Hi Guys,
How have ya been ? Sorry for my inordinate slumber yet again :), but in my defence, with the advent of facebook and tweeting.com, Blogger has been made absolutely obsolate. Bemusingly, while Google continues to "pioneer" one hum-drum copycatter after another (The Wave and the Buzz, anyone :) ?), it could have done a lot better by strengthening the already in-play blogger interface, but then is anybody listening ?
But, then, my usual excuse-thyself-from-your-laziness done, let me come back to the eponymous Corby itself ! Actually, the genesis lies in my gadget-fascination and more specifically how "Touch screens" just blow me away (can't stop looking at Adam these days, esp. as I believe that Rajat Sahni, one of my former BCG colleagues and now some Director hot-shot at NotionInk did take my inputs into consideration for the development of the device - hey, that might be a totally personal perspective btw :)) - I was quite simply bored of my Red Blackberry 8310 Curve and pined for a touch-screen phone. But, following were the constraints:
1. I had to look within the Blackberry family as I would lose the ossum "BB messenger" and "auto-push" company mail service if I did otherwise (btw, apparently the BCG US office can access their email over IPhone but we 3rd world Indians are not allowed to do that as a part of Global IT Policy, Global I tell you :)), but the new Blackberry Storm is real shady and fraudy and is a non-starter no-hoper, yeawww !
2. Outside of the BB family, IPhone was totally out of budget for moi, the quintessential low-end gadget skimmer.
And thus the wait continued - me lusting after multiple devices and letting them be, they without me and me without them.
And, suddenly Samsung unleashed the Corby Pro GT - B5310 (also known as Genio Pro in UK) - a touchscreen phone with a 
physical qwerty-keyboard with GPS (My ossumly dyslexic directional senses need Google Maps inside-out), Wi-fi, FM Radio and everything else for like 11.5k and I was like Wow ! this needs research. I did my research and though a newbie phone, it was distinctly upmarket and looked kind of kool (and the closest touch-screen-cum-qwerty with its features is Nokia N97 Mini at 22k - really, right !). But, as per my Value-for-money Biharidom (btw did you know the Friedman theory of money-spending as per the 2-by-2 below:
physical qwerty-keyboard with GPS (My ossumly dyslexic directional senses need Google Maps inside-out), Wi-fi, FM Radio and everything else for like 11.5k and I was like Wow ! this needs research. I did my research and though a newbie phone, it was distinctly upmarket and looked kind of kool (and the closest touch-screen-cum-qwerty with its features is Nokia N97 Mini at 22k - really, right !). But, as per my Value-for-money Biharidom (btw did you know the Friedman theory of money-spending as per the 2-by-2 below:
Okay, enough digression yet again), I was really not sure about replacing my very-well working BB curve - but thanks to biwi dearest, I went to Alfa Mumbai and purchased it for 11.5k (Btw the Corby is really cracking the scene - they get sold out in 2 days !!). And then, as with all other good things proposed by men and dispersed by gods :), the fairytale went phut. Samsung has used its proprietary Touchwiz / Bada Java interface OS (also found on Samsung Jet S8000) and the OS clearly was rushed to pose as the next i-killer. But, leave the iPhone alone, even such belowmentioned basics were not adhered to:
1) Delivery report is non-integrated into the original SMS - you get a new SMS saying the SMS has been delivered - really, in this age and time ?? (think about me coming down from BB !)
2) You can't cut and paste text from anywhere in the phone - again, really !! ?
1) Delivery report is non-integrated into the original SMS - you get a new SMS saying the SMS has been delivered - really, in this age and time ?? (think about me coming down from BB !)
2) You can't cut and paste text from anywhere in the phone - again, really !! ?
3) You can't hide icons / move them out of folders !
4) Transfer outlook contacts / calendar to Corby Pro - the provided sync software seriously is like early Linux (unhelpful and unapologetic) - I found a workaround by downloading the old Samsung PC Suite, seriously - modern and more money down the drain doesn't mean improvement really.
5) The in-phone apps for browsing, Insta-messaging (a must after my serious-loss of and hyped widgets for facebook, twitter etc. SUCK, really suck - but since one was and continues to be a nerd at heart, one can't give up and needed to install 3rd party Java apps to overcome these obvious irritants. After a nerd-geek search, I shortlisted the following for the honor of installing on my Corby Pro:
1) Opera Mini 5: Seriously, use it and you will not believe that it is free !
2) ebuddy Messenger : Essential soul-balm for all IM users.
3) Safe : Password storage - who can remember all those passwords these days ?
4) Twibble : A kool twitter tool for Java phones.
5) Facebooking was best done directly at m.facebook.com
But, as I went to install them I realized the Touchwiz OS really stresses you because:
1) There is no direct way to install .jar / .jad (Java executables) - you have to neccessarily use internet.
2) The display has two modes: Portrait with the keyboard slided in, Landscape with the keyboard out, but Samsung in its infinite wisdom has decided to shield us poor users from customizing 3rd party apps to "auto-rotate" when you open the keyboard - they keep set in the portrait mode !!!
This pissed the programmer inside me no ends and out came my old Java codes which had slept in peace and as I was bound to discover, I was purely outdated. But, still I persisted and for the benefit of all Corby users (and Samsung Jet as well), if you decide to install a third-party app (and let me know what you choose to install :)), do the following:
1) Download the .jar and .jad files (.jad is optional unless otherwise specified)
2) Open the .jar file with Winzip (it is infact an archive :))
3) Extract all the files to a new folder
4) Open the file "Manifest.mf" in "Meta-Inf" folder with notepad
5) Add the following lines at the bottom of the file and save:
X-Pax-Keyboard: Qwerty
X-Pax-TextInput-Hidden: true
MIDlet-Touch-Support: TRUE
MIDlet-ScreenMode: ROTATE
6) Save all files and zip all the files you extracted in step 3 using the Windows "Send to" Zipped folder command (please don't use WinZip). Rename the file to .jar from .zip
7) If a .jad file accompanied the .jar, open it again with notepad (.jad is like a covering envelope for .jar), and make the following changes:
a) In the row titled "MIDlet-Jar-URL:" put the name of the .jar file with the extension.
b) In the row titled "MIDlet-Jar-Size:", put the exact size of the .jar file in KBs (look in Properties of the .jar file)
Save the .jad file and then create a .html file (name it anything). In that file insert one line:
<html><body><a href="_______">install _______</a></body></html>
Replace "_________" with name of the .jad file (or .jar if only .jar is there).
Copy the .jad, .jar and .html to the Pro. Run .html and press on the link to install the App. This will now auto-rotate and respond to touch control - Yo !
##Edit: Some folks have faced issues with the procedure for auto-rotate above, I don't know the real issue but some ossum dood has posted the following fix, please use it - hope it helps !
For anyone getting "invalid content message" when trying to install a rotated app, message #10 from TJJ from this discussion forum may be of help.
This post confirms that only the .jad needs to be modified. Hope this helps - Opera makes this phone much more pleasant to use than the default browser.
##End of Edit##
Now, I am too old to go after Issues 1-5 above but solving 6 alone has made me take total charge of my Corby and like all super gadget-freaks now I feel one with my phone :). Hope somebody solves the rest - I will keep searching :).
Hey, btw, saw "Up in the Air" today - totally showed the Consultant 200-days a year travel-story (well obviously Clooney seems much more glam, but what do you know afterall :) ?) - watch it, you can poke more fun at us consultants then. And yes, if you haven't had your fill, read "Dork" - Sidin has ensured party jokes on Consultants will last for the next decade for sure !
Cya, till the writing bug strikes again. And Hey Google guys, please do something about the Blogger interface, it has started to feel so dated. (#Edit: The Google guys listened and I am soo happy with the new interface, thanks Google, you continue to be ossum !)
Ta, Ranjan :)
hey...
ReplyDeletei'm having problems with step 6 in your post...
is 'send to' Zipped folder the same as 'send to' compressed Zipped folder?
errmmm
if possible,
can i have a more elaborate
step-by-step on step number 6?
=)
on issue:
ReplyDelete"3) This one is downright hilarious, you can't "silence" a ringing phone, you have to either press "busy" or reduce the ringer volume to zero !"
I believe corby pro has turn to silence the phone.when the call comes just flip over the phone to screen down and it silences the mobile..
..i wanted to buy it,but wanted to know opinion how it works after a few days..does it lag or slow down?? is it better than nokia 5800 xpress music phone??
thanks
tejajuloori@gmail.com
i want to buy the phone ,,and have some doubts.. plz help me
ReplyDelete1.does the video player use acclerometer ,i mean does it tilt to full screen with the tilt of phone??
2.does the main menu tilt with tilt of phone?? or is it necessary to open the slider to view menus horizontally??
3.does the phone have a touch qwerty keypad on screen??
or is it just the alphanumeric keypad(12 button) on the screen??
4.can we reply to messages by holding the phone horizontally but not opening the slide?
thanks ranjan for the quick reply:)
ReplyDelete1.)about gps...i dnt know about it much ...does a-gps mean u always need to use gprs for using gps in this mobile? or gps can be used without assistance?? as in any other mobile without data charges??
2) I ve heard there is a 500 kb limit to install java content like games and applications,files greater than 500kb install or not?
@Teja:
ReplyDelete1) A-GPS means assisted GPS i.e. GPS supported by pre-loaded satellite data for better detection, but the Corby's GPS only locks within a 100 meters rather than the kool 5 meters done by Blackberry
2) Java-based apps of all sizes can be installed and run.
Hi Ranjan,
ReplyDeleteI am facing a prob while following your steps to enable rotation in the unsupported apps.
After i follow all the steps when i try to install it from the html page created from phone, the installation fails with the "Invalid content" message. any idea what i might be missing.
I also noticed that when i extract the Opera mini 5.0 beta package using winzip it has a Manifest.mf file instead of Manifest.inf suggested by you.
Can this be causing the issue, what shall be the way to fix it.
Thanks in advance.
Amber
@Amber: My mistake, it is manifest.mf not .inf - somehow my mind played tricks on me when I was writing that.
ReplyDeleteCan you post the html code you are using in the file ?
thank u ranjan..but i still have this doubt..i tried a preview piece of corby pro(without sim card) and was not able get google maps working ...the dealer at the shop said the phone had only a-gps and works only with grps active..
ReplyDeleteso my doubt now is does the phone have gps.the specs in all sites says it has gps but plz confirm...sry to bug u..:)
@Teja : Two things:
ReplyDelete1) Google maps cannot work without sim - it needs a data connection to download maps (does not store map offline).
2) Corby, in my experience, has a very weak GPS (lock-range of upto 100 meters).
If you want good GPS real bad, don't buy Corby Pro.
nah i dont need gps real bad but now as nokia maps with navigation is free for lifetime on 5800xpress music i am weighing pros and cons of both mobiles (to buy one)..
ReplyDeletedoes this device have gps??
one user at gsmarena said it has only a-gps(as google maps)and no real gps receiver.. i am asking this because i can download some other java gps software if the problem is only with google maps not working offline..thnks
@Teja: Plz read my comments clearly:
ReplyDelete1) CORBY HAS GPS but a WEAK ONE.
2) Please search A-GPS on wikipedia, A-GPS can't happen without a real GPS receiver.
Dude..I wuz thnkin f buyin a corby pro..wot do u actualy mean?
ReplyDeletefirstly does the touchscreen not work on third party applications?
Secndly does the screen not tilt 2 landscape mode in any third party appz? If soo how cn 1 type thru the provided keyboard?
m mostly goin 2 use ebuddy n opera mini..
plz do rply bcuz m 2 buy a new cel soon n m cnfusd btwn d nokia5800XM nd corby pro..
@Rajan
ReplyDeleteNo probs man...your work is any ways helping us a lot. Sincere Thanks:)
the html code that i am using is:
In the html code that you have shared i just changed "______" with operaNew.jar at both places. So it evantually becomes install operaNew.jar
PS: This interface is not allowing me to paste the entire code here as it is.
Hi Rajan,
ReplyDeleteI was also looking for a utility which i can use to do a video chat using front camera on my corby pro using internet over wi-fi. Please let me know if there is one you are aware of.
Thanks,
Amber
Hey Ranjan,
ReplyDeleteI am facing same prob while following your steps to enable rotation in the unsupported apps.
After i follow all the steps when i try to install it from the html page created from phone, the installation fails with the "Invalid content" message.
But when i dont't change "Manifest.mf" file and use html file only, the application works..
plz sort
@Divye: Dunno, about the 5800, but the touchscreen will only work on touchscreen games; for auto-rotate have to change java code.
ReplyDelete@amber: Hey amber, thanks - no such software for using the front camera is available - what the heck, right ?
@ag: Hey, have to see what you are doing else I can't comment - sorry :(
wot iz samsung crazy? appz wunt tilt toh hw cn ne1 type..? i'l go4 d 5800 instead..
ReplyDeleteThnx newyz dude :) dis thng wz presnt no whr in d reviews or complains..
ReplyDelete@Divye: "In-built" apps (provided with the phone) rotate - but if you choose to install any other apps (like Opera Mini, ebuddy etc.), you have to change the java code of the app - no option to rotate it.
ReplyDelete@Rajan,
ReplyDeleteseriously man not having a utility which i can use to video chat with my frens even after having all the hardware resources available sucks big time.
Rajan please also respond to the other query of mine. You asked me to paste the html code i a using but. I explained what i am doing. please help me find what went wrong.
Thanks again buddy.
Keep up the good work:)
Cheers,
Amber
in the jar file these are the changes which i made
ReplyDeleteMIDlet-Vendor: Opera Software ASA
MIDlet-Version: 5.0
Nokia-MIDlet-On-Screen-Keypad: no
MIDlet-Permissions-Opt: javax.microedition.io.Connector.sms, javax.wir
eless.messaging.sms.send, javax.microedition.io.Connector.socket, jav
ax.microedition.io.Connector.file.write, javax.microedition.io.Connec
tor.file.read
MIDlet-Name: Opera Mini
MIDlet-Info-URL: http://mini.opera.com/
Nokia-MIDlet-No-Exit: true
MIDlet-1: Opera Mini, /i.png, Browser
MicroEdition-Configuration: CLDC-1.0
MIDlet-Icon: /i.png
MIDlet-Description: Opera Mini
MIDlet-Permissions: javax.microedition.io.Connector.http
MicroEdition-Profile: MIDP-2.0
X-Pax-Keyboard: Qwerty
X-Pax-TextInput-Hidden: true
MIDlet-Touch-Support: TRUE
MIDlet-ScreenMode: ROTATE
in jad i have done this
MIDlet-Version: 5.0
MIDlet-1: Opera Mini, /i.png, Browser
MIDlet-Description: Opera Mini
MIDlet-Icon: /i.png
MIDlet-Jar-Size: 282621
MIDlet-Jar-URL: opera.jar
MIDlet-Name: Opera Mini
MIDlet-Permissions: javax.microedition.io.Connector.http
MIDlet-Permissions-Opt: javax.microedition.io.Connector.sms, javax.wireless.messaging.sms.send, javax.microedition.io.Connector.socket, javax.microedition.io.Connector.file.write, javax.microedition.io.Connector.file.read
MIDlet-Vendor: Opera Software ASA
Content-Folder: Applications
MicroEdition-Configuration: CLDC-1.0
MicroEdition-Profile: MIDP-2.0
Nokia-MIDlet-No-Exit: true
Nokia-MIDlet-On-Screen-Keypad: no
but still i get invalid content.help me
@Diwakar: Send me your email ID - I will send the Opera files which work peacefully on my Corby Pro.
ReplyDeletehey can u give me the ebuddy which can work in my corby
ReplyDelete@Plus_One: Dood, if you dont gimme your email ID, how can I send you stuff ? Through Google Magic ??
ReplyDeleteHey can you multi task on the corby pro??
ReplyDeleteI mean like use 2 apps at once....like we can on Series 60 nokia.....Can I keep music player and the opera mini open at the same time??? Can you please let me know?
Hey ranjan...
ReplyDeletei must tell u that u were very helpful...
i had a query to make...
do u know a way to keep the opera mini browser running in the background in corby pro when it is minimized...
so that the gprs is not disconneted...
and the downlods continue to run in background also...
hi. :]
ReplyDeletecan you recommend some games that would work on corby's landscape mode?
and also. can you give me a copy of the Opera mini and the ebuddy? *grins*
thanks alot in advance! ^______________________^
my email :: zaq.uno@gmail.com
@ Soul_igniter: Yeah you can multitask peacefully :)
ReplyDelete@Amit: Pressing the middle button minimizes the app and you can keep multitasking !
@zaq.uno: I donn play games :), so no clue ! Sent you opera !
hi
ReplyDeleteI think your google map is unable to use gps check your settings , as i am using g maps on my e63 (no gps) it shows my location within 100 mtr or less depending on popultn dnsty, it extracts location from mobile oprator tower location, i hope by turning on gps in g maps setting might improve your loc coordinate, 100 mtr gps is like no gps at all.
Really informative blog,
Prash
@Prashant: There is unfortunately no setting for enabling gps for google maps :), anyways the GPS does work because after lock-in, it tracks my exact movements with a directional arrow like the Blackberry GPS does; but it is only 100 meters :-)
ReplyDeleteHi ranjan,
ReplyDeleteVery informative analysis of corby...you are a true geek...I am a total noob on using java based smartphones....can you please tell me how uninstall the trial versions of games....is there a way to completely remove the midlet apps from the phone after you've installed...
thanks,
Krishna
@muthu: The trial versions are locked on the phone - cant be deleted. Once you delete an app, it gets fully deleted - dont worry.
ReplyDeleteSir,
ReplyDeleteCan we digitally sign an app? Am tired of giving permissions again n again.
hello!
ReplyDeleteeach time i hit the n button in the landscape mode using palringo (or any other messenger) that freaking b5310 shows a ñ!
i would really really really be grateful if anyone gave me a hint regarding this matter. i searched the whole web but it appears to be that i am the only one with this problem
@Rachit: Nopes, digitally signing not allowed :(
ReplyDelete@Foxx: Yeah, Corby does attack its users on a personal and regular basis - sorry can't help :(
can we install other themes other than the ones int .if so from where?
ReplyDelete..can we customize our profile?
@Anon: I am not a themes guy, so no clue :) - google search.com :-)
ReplyDeleteI think you can customize, I have changed wallpapers and ringtones.
hi, my enquiry is why does the corby keep giving me not enough memory when i'm running opera halfway and wants to activate wifi fr the menu as sometimes wifi in not auto activated. but it happen on other appln..not only the one i jus describe.
ReplyDelete@Anon: One of the great "Samsung" secrets I guess :), I have no clue !
ReplyDeletecorby would auto switch on wifi only if u have configured the internet profile to be used for application as wifi .. else it wont activate it automaticlly
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Rotate works like a charm. Quick question though-- which version of PC studio are you using and how did you get the B5310 to work with it? Thanks!
ReplyDelete@Anon: That's the issue, isnt it :) ?
ReplyDelete@ rey: PC studio sucks :), dont use it - update through Google activesync !
is there any way to move opera mini from the games menu to the main one?
ReplyDeleteawesome..
ReplyDeleteI hope this one can compete blackcerry,, lol ...
http://ejournal.gunadarma.ac.id
Thanks Ranjan. I downloaded and installed Opera Mini 5 and you're right. I can't believe its free. It knocks the teeth out of Samsung's dolfin browser. Only thing is that it comes inside "Games and more" (WTF!) and i can't set it as my default browser.
ReplyDeleteanyways, my main problem is trying to synchronize Outlook emails/calendar/contacts using Exchange ActiveSync. I lost my phonebook details about 4 times before I quit. The same settings had worked for me in my Nokia E63 but here it just times out (even over wi-fi). Any suggestions for any utilities/apps/cracks/hacks to do that? I tried the Samsung PC Studio but that sucks (like you said). So I'm stumped on that part.
@Anon: NO :)
ReplyDelete@Somewhere: No man - I shifted back to my Blackberry :P, so you know !
Lol.. that explains a lot of things!
ReplyDeleteHey ranjan,
ReplyDeletei think i will need your advice there.
I got probs with watching vids on net like youtube ect.
Tried different solutions but nothing helped. I also installed opera mini. When i want to start a video opera stops and the inbuild browser starts automaticly, but the vid wont load. It says "cache loads 0%" and after a while i get a message " conection to the server lost" I go on web though wifi. Well i dont know what to do anymore and wish you could help me since corby pro hasnt been released in germany yet^^
Can you also send me your opera mini and ebuddy? Email: Tidus2100@t-online.de
Thx in advance ;)
hey there thanks for tips on the opera thing.installed opera mini and later deleted it because i couldnt use it in landscape mode.your tweaking savved the day!!!
ReplyDeleteone more query here:my opera always uses gprs instead of using wifi available.how and where do i fix that?
samsung pcsuite aka kies seriously sucks..big time .too..
hi Ranjan, i bought the corby pro today...can u pls send me the modified ebuddy n opera setups that work on corby...thanks!!! my email address is opandhare@gmail.com...n urs is the best n most informative review for the corby pro....
ReplyDelete