Nokia Maps / Ovi Maps now Totally Free

As I posted on my past blog, I compared Nokia Maps against the Route66 GPS application. And one of the disadvantages of the Nokia Maps (now called Ovi Maps on newer models) is that you have to pay for navigation and voice navigation services.

Months ago, Nokia announced that the they will no longer charge you for navigation / voice navigation. Thanks Nokia.

So if your handset is capable of GPS navigation, install now!

For Symbian S60 3rd Edition / Java phones
http://europe.nokia.com/support/product-support/maps-support

For Symbian S60 5th edition
http://maps.nokia.com/ovi-services-and-apps/ovi-maps/downloads?ca=navq1&intc=nokiacommaps-fw-ilc-na-acq-na-europenokia-g0-19-getthelatest_101&lid=nav_navq1_link_getthelatest_other_na&t=nav#/default/


Good luck.

GPS Mobile Navigation - Nokia Maps vs. Route 66

Anyone interested in GPS (Global Positioning System) Mobile navigation will know that two of the most common GPS applications now are Nokia Maps and Route 66 Navigation. There are other GPS applications besides these, like Garmin, TomTom, Navigon, and so on. But when it comes to mobile (I mean, right on your cellular phone), Nokia Maps and Route 66 are the two major players.

WHICH IS BETTER

Once, I owned a Nokia 6110 Navigator, and it has a Route 66 Navigation application (renamed to Nokia Navigator). Then I got this Nokia N82 with pre-loaded Nokia Maps. This comparison is based on my experience on both handsets with different GPS applications.

Here are the major differences.

Nokia Maps is free, BUT....

You need to pay the navigation. Navigation is when you want to go to one place from your current position, where a voice can guide you turn-by-turn until you reach your destination. Nokia has plans if you want to subscribe -- monthly, yearly terms.

You can upgrade your Nokia Maps application to a newer version once available, and that's for free. Add as many maps (per country) as you want for free.

Route 66 in contrast, you have to buy the maps on the internet. Once you have bought, Navigation is free.

Now, taking away the cost, which of the two gives better GPS services?

In my experience, Route66 is more user-friendly than Nokia Maps. It might be because I had already used Route66 before. But who knows, anyone started using Nokia Maps might find it user-friendly than Route66. Also, browsing (scrolling) the maps on Route66 are faster than Nokia Maps.

On the other hand, Nokia has more detailed Maps than Route66. I sometimes wonder why, since both maps of Nokia and Route66 are supplied by Navteq.

Nokia is turning serious on GPS. When the 6110 Navigator was outdated, all Nokia phones with GPS capabilities are using Nokia Maps.


THE GOOD THING

Can't decide enough which one to use? Then use install BOTH in your GPS-capable cellphone and get a hands-on experience.

(My GPS gadgets - Nokia 6110 Navigator/Nokia N82/XAiOX Wonde-X Bluetooth GPS Receiver).

Links:

http://europe.nokia.com/find-products/devices/nokia-6110-navigator-r6
http://europe.nokia.com/find-products/devices/nokia-n82
http://www.xaiox.de/wonde-x.htm
http://www.navteq.com/
http://europe.nokia.com/explore-services/maps
http://www.66.com/route66/

Monitor CPU and Hard Disk Temperature in Ubuntu

(This is for Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron, but may work for other versions too. For Intrepid users, see the bottom part.)

I have been using Ubuntu Linux since last year on my Acer 4710 laptop and I am not just satisfied, I am happy with it. One thing that makes Ubuntu (as any Linux distro is), is the ease of adding applets on yuor desktop panel. Just like the taskbar icons in Windows.

I have installed these monitoring applets so I can know in real-time if my hardware gets overheated or not.

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Note: These applets require installation of lm-sensors. At console, type

sudo apt-get install lm-sensors

After install, at console, run

sensors-detect

and follow instructions
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1. Hardware sensors monitor (sensors-applet, hddtemp)
>> Used to display current temperature of CPUs, cores, and hard disk.

2. CPU Freq Monitor (emifreq-applet)*
>> Used to scale down your CPU speed depending on your needs.

To add these to the panel, right click to an empty space to your panel and select "Add to panel...". Simply select "Hardware sensors monitor" and CPUFreq monitor". You may need to add also "CPU Frequency Scaling Monitor"*

Now you can configure these applets once they are on the panel. Simply right-click to an applet and select "preferences" wherever possible. If your CPU is multi-cored, you may add each applet per core and configure them individually.


Happy computing!

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* For Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid users, you may don't need to install the "emifreq-applet". Just by adding "CPU Frequency Scaling Monitor" to the panel, it already has the option to scale down your CPU frequency.
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Revive Your Decade-old PC with Linux

Computers today grow too fast. Buy a new hardware today and a few months, you are tempted to upgrade. This, I consider an implicit "organized fraud" by the hardware and software makers. Having the latest computer hardware is almost future proof based on its capabilities.

So how about yout old gear? Are you scrapping them away? Stop. You can install a Linux OS and make it run FASTER again.

As with my previous blog, I indicated Linux is free (no cost, no hidden items, redisrtibutable, and modifiable). And besides, Linux the the supercar in automotive. And an old as a 486-hardware, there should be a Linux distribution fit for it.

Lately I tried installing Puppy Linux on my USB flash Drive, and it only taken less than 100MB in it! So, its just like carrying a virtual computer on your pocket. Just plug it on any computer capable from booting on a USB device and boot from it WITHOUT changing the files/system on the computer. That simple. Credits goes to the developers of Puppy Linux. My wireless lan even worked OUT-OF-THE-BOX after installing Puppy.

http://www.puppylinux.com/

Christmas is Near

Yeah, and it's getting colder and colder. Let's celebrate the season with joy in our hearts.

Linux, the BETTER alternative to WINDOWS

Are you a Microsoft Windows user? Others claim that Windows is the best operating system - user-friendly menus, easy installation procedure for beginners, and so on. But how can you really tell if it is the best if (I assume) you have not tried any other Windows-like operating systems?

This is where the Linux kernel, an open-source kernel, where many OS are built and enjoyed by many, comes big-time. With thousands of free applications and a strong support online, you can forget Windows ever existed.

I just have installed Ubuntu (Hardy Heron version) on my notebook. Ubuntu is one of the many distributions of Linux. Even a 10-year old laptop/desktop will run well on Linux. And the advantages goes on...

- FAST and VERY STABLE
- Free OS, with several choices (Ubuntu, Redhat, Mandriva, Suse, Linpus, and so on.) including free applications from thousands of 3rd party developers. Free online support.
- Lots of free programs and applications ranging from office tools (word/spreadsheet/presentation, multimedia players, recorders, almost any application on Windows)
- Total control over your PC
- Relatively immune to viruses
- A large community of developers and users

WAIT, Linux is not only for programmers. An ordinary user can learn Linux, just like he/she learned Windows. Plenty of web tutorials available.

It's worth a try. You can test it on your PC WITHOUT the need to install, just run the CD (Ubuntu)

I can't imagine what applications can run on Windows and not on Linux.

Give it a try. In my case, I like Ubuntu Linux.
Help spread the word, Linux is free and it deserves to be distributed.

Request a FREE CD online, link below....

http://www.ubuntu.com/

Join the wonderful world of LINUX!

Health Corner - Rejuvenate Yourself

At birth, all of us were mostly equally as healthy as we can be. But upon growing up, others got ill occasionally. Others are not. Others became so fat. So what's the difference why it went this way?

1. Food
The food we eat attributes mostly to our health as we grow older. Are you fond of eating junkies and those oily fries? Someone written once - a stick of a French fries is equally, if not more harmful than a stick of cigarette.

2. Environment
Do you leave in a polluted city? Do you sleep well at night? Are you exposed to some chemicals at work?

3. Metabolism
How often do you exercise? Are you always stressed at work? Emotional or physical?

Other physical aspects of us may have been attributed to genetics, as inherited from parents to offsprings.

These are some of the major factors that affect our lives as we grow. Now, it's very hard to live a healthy life nowadays, especially if you are on a third world country. What now?

Then rejuvenate. But how?

I once attended a seminar regarding cleansing diet. This is a one-week sacrifice to rejuventate yourself. Within one week, nothing should be eaten except for fresh fruits and juices, and vegetables and water. Sacrifice a little. It's worth knowing the results for you. But beware, not everyone is qualified for this program. If you are ill, pregnant, and have other reasons which you think it may not fit you, see your doctor.

This would eventually cleanse our inner system as if we were borne again.

It is known that cooked food (by oven, open fire, boiling, etc...) makes the food acidic. So for those who have hyperacidity, train yourself in eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Some fruits may contain citric acid, though, which on some patients, aggravates their hyperacidity.

I am no physician. But the words I wrote above were the results of being a reader, in the aim of at least, opening someone's eyes when it comes to health.