If you've just splashed out on the wonderful new Nokia N8 phone you might be wondering what apps you should get for it. Thankfully, there's plenty of great software already available for the Symbian ^3 operating system, which the device runs. Many popular apps from other platforms such as iOS, Android, and previous versions of Symbian are now available for free from the Ovi Store. Here's my list of recommendations to get you started.
Angry Birds (Game)
Undoubtedly the mobile game of the year,
Angry Birds has already soared to the top of the charts in the Apple App Store, the Android Marketplace and the Ovi Store. It's a ridiculously addictive game in which you need to catapult your feathered friends into walls of blocks in order to destroy the critters trapped inside. The perfect companion to any long journey.
eBuddy (Instant Messenger)
Using
eBuddy Mobile Messenger, you can chat to your buddies on Windows Live Messenger (MSN), Yahoo!, Facebook, Google Talk and more. You add your user account details for the various networks that you belong to, then all of your online contacts from these will be displayed on screen. Simply tap on a contact and you can start tapping live messages to them.
fring (VOIP Software)
fring allows you to make cheap - even free - national and international phone calls from your N8. You can make free voice and video calls to anyone in your fring buddy list of contacts; or call any phone from just 1 cent per minute, using the
fringOut service. Just like eBuddy, fring allows you to send instant messages to people on other social accounts, including Facebook and AIM.
FourSquare (Social Network)
Try
FourSquare and you'll never look at the world around you in the same way again. FourSquare is a social network linked to the real world. It allows you to see exactly where all your friends are based on their mobile GPS data. You can also use the app to discover more information about places around you, reading what others who have been there before have said.
Opera Mobile (Web Browser)
If you're getting frustrated with the N8's built-in web browser then give
Opera Mobile a try. This easy-to-use app comes with a selection of useful time-saving features such as speed dial, tabbed browsing, and a password manager. Opera Mobile also promises a faster mobile internet experience, thanks to its famed server-side compression technology.
Ovi Maps (Navigator)
Ovi Maps provides you with free walk and drive navigation on your phone. Besides its point-to-point navigation (which even lets you use your own voice to instruct you!), Ovi Maps lets you share your location on Facebook, search for addresses and places of interest, and check out guides from Lonely Planet and Michelen. Comes pre-installed on the N8.
Sports Tracker (Fitness Companion)
Next time you go out for a run or a cycle, make sure you take your N8, with
Sports Trackerinstalled on it. This smart app uses GPS technology to track everything about your activity, from the calories you burn to your average speed. It gives you maps, time and distance calculators, a step counter, and even a heart rate monitor. Your data is stored in the program so you can check your progress over time.
Spotify (Music Player)
If you haven't entered the wonderful world of
Spotify yet, then get it installed on your Nokia N8. The app allows you to listen to music wherever you go, streaming it over 3G or WiFi. You can even create offline playlists that you can listen to when you're not connected to the internet. Note that you'll need a Spotify premium account to use this app.
Swype (Virtual Keyboard)
You can significantly speed up the way you enter text on your N8 by installing
Swype. Thanks to this intelligent app, instead of having to tap out each letter of a word, you can simply drag your finger from one letter to the next, without letting go of the screen. It sounds a bit gimmicky, but it actually does work!
Weather Touch (Weather Forecaster)
Wondering whether to pack your sunglasses or take an umbrella today? Download
Weather Touch for free and you'll be able to easily stay on top of the current conditions, as well as monitor what will be happening in the skies in the coming hours and days. Weather data is very clearly presented, and the app contains a large database of locations.
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