When I first got my N95, I realize this is almost all I need. For sure, I still feel IPhone may do better than my phone. But, this N95 has been serving me well in the different parts of my life. I am utilizing it as much as I can so that I can live by my N95. With so many applications available for N95 and its capability to surf wirelessly, it has been useful for me to think beyond what this phone can help me.
I have been playing with a lot of applications with my N95 in this area. They can range from setting up a server, to using web client programs. We’ll see the following:
PAMP: This is a personal web server on your mobile phone where you get to run PHP and MySQL directly. Although I seldom play with this, it looks really cool to have such an application on my mobile phone. I ever tried to work out a php script to upload file to my mobile phone easily, but it didn’t work out and I didn’t bother to try further after 2 hours. (Free)
SymSMB: This is where I shared my files and folders between the computers and my phone, through the wireless network. It is so simple to use that I use it to share folders and send files instantly over the network without caring if they have any bluetooth module on their laptops. (USD$48)
WWIGO: This is where I used my mobile phone as a webcam for my laptop. Very cool to have, and it is easy extension from your laptop to set it up. But you must have bluetooth on your laptop in order to connect. Within a short distance, I can bring the camera phone to everywhere to let my MSN friends to see. (Free)
QIK: You may or may not like this. But this is a live camera to be broadcast to the web when you have an access to the Internet with your mobile phone. I tried to use this to show what I am eating at a restaurant, and it looks pretty good with a combination of “YouTube” and “live!”. (Free)
Fring: I have this application to keep me in touch with my MSN friends, Twitter updates, Skype, and more. They seem to keep on adding new applications to it, so I can chat all I want over my phone. And you know, mobile phone messaging is not really hard anyway. Especially when I am used to the keypads. (Free)
Twibble: A standalone twitter application where I get live feed from the twitter server. And while receiving twitter messages, I can also send twitter updates of what I am doing right now. Really cool application to use because this is really easy to use where you can even follow a friend. (Free)
Wavelog: This program allows me to blog on my Charles Lau dot Com. It is compatible with WordPress (as well as Drupal, Joomla and Movable Type), and allows you to do quite a lot of formats in your blog. The only thing I don’t like is that it looks quite beta version when I am using it. Though it is flexible, it doesn’t feel good to play with it. Anybody knows any alternative? (USD$10)
MobiTubia: This is probably the best YouTube application on N95 to watch videos. Very user-friendly and easy to understand. Feels pretty good to play with it. I just don’t like the way they brand this program. It looks pretty “childish”. Nevertheless, it is a must-use application. Pretty similar to emTube actually. But MobiTubia is highly recommended by me. I heard the developer has won some prize for this app. (Free)
Opera Mini: This is a browser for N95. It doesn’t really take over the default browser used by N95. It is more like complimenting it only. Opera Mini is able to browse websites more heavily than the default browser. And it is less likely to encounter any “memory-overflow” problem like the default browser. Easier to browse with Opera mini. One time I encountered some problem and I lost all the bookmarks. Probably it was my fault actually. I have forgotten what I have done with opera. However, it is recommended. (Free)
Yahoo! Go: This is like a “all-in-one” for your Internet usage on your N95. I get to use my Flickr account here, check my Yahoo email (which I only use it for my yahoo needs. So quite useless), check your stock quotes, portfolios, latest headlines and all the news and contents. This thing works pretty well on my mobile phone, but I just feel it is quite lagging to use as it feels to me that it is a very heavy application. (Free)
Upvise: This program works a little like Yahoo! Go. Although Yahoo! Go has more defined information to work with than Upvise, I feel Upvise is a much better application with better performance. This program is especially useful if you need instant access to Wikipedia. Upvise not only provides information from Wikipedia, it also provides RSS news, Quote of the Day and much more. (Free)
Gmail: This is useful to check my mails, especially when I have synchornized all my external mails through Gmail. Easy to see as they have re-structured the contents suitable for mobile view automatically. I just don’t like the initial startup which takes so long to open Gmail program.
Internet Radio: This is actually part of N95 phone default applications. I have used this to listen to Webmaster Radio dot FM, and more. Pretty good to use. I was trying Virtual Radio, and it is not as good even. (Part of N95)
SIC! FTP: Do you need FTP client program to upload anything to your server? I have a very capable phone where I have 8GB memory, wireless-enabled, and it works like a computer. without a FTP program will be a waste. There is an English-language version of the website, just look for the country flag inside. (Free)
Handy Safe: There are so many user-ids and passwords to remember in this world. Without a useful passport program to manage, you may have a lot of same user-ids and passwords which can lead to a human security loophole for yourself. (USD$49.95)
Handy Expense: I have this program to keep track of my credit card expenses, my travel expenses and how much money to return and such. Pretty useful application to work out with. i used this and found how much I have spent on various things. Great to have an analysis of my expenses. (USD$14.95)
Handy Converter: This program is great for providing conversions in many forms such as currency, exchange, rates, clothes, length, weight, area, volume, speed and temperature. It is especially useful to convert from one currency to 3 other currencies instantly. And it provides free updates of currency rates as well. I used this during my travel in other countries. (USD$14.95)
Handy Calculator: I used this program to do my calculation with ease as it provides direct button access to the various functions. Easy to use. (USD$9.95)
Handy Clock: This handy clock is able to track many countries’ time and dates. Easy to see calendar. Many clock alarms if you need. Timer to take. Stopwatch if you need. And a time log. it is really useful and I have used it as my alarm clock replacement from the usual N95 clock. (USD$24.95)
Handy Calendar: This handy calendar is using the same platform as N95′s calendar. And it has much more functionality to take advantage of as well. Really good for the time management in my work today. (USD$39.95)
Projekt: This is a must-have to manage your projects where you need to do mind-mapping. It provides a very comprehensive hierarchy for your work, and yet the usage is as simple as ABC. (USD$29.95)
MobiReader: Free program to convert your PDF and document files into much more readable format on the phone. They make their money by providing contents where you might be interested to buy from. (Free)
SMS Scheduler: This program is great for setting a certain date and time to send your sms to someone in your mobile phone. Very useful program when you need to send a certain sms reminder. It may be used as a kind of “mass-sms” to your friends at a certain timing. Sometimes buggy, but it works well. (USD$20)
FlipSilent: When you have a ring on your phone, simply flip the phone to silent it. This works pretty well if you know how. However, it can be somehow not working from time to time. (Free)
rotateMe: This is good for rotating the phone according to the landscape view, or portrait view. However, it is not so well-done in my opinion. Can be useful if you know how to make it work exactly. (Free)
Handy Profiles: This is useful for setting the profile only at certain timing of the day. It will do its automatic setting according to the rules that you set. (USD$19.95)
Advanced Call Manager: This is useful for handling incoming calls in various ways. You can even receive voice message, send auto-sms reply, and having certain call handling at certain timing. (USD$25.50)
Advanced Device Locks Professional Edition: This program comes into my mind when I complained to Handango about the password program done by SplashData which doesn’t allow me to lock my password program! This Advanced Device Locks comes into play to help me to lock certain applications by password access so that I can have rest on certain applications being secured in case. It also allows remote locking where I can’t access my phone. (USD$30.50)
Handy Taskman: This is a useful program to manage all my tasks. Initially, I thought this is redundant until I see that I can “kill” applications which are dead inside my phone. It also shows the health of my phone for my memory usage and my “hard disk” usage as well. Must have for advanced users. (USD$24.95)
Phone Alone: I left my phone at home. I need a quick access to my phone for my contacts, receiving voice messages and such… This is a pretty useful program where I can access it via any phone that I set to. (USD$19.95)
I have finally put up as many applications on my N95 as possible now. Enjoy!
Here’s an interesting video from Google about how to use your mobile phone! Have fun!
