GApp Makes Gmail Google Docs Possible

We've just heard from My-Meego that GApp is now available for download! This Google application makes using your Gmail, Google Finance, Google Plus, Google Documents, Youtube, Google Transit, Google Talk etc work better on the Nokia N9.

 

Google Plus looks just like how you expect it in your browser. Google documents is very easy  to use, with the ability to click on a cell and edit it straight away. Google Talk is not really necessary as you should be already using it in the integrated messaging feature. Leave your impressions in the comments below and go here for the download!

Installing VLC Media for N9

The best multi-format video viewers has to be VLC. Michael has kindly provided this guide showing how to install VLC to your N9. Instructions on how to uninstall VLC can be found here.

It is relatively simple, but some people may find it a bit tricky as it uses Terminal commands, so I am gonna run a step by step guide on how do to it.

Step One:

Click here to download libvlc5 and vlc-player on your PC, and transfer it to your device. (It is easier to download fromyour PC as Web tries to open it straight and it will not install.)

Step Two:

If you haven’t, you will need to enable Developer Mode by going to Settings > Security > Developer Mode and hit the “switch”. For first time users, you will need to download and install a few files, as well as reboot the device. (Once you complete the install, you can hit the switch back over and next time you want to use Dev Mode, no install needs to be done.)

Step Three:

In Terminal, gain root access by typing devel-su and when prompted enter password rootme .

Once you have gained root access, type cd (directory you saved the two files in) eg. cd /home/user/MyDocs/Downloads/

Now enter the following;

dpkg -i libvlc5_*.deb vlc-player_*.deb

A lot of writing will appear and you may be prompted to enter y to confirm the install.

NB: It may display some errors, don’t worry, everything works eventually.

Step Four:

If it worked, there should be the VLC traffic cone in your apps list. Run the app, and enjoy.

Just a heads-up, the UI is NOT optimised for MeeGo, it looks like the desktop version, so hitting some buttons are a bit of an issue, but after you get the hang of it, it works well.

For those who do not plan on using Developer mode on a regular basis or do not know what they are doing, I suggest disabling as your device can be hacked easily while you are in this mode.

Advanced Alarm Features with the N9

There has been much said about the Nokia N9 such as the awesome form factor and snappy Meego system but sometimes its the simplest features that makes your day. I don't think I've read a N9 review which looks at just how handy the alarm feature are on the Nokia N9. Here are a few that I've deemed worthy of a closer look. You can get to the alarm on the N9 by going to the CLOCK application. 

Different Day, Different Song 

How you wake up can sometimes ruin or make your day. The Nokia N9 allows you to choose a different tune for each different alarm that you set. This seems like such a basic feature but has been lacking in Nokia phones until now. You could have "I Don't Like Mondays" playing as your alarm on Mondays and another song for Saturdays and Sundays. 

Recurring Alarms

Many people don't know that with your phone, you can set recurring alarms. For Nokia phones before the Nokia N9, you could set a recurring alarm for weekly, weekdays, weekends or daily. However, with the N9, you can now also set which day(s) you want that alarm to sound. For example, you can set a wake up for Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7am and another different wake up time for Thursdays and Fridays.

Snooze Time
This is a useful feature as we are all very different people. Some consider 5 minutes a snooze whereas others don't see the point and have a snooze of 20 minutes to get maximum benefit in the morning. Well, to each his own. You can even have different snooze times for different days.


Multiple Alarms

The N9 allows you to set multiple alarms with the different settings above. I am not sure how many but I set up eight alarms before getting bored. 

Alarm 1,2&4 ON, Alarm 3 OFF

Another unmentioned feature in the alarms is the ability to toggle on and off each different alarm. For example, you can turn off the Monday-Friday alarms when you start your three week holiday and then when you go back to work, you can turn them back on again without setting it all up again. Once again, a very simple but useful inclusion in the N9 alarm features. 

If you have any questions about the N9 alarm leave a comment below.