SPB TV, which usually costs € 14.99, is currently available for € 10.00!

SPB TV is a highly usable IP-TV solution, optimized to run on mobile devices. SPB TV provides users with lots of channels in multiple languages with easy-to-use features and settings. No subscription fee!

Visit SPB TV on the Ovi Store to purchase it at the discounted price.

SPB Brain Evolution, which also costs € 14.99 normally, is available at for a price of just € 5.00!

SPB Brain Evolution is an intellectual software game that helps to train the brain and improve memory, logic, arithmetic, and puzzle-solving skills. The application is a suit of 10 games, which have to be played in sequence: only good results in a game, unlock the next one.

Visit SPB Brain Evolution on Ovi Store to purchase it at the discounted price.

A little over 2 weeks ago, we brought you news that the first version of the client became available for the N86, E52, E55 etc. This version was responsive and really fast.

The client available for download was v1.05(313) and the size was 637 kB, bigger than today’s update.

Then a little more than a week later, came the v20 firmware update which removed the downloaded & newer version of the Ovi store client (1.05.313) and instead, installed an older version of the client (1.05.272). But this version wasn’t as responsive as the previous (but newer) version and was also buggy. And This means that the team had been working on a different version for the firmware, followed by another version which did not go into the firmware but was released before the firmware.

The firmware update replaced the newer version of the Ovi store client with an older version.

Sometime before or after the v20 update was released, the download for the client was removed from the store. But that didn’t stop the store from prompting the users to download the Ovi store application for a faster browsing experience!

And when you clicked on the link to download the client -

No client for you! Item unavailable. If the item has been removed from the store, why prompt the user to download the client in the first place!

Finally, today Nokia again released the download for the Ovi Store client, which is a version newer than the one released before or the version available in FW v20.

So Nokia released a client for the Ovi store months after the N86 is released. Follows it up with a firmware update replacing the client with an older version of the client. In the meantime, removes the download for the client from the store but still prompts the users to download the client for a faster browsing! Then barely a week after the firmware update, an updated version of the client is released. Great!

All the N series (probably the other S60v3 phones too) have an option to capture 6 shots in sequence without having to press the camera key 6 times.

Today, when I opened the Sequence mode for the first time on my N86, I noticed a flurry of choices. On taking a look at what they did, I realised that Nokia has added the support for Time Lapse Photography on the N86!

Basically, what you have are options to set the camera to capture a shot after every few seconds or minutes. Once set, the camera will keep on capturing an image till the memory runs out! As the N86 has 8GB of mass memory, that means a lot of pictures! You can choose anything from 10 seconds to 30 minutes as the interval between each shot.

I have got to say, Nokia have gone all guns blazing to offer a first class Camera experience with the N86. I showed you a sample of quality of photos shot in Macro Mode on the N86. I have just started with my posts exploring the N86, Keep checking www.oviapplications.com or follow us on twitter @oviapplications to follow our coverage on the N86.

A few days back, we brought you news about the new N86 firmware v20 update which packed in quite a few camera improvements according to the release notes. To check the “Improved Close-up Focus”, I went ahead and shot a few close up mode photos. The results are more than decent to say the least. I, personally, was stunned by the clarity of the shots & the crisp close ups.

You can view the photos below. Click on the images to view the photos on Ovi Share from where you can download the original full size versions.

Open the SW update app on the phone to download the update.

The guys at AAS have already got their hands on the changelog, which looks pretty good if you are a N86 owner.

Camera improvements:

• Improved still image quality
• Improved video quality
• Face detection added
• Red-eye removal added (Nokia note: “this is image processing which removes the red-eye. You need to be in red-eye reduction flash mode for it to be operational. Other flash modes it is disabled as there is a small shot to shot impact due to the extra image processing.”)
• New focus point indication – this shows where in the scene the camera is focussing
• Improved Close-up focus. (Nokia note: “As a result you will find in most situations you can focus much closer than before. The new focus point indication will also help in confirming which part of your subject is used for critical focus checking”)

Significant bug fixes to:

• Web
• Music store client
• RealPlayer
• Ovi Maps (including faster calibration of the digital compass)
• Here and Now
• N-Gage client
• Nokia Messaging

Additional changes & screenshots :

Ovi Contacts is now pre-installed (to the ROM) & the standby plug-in has also been added.

An OVI standby theme has been added. The Ovi Contacts plug-in is available via this theme. To disable the Ovi Contacts plug-in, use the Horizontal icon bar theme.

Face detection feature for Image captures.

My Nokia app has been updated to include a Tips History section.

Ovi Store client has also been included in the update, but it is an older version from the one which became available for download from the store last week. The version included in the firmware is not as responsive and fast as the downloadable version, though sadly, you can’t download the newer version now.

Also, an Ovi splash screen has been added when you start your phone for the first time, followed by a prompt to check for updates.

The guys at AAS are also reporting that Automatic VoIP re-registration has also been added.

After a hard reset, the C: drive showed around 70MB of free space & there was 63MB RAM free.

Although UDP will ensure that your data is intact even after the update, I would recommend you hard reset your phone and start over a fresh. If Music folder icon reverts back to the default folder icon after the update, a hard reset will bring back the Music folder icon.

Due to the new 7.1 version of the webkit browser shipping with the new S60v3 phones, the Ovi Store client did not work with these phones. The only option was to use the Ovi Store website. It worked, but it wasn’t as feature rich as the client. One would have expected Nokia to work on the client & release it sooner, but better late than never. When I checked the Ovi Store website sometime back, I was prompted to install the Ovi Store client.

I have just started used it, but the initial impression is that its much more responsive & faster than the client on the N85. Chip in with your impressions & any other change you notice.

To download the Ovi Store Client, visit http://store.ovi.mobi from your phone. You could also try this link to the Ovi Store Client in the Ovi Store – Download.

Screenshots :

Reminder – If you are a developer or know any developer who develops for Ovi or Symbian and publish the content on Ovi Store, ask them to take the Ovi Developers Survey 2009.

After the impressive Fissure & Shi themes, Tehk from Tehkseven Studios has been working on his next featured theme, Evo. We have got hold of the Evo (Bold) version for you. This theme should be available for purchase from their website in a few days time. In the meantime, enjoy these screenshots of the theme.

Nokia N85 – S60v3 FP2

S60v5 – Touch Screen Phones

Along with the cost of entry, to get themes published to the store, one has to be a “Premium Publisher”. I do not know what the criteria or requirements to become a “Premium Publisher” are, but I will certainly look into it.

Due to these shortcomings, there are very few themes available on the Ovi Store currently, with only 3 out of those being free themes.

But that does not mean S60 users do not have good themes available. There are a lot of really talented artists out there creating stunning themes. Most of these themes are free for use, but a few of them are premium themes, costing a few dollars. Starting today, we shall highlight a theme every week at our site. The theme could be a premium theme or even a free theme, but all the themes will be worth having on your phone.

The first theme to get highlighted is a premium theme by tehkSeven Studios called Fissure.

Fissure by tehkSeven Studios

Fissure is a dark theme with various shades of angled rectangular shapes that play with the concept of depth of dimension of the background wallpaper.

This theme comes in various editions – There are different editions for S60v3 N series & E series phones as well as a separate edition for S60v5 phones. Each edition is available with either the default icon pack of the phone or tehkSeven Studios’ custom Seven icon pack.

You can buy the default icon pack edition for €1.00 or the seven icon pack editions for €2.00. Or if you would like to buy the complete theme pack, it could be yours for €5.00.

S60v5 users would definitely want to try this theme out as I have used it on the Nokia N97, and can say that it looked absolutely stunning on the large screen.

Here are the screenshots of this masterpiece from tehkSeven Studios, which if you wish to purchase, you can do so from this page – Fissure.

Screenshots

Nokia E71

Nokia N85

Nokia 5800