New firmware updates for Nokia 6700 Classic

The new firmware update for Nokia 6700 Classic are version 10.60, unfortunately there is no information of what is new in this version (the previous firmware version is 10.50).

The most visible changes are in the messaging area, IM and Email got a new user interface, now its more look like the user interface that found at Nokia X3.

The Email now support Nokia Messaging which provide push email support, but this option only available with Nokia Messaging subscription from network operator.

As for IM, in this firmware Nokia also drop support for IMPS servers. IM could not connect to IMPS server anymore, instead it will only support Ovi Chat. So now there are two applications in the phone that support Ovi Chat which is IM and Ovi Contact.

Unfortunately thats all the changes in this firmware update, i was hoping that with this firmware the Nokia 6700 Classic will have newest s40 goodies just like Nokia X3. 

Well, even though there’s not much a new feature in this firmware release, but it’s indicate that Nokia still willing to provide support for this handset, and as a Nokia 6700 Classic owner, I hope that Nokia will continue updating the firmware in the futures.

Using IM feature in Nokia 6700 Classic

Just like another Nokia devices, 6700 Classic has support for IM (IMPS). Unfortunately, it seems that IM support in 6700 Classic has been neglected by Nokia in favor of their newest IM Client (Ovi Contact), for an example, there’s no built-in setting for IM provider that ready to use, Therefore Nokia 6700 Classic user must setup the IM setting on their own before using this feature.

To add IM Provider in Nokia 6700 Classic, go to Setting -> Configuration -> Personal Config Setting, then select Option -> Add New -> Instant Messaging.

Provide necessary information for the IMPS server, for an example, the setting for Yahoo IMPS server are :

Account Name : Yahoo

Server Address : http://imps.next.msg.yahoo.com:80

User ID : [your yahoo id]

Password : [your yahoo password]

Use preferred access point : yes

Once the setting are done, go to Messaging -> IM, and select Yahoo to connect and start using the IM feature.

For those who prefer another IM network instead Yahoo, could use free service of mobjab.com and use setting information that provided in their site.

iSync Plugin for Nokia 6700 Classic

Having handle this phone for a while and really missing syncing it with my Mac, sadly that Nokia doesn’t provide iSync plugin for this phone. Even tough there are many plugin for this phone from third-party vendor but all of them does not support contact photo, so I had to roll my own implementation.

Using isync template for Nokia s40 that found on various places in the internet, I modified it to work with 6700 Classic device, also add support for contact photo, birthday and company. The plugin worked well for pushing data to phone but when receiving data from phone often had trouble. Usually this problem are caused by software incompatibility between Mac and Nokia 6700 Classic. Since I had my Mac updated to the latest update from apple, I'm suspect that the phone software need to be updated.

Unfortunately that Nokia doesn’t provide software updater for Mac, so I had to use my Vista installation to install the updater. There are new firmware for the phone (version 10.50, mine version 7.90), unfortunately the updater it self (version 1.80) doesn’t work well with my Vista Business x64, it could be installed, recognized the phone but could not install the firmware.

Finally I'm able to updated the phone by using XP machine at my office. The updating process is very smooth and only take a few minutes, and after the phone updated, the plugin that I've created before worked well, no trouble when pushing or receiving from phone.

Well, it’s a pity that Nokia had a poor support for Mac platform, since I've really like the 6700 Classic, anyway here its the plugin, please see notes below before using.

nokia 6700 Classic iSync Plugin, Sync Guide for this plugin

Notes:

• Always make backup of your contacts and calendar (in your phone and your Mac) before you try this plugin.
• Worked on Mac OSX 10.6.2 with latest updated and Nokia 6700 Classic with firmware 10.50
• Installation are simple just unzip the plugin and copy it to \Library\PhonePlugins.
• Regarding birthday information in a contact, the phone automatically create an event in calendar for it. Unfortunately it will sync to your home calendar, so you might have a “duplicate entries” for your contact birthday event if you had enable the option “Show Birthday Calendar” in iCal’s preferences.

Update for version 0.2 (20 june 2010) :

• Installer version (dmg), remove the previous plugin before installing. 
• USB sync support for those who prefer speed over convenience.
• Sync address field in contact so that can be used with built-in maps app.

Update for version 0.3 (14 August 2010) :

• Timezone support in calendar, make sure that you have set your phone and OSX timezone properly.

Update for version 0.4 (6 September 2010) :

• Fix Birthday sync earlier one day due to timezone support feature.

2010 Indonesia Public Holidays calendar

In ics format, just import it to iCal and start planning your vacation this year, if you in Indonesia of course.

Here it is, 2010 Indonesian Public Holidays ics, just right-click and save-as an ics file.