Nokia C7 Review -Sleek ,Slim and Smart !

http://europe.nokia.com/find-products/devices/nokia-c7-00

The above Heading just captures my sincere thoughts about the Nokia C7-00 phone.I honestly loved the phone!It was easy to use and good to look at.

Well i was recently allowed by Nokia to have a look at the C7-00 and review it and my experience was that more than anything i loved it for its sleek, slim and smart interface.I preferred it to the N8 when it comes to size and look.






What  are the key features which a normal common everyday user would look at? Let me summarize just a few of its appealing features:

Operating System: Symbian^3 OS
Network : Covers the following GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100
Keypad/Input: Onscreen Touch
Display:AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors,Scratch Resistant Gorilla Glass Display
Memory: Internal 8GB,256Mb RAM,1 GB ROM, External Micro SD upto 32GB
Camera: 8 Mega Pixel, 3264 x 2448 fixed focus, dual LED Flash, GeoTagging/Face Detection capacity
Video Camera: Shoots 116:9 HD video in 720p
Colours: Frosty Metal,Charcoal Black,Mahogany Brown
Radio: Stereo FM radio with RDS, FM transmitter
Internet/Social Media: Fully Optimized with customizable/integrated onscreen Social Network widgets that feature live updates
Price Range: 35,000 to 38,000 Kenya Shillings(as at my last inquiry which is over two months)
Battery Conservation: Quite good ,however dependent on usage.

I was able to navigate easily to Mombasa with Ovi Maps on this phone.Loved its photo quality and video images .Iwas not really hustled when it came to battery conservation and being on holiday ....mind you i was taking lots of photos, video and navigating using GPRS but was not disappointed at all !

For its size, efficiency and design i would give it a 9 out of 10.Of the recent Nokia phones i wouldn't mind a C7-00 or C7-01 anytime !

CNN and Nokia announce plans for international partnership

 CNN’s news content to be supported by Nokia’s mapping services

 Nairobi, Kenya, May 26 2011- CNN and Nokia today announced a multi-level international collaboration where Nokia becomes a key part of CNN's roster of mapping providers, delivering its rich mapping services to the international news network. The collaboration harnesses the companies’ strengths in global newsgathering, user-generated content, mapping technologies, and location-based services. The collaboration debuted with the use of Nokia’s 3D Maps across CNN’s platforms in its recent coverage of the British royal wedding.

 "This collaboration is a great fit for us as both companies share a similar philosophy on connecting people beyond borders through the combination of compelling news content and highly sophisticated technology," said Tony Maddox, Managing Director, CNN International. "The international scale of each of our businesses makes the scope of the collaboration particularly exciting."

 "Nokia and CNN share the belief that news is now mobile, powerfully democratic, and can immediately be shared by people around the world," said Jerri DeVard, Chief Marketing Officer, Nokia. "We are pleased that CNN wants to use Nokia’s innovative mapping services for its international news platforms, and we are excited to work with CNN to deliver a compelling news service to users of Nokia phones."

The collaboration also includes the CNN App for Nokia which provides mobile access to CNN's world, business, sport, entertainment and technology reporting, as well as live streaming video. The app also allows users to share CNN’s news via their own social channels, and participate in the reporting process with direct access to CNN's participatory news community, iReport. The CNN App for Nokia is available in Ovi Store.

Ryan Giggs Super Injunction :A Case of Freedom of Speech Online

Can the Courts regulate freedom of speech online under the aegis of "Right to Privacy" or "Defamatory Laws"  ,and or, other related laws? and even if they "try" to do so, is it an exercise in futility seeing the rapid advancement  and universal appeal of social networks and its tools such as Twitter, MySpace and Facebook?That's a question that will leave even the most advanced juridical mind boggled with its complexity as there are different legal regimes and questions of Jurisdiction/conflict of laws that would govern the issue . The acid test has been proven this week when a UK Court issued a mandatory (Super) Injunction prohibiting the naming and discussion of an alleged affair involving a  famous UK Footballer Ryan Giggs and a Reality TV Star Imogen Thomas .

But the said Order made the buzz on Twitter even more virulent as more than 75,000 Tweeps   discussed the footballer with abject abandon in a clear show that the law in Britain needs to be looked at afresh when it comes to Freedom of Speech and emerging technologies. For example it would be impracticable to arrest , prosecute and imprison the over 75,000 Twitter users who openly named the player. Infact the openess of Twitter made it possible or rather emboldened mainstream Media to cover the story without fear of incurring further Legal Liability for publishing the same (See BBC news item on Ryan Giggs).

The story is of interest to most internet users and is a demonstration of perhaps the changes that Laws in different Jurisdictions should envisage as the World becomes more technologically  interwoven.Whereas the Injunction my be binding in UK, one could verily discuss the issue outside that Jurisdiction.


Now for the humorous ,this Tweet by @GoalGodNando has just a funny limb to it:

Ryan Giggs has probably scored more times off the pitch than I have on it for Chelsea...... viva la torres

or this Tweet

Imogen Thomas' sex tape leaked on Internet. Not downloading though, it's about 11 giggs.

Regulating online content will perhaps be the enigma of current lawmakers and Jurist in the World right now irrespective of the Country.

Nokia Alert on SMS Scams !

Nokia warns mobile phone users of SMS or email lottery scam

…global handsets maker advises users not to respond to dubious messages

Nairobi Kenya, May 23 2011: World’s leading handsets maker, Nokia, has warned mobile phone users over the re-emergence of a scam suggesting that people have won money or mobile phones, which in reality, is an attempt to get private information from people who reply to the messages.

The hoaxers previously used to send to the dubious information to email addresses telling people they had won a Nokia device. This scam has now moved on and is being sent out to mobiles phones via SMS, with the message suggesting people have won a free Nokia, and just need to provide their bank details to claim the free phone.

 “We have been receiving a number of reports recently that scam artists are sending out hoax SMS and emails, purportedly from Nokia, that offer some sort of money if one were to respond in a similar way that lotteries are run. We would like to clarify that, those messages are not coming from Nokia and that we do not do money lotteries. We are asking people to beware and know that this ‘lottery’ is a scam,” said Kenneth Oyolla, Nokia, General Manager, East and Southern Africa.

 “Our advice is that if you do receive something dubious like this, DO NOT reply to these messages or pass them on. The thing to do is to delete the message without responding. You might also consider contacting the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) to report such hoax messages,” said Mr Oyolla.

He added: “We continue to remind people that bank details should never be given to strangers, particularly if all you know about that person is a contact mobile number and nothing else. If you haven’t entered any competition, or if the prize looks too good to be true, then it almost certainly will be. Let’s have a safe 2011.”

How the Nokia Lottery scam works

There are a couple of methods these scammers use, in the hope of stealing your money.

Method 1: A mobile phone user will receive an email claiming they have been chosen at random, to receive a prize, usually a large figure of money. In this case, £350,000 is the prize. However, to receive winnings the mobile phone user is informed he/she must send them some money as an admin charge. £650 in this same case. They hope you’ll be so dazzled by the large sum of money they claim you have won, that you will send the administration fee. It is at this point you will never hear from them again and your money will be lost.

Method 2: This is commonly used through contacting a mobile phone user by SMS. These text messages will tell you you’ve won a heap of money, like in this case, but you must first phone a telephone number or email back to hand over your bank details. Do not do this. Never give your bank details to a stranger, especially if all you know about them is their mobile phone number.

Whatever method they use, they will be asking for the same thing. Either your bank account details, or some money in another form and the messages they send always look official, but they’re not. They’re fake.

Examples of hoax emails and SMS circulating:

Hoax claim: Free Nokia mobiles

“Nokia Is Giving Away Phones For “FREE”!! Nokia is trying word-of-mouth advertising to introduce its products. And the reward you receive for advertising for them is a phone free of cost!”

Hoax claim: Nokia mobile Promo

“In line with the commemorating event marking our 142nd anniversary we rolled out over £ nnnnn (n Million Great Britain Pounds) for our 142nd Anniversary Draws. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 25,000 company mobile numbers, and 30,000,000 individual mobile numbers from the 45 mobile networks from Australia, New Zealand, North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa as part of International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually in Britain, London.

This promo is approved by the British Gaming Board and also licensed by the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR). This promo is the 1st of its kind and we intend to sensitize the public. To begin the verification process of your prize, you are required to fill and send the claims form below.”

Hoax claim: Nokia/UK promo

Congratulations! Your cell phone has won you xxxxx (GBP) pounds in the ongoing NOKIA/UK PROMO. For claims call: 44xxxxxxxx or email: hoax.example@fakelottery.com

What to do if you receive a Nokia Lottery scam SMS or email

Don’t respond to the messages, doing so will only encourage them to keep contacting you. There are several agencies and sites out there to help you, where you can report the fraud in the hope to get these stopped:

End of The World -21` May 2011 Harold Camping Fiasco !

It is now clearly apparent that the end of the World (which in itself is a matter of different interpration and subject of immense confusion among the churches of Christendom) is not coming at the behest of a human interpretation.It is just amusing how time and again those claiming belief in the bible openly go against its tenets,moving many to wonder where can you truly get satisfying answers.

I will not question Harold Camping's faith and those of his followers.They have a right to believe whatever they choose to believe just that "it may not be right" like it clearly was .True their doctrine has now shifted to 21st October 2011 being the penultimate date but i pity their cause.I can bet 1 to 100 that they will be terribly dissapointed as serving God with a day in mind is just wrong in itself .Unfortunately that tendency to pre- Judge what God would do and when without scriptural backing often proves disastrous and yields suicidal tendencies.

At least  now that the end of the World did not come to be on 21st May, 2011 as predicted by Harold Camping , the readership of this blog can look forward to more appealing content. I actually received complaints that my blog has taken up to commercialistic content which i will most readily address.But in the meantime i found the above picture dubbed "the rapture machine"most humorous.

The issue is not making fun of peoples faith but to just emphasize that "whether or not one is to go to Heaven or remain here on Earth (2 Peter 3;13) will remain the preserve of God .It does not matter how strong your faith or how long you have maintained the same but that you can only' get there' by Gods will not your own strength.Have a good day .

From OVi To Nokia :The Evolution

I have just received a Press release from Nokia's PR Handlers and found it interesting. However my immediate query is  what happens to our Nokia Ovi stores Icons on the phones?How Nokia will sort that out is the enigma of sorts, although i can see it partly addressed in the press release which i wont preempt. I believe the decisions we have seen from the Company's head office of late are dumbfounding at the list bit..... however, here goes the Press Release:

The evolution of Nokia and Ovi

Espoo, Finland, May 17^th 2011– Starting with first services on some of the new Nokia devices in July and August, Ovi services will be rebranded as Nokia services in a transition expected to continue into 2012. Each of the services under the Ovi umbrella will simply be rebranded as Nokia, with no planned disruption to the service roadmaps. 

Nokia’s EVP and Chief Marketing Officer, Jerri DeVard explains the shift: 

“We have made the decision to change our service branding from Ovi to Nokia. By centralizing our services identity under one brand, not two, we will reinforce the powerful master brand of Nokia and unify our brand architecture – while continuing to deliver compelling opportunities and experiences for partners and consumers alike.”

The transition from Ovi to Nokia will begin in July this year, with the intention of it being completed across all countries and all services by the end of 2012. It’s likely that anybody buying a new Nokia smartphone or mobile phone later this year will start to see the new branding on services included within. However anybody already owning a Nokia phone will see this new rebranding through future software updates. 

Jerri continues: 

“The reasons for this decision includes the fact that Nokia is a well-known and highly-loved brand the world over. Our mobile experiences are tightly integrated with our devices – there is no longer a differentiation. For example, if consumers want the best mobile navigation experience, they know it’s a Nokia that they can rely on. These last few years, and moving forward, our mission remains unchanged: we will continue our work to deliver compelling, unified mobile service offerings and next-generation, disruptive technologies.”

This is solely a name-changing exercise and the service roadmaps will continue exactly as planned. The only difference consumers can expect to see is the replacement of the word Ovi with Nokia, not only on their device software but also in other places such as printed material or online media and advertisements. The transition should be a smooth and seamless one.

Nokia E7-Redifining Success With Some Fun !

Nairobi, Kenya, May 5^th 2011: Nothing beats the chirp of conversations from a battery of bloggers and journalists huddled in a room. Speaking of latest trends on issues ranging from traffic jam to emerging technology developments, it’s always tempting to listen in among groups, for fear of missing out on details of what’s the hottest tech thing in the market. 

So when Dorothy Ooko, Nokia’s Head of Communications for East and Southern Africa, called the Ovi Happy Hour gathering at Sierra to order, it seemed like many were cut short. But they didn’t know that what lay in store was bound to lighten the chilly evening-significantly.

The night for the Ovi Happy Hour was aptly themed “Success Redefined” the tag-line associated with Nokia’s latest business smart phone, the E7. Seeing the E7 though the eyes of those who have already used it was an experience in itself. Hailed as the all-in-one business smartphone, the Nokia E7 is the new-age Communicator. Boasting a Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync support alongside 4-inch AMOLED touchscreen display and a slide out four-row QWERTY keyboard, the E7 hit the Kenyan market during the last week of April.

First off was Tim Njiru, making an interesting pitch of the Nokia E7’s 8-megapixel camera. Tim wowed the crowd with clear, if cheeky photos he’d a couple of kids “in my rounds.” And he’d more serious photos, this time from a South Africa Airways plane before take-off. Here he had exploited the full-screen 16:9 viewfinder with its easy-to-use touch screen parameters pretty well.

Clearly in love with the apps and the Nokia maps, Tim did not hide his inclination for WhatsApp, cross-platform mobile messaging app which allows you to exchange messages without having to pay for SMS and a messenger too. Next was Gravity, a full-featured Twitter Client with a gorgeous, highly praised user interface. Tim made good of his five-minute pitch to talk about how Gravity supports multiple Twitter accounts, image-uploading TwitPic and TwitGoo, multiple Twitter-searches.

Running short of time, Tim spoke of the Nokia Maps, explaining how useful the maps can get especially to strangers in new places. And in keeping with the week’s happenings, Tim even had a screen-grab he took the previous evening from the cable-news channel CNN as Michael Holmes captured events leading to the Royal Wedding. What a close to make.  

Moses Kemibaro, a renowned IT consultant and blogger took to the floor next and called the E7 “a fantastic work-horse phone for business people.” Picking out the phones capabilities-to integrate office with social media tools, Kemibaro said the fact that the phone had a combination of touch-screen and QWERTY keyboard made it a cool thing to have for everyone.

Not to be outdone, Dorothy Ooko stepped forward and spoke of the of Nokia’s keenness in making user-friendly devices. Dorothy was fast to speak of her affinity to the N8 but she added that the E7 had that added advantage of the flip which would help enhance ease of use especially for business people.

Kenneth Oyolla Nokia GM for East and Southern Africa speaking of his Nokia E7 experience

Perhaps presenting one of most core benefits of the E7 on this afternoon, Dorothy demonstrated to an eager crowd in the room, how easy it is to draft and edit documents from the E7 even sending a dud document to her boss from the phone. She went further to show how to use the Microsoft Communicator on the phone. Gripping stuff.

In the process of updating the crowd on whether he’d ‘received’ the demo document from Dorothy a few minute before, Ken Oyolla, Nokia’s General Manager for East and Southern Africa got into the team of presenters on the evening. But he spoke of the E7’s entertainment front, a relevant element for any business person who travels often. So Ken took time to speak of travel apps such as the World Traveler, which he said was “a must have free and premium services for travelers.”

Kenneth Oyolla Nokia GM for East and Southern Africa demonstrating how an E7 streams TV

“The app has an amazing in-built virtual ‘flight assistant’, which many will find handy for searching flight schedules of major and low cost airlines as well as real-time alerts regarding delays, cancellations and gate changes,” said Oyolla.

He captured the need of the app well, especially for travellers who inevitably get confused about the time difference while abroad. Ken spoke of how useful World Traveller is on info regarding weather, currencies.

It’s unbelievable that such qualities would be wrapped in a single device, the Nokia E7. Listening all round, it appeared there are a few other things would so suitably redefine success. No wonder, then, that everyone wanted to stick around for a word or two with the Nokia team, or have a beer to go with the fun at the event.

Osama Bin Laden Is Dead -Kenyans Celebrate!

Kenyans have awoken this morning (coincidentally on a public holiday) to the News that Osama Bin Ladden is Dead the Mastermind behind the August 7th 1998 ,Nairobi USA Embassy bombings that left over 200 Kenyans dead and scores injured and maimed(see embedded YouTube Video of President Barrack Obama's announcement of Bin Ladens Death)! The Terror kingpin was killed in a well coordinated move carried out allegedly by American Navy seals that resulted in a firefight and the death of Osama Bin Laden's son.

That essentially is good news and there is a sense of jubilation and  retribution duly seved especially on Social Media as many bloggers and tweeps tweeting in their approval of his demise.Where was Osama Killed at? Interestingly Osama Bin Laden was killed not in Tora Borra Mountains in Afghanistan but in Abbotabad a cosy up market  mansion/house near the Pakistani Capital Islamabad .Ironically those who do bad live in luxury while their foot soldiers brave horrid conditions with untold zeal and fevour.

Interestingly it has taken Obama(whose father was a native Kenyan) to nail Osama ! The Kenyan Television stations are now running Al Jazeera and CNN live feeds in recognition that this event has much significance to the Kenyan people who have been on the receiving end of several Al Qaeda cordinated terrorist attacks including the initial 1998 US Embassy bombings in Nairobi.

On an international note many pundits will be evaluating this developments and its significance in American Politics and President Barrack Obama's re-election bid.At the same time Osama's death obviously will not have the cure it effect of Al Qaeda induced terrorism but it is a significant step in stemming like minded individuals .

A Pakistani techie Sohaib Athar who tweets @ReallyVirtual managed to live tweet the event as the American Helicopters hovered above his residence in Abbotabad unbeknown to him at the time that Osama bin Laden was the target of the noise.You may just find his timeline pretty interesting.