Version 1.1 contains a “debug” feature, this is in response to a few people having issues while implementing the plugin / widget.

If you have had problems - please upload this new version and turn the debug setting on from within Design / Widgets. Once enabled if you require assistance, please comment this post or email me with your blog address and I will attempt to investigate.

Instamapper - a service which you can send your current location to, using a mobile device (iPhone, Blackberry)

Google Maps - a service which allows you to show a map based on geo location data.

You will see a map on each page of this blog (bottom left). This map location is updated from my mobile device. This plugin gives you the following options…

• Map Size - Allows you to change both the width and height of the map to display
• Pin - This allows you to display your exact location with a pin
• Pin Colour - Change the colour of the pin
• Pin Letter - Change the letter of the pin
• Zoom Level - Change from street level to country level

Installation of the plugin is very simple, first you must have an API key for Instamapper.com and an API key for Google Maps. Once you have both API keys, you must complete the following…

1. Upload `google_map_track.php` to the `/wp-content/plugins/` directory.
2. Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
3. Update your settings from `Design` and `Widgets`
4. That’s it!

Once installed you can place the map in your sidebar / footer, adjust the settings to suit your blog (map size, pin colour, letter).

Hopefully there will be some more updates coming soon! Please comment for feature requests / bugs / general comments.

After my post regarding making a decision to buy or not to buy the new iPhone 3G, I decided to BUY the new handset.

After playing with the iPhone 3G - my general verdict is VERY NICE handset which has some very nice features, however it also has some which are overlooked. Basic features being overlooked or not implemented is not great in any handset.

A basic feature review of the iPhone 3G are as follows:

• 3G Connectivity - Heavy battery consumption
• EDGE Connectivity - Slow
• GPS - Faulty? Apple have informed me there is a possible issue with this however it seems to be working for (some) other people
• Camera - 2 mega pixel (could be better)
• Menu / Navigation - perfect, nice interface, trust Apple
• Bluetooth - Lack of data over bluetooth support
• Text Messages - Nice interface, builds up conversation history
• Voice Mail - Nicely implemented to hold messages on the handset rather than with the service provider
• App Store - Great for developers and gives users a vast array of applications (highlighting new apps could be clearer)
• Sync’ing - Would be nice to synchronise over the air rather than cable (iTunes)

The iPhone 3G is a very nice to use handset, user interfaces are almost perfect, the weakness of the handset is the lack of feature support - however some of these may be resolved with firmware updates.

As for the actual device, the plastic back (changed from metal on the original iPhone) - I don’t feel this compromises the quality of the device and there is an alleged technical reason for this (gives better signal for GPS). All in all a good handset, nice to use, however a severe lack of features.

Asked if I am Glad I purchased one? Yes
Should you purchase one? Yes (do so at o2 in the UK, AT&T in the USA)

I have a few reservations about the iPhone, and having seen a few people rant about the features of the first generation handset fills me with worry. The n95 works great for me, there are a couple of things I’d like to see in the n95 but I feel (feature wise) the n95 outweighs the iPhone (1st generation).

As for the new 3G iPhone, I am unsure - bluetooth data transfer is a big one for me. Also I download a few podcasts each week, directly to my n95 while I am on the go (over the 3G network), then listen to them right away. My PC never gets involved with podcasts, that’s the way it is and that’s the way I like it. Hopefully the 2nd generation iPhone will allow downloads of podcasts while on the move. I wonder if the iPhone has a barcode reader / QR Code scanner?

This next week will see a decision made, stick with my trusty friend - Nokia n95. Or jump and fall in love (or hate) Apple’s iPhone!

I’ll keep you posted.

For those people (generally geeks) who like to work from the “command line”, “shell”, or “bash” - why not try this Google powered service called GOOSH. Goosh is powered by Google but written by Stefan Grothkopp and is not an official Google service.

Nice toy (for geeks)!

A very minor change for Google, however one they KNOW will be noticed. Is this a small piece in a larger move to change the corporate look to Google?

Once a capitalized “G” and now a lowercase “g” - proof that Google is getting smaller? Probably not!

No official word from By Samir (the creator) however there is some further development on some other projects, these include…

• rotateMe v1.5 - Early version of the popular application (bugs)
  
• rotateMe v2.0 - Latest version of rotateMe
• horlogeParlante (fr) - Software to give an audio reading of the time (English version in the making)
• Nokmote - An application that allows you to perform tasks by shaking the handset (like a Wii)
• ShutUp - Flip the handset to enable silent mode / stop the alarm
• ShakeMe - An application that allows you to access phone features by shaking the handset

As you can see from the list, there are a few applications in the pipe line! Sit back, shake you handset and see how things pan out!

Having an unlimited data rate certainly helps, and with Mobile WidSets it makes the whole mobilizing of the web such a simple task.

What are WidSets
WidSets is a basic service which allows you to create widgets, this service enables you to bring information from the web directly to your mobile handset without having the browse each individual site. This speeds up information gathering and searching. Ideal for following your favourite blog, news site, RSS feed.

Simply install WidSets to your handset and you’re ready to go, time to start finding those useful widgets (or creating your own)!

What are Widgets…
Widgets are single “mini applications” that grab snippets of information from the web, this gives you a brief update from you selected source. You can then venture further to read the whole article or submission, this is all done inside a widget - so no need to close down WidSets or open your regular mobile browser just to find out some information.

Costs…
It is advisable to only stay connected / leave the WidSets application open if you are on an unlimited data rate plan with your cellular network provider. The actual cost for WidSets is nothing (free) however data is only downloaded to your handset under your providers terms and conditions / pricing.

Installation : Getting Started
Just for people who are unsure on how to get started with WidSets simply follow these steps…

1. Go to www.widsets.com
2. Select some of the widgets on show (to get you started)
3. Click “Download the client and picked widgets”
4. Fill in your registration details (and agree with the T & C)
5. The top option is quickest, fill in your mobile number. Click next at the bottom.
6. You will receive a text message on your handset, follow the link to download and install the application.

That is the installation complete, next is for selecting widgets! Upon opening the application you will be asked to accept the terms of service, once this has been accepted the preselected widgets will be loaded. Each widget has a number of settings which can be configured, this can range from web service login credentials to simple settings like the number of news / blog items to show.

Example Widgets
Below are a few sample widgets which you may wish to try out…

1. GeekAnt - Another technology and web related blog (I had to include my own widget)!
2. flickr - Flickr public image viewer.
3. Twitter - Twitter from your handset.
4. Push Email - Get email on the move, directly to your handset.
5. Lots of News…
6. Many Games…
7. And Much More…..

Developers…
Developers get the chance to create their own widgets from scratch, there is a full sub site of WidSets set up for developers. The SDK is also available from WidSets. WidSets also advise looking at the Nokia Forums for further development resources.

Conclusion
WidSets is a good application to enable quick browsing of information without having to open a web browser, the usability could be better with more options and settings. One annoyance is every time you open the WidSets application it asks for permission to connect, there could (and should) be an option to always permit this connection - with a default access point selection. Another handy feature would be stand by notifications (visual) rather than just the audio alert! Generally a good application.

Search - map:lincolnshire

Result

Just another quick search technique which I hope someone will find useful, they are simple and straight forward but I believe they speed up web searching no end - thank you Google!

The Nokia n95 is locked down (in the UK) with a product code (which is assigned to a network). Although the handset can be used on any network, the phone is branded to a specific supplier / network. The handset can only have the firmware upgraded once the supplier / network has authorised the firmware. This leads to several problems - Nokia release a patch and the supplying network do not authorise the upgrade straight away.

Without the authorisation the product code is blocked by Nokia meaning the official firmware cannot be downloaded to the hand set. The idea of this is so the networks are able to test the firmware before rolling it out to their customers. This focuses the testing of the firmware compatibility with networks on to the network supplier themselves.

As far as I am aware o2 UK have only authorised version 20.0.015 which is a full build behind the latest version release by Nokia. Using the correct tricks you are able to change your product code and then proceed and install the latest firmware available, the issue with this is the warranty of your handset will be void.

The latest firmware version for the n95 published by Nokia is v21.0.016 this includes the following features / fixes

• Gallery has been speeded up in many ways
• Flash played integrated in the web browsers (YouTube now works)!
• Smoother transition between portrait and landscape screens
• Web runtime is now available for standalone apps (widgets)
• Optimised Java runtime enables quicker loading of Java applications
• Restoring defined access points after SIM switch
• Improved standby time of handset
• Contacts copy to SIM bug, contacts allowed to contain accents now
• Other minor bug fixes & enhancements

The software required is available directly from Nokia should you wish to upgrade!

I have often seen twitter as more of a service that allows stalking and with the installation of Twibble to my n95, this makes stalking even easier - Twibble allows you to send your location details to twitter.

One or two updates later and I seem to have found my feet with this service. Status updates can be found at my twitter page or in the footer of my blog. If you have twitter and you wish to stalk follow me - feel free, there wont be much location based being posted I don’t think!