emails for you, very much like what the BlackBerry messaging system does. In fact you can even setup your accounts on the website and it will SMS you a link to the installation files with all your settings already done.
Not everything is great though as Nokia Messaging does have some features that could do with some improvements. One is that email messages are only viewable in text format and you can’t view HTML email. I found this disappointing considering that the latest BlackBerry 4.6 allows HTML email viewing. No matter though as I expect this improvement to be added as more updates are released.

However, aside from the lack of HTML email support, Nokia Messaging is actually a great email application. It also supports more than one email and I managed to easily setup both my Yahoo! and Gmail accounts on it. The best part of Nokia Messaging is aside from the data service which you are already paying for or if you’ve taken an unlimited data package like I did, there is no other cost. Unlike the BlackBerry which requires you to subscribe to the BIS service, you can use Nokia Messaging as it is. – Nigel Yap

Eye Test
Developer : Hui Chen
Function : Medical
Platform : iPhone/iPod Touch
Available at : iTunes

Price : USD0.99

On the occasions of my browsing through iTunes, there will certainly be some applications with very catchy names or functions that would just lure me to take a look. Well, although not much of these applications are of much use to normal iPhone or iPod Touch users, in terms of attractiveness in their naming and functions described, they can certainly increase their hit rates. Application Eye Test is one of them which I stumbled upon recently.

Eye Test is essentially a display tool for near visual acuity, colour test and visual illusions. The Snellen chart is a simple and basic test that optometrists use for near visual acuity and the Application Eye Test functions much like the Snellen chart. In Eye Test, the iPhone will have to be placed according to the settings which user can choose from 0.5m, 1m or 1.5m. After that, user’s result can be saved and tracked, useful for people that need to run such test routinely like say a pilot or maybe a motorsport driver. For others though, it is merely a game. The same goes for colour test too, which users have to determine uthe pattern or number on display.

The plus for Eye Test is that, it doesn’t merely let users run the test, it also provides some explanation. For the colour test it will display the difference between the different types of colour blindness and compare them to normal eyesight. The same goes for the visual illusion which describes the science behind each image. So if you are an optometrist or ophthalmologist that is always on the go, this application might be good to have. Show your patient your iPhone instead of the plain old wall pasted with Snellen chart and colour blindness card. Of course just make sure you don’t brag about it too much. – CD

 

 

Crazy Chainsaw
Developer : Ezone.com
Function : Entertainment
Platform : iPhone/iPod Touch
Available at : iTunes
Price : USD0.99

Need to release stress in such dire economy states? Get this wacky chainsaw program that emulates a real life chainsaw in terms of sound and vibration feedback onto your iPhone. In terms of real life application and usability, there isn’t any as the Crazy Chainsaw does not cut or saw, but if you let your creativity loose and top it off with a bit of imagination, then you can liven up a boring meeting by pretending to chop down a forest of pencils. Or, want to make cynical complaints towards the chef for the overcook rubbery steak, just pull out the chainsaw from your pocket. The application is also a great conversation starter.

To master Crazy Chainsaw usage, shake and tilt movements are needed. To start up the Chainsaw engine, shake the iPhone and a low humming sound of a 2 stroke motor can be heard which acknowledges user ‘activation move’. To rev up the motor, tilt the iPhone like a motorcycle handlebar. The rest of the controlling ‘acts’ are up to user imagination. Although the application is stated to be compatible on both iPhone and iPod touch, first generation iPod touch users will need to take note as there is no speaker or vibration feedback. A mere still picture of a chainsaw is definitely no fun at all.

My nephew and niece love the application so much, and they have been giggling about it for days asking me to let them have a go with the chainsaw whenever they see me. Compared to the real thing, this application based Crazy Chainsaw is definitely safe for the kids to play with and on top of that, there is no stinky 2-stroke after smell. If you like life crazy, get it! Besides Crazy Chainsaw, there are a series of other crazy applications available on Ezone.com. – CD

 

 

 

TGV Mobile
Developer : Flavert Media Lab
Function : Cinema guide
Platform : Flash Lite 2.1
Available at : http://blog.flavert.com/2009/01/20/angpow-from-us-tgv-mobile/
Price : Free

We have a number of national pastimes such as watching football and badminton matches, hanging out at mamak stalls, talk shop and of course going to the movies. It seems like every weekend and Wednesdays, Malaysians will flock to the cinemas especially in the urban area.

One problem that I have most of the time is finding out where, when and what to watch. Often, that will mean going to its website or searching through the newspaper. I haven’t bought newspaper for the longest of time and if I’m really desperate, I’ll call.

However here’s a neat application that ought to make checking what shows are on a bit easier. Flavert recently sent us a copy of their latest project, TGV Mobile - a cinema guide that runs on Flash Lite 2.1.

The app has several functions that I found useful. You can view ‘Now Showing Movies’ by language, cinema branches and dates. Of course there’s also the obligatory synopsis and general information about the movie including Genre, Language, Showtime, Cast, Director and Runtime.

Each time you click on those functions, it will use very little mobile Internet data. I tried all the functions and browse a couple of movies and that only costs me less than RM1. It’s way better than trying to check through a phone call and less fuss.

There’s also a booking function where a click will instantly direct your phone to call its Phone Booking. It covers all the branches in Malaysia including Tebrau, Seberang Perai, Seremban and Ipoh. I wish I could book through the phone without calling but I guess that will be considered for their next version. Another feature I quite like is the Bytes Loaded Counter. It tells me how much I’ve used and I can roughly calculate how much I’ve spent. – CH Khaw