Photo GA

Symbian Belle Feature Pack 2 Update Now Rolling Out

I checked my Nokia 808 Pureview for an update and noticed Belle Feature Pack 2 is now available. The updates are arriving for the Nokia 603, 700, and 701 as well. Feature Pack 2 brings a host of new updates including a new keyboard, new widgets and a new music player. More details about the changes after the jump.

According to Nokia Conversations, the imaging and gallery enhancements for the Nokia 808 PureView include:

• Gallery Grid view when you have the phone in landscape
• Access to more functions when you open your images from the Gallery widget on your home screen – swipe through other images, zoom, share, edit, and send images faster.
• More information about your images, such as image resolution, ISO value, white balance setting, and file size, and the location. When you are connected online, one click will show you on Nokia Maps where the photo was taken.
• Select and delete multiple photos in Gallery Grid
• New reset button in Creative mode to change all the settings back to default with a single touch

Other new functions that also benefit the Nokia 603, Nokia 700 and Nokia 701:

• Updated browser (to version 8.3) with enhanced HTML5 support
• New and significantly faster keyboard
• Nokia Car Mode – easy access to your phone’s key features when you’re driving

Check your phones and let us know if you see the update.

Hoping For Better Notifications in Nokia Lumia 920 and Windows Phone 8

Nokia Lumia and other Windows Phone devices get notifications that appear on top, but if you miss them, they’re gone. There’s no way to see a list of all previous notifications. It can be argued that live tiles on the home screen *is* the notification center, but I think there’s room for improvement. I hope Windows Phone 8 brings an improved notification experience on the Nokia Lumia 920 and 820.

Android 4.1 notifications

With Android, users swipe down to access the notification tray. The latest version, 4.1 Jelly Bean, goes even further by giving users an even deeper look. Android users with 4.1 now have the ability to act directly from the notifications shade like replying to emails or calling missed calls.

With iOS, you can access the notification center by swiping down from the menu bar at the top of your screen. Past notifications are grouped by app which can be sorted by time or manually.

Verge user jrtorrents posted this concept for Windows Phone which I thought was cool.

Notification Center Concept

I was hoping to learn more about Windows Phone 8 notifications during a recent Q&A session with Nokia Lumia product managers, but my question was answered with, “What would you like to see?” I think we’ll know soon enough when Microsoft officially reveals all the new features on Windows Phone 8.

Do you want a central notification center on the upcoming Nokia Lumia devices or are the live tiles in the home screen enough for you? Let us know in the comments below.

Video: Nokia Lumia 920 – Time to #switch (Cartoon)

Here’s an interesting ‘advert’ for the Nokia Lumia 920. It looks like it was created by the folks from Cartoon Network (it was just yesterday that CN celebrated their 20th Anniversary) but most likely coincidental.

Translated text (automated)

Gray was yesterday in gray – who confesses color has more of life! Lifts you from the drab mass of fruit junkies and discovered the smartphone class. The Nokia Lumia 920 and the Nokia Lumia 820 are available in four great colors and can be anything your heart desires – more than many highly acclaimed smartphone!

by NokiaHomebase

Cheers Dave² for the tip!

Themes: Woodberry by O3one Kinetics – Free for limited time at Ovi Store

Hello Folks. As I said in the last theme post:

Today we’ll be showing quite a bit of themes that DM tipped us yesterday. Since I may not be on a computer until evening GMT time (moving back to Manchester), I thought that would be a good opportunity to show some very nice themes. You’re definitely going to want to check those out as they look great.

As promised, the first one I want to share from DM’s list is WoodBerry by O3one Kinetics - I’d suggest getting it now whilst it is free at Ovi Store.

It has a classic, mysterious looking dark panelling wallpaper going on there which is consistent throughout the theme. Overall, it works together and does look great.

Be warned. There’s still three more to show. 

Check out WoodBerry: http://store.ovi.com/content/188468

Themes: Ex by PiZero Design – Free for limited time on Ovi Store

The 11 O’Clock theme (BST) moves to something slightly lighter again. This is a premium theme that is temporarily free. This one is by PiZero Design.

This has a very autumn feel with those orangey-yellow bokeh light things going on there.

Download it whilst it is free at Ovi Store: http://store.ovi.com/content/191297

Check out other S^3 Themes

Themes: Sky by Hank – Free at Ovi Store

This theme is a very blue theme, with minimalist square icons of its own (though default/Anna icons will permeate if you have it).

This is called Sky by Hank and it’s Free at Ovi Store.

Note: Today we’ll be showing quite a bit of themes that DM tipped us yesterday. Since I may not be on a computer until evening GMT time (moving back to Manchester), I thought that would be a good opportunity to show some very nice themes. You’re definitely going to want to check those out as they look great.

They’ll get posted at 9AM, 10AM, 11AM and 12PM BST. I will be on twitter though @JayMontano.

Note: Although I say S^3 themes, some do work with S^1 (like this one, even the Ovi Store page shows S^1 phone). It’s worth checking.

Download it at http://store.ovi.com/content/164916