Locking your phone by SMS - One feature people still don't know

This is a repost from 2007 but its because I believe many people still don't know that their phone can be locked via SMS. You serious? Sure am... Imagine, you are at a shopping centre toilet and after you have done your business, you walk away. 15 minutes later you realize you left your phone in the toilets! When you get back, its gone! What do you do?

There is an option in the phone called Remote Lock (under Tools - Settings - Security - Phone and SIM - Allow remote Lock)

Enabling this will allow you to SMS your mobile number with a predefined "code". When your phone receives this SMS, it LOCKS! You will need to put in an unlock code to use the phone again. The phone still allows you to call up your mobile and maybe negotiate with the thief (or suddenly, good Samaritan) to have your phone returned to you. Pretty cool feature!
See the video below for a demonstration...

How to Remotely Lock a Stolen Mobile Phone by SMS... for Real!

If you can't receive SMS - it may be the virus Curse of Silence

There is a virus going around which may affect your phone. One way to know that your phone has been hit by the "Curse of Silence" is when you cannot receive any sms. If you suspect that you may be affected, you can download an applicaiton from Nokia which enables you to clean your inbox of the virus. You can download this patch here. 

There is no need to download the SMS Cleaner if you are not yet affected. Here's hoping none of you have received this virus but if you have, leave a comment and share your experience for the benefit of other readers / subscribers to MyE65.

Most Interesting Blog

How many people do you think try to work out every feature and application possible with a Nokia mobile phone? This is what makes blogs like this one interesting. Not only are the uses interesting but since your three most valuable things you carry around are your keys, wallet.. and mobile phone, this could be the most useful and interesting blog you will come across.

Other interesting blog ideas to google:

- People of different lifestyles or sub-cultures as you. For example, a celebrity spotter or professional gambler.
- People with interesting jobs. I found it interesting to follow someone around the world on their solo yacht.
- Blogs that teach you how to live your life better such as www.lifehacks.org or for those more spiritual www.godhacks.blogspot.com .

Rolling into Windows 7? Read this first to get PC Suite Working

Windows 7 dafault wallpaper

The new Windows 7 may be an itch you are begging to scratch but before you do, make sure you know how to get Nokia PC Suite running on WIndows 7.

1. Download the full installation package to your Desktop in Windows 7

2. DO NOT run your Nokia PC Suite installation in a normal way. If you do, PC Suite will say the program was not intended for this version of Windows and some have said this means you cannot try the above fix in retrospect.

3. INSTEAD.. right click on the installer and choose "Troubleshoot Compatibility" (a new Windows 7 'fix'). In the wizard, choose the option "This ran in a previous version of Windows" AND the "this application requires additional permissions". Then, choose Vista as the Windows system that it operated on before.

This goes for anything else from nokia.com which was never intended for Windows 7.

Bluetooth not working? Might be busy..

With an increased number of applications vying for the attention of your Nokia phone, there arises a problem more often than usual where different devices all demand the attention of your bluetooth. Sure, bluetooth can allow multiple connections but sometimes that is just not possible. 

If you have a program, for example PC Suite, trying to connect to a phone which is already trying to connect to another program, say Remote S60 professional, the phone will not connect to PC suite. Since I am posting this now, you can rightly conclude that this was my most recent problem. Sometimes two programs or devices (handsfree earpiece, wireless keyboard, GPS dongle) will demand the same type of connection with the bluetooth phone and cause a conflict. 

So if you find a conflict.. disconnect one program or device and try the other device again. It will probably work now... did it? 

If you have noticed combinations that have worked together well please leave a comment here for the benefit of those trawling Google for an answer. Likewise, if the source of your frustration was two devices/programs trying to connect at the same time, let everyone know before they tear the rest of their hair out. Blogs like this only work with your participation :)

Nokia's dominance in America slipping

Hands up those that are logging on from North America? Most likely there are not many of you if the recent article from Fortune Magazine suggests. For those that are interested in Nokia's global marketing, this will be an interesting read for you.

To stay No. 1 in high-end cellphones, the Finnish phonemaker has to take on Apple and RIM on their home turf. So far it hasn't got a foothold.

(Fortune Magazine) -- A few hours before the global launch of Nokia's latest high-end phone, the company gave a sneak peek at the gadget to a dozen bloggers and journalists gathered at its swank Midtown Manhattan concept store. With an elegant touchscreen that slid open to reveal a full keyboard, the device (Nokia N97 - not out yet) evoked lust in even the iPhone disciples present.

So when can we get it in the U.S.? The company's answer: "Globally, sometime in the first half of 2009." The U.S. launch will come after that. No carrier has been announced. In other words, just about never.

There's no disputing Nokia's dominance in the cellphone market. With sales of $70 billion, it holds 40% of the market globally. Interbrand ranked it the world's fifth-most-valuable brand, behind the likes of Coca-Cola and IBM. In parts of rural India, Nokia (NOK) is to "phone" what Kleenex is to "tissue": a synonym.

But in North America, despite a marketing blitz that includes two new American concept stores, a series of popular Nokia music venues, and a flashy billboard campaign peppering New York City's subways, Nokia's market share has slid to just 8% from 15% two years ago, according to research outfit IDC.

Read the rest of this article here.

Where do you think Nokia could do better?

Your E65 Most Useless Button

What would be the most useless button on the Nokia E65? This may be a funny question to ask but to Nokia developers this can be a very useful question for future models. For me, it would have to be one of the keys which cannot be redefined. I'm looking in particular at the conference button (top left to the navi key). I've never used that function and I am not sure if anyone reading these posts have either.

What I like about the new Nokia E66 and E71 is that each key is not only customisable but they have two uses. If you press the key once, it will act as a shortcut to, say, Google Maps. If you press and hold down the button, you will be able to navigate to another program, for example, Nokia SportsTracker.

One of the best buttons? I would say the pencil button on the right of the phone. When you want to copy and paste something from one program to another, you can hold the pencil down and select the portion that you want to copy. Unfortunately this does not work for Gmail application. When you forward or reply a Gmail email on your phone, you can't copy / paste from the original email that you are replying / forwarding.

Google Maps for Mobile - Finding businesses

The Google servers have been updated today. Now you can search for a business on Google Maps in your mobile phone and find the directions to the closest business (eg from "My Location" to "McDonalds"). In the past, if you did this search on Google Maps, it would only look for a street called McDonalds and not the Big Mac business. 

You do not need to download a new update to Google Maps for this feature to work.