Every Nokia smartphone, whether it's the Nokia N97 or the most lowly Nokia 6303 Classic, comes with an interface specifically designed to make the most of that device. However, the beauty of the Symbian OS is that you can change things to work exactly the way you want them to. Here we look at the best new interfaces for your Nokia courtesy of the Ovi Store...
For years, mobile phones have had basically the same user interface - a load of buttons and a simple screen. Smartphones are capable of much more, but for basic actions like making a call or sending a text the input methods have remained the same - even if sometimes the physical buttons have been replaced with virtual ones.
Does it have to be this way? Modern Nokia devices come with accelerometers, touchscreens and cameras as well as the more traditional keypads. Even with just a set of keys there must be some room for improvement, surely? These apps all show off some of the more innovative ways of interacting with your Nokia.
T9 Nav
Type: Utilities
Price: £5.52
Size: 0.998 MB
T9 Nav takes the 'T9' style of autocompleting text entry and turns it into a speedy way to search all the data on your phone. Just start keying in a few leters on the keypad and T9 Nav will suggest things from your phone that you might be referring to - e.g. type 'D' and the app will pop up a link to any contacts beginning with 'D' (Dave, Darren, Diane..) and ditto any music by Decemberists, David Bowie or Duran Duran will be listed, just a flick of the D-Pad away. With a little practice you can greatly reduce the number of keypresses it takes to launch apps or create messages.
Rotary Dialer Touch
Type: Utilities
Price: Free
Size: 0.32 MB
Turning the 'innovative user interface' idea on its head, Rotary Dialler Touch lets you use the ultimate retro interface for your mobile - a rotary dial. Load this onto a touch-enabled Nokia and it will let you make calls the old fashioned way.
Hi-N-Bye
Type: Utilities
Price: £6.00
Size: 0.07 MB
Hi-N-Bye puts your Nokia's motion sensor to work by associating gestures with common functions. Using Hi-N-Bye you can answer calls, toggle the speakerphone, put calls on hold, hang up and more all just by shaking or rotating the phone through some predefined gestures. You can configure what each gesture does (e.g. 'pushing' the phone forward and back rapidly can turn on the speakerphone) and set sensitivity levels to make sure you don't trigger anything accidentally.
VibrateCall
Type: Utilities
Price: £4.00
Size: 0.031 MB
VibrateCall links the vibrator in your phone to the dialtone that you hear before the person are calling picks up. This lets you place a call and wait for pick-up without having to clamp the phone to your ear. Your phone will keep throbbing until it is answered or you cut to voicemail.
Before you can download any of these apps you'll need to register your device with Ovi Store, which also entitles you to updates and message alerts from Nokia and is a great way of keeping abreast of what's going on at the Ovi Store.