[alexjholland85]

We all know this is the phone of the year. It has great reviews and the features are easy to identify from the Nokia site - but I think a brief critique is something I would have found useful before this phone arrived.

This is a great phone, but not straight out of the box. After several days of tweaking it has finally become the piece of kit I wanted it to be - here is my advice.


1. As soon as it arrives, if you are on Orange, DEFINITELY wipe it and load the Nokia firmware. Aside from losing the horrible graphics, When I go into my 'Downloads' section there is probably 5 times as much stuff to download - including Windows Live (which wasn't available through Orange). Apparently this software also improves the camera etc.

Updating E71 Firmware to Generic EURO1 Version « The MOTH

I checked with Orange and they said that this doesn't invalidate your 6 month warranty with them which is great. The operation in this link worked flawlessly for me and the phone has many more features (such as VOIP) as a result.


2. The best widgets I have found are Opera mini YouTube Facebook Google Maps andThe iPlayer hack (more on this later).
- Opera is much better than the built in browser - although Skyfire was also quite nice. The bookmarks/speed dial work really well and the theme colour cutomization is a nice touch (black, obviously). Nokia's browser takes over on some links, but this isn't a real issue.
- YouTube is probably my favourite widget - it is far better than using a browser to view the site. Although streaming anything on 3G is problematic, on wifi you get a much better quality picture than any browser and the interface is excellent. (This and Google maps come from Google's mobile site)
- The Facebook Widget works very nicely too, loading a smartly-sized Facebook page. This is available in the 'Download section' from your E71 after loading the Nokia firmware.
- Google Maps works well and the new Latitude feature lets you keep an eye on your friends locations. (I haven't convinced any friends to set this up yet, so can't comment on how it works, but it's a cool idea)


3. Get Nokia Messaging. The built in email is pretty good, but you need this to view HTML.


4. One big niggle I had was the connection manager. My Macbook has the BEST system ever. You have a list in which you prioritize your connections - and the Macbook automatically switches to the highest connection in the list currently available. Every single electronic device, anywhere in the world should do this.

If I set my E71's various applications to automatically use my home wifi, the phone complains it can't connect when I leave the house. So I have to set most of its functions up to select an access point manually each time. This isn't too bad, it just means a few clicks each time I load something - but it is unnecessary.


5. Get the iPlayer widget. THIS IS NOT EASY. But it is seriously good.
» BBC iPlayer on the E71 inc Downloads

Let me explain this - far too many people on the internet don't:
- Symbian S60 software is protected so that you cannot load home-made things onto it. This means no open-source tweaking etc. and NO modding.
- If you want to make S60 software, you need a developers licence.
- Symbian will NOT give you one easily.
- What you need, is to get one made especially for your IMEI number

The most popular site to use and request a certificate from is a Chinese site called OPDA, here is one guide to using it, but there are many more you can Google.

OPDA Cert Guide - in Proper English - Mobile Phone Applications Mobile Games and Mobile Programs On Dotsis.com

(Personally, this did NOT work for me. I did everything properly, but the 'cert' and 'key' links just led me to some stupid Chinese download management program. I had to find someone on a forum to make one for me!)

When you get the Cert and Key file you have to use a program like SignSis to authenticate certain iPlayer files.

Now you have done this, it works perfectly and downloads files.

(The guide suggesting using HelloCarbide was useless for me - and other E71 users have said the same. Getting custom-made 'cert' and 'key' files is the only way I have found that works)


Conclusions:

I now love my E71 - it does everything I need it to. I still use my Zune for music and big movies, but this is great for crusing the internet, streaming youtube/iplayer and doing emails.

There are just a couple of niggles:
- NO 3.5mm jack. This is unforgiveably short-sighted. The E63 (it's younger brother) has one - I now have to carry around a 2.5mm-3.5mm converter everywhere I go to use my Zune headphones with this. Absolutley unforgiveable.
- I would like more than 5 (including switch) app shortcuts on my homepage - there's plenty of room for a second row.

You can find plenty of reviews on the features around, but I would have found a little beginners guide like this quite useful - so here you go.

This is the best phone I have owned (coming from Sony Ericsson K800i and W960i)- the only phones I would change it for are the Nokia N97, or the huge Samsung i8910.

But £19.50/month with 600 minutes and EVERYTHING else unlimited vs. £40+ and (probably) a £100+ handset payment?

I'm pretty happy.

[Amal99]

You complete Nokia newbie!!

epocware handy taskman - Google Search

Used on my 6630, N80, N95 and now E71.

Enjoy

[alexjholland85]

Yeah I am - but I'm sure many other people are too. Handy Taskman looks good - but I'm not paying for it!

Just replaced my Mode button with another app shortcut - I have no reason to change into business mode. Replacing my Calendar keys with notes and a voice recorder has given me more options too.

[Amal99]

Lol yeah, no doubt there are tons of new Nokia smart phone users.

I dont use the switch mode button either, useless for me, and for most people using an E71 I think.

I paid for it once and have been using it on all the phones since my first.

[Digger]

I was very close to buying an E71 but believe I might be better off waiting for the E55 with supposedly better battery life, as I hate charging up my E51 every day, sometimes forget too!!

[Amal99]

Originally Posted by Digger

I was very close to buying an E71 but believe I might be better off waiting for the E55 with supposedly better battery life, as I hate charging up my E51 every day, sometimes forget too!!

The E71's battery life is unbelievely good.

I just got back from a weekend. The E71 navigated us from Leicester to Nottingham, to Sherwood Forest and back to Leicester, so quiet a distance.

I also used youtube for about an hour, alot of emailing, alot of texting and a few phone calls, as well as about 2 hours of browsing the internet.

It started off with just under one bar charged, and now im back it has one bar of battery left. The whole time the screens brightness was also on full.

Not bad if you ask me.

[ColdKilla]

Yeah the battery life is not an issue for me! Lasts for ages - last two phones with iphone3g and n95 and it wipes the floor with them.

Re Youtube app - sometimes and quite regularly it plays the videos at double speed - is this a known issue?

[Runyak]

Morning All,
What apps do I need and where do I get them from?
I'm interested in SatNav, email retrieval and anything that enhances browsing the internet.
Anything else people find useful would be good too. All suggestions welcome.
I'm only interested in apps to download straight on to the phone that work straight off please. Not so interested in firmware/software changes unless absolutely necessary.
Cheers!

[alexjholland85]

Go to the Google mobile site and get Google Maps and Youtube. The Google maps has a great directions function that I used for the first time the other day.

Get Opera mobile as well, and the Facebook and Myspace Widgets are useful if you use them.

ColdKilla: My Youtube works perfectly, so much better than using any browser!

[Runyak]

Thanks Alex, I'll have a look.

[Amal99]

Originally Posted by ColdKilla

Yeah the battery life is not an issue for me! Lasts for ages - last two phones with iphone3g and n95 and it wipes the floor with them.

Re Youtube app - sometimes and quite regularly it plays the videos at double speed - is this a known issue?

It is a known issue, but only happens with certain videos for me.

Keep a look out for updated versions of Youtube, it should be fixed eventually.

[Runyak]

Got the phone this morning. Been playing a lot.
What an absolutely amazing bit of kit!
I don't think any of the reviews really explain just how good it is.
More than happy with it. 10/10 all round.

[Runyak]

Can anyone recommend me a new case for the E71?
The one it comes with is in no way practical. What were they thinking?!?!

[jamesgooner]

Need Help.
My Nokia E71 keeps jumping 2 or 3 days in frount of day that it should be, im in uk, so dont know why its doing this, this is messing up my alarm as i have it set for 5-30am workdays, so it went off this morning then the date jumped to thursday, so any help would be great.

[Uridium]

Been struggling for a couple of days with the Nokia messaging push email app; yes it's good for a free service but found it very lacking in some areas (especially with regard to integration with the S60 OS for email contacts etc..)

Then someone tipped me off about a free app called Emoze and i haven't looked back.

This app gives FREE push email for a single mailbox or support for multiple mailboxes for only around £8 per year.

It's way faster than Nokia Email and gives proper instant mail delivery. It also FULLY integrates with the Symbian OS giving homescreen popups as per nokia email but also populating the Mailbox folder under messaging as well as working with the Send Email option in contacts and from the contact search on the homescreen.

try the free version if your currently using Nokia Email. you'll prefer it i guarantee it.

My new favourite app

[alexjholland85]

I tried this, it does seem decent - but Nokia mail is working fine for me. Regarding integration, I like how I have my last two emails always showing at the bottom with Nokia mail - and I can add more account for free if needed.

[Uridium]

Also found this App today for any Exchange users who use Microsoft Live Communicator at work

Microsoft Live communicator for Windows Mobile/Java phones (inc Symbian)

(Note: Other than installing it I haven't tried this yet as my work LCS server is down at the moment)

[Uridium]

found a nice app tucked away in the old Nokia "Download" application today (strange why it's not in Ovi store)

It's called SmartConnect. This app allows you to use prioritised Internet connections in the same way S60v5 phones do.

Install it and create a new connection profile in the app containing your connections in order of priority (wifi,3g etc..) and it will then create an new access point on the phone that will automatically connect in the prority of your choice.

No more choosing which connection type when opening web apps. Just point the app to use the new connection by default and it will automatically use Wi-Fi if available or 3g if not.

Free as well to most E & N Series users. You can get it from the developers website here

[alexjholland85]

I just found bird-something smartconnect in Download-Utilities, but it says I have to buy it? This is just the program I want if I can get it and it works well - I would even consider paying.

How did you get it for free? Is it worth buying? Does it slip between wifi and 3g nicely?

[Uridium]

Originally Posted by alexjholland85

I just found bird-something smartconnect in Download-Utilities, but it says I have to buy it? This is just the program I want if I can get it and it works well - I would even consider paying.

How did you get it for free? Is it worth buying? Does it slip between wifi and 3g nicely?

Yes it says you have to buy it but it is free. something to do with the download app not being handset specific i believe. During installation I assume it detects an E-Series phone so installs free.

Some have had issues with this license model so to make sure it works go into app manager on the phone and change online certificate check to ON before downloading it.

The app works perfectly with everything I've tried so far.

I created a profile in it call "Web" and added my wi-Fi/3g connections in with wi-fi first then 3g. The app then auto created an AP called 'Web' in my list of access points and I just told my apps to use this one.

Mail for Exchange
Seven Push email
Web
Mobbler
Ovi Store

All working spot on. picking up my home wi-fi access point when i'm at home and 3g when I'm not with no intervention

Edit: not sure how it will work with Wi-fi scanning for unknown access points (haven't tried that bit yet) but I'm sure it can be done.

[Uridium]

Originally Posted by Uridium

Edit: not sure how it will work with Wi-fi scanning for unknown access points (haven't tried that bit yet) but I'm sure it can be done.

OK just tried it with a Wi-Fi hotspot and it works fine.

Just use the standard 'search for WLAN' option from the phone homescreen; add the hotspot with WEP/WPA key etc.. as usual but after this you now get another popup automatically asking if you want to add this to your smartconnect connections profile. Choose yes and it adds it in for you. Carry on using web enabled apps as usual and they will be using the new hotspot from within the profile you created

Nice app.

[Uridium]

noticed when browsing the Ovi store at the weekend on my E71 that SmartConnect has now been added as a Free app in there.

[Grimley]

BBC iplayer is now available to download for this phone from the ovi store is anyone's interested.

[MADEINUK]

Had my E71 for 4 months now, and it's outstanding! Without doubt the best phone i've ever owned. Mine came with the iPlayer app. on board, never had any problem with download speeds or with YOUTUBE replays. Only thing, i need to un-lock my phone but am loath to pay the ridiculous fees being asked, does any one know a site that offers unlocking for E71s'?

[alexjholland85]

The new iPlayer app is excellent! Much better than the hacked version we were using.

Downloaded the Thick of It to watch on the train - it's a shame about the 2.5mm socket, but I have a convertor!

I don't know about phone unlocking - is that the same as wiping firmware?

If so - then I know how to do that!

[bob277845]

Hi had the e71 for 12 months and a great phone. i had the hack bbc i-player but removed that and downloaded the bbc app from the ovi store (free). the only problem is i cannot seam to down load shows , only stream them. is that the case or am i doing something wrong.
bob

[alexjholland85]

Are you also downloading the activation key (which expires when the episode is pulled from iPlayer) ?

[bob277845]

I downloaded the i player from the ovi store . there was no key, it just works but only to stream , i dont see where you can download a tv show and watch it later
bob

[ron519098]

I've had the iPlayer on my E71 for several months but lately it seems to be having problems downloading. It gets to somewhere between 9 and 11 Mb into a download and I get an Internet Timeout message.

[rewari007]

I have been using iplayer for few months without any problem, I suggest try reinstalling on phone memory rather than memorycard.. let me know if it works.