If you struggle to read text messages, or would just rather listen to them while you’re doing something else, the Nokia C7 offers just the feature for you. Click on the menu button to get started, and tap Messages. Then select Inbox, and scroll down until you find the message you want to read.

Check out our Nokia C7 Ultimate User Guide!

Tap it, and hold it down until a sub menu pops up. Then click on Listen. You’ll be asked to double check the audio settings, make sure the language is set to English, and then click on Back.

From then on, whenever you tap and hold a message, and press Listen, your Nokia C7 will use the Message Reader to read your messages out loud. Granted, the voice is more robotic than we’re accustomed to, but it’s easy to understand and means you won’t have to cope with lots of text.

If there’s anything else you want to know, head over to our Nokia C7 Ultimate User Guide.

Confused? Check out our Nokia C7: How to turn text messages into audio messages photo gallery below:

The Nokia N97 may be about messaging and making the most of the 5-Megapixel camera and good sized QWERTY keyboard. However, one of the real uses we’ve been putting the 3.5-inch screen to is playing the latest N-Gage games.

Our Nokia N97 came with N-Gage pre-installed and up and running. However, there have been reports that not all devices are set up the same way. So, if you’ve found N-Gage missing on your Nokia N97, here is how to go about getting it up and running.

It may be that N-Gage is on your device and you’ve just not found it yet. If this is the case, check out whether it’s installed under Applications or hidden away in the Media folder. In either place you should find an icon, then it’s simply a case of going to the N-Gage Showroom, where all the cool games hang-out, and getting the latest update.

If you find that your Nokia N97 doesn’t have the N-Gage icon, or that it’s present but only plays a video teaser, then you’ll need to install and set up N-Gage. To get a hold of the N-Gage setup files, we’d check that you have the latest firmware version v11.0.021 for your Nokia N97 and that you’ve backed up all your files (it pays to be cautious when messign about with your data).

Then you need to download the latest version of N-Gage onto your desktop PC and copy it over to your Nokia N97 using the Nokia Transfer. Once on your device you can install the sis file and then you’re ready to roll.

If you’re not making the most of N-Gage on your Nokia N97, we suggest you do so now, as there are some great games to be had.  Our favourite games on N-Gage at the moment are Sims 3, Age of Empires III and Dance Fabulous, which really show off the screen and the speed of the Nokia N97 to its best advantage.

Via: N-Gage

… still with us? Got your Nok charged to full? Then we’ll begin:

Suduko Master

Belovd by commuters and the number crunchers on the train the world over, this latest version for the Nokia 5800 and other Series 60 devices takes full advantage of the new Nok’s widescreen display. The game play never really gets the adrenalin buzzing through your veins but you’re brain will get a good workout ready ahead of the weekend chillout.

Download Suduko Master

Asphalt 4: Elite Racing

OK, now to get that blood pumping and the excitement level raised. This has to be one of the best arcade games around with this version offering six cities – Los Angeles, Dubai, Monte Carlo, New York, Paris and Shanghai – to race around in. There are also 28 cars and bikes on offer, each one  under licence from real manufacturers. It’s got everything you need form Bluetooth support to an online top score rankings card.

Download Asphalt 4: Elite Racing

Checkers

If you’re looking for something a little more sedate that you can play with others, then checkers is the logical option. It’s a simple game that has been developed specifically for the Nokia 5800 and N97 touchscreens. This brand new version is another game that makes the most of the widescreen aspect of the Nokia 5800, allowing you play in Landscape or Portrait mode.

Download Checkers

Boom Blox

This is still one of our favourite games right now. It’s a cinch to play as you fire your cannon at various items on the screen, attempting to knock stuff off their platforms, while avoiding the nasty old skull blocks. You only have a certain number of shots to reach your target score. The fun bit comes with all the accessories that Boom Blox throws in: bombs that push blocks all over the place; magnets that pull them; and portals that teleport objects around the screen.

Check out our full review of Boom Blox.

Download Boom Blox

Looking for something a little different? Want to try out a few N-Gage games on your Nok, then check out these other games we’ve tested of late:

Resident Evil: Degeneration

Dirk Dagger: The Fallen Idol

Crash Bandicoot: Nitro Kart 3D

One

Control games properly using the Wiimote as an analogue controller!

Is it free?

Completely!

Sold! How do I do it?

Step 1 Download the WiiConnect software for your N95 here. It comes in a bundle with a game and the source code, but you don’t need to transfer everything over to your phone, just the WiiConnect.sisx and WiiRider.jar files.

Step 2 Install both files, then head into your Applications menu and fire up WiiConnect. Open the battery cover of your Wii controller and find the red ‘sync’ button. Hit ‘Options’ in WiiConnect, choose ‘Discover WiiMote’ and then tap the red button on your controller. The two will pair up and you can minimise Wii Connect by pressing the menu button on your phone.

Step 3 Fire up WiiRider from within your Applications folder and you’ll be able to control the motorbike on screen using the Wiimote. Hold it like a pair of handlebars, leaning left and right to move, and twisting forwards or back to accelerate and brake. Try hitting an obstacle and you’ll feel the controller vibrate too.

Step 4 WiiConnect will work with other games too, although your success will vary because of their differing controls.

Come November, Nokia is rolling out an N-Gage afresh, except it’s (and this is the slightly confusing bit) no longer an actual device but a service available to all S60 3rd Edition mobiles.

If you’ve ever used Microsoft’s slick Xbox Live online service, the concept here is the same. All N-Gage games will be available for free download on a trial basis; if you like what you see, you pull out your credit card and buy (prices range from €6 to €10 – about £4 to £7), if not, you don’t.

And the comparisons with Xbox Live don’t end there. N-Gage’s Arena gets you hooked up with other gamers, no matter where they might be. So you can challenge a mate in the same room to a bout of street fighting, or take on a Brazilian in Sao Paulo at some FIFA 08 footie. You’re given a profile complete with nickname, and can build up a friends list of preferred opponents as well as earn N-Gage points (not actually worth anything in real terms – but they give your online ego a boost).

The games themselves aren’t going to match the sort of stuff you’d get on dedicated handheld gaming hardware like a Sony PSP or Nintendo Ds (they’re way cheaper, so what do you expect?) but they’re no slouches either – eye-tickling 3D graphics are very much on the menu this time around, and mobiles like the N81 and N95 can be gripped much like a classic game controller – it’s an end to fiddly, thumb-bending controls!

Like we said, N-Gage is touching down in November, and will either come as a download for existing S60 devices or embedded in brand new ones. We’re already limbering up our digits in preparation for some online arse-kicking – see you in the Arena.

N-Gage essentials

Crash Bandicoot

The deranged marsupial (at least we think that’s what a bandicoot is) is coming to N-Gage around the time of launch, and it seems the mobile version will follow the storyline of the classic first PlayStation instalment – which means spinning, crate-smashing platform action all the way!

FIFA 08

We won’t lie: we’re more Pro Evolution Soccer men here at NokNok. But FIFA 08 is looking like the first ever mobile phone footie game worth playing, and the thought of being able to take on buddies and Germans alike on an N95 is a mouth-watering prospect.

Snakes Subsonic

The slithery Nokia puzzle classic is back once again, with online leaderboard rankings and 40 levels of fast-paced three dimension reptilian action.

What’s the point?

To enjoy Nokia’s Global Race you need an E90, right? WRONG! It’ll work with more mobiles than you’d think. Here’s how to get your hands on it.

Is it free?

Absolutely!

Sold! How do I do it?

Step 1 Park yourself in front of a computer and point its web browser to this page on the Nokia site. Scroll down the page, and hit the download link for Global Race. Agree to the terms and conditions, then save it to the desktop.

Step 2 Once you’ve downloaded Global Race, transfer it to your handset using Bluetooth or USB cable. Once its on your phone find the file using your mobile’s file manager and open it, or tap into the text message that turns up if you Bluetooth it.

Follow the instructions and install Global Race to your handset.

Step 3 Fire up your newly installed game from the ‘Applications’ menu on your phone. Control your car using the direction keys or the ‘4’ and ‘6’ buttons to steer. There’s no need to accelerate, the game can handle that for you (unless you tell it not to under the ‘Options’ menu).

Step 4 Grab extra tracks and bonus goodies by heading to the Global Racing site using your computer. Register a username and password, then tap them into the Global Race section on the game’s main menu. Be warned though, the text entry system is sluggish, so pick a short username and password to save yourself some tapping! Once you’re in, you’ll be able to download bonus tracks for free!

Step 5 Despite being crafted especially for the E90, Global Race will work just fine on any Nokia with a 3D accelerator chip. That means the N95, N93 and N93i can be instantly blessed with a bonus game. It will work on other handsets, although if they don’t have an accelerator chip you’ll struggle to squeeze any fun out of it!

What’s the point?

Get all your childhood favourites on your phone and relive the button-bashing glory days of your youth!

Is it free?

You’ll need to buy an emulator (around £7), but most ROMs (games in non-geek speak), are freely available online.

Sold! How do I do it?

Step 1: Download an emulator for your phone. It’s a piece of software that pretends to be an old games console so it can run retro titles.

You can find iNES from ClickGamer.com. It’ll make your phone run old Nintendo NES games, but there are more available for GameBoy and GameGear here. There’s even one to run old PC adventure games, called SCUMMVM, you can find it the Scummvm site.

Step 2: Install the emulator by Bluetoothing it to your handset. Once it’s installed you need to get some ROMs, or game images, to play on it. You can find NES ROMs at TheOldComputer.com, although to stay on the right side of the law you should only download games you own original copies of.

Step 3: Transferring ROMs to your phone isn’t as simple as transferring the emulator. Your handset won’t know what sort of file they are, and will refuse to open it if you Bluetooth it straight over.

If you’re using a Mac, head to your Bluetooth menu and choose ‘Browse Device’. Then head to ‘E:’ followed by ‘Others’ and ‘iNES’. Hit ‘send’ and choose your ROM file. It’ll copy over and you’ll see it listed when you open the emulator on your phone.

Step 4: If you’re using a PC, plug in the USB cable supplied with your phone and copy the file over to the memory card that appears in My Computer. Put it in ‘Others’ and ‘iNES’ as described above and it’ll show up when you load the emulator.

Step 5: Take a few minutes to figure out the key controls. Generally, 4 and 6 are left and right, while the hash key is attack and the star key is jump. In iNES the 1 button acts as the console’s ‘select’ key and pauses the game. The 3 key is usually ‘start’.