Great news for someone like me, who relies on youtube for most of his video content. The reasons for carrying a laptop to univ keep getting fewer by the day :D.
The press release:

Co-operation with YouTube allows users to enjoy YouTube(TM) videos on the go via Nokia Nseries devices

3GSM World Congress 2007, Barcelona, Spain/Espoo, Finland - Nokia today announced a new mobile internet video experience which enables enhanced internet video consumption by bringing YouTube videos into the hands of Nokia Nseries multimedia computer owners.  YouTube videos are accessible with Nokia Web Browser with Mini Map through the new YouTube mobile site to be launched shortly.  Also, YouTube video RSS feeds can now be consumed through the new Nokia Video Center application.

“We are thrilled to be giving users easy access to entertaining YouTube videos anytime and anywhere. By partnering with an industry leader like Nokia, we’re able to bring YouTube videos to mobile phone users worldwide,” said Steve Chen, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer for YouTube.

“We are extremely excited to be able to announce YouTube as one of our first global partners in bringing internet videos easily to our Nokia Nseries owners,” said Harri Männistö, Director, Multimedia, Nokia. “The addition of the enhanced internet video experience is a logical continuation of the wide range of internet experiences available on Nokia Nseries multimedia computers covering already for example photo and video uploading and sharing, music discovery as well as search and navigation.”

Nokia Web Browser with Mini Map

The Nokia Web Browser with Mini Map enables mobile discovery of videos in websites such as the YouTube Mobile site in a similar way as with PC web browsers. With YouTube Mobile now also compatible with the AVC video format which is the most common format supported in mobile devices, the single-click playback of videos is also possible in the same intuitive way as with PC web browsers. The Nokia Web Browser with Mini Map and AVC video playback are standard features in all the latest Nokia Nseries multimedia computers.

Nokia Video Center

The new Nokia Video Center offers a comprehensive and user friendly mobile video RSS feed and video on demand consumption experience with an easy-to-use interface for discovering, viewing and storing one’s favorite content on the Nokia Nseries multimedia computer. It combines branded video RSS feed services, internet videos and sideloaded videos from the PC into one single place such as the Nokia N95 and the recently announced Nokia N93i.

“Our cooperation with YouTube paves the way for continued growth for internet based content distribution. Enabling people to have access to a wide range of videos on their connected multimedia computers offers great potential for this area,” said Torsti Tenhunen, Director, Multimedia, Nokia. “Also, Nokia Video Center offers content producers and distributors a unique way to lead consumers directly to dynamic video services which can easily be produced and tailored for various interests.“

Nokia Video Center will be available globally in the markets where Nokia Nseries devices are sold. It will first be preinstalled in the Nokia N95 device and thereafter in most of the new Nokia Nseries devices. Nokia Video Center will also be available as download version for selected compatible S60 devices.

I have highlighted the key points of the press release.

Link to press release

Symbian-freak has uploaded a video showing the Nokia Video Center in action on his proto N95:

[youtube]u5foQsiz828&eurl[/youtube]

Link to video

VIA: Ring Nokia, Symbian-Freak

Smart2Go, the free gps mapping application which Nokia was supposed to release on February 10, finally made its way to the masses today, February 13. Let me share my experience with this app:

PART - I: The Nokia Maps Application

At 9 a.m., I realized that Nokia Maps was available for download. Eager, I went to the site, but alas, the only phones compatible were: N73, N80, E61, E60 and E70. Anyways, I downloaded the N80 version of the application. At about 4.2 kB/s, the 2.6MB download took quite a while (close to 20 mins) to complete. After transferring the file to the phone, the install process took somewhere close to 10 mins. That’s a total of 30 mins just to install the application on the phone. I tested the application after I got back from office. The initial start-up took about 1-1.5 mins after which my phone promptly crashed. Upon reboot, I restarted the app again. I selected the network connection (wi-fi, obviously). The phone loaded up with the pointer over a location in Europe. I moved the pointer to the East coast of the USA (approx towards Maryland) and zoomed in to view the details. That’s when the app crashed again. I rebooted and started the app again. Once again, it crashed.

The overall stability has been really poor, imo. It could be that memory in my N91 is not sufficient, but somehow I don’t think that’s the issue (EDIT: Apparently that is the case. People using the phones listed on the smart2go website are not having problems). Checking the threads on ho-fo, I see I’m not the only one with this problem.

Part - II: The Nokia Maploader

Frustrated, I turned to ho-fo where I read that I might need to load maps. I fired up my old dell and downloaded the “Nokia Maps” application. Now, Nokia Maps needs the phone to be plugged in via usb with Mass Storage Mode selected (There ’s a memory card option as well, but its not really an option for me since I have the N91). I selected USA and decided to load the Maryland map. The file size was about 41.7MB. I selected it and started the download. The download begins and it tells me that it will take 1hr and 30 mins to download the map. Ridiculous! Am I supposed to keep my phone in offline Mode for 1.5 hrs so that it can keep downloading? There’s absolutely no logic in that! Seriously, what was Nokia thinking??

I’m quite disappointed. It might work for people who have memory card readers, but what about people with the N91 and people who only have the connectivity cable? Why limit people to have their phone plugged in when downloading maps? Why not download it to the hard disk and upload it as needed?

Perhaps I should just switch back to AmaZe or MGMaps (links on the S60 freeware page) for now. Are any of my readers facing similar problems with this app as well?

The developers over at Fring are awesome! They’ve added MSN support to the already uber-awesome Fring voip application. There’s no need to update the app. Just start your app and let it connect. You will now see the MSN logo along with Skype and Fring.
Thank you Fring! That just made my day!

Screenshot:

VIA: Darla Mack

UPDATE: I have a few major annoyances:

1. Whilst chatting, if I’m typing something and I get an IM, then the current word that I’m typing is automatically deleted
2. Please change the icons for the various apps! I have a lot of contacts that are redundant on GTalk, Skype and MSN. I don’t know if I’m calling someone on GTalk or Skype or MSN!

It’s weird, but someone named Manuel sent me this youtube link which shows a youtube video being played on a  Series 60 (looks like a 3rd edition phone, based on the theme) phone.

This is the comment he left on youtube:

A cutting edge mobile technology will be introduced on 2007 Barcelona 3GSM Congress. It provides capability to take any internet service or content to be full experienced, without limitations on 3G mobiles, for the demo YouTube service was. No extra software, just your mobile device. Simply AMAZING! Future starts monday 12 on 3GSM Congress.

The video:

[youtube]TOHBpLiuzmg[/youtube]

He has provided me with an email address. I will get in touch with him and try to get more information.

Michal Jerz, who has seen and used the E90 is answering questions over at My-Symbian. Stefan from Ring Nokia has compiled some of the questions he has answered so far:

Michal can you confirm that on the link (Engadget) we see Nokia E90?

Yes.

Whattta an ugly phone!!!!! It just can’t be

UGLY??? Shocked For me it is the best looking Communicator ever made. Extremely stylish and very professional.

Strange, shouldnt it be silver and attractive?

It’s a business device. It doesn’t have to be “attractive”, it has to look seriously.

Besides, I wrote TWO MONTHS AGO that it is all black with shiny chromium/nickel-plated elements, so I have no idea why you expected a silver one. Or maybe a pink one? Wink

It looks like some low class Nokia phones “Nokia 6151″

I definitely wouldn’t say so. Especially that it’s extremely well built, from high quality materials.

i’m surprised at the 3.2MP camera! (if that is true)

Yep Wink

no way, it looks like a 2 year old cheap 2000-series phone.

Are you really sure you can objectively and correctly judge it without touching the device, without even clearly seeing it? Those pictures on engaged couldn’t be called sharp and clear.

even 9500 would win a title in comparison!

9500 is butt ugly compared to the E90.

Besides, it’s AMAZING how some people get excited so much about the LOOK and not about the extremely powerful features, huge screen shown on those pictures and large keyboard. If only the look matters for such people, I think that the Communicator is simply not the right choice for them. Communicator is meant to be a powerful tool, and not a sexy toy.

Is Michal’s silence on the denial that this is the E90 a confirmation that it is indeed the E90?

No, the only reason was that I was sleeping until afternoon after spending the whole night on writing the E90 review Razz

The article said GPS - NO. That’s disappointing if it’s true…

It’s not true.

Maybe it is not a beauty, but it is very elegant and stylish.

Precisely.

Backlighted inner keyboard? This will mean that it is possible to write on the keyboard when it is dark.

Yep Wink

do you know if the E90 Communicator will support this feature set (S60 v3 FP2) please?

It won’t.

Engadget has a press shot of the Nokia E90 as well.

VIA: Ring Nokia, Engadget