One of the strengths of Nokia Ovi Store is being able to filter out apps that are meant for other handsets and get to the good stuff that will work well on your phone. Here is the latest crop of apps that Ovi Store recommends for use with Nokia’s touchy new smartphone, the N97.
Compass Touch
Type: City Guides/Maps
Price: Free
Size: 0.502 MB
The ‘magnetometer’ hidden away inside your Nokia N97 is basically just a fancy electronic compass. Apps can use it to work out which direction you are facing (to enable turn-by-turn directions, for example) but Compass Touch just lets you use it as, well, a compass. Fire it up and you get a nice graphical compass that wouldn’t look out of place on board ship. The dial swings realistically and is divided into proper degrees and minutes to enable accurate navigation.
Rotary Dialler Plus
Type: Utilities
Price: Free
Size: 0.32 MB
Should you have to lend your N97 to an elderly relative, or just wish to show your kids the strange user interface that we used before someone invented the ‘button’, Rotary Dialler is the app for you. A lovingly recreated Bakelite dial that can be operated via the touch screen and which actually works to dial number on your phone.
Nokia Photo Browser
Type: Photo & Video
Price: Free
Size: 1.162 MB
Nokia Beta Labs has been pumping out innovative little apps for a couple of years now, and the new touch-enabled phones haven’t been left out. Nokia Photo Browser is an experimental (and slightly buggy) new way of flicking through your pictures that takes full advantage of the touchscreen. Pressing and holding will pop up a unique ‘magnifying glass’ and whole galleries can be shown at once on a huge scrolling photo wall.
Flute
Type: Entertainment
Price: £4.00
Size: 2.015 MB
Flute turns your N97 into a virtual woodwind instrument. Similar o the iPhone app Ocarina, you blow gently into the microphone to play, with the touchscreen acting as the 'holes' of the flute. It's unlikely you will be getting your call-up papers for the Royal Philharmonic, but you can knock out a simple tune with some practice and the app has a nice wow factor.