Nokia Ovi Suite beta test version updated but still full of bugs

Nokia Ovi Suite is meant to replace Nokia PC Suite, Map Loader, and Software Updater. It doubles as a shopping mall, because Nokia doesn't want you to ignore their music and software stores.

If all works as planned, Ovi Suite will be lighter on system resources and faster than PC Suite. But that's a long way down the road, because the latest beta test version is still slow, buggy, and crashes often even though Nokia claims many bugs were fixed.

Ovi Suite shares PC Suite's requirement for Microsoft's .NET framework. A Mac version may be available in the distant future, but it's unlikely that Nokia will make a Linux version. Nokia PC Suite does not work under WINE, and nobody knows if Ovi Suite will be WINE-compatible.

Ovi Suite requires a screen resolution of at least 1024x768 pixels, which may be a problem for netbooks, minilaptops, and other computers with small screens. But because Ovi Suite in its present state consumes way too much RAM and processor power it's useless on such computers anyway.

Thinking of using Ovi Suite to sync your mail and contacts? Then think again. Nokia believes that everybody uses Outlook. If you use Lotus Notes or Mozilla Thunderbird, Nokia pretends that you don't exist.

• the new Nokia Ovi Suite

• the old Nokia PC Suite
• trick to make Nokia PC Suite let you into the system folders of your phone memory

Alternatives for Ovi Suite or PC Suite:

• Linux programs with a little bit of PC Suite functionality
• DAO4Sync, a lightweight computer-to-phone-and-back synchronisation tool
• download maps for Nokia Maps with just a web browser
• backup options for hacked phones: access points, bluetooth devices, bookmarks, calendar, cookies, messages, notes, profiles, and T9 dictionary
• ActiveFile backs up and restores SMS messages much better than PC Suite
• Contacts Transfer backs up, restores, and transfers contacts including pictures and caller groups