Surf and chat: new versions of UCWEB, eBuddy, and Ovi Contacts

UCWEB

There's yet another new beta test version of chinese proxy-based, data compressing mobile web browser UCWEB. The new edition features a few eye candy improvements, and some Wi-Fi connection bugs were ironed out.

Before you rush out to try the latest test version, keep in mind that the official non-beta version of UCWEB is compatible with the patch by jbpseudo which removes the sponsored links from the start page, uses Google search without the limitations of the official program, and adds online synchronisation to the side panel.

• UCWEB 6.7.0.32-800-28-09070119 (beta test version) at Mobile Castle
• UCWEB 6.3 (latest non-beta version)


eBuddy

Mobile Java multi-network chat program eBuddy connects to MSN, Yahoo, AIM, GoogleTalk, ICQ, and Facebook chat. The latest update comes with color themes, faster login, and lower data consumption.

But eBuddy displays an ad on your contacts list, and it can't send files or voice messages. You're better off with Nimbuzz, fring, Talkonaut, Palringo, or Slick.

eBuddy wants you to do an on the fly install from your phone browser, but there's a way around that. Go to get.ebuddy.com, select your phone brand and model from the dropdown boxes, and download the jad file. Then open the jad file with a text editor to read the location of the corresponding jar file, and then download it to your computer. Or head to Mobile Castle to download the jad and jar files in one package.

• eBuddy
• eBuddy v1.3 build 3703 on Mobile Castle


Ovi Contacts

It used to be Nokia Chat, a good name that describes what the program does. Then it was renamed Contacts on Ovi, and now it's Ovi Contacts. Makes you wonder what Nokia will call this program tomorrow.

Ovi Contacts is not a contact manager but an instant messaging client. Which means that Nokia Messaging is not an instant messenger (it's an email program).

Ovi Contacts is a very limited instant messenger. It only connects to Google Talk and other Jabber-based networks. And you can't just install the program and log into your GoogleTalk account. No way! You'll have to make an Ovi Contacts account first, and then you can use your Ovi account to get into your Google account. I know that doesn't make any sense, but there are more things about Ovi Contacts that don't make sense. You'll appear twice in the contacts lists of your friends, because they'll see your Contacts on Ovi identity in addition to your Google Talk name.

The good news: you can make an Ovi Contacts account with a fake phone number and fake email address if you don't want to hand over your private data to Nokia's marketing department.

If you have Nokia Chat on your phone, you'll have to remove it before you install Ovi Contacts.

But why bother? There are plenty of instant messengers out there that are better than Ovi Contacts. Just try Nimbuzz, fring, Talkonaut, Palringo, or Slick. Even mobile Java messenger eBuddy beats Ovi Contacts hands down.

The latest Ovi Contacts update makes it work on touchscreen phones, so now users of the Nokia 5800XM and Nokia N97 can see for themselves how bad Ovi Contacts is. Ovi Contacts is still in beta testing, so maybe it will become usable sometime in the future.

• Ovi Contacts