Dictionaries for many language pairs: DictionaryForMIDs, Dicts.info for Java, KODi, and JLearnIt

DictionaryForMIDs is a collection of mobile Java dictionaries for just about every phone that can handle Java.

All the major european languages are covered, and the latest updates include a couple of asian languages. In addition to translation there's also a Webster dictionary version.

There's a lot left to improve, though. Apart from the not-so-convenient user interface, the ugly program icons, and long dictionary names which don't fit under the icon, there's a more serious flaw: installing multiple dictionaries requires manual editing of the installation files. But it's free and it works.

• DictionaryForMIDs


Similar programs:


Dicts.info is like DictionaryForMIDs with a few more features, but with less language pairs to choose from.

• Dicts.info for Java


KODi is another collection of dictionaries. Each language pair comes in different flavours: high performance, small file, very small file, the choice is yours.

• Kodi


JLearnIt is a dictionary program with 15 languages in one package with an excellent user interface.

• JLearnIt

Back up, transfer, share, and send your Nokia Maps Landmarks and Google Maps Locations

You can back up your phone's Nokia Maps Landmarks (which are shared with Google Maps) with Nokia PC Suite. You can also back 'em up or send them to another phone without having a PC nearby, but Nokia kept the method well hidden.

You can't do it from Nokia Maps itself. Instead, you'll need to open the Landmarks application, select the Landmarks you want to save or send, and then hit "Send" from the Options menu.

You can choose between MMS and bluetooth. If you've configured an email account in the built-in messaging program of your Nokia, you can send them by email too.

Unfortunately you can't simply save your Landmarks as a file. Why, Nokia, why?

The same Landmarks are called Favourites in Google Maps. You can send 'em by MMS, bluetooth or email like you can do with the Landmarks application, but Landmarks lets you select multiple Landmarks and send them all together, whereas Google Maps can only send them one by one.

• Nokia Maps
• Nokia Map Loader alternative
• Google Maps
• Send Google Maps locations to Nokia Maps
• Send Google Earth locations to Nokia Maps

Paris subway and bus maps on your phone with Map @ Paris

Going to Paris and need a map of the Métro and bus network on your phone? Map @ Paris is a very simple mobile Java application: No search, no zoom, just a map of the Paris underground network, a map of the bus lines, a menu option to switch between them, all packed in a .jar file so it's just a single click away.

The author uploaded this program to lots of mobile phone internet forums. One of them is Mobile Castle, which lets you download Map @ Paris without having to sign up first.

• Map @ Paris v1.0 at Mobile Castle

• Mobile Maps (maps of the streets of London, the tube lines, and other London public transport)
• Metro (find the best public transport connections in many cities, but without maps)

Which Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson Symbian phones can be hacked or flashed?

Update: new hacks for Nokia and SonyEricsson phones with S60v3, S60v5, and Symbian^3. No certificates needed!

Contrary to popular belief, hacking your Symbian phone is not just a sport for software pirates. Setting your copy of Symbian free allows you to install unsigned programs, customise menus and icons, clean up your active standby screen, switch off that annoying camera shutter sound, make backups of all sorts of things without having to use the piece of Windows-only bloatware called Ovi Suite (just as bad as the old PC Suite), and much more.

But Nokia doesn't like freedom. They especially hate your freedom to control your own phone. That's why they made firmware updates that kill the Symbian hacks to take control of your phone away from you.


Some Symbian phones can be fully hacked with the HelloOX and HelloCarbide methods (which means that you can switch off the capability restrictions completely for all programs), others can be partially hacked with the HelloOX method, but switching off capability restrictions requires additional hacks (such as ROMPatcher patches). Your hacking options depend on your phone model and firmware version.

this list was updated on September 19, 2010, for newer phones check out the new antivirus hacks

Update: new hacks for Nokia and SonyEricsson phones with S60v3, S60v5, and Symbian^3. No certificates needed!

3250 (full up to ?, not sure about newer versions)
5230 (partial up to 12.0.089, not sure about newer versions)
5233 (partial up to 12.1.089, not sure about newer versions)
5320 XpressMusic (full up to 3.08, partial up to 4.13, not sure about newer versions)
5500 Sport (full up to 4.60, not sure about newer versions)
5530 XpressMusic (partial up to 20.0.080)
5630 XpressMusic (very limited hack up to 012.020, details on the Symbian Freak forum (login/signup required), not sure about newer versions)
5700 XpressMusic (full up to 5.11, not sure about newer versions)
5730 XpressMusic (partial up to 101.48.128, not sure about newer versions)
5800 XpressMusic Tube (partial up to 31.0.101, not sure about newer versions)
5800 XpressMusic Tube (North America) (partial up to 20.2.014, not sure about 21.2.025 or newer versions)
6110 Navigator (full up to 5.11, not sure about 6.01 or newer versions)
6110 Navigator (China) (full up to 5.12, not sure about newer versions)
6120 Classic (full up to 5.11. partial up to 6.01, not sure about 6.51 or newer versions)
6121 Classic (full up to 5.11. partial up to 6.01, not sure about newer versions)
6210 Navigator (full up to 3.08, not sure about newer versions)
6220 Classic (full up to 3.06, partial up to 5.15, not sure about newer versions)
6290 (full up to 3.03, not sure about newer versions)
6650 fold (partial up to 3.25, not sure about 3.31 or newer versions)
6710 Navigator (partial up to 021.013, not sure about newer versions)
6720 Classic (partial up to 12.008, not sure about newer versions)
6730 Classic (partial up to 022.001, not sure about newer versions)
6760 Slide (partial up to ?, not sure about newer versions)
6790 Surge (partial up to ?, not sure about newer versions)
E50 (full up to 7.36.0.0, not sure about newer versions)
E51 (full up to 220.34.37, partial up to 300.34.56, no hack yet for 400.34.011 or newer versions)
E51-2 (without camera) (full up to 201.34.38, not sure about newer versions)
E52 (partial (limited) hack up to 021.13, more info here)
E55 (partial (limited?) hack up to 021.13)
E60 (full up to 3.0633.09.04, not sure about newer versions)
E61 (full up to 3.0, not sure about newer versions)
E61i (full up to 3.0633.69.00, not sure about newer versions)
E62 (full up to 3.0633.09.13 and 3.0633.31.19, not sure about newer versions)
E63 (partial up to 500.21.009, not sure about newer versions)
E65 (full up to 3.0633.69.00, not sure about 4.0633.74.00 or newer)
E66 (partial up to 500.21.009, not sure about newer versions)
E70 (full up to 2.0618.07.10, not sure about newer versions)
E71 (partial up to 500.21.009, not sure about newer versions)
E75 (partial up to 110.48.125, not sure about newer versions)
E90 Communicator (full up to 210.34.75, partial up to 300.34.84, very limited for 400.34.93 (no ROMPatcher, no Leftup rootcert)
N71 (Japan) (full up to 3.0630.7.06.1, not sure about newer versions)
N71 (China) (full up to 4.0642.1.05, not sure about newer versions)
N73 (full up to 4.0812.4.3.1, not sure about newer versions)
N73 (China) (full up to 10.0.0, not sure about newer versions)
N73-1 (full up to 4.0839, not sure about newer versions)
N73-5 (full up to 4.0814.4.1.1, not sure about newer versions)
N76 (full up to 31.0.014, not sure about newer versions)
N77 (full up to 3.0827.22.0.1, not sure about newer versions)
N78 (full up to 12.046, partial up to 30.011, not sure about 30.014 or newer versions)
N79 (partial up to 20.175, not sure about 30.011 or newer versions)
N80 (full up to 5.0725.0.1, not sure about newer versions)
N81-1 (full up to 11.0.045, not sure about newer versions)
N81-3 (full up to 11.0.045, partial up to version 21.0.010, not sure about newer versions)
N81 (China) (full up to 20.1.016, not sure about newer versions)
N81 8Gb (full up to 20.0.056, partial up to version 21.0.010, not sure about newer versions)
N82 (full up to 20.0.062, partial up to version 31.0.016, not sure about newer versions)
N82 (China) (full up to 20.1.062, partial up to 30.1.019, not sure about newer versions)
N85 (partial up to 30.019, not sure about newer versions)
N86 8MP (partial up to 11.043, not sure about newer versions)
N91 (full up to 2.20.008, not sure about newer versions)
N91 8Gb (full up to 3.10.023, not sure about newer versions)
N92 (partial up to ?, not sure about newer versions)
N93 (China) (full up to 20.1.058, not sure about newer versions)
N93-1 (full up to 10.0.025 or 20.1.058, not sure about newer versions)
N93i (China) (full up to 30.1.013, not sure about newer versions)
N93i-1 (full up to 30.0.013, not sure about newer versions)
N95 (full up to 30.0.015, partial up to 31.0.017, not sure about newer versions)
N95-3 (full up to 20.2.011, not sure about newer versions)
N95 8Gb (full up to 30.0.018, partial up to 31.2.007, not sure about newer versions)
N95 8GB (N95-4 North America) (full up to ?, partial up to 31.2.008, very partial for 32.2.001, not sure about newer versions)
N96 (partial up to 30.0.33, not sure about newer versions)
N96-3 (partial up to ?, not sure about newer versions)
N97 (partial up to 12.0.026, not sure about 20.0.005 or newer versions)
X6 (partial up to 11.0.077, not sure about newer versions)
Samsung G810 (details here, login or signup required)
Samsung i550, i550w, i560 (full up to xxHH1, not sure about newer versions)
Samsung i8510 INNOV8 (partial up to ?)
Samsung i8910 Omnia HD (partial up to xxIE2, not sure about xxIE4 or newer versions)
Sony Ericsson Satio U1/U1i (partial up to R1CA037, if you have the unhackable firmware version R2AK006 you can downgrade to the hackable R1CA037, not sure about newer versions)

ROMPatcher patches and other tricks designed for Nokia phones will not necessarily work on Samsung phones. Anything beyond the ability to install unsigned programs is a bonus on a hacked Samsung.

UPDATE: You can now patch installserver.exe on new firmware too, so you can install programs on new phones with new firmware without having to sign them first.

• Step by step guides to hack Symbian, install unsigned programs, make backups without PC Suite, customise menus and icons, switch off the camera shutter sound, and more on symbianhack.site666.info
• The modding section of the Symbian Freak forum (login or registration required)
• A list of Nokia phones and their firmware versions


Is your Symbian phone too new for HelloOX?

The old hacks (HelloOX, HelloCarbide etc.) don't work on the latest Symbian phones (Nokia C7, Nokia N8, etc.), and developer certificates to sign those hacks (required to install them) are almost impossible to get since Nokia played dirty.

The good news: you can hack new Symbian phones with S60v3, S60v5, and Symbian^3 with a brand new antivirus hack (preferred method) or by flashing the firmware.

• JustHackIt! from CODeRUS

Hacking Symbian^3 by modding the firmware (warning: flashing your firmware may break your phone and void your warranty):

• Firmware modding section of the Daily Mobile forum
• Firmware modding section of the symbian-freak forum (login/signup required)
• Software to mod your firmware: NaviFirm+ and NokiaCooker at Symbian Toys
• CODeRUS mods for Symbian^3


Things change. If there's something wrong in this list (I may have overlooked a new firmware version or two), please post a comment or click the "contact" link on the bottom of this page.


This post was stolen without referring to the source by the copycats of Mobile Geeks, dotsis, Noeman GSM, zimbio, DreamStrikes, pda4x, BoffillBernardes, The Phone Club, and many others.

Copies on other sites are made by others and are usually out of date. The list on this page is the most recent version with the latest info.

I never copy this list to other sites because I don't want to update multiple versions everytime something changes. The URL for the original, most up to date list is:
http://symbianism.blogspot.com/2008/11/which-nokia-symbian-phones-can-be.html

Update: new hacks for Nokia and SonyEricsson phones with S60v3, S60v5, and Symbian^3. No certificates needed!

Shorcuts to SIM contacts (for feature pack 1 and older) and themes (for feature pack 2 and newer)

SIM directory

Nokia phones with Symbian S60 3rd ed. feature pack 2 can display contacts from your phone memory and your SIM card at the same time, but on phones with feature pack 1 (or without feature pack) you have to dig deep down in the options menu to see your SIM contacts.

Or you can install the Python application SIM directory. This simple piece of code which floats all over the Symbian forums puts an icon on your phone for direct access to your SIM contacts.

• SIM directory for Symbian S60 3rd edition feature pack 1 and pre-feature pack 1
• Python (required to run SIM directory)


Themes Launcher

On newer (feature pack 2) Nokia phones the shortcut to the Themes settings disappeared from the Settings folder. You can still get there the long way (Settings, General, Personalisation, Themes), or can you can bring the Themes shortcut back with the (not very new) program Themes Launcher.

• Themes Launcher (for Symbian S60 3rd edition feature pack 2)

• Themes and themes tools collection


Which feature pack?

Not sure which feature pack your Symbian S60 3rd edition Nokia has?

• All Nokia S60 versions and phones

Opera Mini 4.2 ready

Opera Mini 4.2 is done beta testing. New in this proxy-based, data traffic-reducing mobile Java web browser: pick one of seven color schemes, send videos from m.youtube.com straight to RealPlayer on your phone, choose from over 90 language versions, and you can surf faster than before because of Opera's extra proxy servers in their new server park.

Changed during the beta test:

- bug fixes and language corrections
- cyrillic in the small fonts

Sending YouTube videos from Opera Mini to RealPlayer and getting them to play works OK on 3G, but on Wi-Fi I have to go into the RealPlayer settings to tell it which wireless network to use. And when I switch to another Wi-Fi connection I have to tell RealPlayer about it again.

• The Opera Mini site

FreeAir open Wi-Fi connection scanner updated

It's easy to find Wi-Fi connections with your Symbian phone, but it can be hard to find free open wireless routers in between all the access points that demand a password or money or both.

FreeAir by KloNom finds free and open wireless internet connections for you, so you don't have to deal with all the locked wireless background noise. You can tell FreeAir when to search and how often to search.

Version 1.2 has fewer bugs, lets you search for networks with specific protection methods or SSID, and you can shut off the sound that FreeAir makes when it's done scanning.

Bug: when you close FreeAir it forgets that you've switched the notification sound off, so if you don't switch it off again your ears will be tortured by the noise that FreeAir makes after a scan.

To run FreeAir you need to have Python installed. You'll also need to sign the .sis files or set your phone free to avoid Symbian's Signing Madness.

• FreeAir at symbian-freeware.com

Google Maps with street view and walking directions for some, amAzeGps with free voice navigation for everyone

Google Maps added street view pictures and walking directions to its mobile Java map browser. Unfortunately these new featues are only available for a limited number of phone models, and my Nokia phones were not among them.

• Google Maps official site (on the fly installer): www.google.com/gmm


amAzeGps is a Google Maps-like mobile Java program with free voice navigation. It has an excellent zoom feature and displays things like ATMs, hotels and restaurants on the map.

• amAzeGps

Surf, mail, chat, VoIP, video calls: Skyfire, flurry, eBuddy, and OctroTalk

Skyfire now really for everyone

The new beta test version of Symbian web browser Skyfire is now officially available for everybody. Skyfire loads your pages through its own proxy server. Skyfire supports Flash, Ajax, QuickTime, video, audio, and other features of the "full" web. You can choose between the full web page and (if available) the mobile version.

New in version 0.85 beta:
- No more registration needed. Just download, install, and use.
- Single field to enter URLs or search Google.
- Automatic reconnection if your wireless connection is dropped.
- Easier to download images and other files.
- Less battery drain.
- More phone models supported.
- Bug fixes (but there are still plenty of bugs left).
- And more.

Loading the program and rendering pages is quite slow. Skyfire doesn't have a landscape view option, but you can rotate your screen with rotateMe or LandscapePro.

• Skyfire (on the fly install)
• Skyfire 0.85 on Mobile Castle (downloadable installer)
• A few music videos that play well with Skyfire

Update: Skyfire pulled the plug on its Symbian version. All versions Skyfire for Symbian no longer work.


flurrymail plus

Flurry does POP and IMAP, Hotmail, GMail, Yahoo and more. It doubles as a feed reader, so you can read the feed of this blog with it ;)

Unfortunately it is a mobile Java application, so it takes some time to load. It also shows an advertisement when you start the program.

Flurry tries to persuade you to do an on the fly install from a personalised link, but you can download the .jad file, open it in a program like Notepad to locate the URL of the corresponding .jar file, and download them to your computer to edit the .jar and back it up.

• flurrymail


New eBuddy version is faster, more stable, and easier to navigate

eBuddy is a mobile Java instant messenger that outperforms many Symbian IM programs. The new version is faster, more stable, and its user interface is easier to navigate than before.

There's also a mobile web version of eBuddy that works in your mobile web browser: no need to download or install anything. It also works on your computer. Very useful if you're sitting at a computer that won't let you install things, like at work, school, or in a hotel or internet cafe.

eBuddy wants you to install it on the fly from your phone web browser. To download it to your computer for archiving, or to replace files in the .jar installer, go to get.ebuddy.com, select your phone brand and model, download the .jad file, open it in a text editor like Notepad, and use the URL from the .jad file to download the .jar installer to your computer.

• eBuddy


OctroTalk: mobile instant messenger with voice and video

OctroTalk connects to Google Talk and other Jabber networks, and to MSN, AIM, Yahoo, and ICQ. Not just for chat, but also for file transfer, voice, and video. A great way to avoid the ridiculous video calling rates of your mobile operator. You can also use your own SIP service for VoIP calls.

Video chats only work between OctroTalk users. OctroTalk is free while beta testing lasts, but may cost money later.

• OctroTalk

Nokia Maps updated to v2.0.4503, unofficial shareware edition available

Nokia Maps is updated. As usual, Nokia didn't publish a change log, and I couldn't find any new features in the new version (v2.0.4503), so I guess they just fixed some bugs.

Maps are free, guides and navigation are not. There's an "unofficial shareware edition" available so you can try before you buy at leasure. Given the (lack of) quality of the city guides that Nokia sells, having a look before you hand over your money is a good idea.

The unofficial shareware edition can also help you out if you have problems with transferring your license from one phone to another.

Unlike most other commercial software, licenses for Nokia Maps are tied to your SIM card, not to your phone. This can be very inconvenient if you swap SIMs regularly. If you change SIM cards (for example, if you temporarily use a foreign SIM when travelling) the unofficial shareware edition allows you to keep using your license without having to transfer it to your foreign SIM and back again.

You can preload maps to your memory card to save on mobile data traffic, which is often horribly expensive when you're away from your own country. You can use Nokia Map Loader (Windows XP and Vista, Mac OS X Leopard, lengthy installation procedure) or the Nokia Map Loader alternative (all operating systems, no need to install anything) to fill your phone with maps.

• Nokia Maps (official site)
• Nokia Maps (unofficial shareware edition) (unsigned, to install check this)
• Nokia Map Loader Alternative

ActiveFile: new looks and SMS backup

Symbian phone file browser ActiveFile lets you into the folders that Symbian's built-in file manager tries to hide, can send protected files over bluetooth, and comes with extras like a screenshot function, task manager, battery and memory monitors, phone restarter, and an option to send fake SMSs to your own phone inbox.

The latest version has new colors, less bugs, is faster, and can backup (and restore) your SMS folders.

The "fake SMS" feature has a very small bug, and the SMS backup feature doesn't work on any of my phones. Maybe that will be fixed in a future version.

You need to hack your phone or "sign" ActiveFile with a developer certificate for full functionality. There are also signed and "open signed" versions, but the developer version can do a lot more. To unleash the full potential of ActiveFile, set your copy of Symbian free.

• ActiveFile from Alie Tan

Nimbuzz got better, fring got ads

Nimbuzz and fring are multi-network instant messengers, Skype, and SIP VoIP clients for Symbian mobile phones. Nimbuzz sports better sound quality, but appears to drain your battery a bit faster than fring, which has a somewhat nicer looking interface.

Nimbuzz didn't make much noise when they released version 1.01 of their program.

New in Nimbuzz v1.01: Facebook chat, MySpace chat, offline chat, the red button doesn't close the application in a conference call anymore, and closing a chat window clears the chat edit box (so you don't have to clear it yourself if you have multiple chats running). They also fixed a few a minor bugs.

The last fring update is a while ago. The program has grown a lot bigger without any noticable increase in functions. But...

...fring is turning into adware. The company behind fring is experimenting with displaying ads right inside the chat windows. Yuck! So far only "a small number of randomly selected fringsters" (source: the fring blog) has to suffer this annoyance, but it seems sooner or later everyone will have to deal with advertisements or switch to the competition.

Nimbuzz is the obvious alternative for fring refugees.

• Nimbuzz
• fring
Update: fring is no longer a multi-network messenger. They kicked 'em all out, fring now only works on it's own fring network. My advice: don't use fring.

If you don't like fring or Nimbuzz:
• Talkonaut (Talkonaut doesn't do Skype)

HandWave by Samir: wave your hand instead of pushing buttons

HandWave uses the front camera of your phone to detect movement and simulate pushing the navigation key. You can use it to control the volume of your music player, flip through your pictures, etc.

You can set pixel sensibility (make it more sensitive if it's dark) and image sensibility (reduce if you're far away from your phone, increase if you're closer).

HandWave is "free," but you have to "donate" money for a download link. There's no trial version, so you'll need to pay to be a beta tester, and there's no refund if the program doesn't work on your phone. But you can download a really free trial version at Mobile Castle.

HandWave is unsigned, so you'll need to sign it with your own certificate, pass it through Open Signed Online, or hack your phone to avoid the Symbian Signed madness.

• HandWave by Samir at AikonLab (free, but only if you donate money)
• HandWave beta 1 (v 0.1) at Mobile Castle (really free)

Metro: more cities, less bugs

Public transport navigator Métro added three cities (Belgrade, Phoenix AZ, and Mexico City), updated public transport info for many other cities, fixed some bugs, and now supports Nuance Voice Control.

Métro for Symbian S60 and Symbian UIQ calculates the fastest route or the route with the fewest connections between stations, bus and tram stops, tourist attractions and other places. Métro covers subway, train, tram, bus, and ferry lines of all major cities and an ever increasing number of smaller cities.

Public transport data is stored on your phone, so you can navigate the public transport routes and times without a mobile internet connection.

• Métro from metro.nanika.net

Delete RealPlayer recent clip list, delete Converter exchange rates, save and share mobile Java installer files

If you hack your copy of Symbian to force access to the system folders on your phone you can back up or delete all kinds of things.

To back up (or delete) access points, bluetooth devices, bookmarks, calendar entries, contacts, cookies, SMS and email messages, notes, profiles, and the T9 dictionary, click here.

To delete stuck installer files, dead themes, and "share online" on the active standby screen, go here.

A few more things you can do with a hacked phone and a file manager like ActiveFile or X-plore:

• Clear RealPlayer recent clip list
If you don't want people to find out what videos you've been watching in RealPlayer on your phone, delete C:\Private\10005A3E\mediaplayer.dat.

• Delete stored exchange rates in the Converter
Delete C:\Private\101F4668\UnitConverter.ini.

• Backup and share mobile Java applications
If you install a mobile Java program from a .jad file or on the fly from an SMS or mobile web site, you can copy the .jar file (the file that holds the Java aplication) from C:/private/102033e6/MIDlets (if you've installed the program on your phone memory) or E:/private/102033e6/MIDlets (if you've installed it on your memory card).

More:
• All Symbian hacking methods
• Symbian tricks

MyNotes has a new look and listens to the central navigation button

Symbian's built-in Notes application does what it's supposed to do, but mobile Java notebook MyNotes does more: it can protect your notes with a password and organise them into folders.

Version 1.1 sports different color schemes and speaks english, spanish, and russian. Upon startup MyNotes now shows what it's made for: your notes. The main menu is gone. It also listens to your central navigation key in addition to the left and right softkeys. And the menu under the left softkey has improved too.

The new MyNotes is a lot better than the previous version. Some issues:

- You can scroll up and down a list of folders with the up and down navigation keys, but the left and right navigation keys don't do anything. Why not use the right navigation key to open a subfolder, and the left navigation key to go back to its parent folder?

- You can't delete notes with the delete key.

- MyNotes is written in mobile Java, and it takes a long time to start up. MyNotes as a native Symbian application would run a lot faster.

But Symbian's built-in Notes application doesn't have folder organisation and password protection, so MyNotes wins.

• MyNotes

New Slick, new Talkonaut, new Nokia Chat

Symbian instant messenger Slick, free while beta testing lasts, hit version 0.45. The MSN list bug is fixed now.

Mobile instant messenger and VoIP client Talkonaut tweaked transfer of big files, and now can handle vCard-based avatars.

Nokia Beta Labs fixed some bugs in Jabber (GoogleTalk) client Nokia Chat, and spiced up the Location feature by putting pictures of your friends on the map.

• Slick
• Talkonaut
• Nokia Chat

Opera Mini 4.2 beta: skins, video, faster proxy server

Opera Mini compresses data before sending it to your phone to speed up browsing and reduce data traffic.

The new beta test version of Opera Mini comes with skins: you can choose between seven different color schemes.

And it now sends video straight to your video player instead of launching the Symbian browser first. It's supposed to play Youtube videos, but that doesn't seem to work for everyone. Well, it's a beta test version after all...

Opera has opened a new set of proxy servers to make sites load faster. Americans and asians will be routed through the new american servers, europeans will connect through the old servers in Norway.

The new Opera Mini also comes in more different languages.

Opera Mini 4.2 beta installs itself in addition to any old version that may be on your phone, so you can choose between running the test version or launching the old copy.

• The Opera Mini site
• Opera Mini beta

Nokia E51: new firmware version v220.34.37 can be hacked

After all the Nokia firmware updates that kill the hacks to set your phone free, the latest update for the Nokia E51 appears to be different: the HelloCarbide hack works with Nokia E51 firmware version v220.34.37.

But better check which version the Nokia Software Updater offers you. Newer versions may not be hackable. And there's a remote possibility that Nokia will release an unhackable update with the same version number, so always read the latest news before you upgrade your firmware if you don't want to hand control over your phone back to Nokia.

• OYSOISC, the quickest way to hack your Nokia E51
• All methods to set Symbian free
• Things you can do with a hacked phone
• Nokia E51 firmware v220.34.37 dicussion on the Symbian Freak forum

OYSOISC: Easy HelloCarbide/installserver combo to hack Symbian S60 3rd ed. Feature Pack 1 phones and avoid Symbian Signed

There are many ways to hack Symbian and set your phone free. OYSOISC is the newest kid on the block. It's a Python wrapper around HelloCarbide (to hack Symbian) and a modified installserver, which lets you install any Symbian program without having to deal with certificates or Symbian Signed.

Installing of CapsOnOff (to toggle platform security) or ROMPatcher (to toggle platform security and do many other things) is optional and can be done after OYSOISC has added the modified installserver to your phone.

OYSOISC has the same limitations as the original HelloCarbide hack: it doesn't work if your phone has the latest, hackproof firmware.

In addition, OYSOISC only works on Symbian S60 3rd ed. Feature Pack 1 phones: Nokia 5700 XpressMusic, 6110 Navigator, 6120 classic, 6121 classic, 6124 classic, 6290, E51, E90, N76, N81, N81 8GB, N82, N95, N95-3 NAM, and N95 8GB.

You need to have Python installed to make OYSOISC work.

• OYSOISC for Symbian S60 v3 Feature Pack 1 phones
• OYSOISC for Symbian S60 v3 Feature Pack 1 phones at Mobile Castle
• Python (required to run OYSOISC)
• Symbian hacking methods for Symbian S60 (all feature packs) and Symbian UIQ
• ROMPatcher (to toggle the Symbian locks, and much more)

Symbian Browser & hacked Nokia: move your cache to your memory card

The built-in web browser that comes with Symbian S60 is pretty good, but it caches the sites you've visited on your phone's built-in memory, which is nowhere near as big as your memory card.

But if you've set your phone free, you can move the browser cache to your memory card.

1) Give yourself access to your Symbian system folders by switching "caps" off, and launch a file manager like ActiveFile or X-plore.

2) Delete everything from C:\cache except for the vss folder. The vss folder should stay inside C:\cache.

3) Copy C:\cache (including the vss folder) to E so you'll get E:\cache and E:\cache\vss.

4) Set the attributes of the cache and vs folders in E to "hidden" and "system."

5) Copy Z:\private\10202be9\101f8557.txt to your memory card, and then to your computer.

6) Open 101f8557.txt on your computer and rename every instance of c:\cache to e:\cache. In my 101f8557.txt file I had to do this three times.

7) Send the modified 101f8557.txt back to your phone and save it in C:\private\10202be9.

8) Restart your phone.

Now your cache is moved to your memory card. Keep in mind that this means you can only use Symbian's browser if you have a working memory card in your phone.

To move your cache back to C, remove 101f8557.txt from C:\private\10202be9 and delete E:\cache.

• Hack Symbian: The methods, the tools, the tricks
• Symbian tricks

Nokia PC Suite updated: installs like a slug, runs like quicksand

The new Nokia PC Suite (v7.0.9.2) takes forever to install, especially if you don't have Microsoft .net framework already set up on your computer, which is a heavy requirement for a program that's bloated already. Once installed, it doesn't run very fast either. But since PC Suite is a necessary evil for tasks like backing up your phone, it's hard to avoid it.

As usual, Nokia PC Suite adds all sorts of stuff to your list of autostarting programs and services, so you'll have to do lots of tweaking if you want to keep Windows lean and mean. PC Suite now comes with a Firefox plugin, but fortunately it's optional so you can keep your browser clean. You can access Nokia Map Loader from Nokia PC Suite, but there is another way to get maps on your phone without having to install any Nokia software on your computer.

I couldn't make PC Suite talk to my phone over bluetooth, so I had to dig up my old USB cable to try it. As expected, PC Suite won't let you into the system folders of your phone, because Nokia thinks that just because you bought your phone that doesn't mean you own it. But there's a method to force your way in anyway.

There's no PC Suite for Mac yet. There's no Nokia PC Suite for Linux either, but Linux users have a few alternatives.


Nokia PC Suite:

• Nokia PC Suite

Nokia PC Suite alternatives:

• Trick to make PC Suite let you into the system folders of your phone memory
• Back up messages without PC Suite
• Back up calendar entries without PC Suite
• Get maps on your phone without Nokia Map Loader or PC Suite

Nokia PC Suite alternatives for Linux:

• PC Suite alternatives for Linux

Symbian file manager X-plore now shows your themes but comes with buggy online verification

X-plore is an easy to use, feature packed Symbian file manager. It lets you create zip files, and you can extract zip, rar, and jar archives. X-plore has a built-in text editor. If you set your copy of Symbian free, X-plore will let you manage files inside locked system folders.

Fixed: bugs in X-plore's hex editor search function and the shift key editor.

New: X-plore shows your phone theme instead of its own background colors. This is not necessarily an improvement if your theme is not suitable as a background for text.

The new X-plore also tries online verification to fight the keygens used by software pirates. This causes some collateral damage: you can't use online verification without a mobile internet connection. Even if your internet connection is OK, things can go wrong anyway. Some people on the X-plore forum reported that the authentication server didn't respond, so they couldn't use the license they paid for. Replacing the new X-plore (v1.30) with the previous version (v1.22) won't work, because the old copy will insist on updating. So backup your phone memory or memory card before you update, just in case you need to restore your old copy of X-plore. The Mobile Castle forum has another (but rather questionable) way to go back from v1.30 to v1.22.

You can use X-plore for free as long as you like, but the free version displays a very annoying nag screen when you start the program, and again when you close it. Buying the full version will remove the nag screens. Of course you can also get rid of the nag screens by using a free competitor like Y-Browser or ActiveFile instead of X-plore.

• The latest X-plore from Lonely Cat Games
• How to downgrade from v1.30 to v1.22

The competition:
• ActiveFile

Instant messenger Slick with less bugs and more themes

Slick is a Symbian instant messenger in beta testing. While the test lasts, the application is free to use.

The program has an excellent, uncluttered user interface, comparable with fring (free) and IM+ (not free). However, the feature set of Slick is rather modest when compared to what the free and paid competition has to offer. File transfer on Slick is buggy, and you can't use Slick for voice chats like you can do with its free competitors fring and Nimbuzz.

Networks supported by Slick: GoogleTalk, MSN, ICQ, Yahoo, AIM, and Jabber.

Slick version 0.44 has a fixed picture shooting menu, and comes with a new feature: its interface shows the theme of your phone.

• Slick from Lonely Cat Games

Push email: Nokia Email and System Seven

Nokia Email is a combination of an email client and a push email service. The program is still in beta testing stage.

The push email service (but not the client) is updated. New: bug fixes and a faster server.

• email.nokia.com (on the fly install only)
• Nokia Email beta 3.0 at Mobile Castle (downloadable installer)


System Seven

There's a new update for System Seven, yet another mobile push email client in beta testing stage. It comes with preloaded settings for some popular email services like GMail, which makes it easier to set up your email accounts.

System Seven can sync your contacts, calendar, and mail with MS Exchange Server.

Before you rush out to try it, a few words of warning:
- System Seven installs itself on your phone's built-in memory. You can't install it on your memory card.
- Even worse: System Seven stores your email on your phone's built-in memory. The latest version won't let you choose to store your mail on your memory card anymore.
- And the worst: even your attachments now go to your phone's memory instead of your memory card, and you can't tell System Seven to do otherwise. This makes the program unusable for many.
- When System Seven launches for the first time, it sends an SMS to +447624802625 without asking you first.
- System Seven snatches an active standby shortcut for itself without asking you first. It does so before you accept the license agreement. Uninstalling System Seven does not necessarily restore the original active standby shortcut.
- System Seven eats lots of RAM. When System Seven is running, everything else on your phone is considerably slower. Your battery also takes a serious hit.

Before you can download System Seven, you'll need to register with them. Registration is required for just about everything. Even if you want to read the FAQ on the System Seven trial site you'll have to sign up first, because the FAQ is part of a closed user forum.

If you still believe System Seven is worth trying, you can test System Seven for free while beta testing lasts. You'll probably need to pay when the program is ready.

• System Seven

T9 Nav Beta 1.0: search your phone with predictive text input

Nuance T9 Nav searches contacts, settings (type "clock" to set your alarm clock), media files, bookmarks, applications, calendar entries (great if you need to find an entry for which you forgot the date), and keywords. T9 Nav uses T9 predictive text input, the same trick that suggests words when you type an SMS.

Autostart is optional.

When T9 Nav runs in the background, typing on the keypad keypad from the standby screen fills your screen with possible matches. The longer the word you type, the shorter the list of matches gets.


This beta test version expires February 2, 2009. Check the links below for a version that doesn't expire.

The official T9 Nav site asks for your email address, but if you enter a fake email address it lets you download the program anyway.

• T9 Nav official site
• Nuance T9 Nav Beta 1.0 at Mobile Castle
• Old version of T9 Nav that doesn't expire

KillMe kills unnecessary programs and processes

If you want to find out what's running on your Symbian S60 mobile phone, Symbian's built-in task manager is often inadequate. The built-in task manager that appears when you long-press the menu button doesn't show the plentitude of hidden processes. Needless to say, it won't switch off any hidden process either.

Of course there's Jbak TaskMan and the task and process manager in ActiveFile, but these programs don't warn you if you're about to kill a process that your phone needs to keep running.

But there's KillMe, a very simple but complete task manager which groups the running processes according to whether your phone really needs them. The "removable" tab lists processes that you can safely shut down without crashing your phone. Kill any process from the "reserved" tab and your phone will reboot. Anything labeled with "protected" can't be switched off. If KillMe doesn't know what will happen if you kill something it will appear in the "unsure" tab. If you don't agree with the author's assignment, you can move processes from one tab to another yourself.

There's also a "killed" tab which lists all processes you killed, with an option to bring them back to life again.

KillMe doesn't have its own website yet (well, not in english anyway), but you can get the english version of KillMe at Mobile Castle. It's not signed (yet), so you'll need to sign it yourself or hack your phone to install unsigned programs.

• KillMe v1.30 at Mobile Castle

Jbak TaskMan 1.0 is ready and signed

There's a company that sells a Symbian task manager called Handy Taskman for 25 dollars. I wonder why they bother, because Jbak TaskMan gives you the same functions and more for free.

Jbak TaskMan has many more options than Symbian's built-in task manager. For example, JBak TaskMan lets you see hidden tasks, memory status, disk usage, and detailed task info. When the program is running, long-pressing the menu button launches Jbak TaskMan instead of Symbian's built-in excuse for a task manager.

The last week new "release candidates" of Jbak TaskMan appeared almost every day. The result: now there's Jbak TaskMan version 1.0. It's ready and it's signed, so you don't have to deal with hacks, certificates, or the horrors of Symbian Signed.

• Jbak TaskMan site

Skyfire browser beta available in the USA, Canada, and (with a trick) in the rest of the world

Skyfire is a new, experimental web browser for your phone that does a lot more than the Symbian browser built into your phone.

Just like Opera Mini, TeaShark, and Ucweb, Skyfire loads your pages through its own proxy server. Skyfire supports Flash, Ajax, QuickTime, video, audio, and other features of the "full" web. You can choose between the full web page and (if available) the mobile version. Skyfire also lets you bookmark pages with the zoom level and cursor position within the page.

However, Skyfire is far from perfect. They still have lots of isses to fix during their beta test. Here's a selection:

- You can't set your own homepage, because the default homepage is filled with links to Skyfire's sponsors. A bad habit that Skyfire shares with browsers like Opera Mini and TeaShark. Well, I guess the money has to come from somewhere...

- No multiline text entry yet, which means you can't use Skyfire for writing forum posts, blog entries, webmail, etc. unless you only send really short messages.

- There's no built-in landscape mode (yet), but if your phone doesn't turn into landscape mode by itself if you rotate the screen, you can use rotateMe or Landscape Pro.

- Skyfire may download your pages fast, but rendering those pages on your screen is slow on phones with limited memory. Skyfire also takes forever to start.

- Skyfire sucks your battery dry real quick. Because of its slow startup, it's tempting to keep it running. But you better close the program when you're not surfing the web, or your phone will be out of juice real soon.

- Skyfire's proxy server is not as reliable as the proxies of Opera Mini and TeaShark. When your phone can't connect, Skyfire blames your phone connection settings, even when your phone is properly configured and the error is at Skyfire's side.

Currently the Skyfire beta test is officially only for users in the USA and Canada. But if you enter a fake american phone number on the signup page and download Skyfire from their email link, you can use the program no matter where you live. And even with all the bugs that have to be ironed out before the program gets out of beta testing, it's still a good browser that's definitely worth a try.

• Skyfire
Update: Skyfire for Symbian is dead.

Dictionary by Vikrant P. Chavan: simple and effective english dictionary

Dictionary is the simple name of a simple but effective mobile Java dictionary. No translations, no T9 text input, no speech function to tell you how to pronounce a word, not even phonetic spelling, but just a simple description of what a word means. Sometimes too simple, especially when a word has multiple meanings. But it has all the four letter words that other dictionary programs don't show. And if you keep forgetting words, you can bookmark them.

This is the dictionary program from Vikrant P. Chavan, and should not be confused with the similar program with the same name from Simon Judge.

• Dictionary at GetJar

• For a free dictionary that translates words from one language into another, check the Symbian application Nokia Mobile Dictionary