There's an app for that but it will cost again

Over the past year I have jumped between mobile devices and various operating systems and have purchased a lot of software as I like to ensure consistency between my devices that I have the same if not similar applications on each one.

One thing that I am doing more is using my device more for data and media consumption rather than making phone calls. This is why I am now looking for a data only tariff that will allow me to use voip for making outgoing calls but also allow incoming as I will have a sim in the device.

Having being predominately a symbian user in the past using both s60, s80 and uiq in its former days I found that any application that I purchased could not easily be transferred to another device without having to make the purchase again. Whilst I can understand this for pc based os such as windows and Mac os x when I upgraded from s60v3 to s60v5 I found the same rule being applied by many software houses. More recently I have found this with meego/maemo with an application such as docstogo or sygic maps both of which I have owned on previous os such as s60.

Like s60 you will find the same restrictions with android and ios where If you purchased one application on android you will sometimes need to purchase the same one on ios to continue using it. However there has been one difference with these devices, should I own more than one device such as an iphone 3G and 4 and a nexus and htc desire, you are able to install the paid applications onto both devices. Now with ios I believe this is part of the license agreement although you may find applications that you need to purchase twice to get full functionality. Whereas with android you will need to refer to the license agreement with the software.

I will add where I have two or more devices and want the same applications on them then if the license dictates that I must purchase separately then I will do this, for example i do this with the ipad and iPhone as there are usually differences between the two applications.

On thing that has become apparent to me is that when upgrading either an android or ios device how easier it is than symbian as there is no messing with license keys when reinstalling the software. After spending many hours setting these devices up this has been a godsend and made the enjoyment of owning them a lot more pleasurable.

Now Nokia have announced two exciting devices this week the n8 and e7 where it is the latter I would love to purchase but it is on symbian ^3. However I am being held back by my previous experiences with symbian and applications as I would expect to have to make another purchase in order to upgrade. Whereas htc announced the desire HD and desire z today and I know if I bought them or if a new iPad/iphone was released tomorrow then I would be able to use the applications I had already purchased and not have to spend my money again.

The hardware features of both the n8 and e7 are excellent but for now usability and the application store experience is becoming a more key attribute when selecting my next device in addition to specifications.

I have found the Ovi store to be a kludge and very unusable, slow and painful when either trying to install or purchase applications So unless Nokia can ensure that the Ovi App store experience improves to the standard of android or iPhone then I will not be rushing to get a new symbian device.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The new twitter

Twitter relaunched their website today with a new look and more features to allow users to interact with the site. Through signing agreements with 16 media companies you will now see embedded pictures and videos in the site without the need to move to another window.

The ui has also been changes to have two panes - one with the timeline an the second with further detail showing the embedded media and other detailed information such ad conversations.

The changes were made to improve the user experience as over 50% of twitter updates are done via the website.

The changes are slowly being rolled out globally.

You can find out more here http://t.co/E9Dbh0H

Is there a real voip solution for mobiles so I can have a data only tariff?

My mobile contract is due to finish in November and I am contemplating where to go next. I currently pay £65 per month that gives me 10gb of data, 500 text , free national phone calls and 600 minutes of talk time for other numbers.

Since getting broadband again my data usage has dropped to under 3gb, I only send under 100 texts a month and I hardly make or receive any phone calls. Therefore I am thinking should it be payg, sim only or mobile broadband. I know I don't want a contract and to pay for unused call time.

I was thinking that I want a data only tariff and use a voip service such as Skype or Truphone for making calls and send text. However I am not convinced that voip over a 3g network is mature enough to be a viable option. If google voice had been available then I could just keep the data tariff and have one number for incoming but assign several numbers to it for example the mobile broadband. Whereas I have used Skype and it only runs really on the n900 whereas I am currently using an iphone and have found it to be a kludge.

My objective in all this is to save money but have a cheap reliable service to make and receive calls when needed but also be able to send/receive the few texts but have a 3gb data Bolt on. Ideally the calls to landline numbers should be free after paying a subscription such as my £3.30 per month to Skype. But the problem with the latter is I cannot text. With trephine I can text but their call tariffs are not as cheap as Skype

I will continue to do research over the next few months before I decide but ultimately a talk time and text tariff are a waste on me as only data is needed. But again the data only tariffs are very poor and I don't believe I could transfer my existing mobile to a mobile broadband only sim.

So I am between a rock and a hard place but hopefully I will find an answer soon.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad