How to Upgrade or Update iPod Touch to OS 3.0 Firmware For Free

1.Download and install iTunes 8.2 or higher version.

2.Download iPod Touch 2G OS firmware 3.0 Apple Device Software Update IPSW file, iPod2,1_3.0_7A341_Restore.ipsw or iPod Touch 1G OS firmware 3.0 Apple Device Software Update IPSW file, iPod1,1_3.0_7A341_Restore.ipsw via the iPhone OS 3.0 software update direct download links.
Note: If the downloaded file is in ZIP format (iPod2,1_3.0_7A341_Restore.zip) , then rename the extension from .zip to .ipsw. If the file name is been appended with .zip extension, such as iPod2,1_3.0_7A341_Restore.ipsw.zip, just remove the .zip off the filename.

If you encounter “an error occurred while processing your request” error message when attempting to download iPod Touch firmware, download the IPSW files from here (for 1st generation iPod Touch) or here (for 2nd generation iPod Touch).

3.Plug in and connect the iPod Touch to computer.

4.Run iTunes 8.2 or higher.

5.Select the iPod Touch from Devices list.

6.Optional but recommended, take a backup of the iPod in case of accidental file lost.

7.Now there are two ways to update iPod Touch. For user who want to clean and fresh upgrade the iPod Touch, without retaining any existing songs, musics, videos, movies, apps and other media or data files on iPod Touch (mean you will be losing all files stored on iPod Touch), follows these steps:

1.In Windows environment, press and hold Shift key and left click Restore.
In Mac OS X system, press and hold Option key and left click Restore.

For user who want to retain and save everything that has been uploaded and stored on iPod Touch or ensure that the media is untouched (not losing any files), follow these steps instead:

1.On the iTunes main screen, there should be 2 options: “Check for update” and “Restore”. Click on Check for update.

2.A web page showing the iPod Touch OS firmware 3.0 features and offering option to buy for $9.99 will be loaded and shown. Click on Cancel.

3.iTunes will return to the previous iPod Touch main page. However, the “Check for update” option has now been change to “Update.

4.In Windows environment, press and hold Shift key and left click Update.
In Mac OS X system, press and hold Option key and left click Update.

8.Locate and select iPod Touch OS 3.0 Apple Device Software Update IPSW file downloaded in step above.

9.The update process will start. iPod may reboot a few times. Do not disconnect iPod Touch until iTunes has completed updating iPod Touch.

10.Once upgrading is done, the iPod Touch will be on OS firmware 3.0, for free without any cent been paid.

11.Optionally, if you have choose to restore iPod Tunes to firmware OS software 3.0 at factory default, iTunes will offer option to either create a new iPod or restore it from backup. For user already created a backup of iPod, just restore the date files to upgraded iPod Touch.
Note: If there is an error when iTunes attempts to recognize iPod Touch, just unplug and plug the iPod back in again.

Nokia 6760 slide review: Compact messaging

Introduction

One of a kind would be a massive overstatement but there's something about the Nokia 6760 slide that's clearly against the usual run of things. Full QWERTY keyboards are an increasingly common sight on Symbian smartphones so this can't be it. However, the Nokia 6760 slide is a generic messenger - noting to do with Nseries, Eseries or even XpressMusic.

Secondly, the 6760 slide was first seen and used in the US as Nokia Surge. It usually takes quite a while for Nokia handsets to cross the pond and that makes the 6760 / Surge concept interesting enough. Whether it was custom made for AT&T and then given a go at home is irrelevant. Nokia now have a smart messenger ready to roll in the lower midrange.

Official photos of Nokia 6760 slide

The new 6760 slide (we'll use its European name from now on) is ultra compact and the full-QWERTY keyboard is backed by no numpad on top. The Internet and Messaging shortcuts up front are quite handy though and make perfect sense in both portrait and landscape hand hold. The neat messenger is trying to balance features, looks and ergonomics to offer all-round experience within budget. The absence of Wi-Fi support is a letdown, but the rest of the features are from the top drawer.

Key features

• Quad-band GSM support and 3G with HSDPA
• 2.4" 16M-color TFT display of 320 x 240 pixel resolution
• Full QWERTY keyboard
• Very compact, friendly weight and shape
• Fast and responsive interface
• Built-in accelerometer, UI auto-rotate, turn-to-mute
• 3 megapixel fixed focus camera, QVGA video recording @ 15fps
• Symbian 9.3, S60 FP2
• GPS with A-GPS support
• Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, microUSB
• microSD card slot with microSDHC support
• Stereo FM Radio with RDS
• Balanced audio output quality
• Large capacity Li-Ion 1500 mAh (BP-4L) battery

Main disadvantages

• Clattering slide hinge, loose battery cover
• No Wi-Fi
• No alphanumeric keypad: impossible to dial with the keyboard closed
• Basic fixed focus camera, no extra features (not even geotagging)
• No USB charging
• No smart dial (3rd party solutions are available)

The Symbian-driven Nokia 6760 slide has a responsive and fast user interface and offers various social networking integration. The good web browser and robust messaging should be welcomed by users with a solid data plan.

We called it a generic messenger and there's nothing really impressive about the idea behind this device - unless you've never seen or heard of E75 or 5730 XpressMusic. Not to mention the N97 mini.

Still, an ultra compact Symbian smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard seems to make sense. The 6760 slide certainly misses on some features but it does well to position itself as a typical carrier's handset. Fast data, solid messaging and friendly size will perhaps convince enough users they can live without WLAN. Plus, the 6760 slide styling seems to be trying to find middle ground between the too executive Eseries and too juvenile XpressMusic.

Nokia 6760 slide live shots

We called it ultra compact too and we mean it. It's hard to believe the 6760 slide is a Symbian smartphone to begin with. A formidable PocketPC like the Samsung B7610 OmniaPRO makes it look almost toy-like.

Friendly size is one of the Nokia 6760 slide key assets

If you find yourself interested in the new kid on the block, go ahead and take our guided tour of the Nokia 6760 slide. Symbian has little to no surprises perhaps but let's see how this little messenger handles and what it can do for you.

Nokia N97 mini review: Less is more

Introduction

The Nokia army of touchscreen smartphones gets larger by the hour and the Nokia N97 mini is surely one of the most interesting new recruits. The Finnish company has obviously reconsidered its priories and now focuses on optimization, rather than expansion with its flagships.

Nokia N97 mini official photos

The original Nokia N97 was the first sign of that as it hardly offered any ground-breaking features, instead relaying on the good all-round performance. However the first high-end S60 touchscreen handset left enough room for another similar handset in the portfolio and Nokia feel that its downsized version is enough to fill the gap.

Key features

• Slide-n-tilt 3.2" 16M-color resistive touchscreen of 640 x 360 pixel resolution
• 5 megapixel autofocus camera with dual-LED flash and VGA@30fps video recording
• Symbian OS 9.4 with S60 5th edition UI with kinetic scrolling
• Slide-out three-row full QWERTY keyboard
• ARM 11 434MHz CPU and 128 MB of RAM
• Quad-band GSM and tri-band 3G with 3.6Mbps HSDPA support
• Wi-Fi and GPS with A-GPS
• Digital compass
• 8GB onboard storage
• microSD card slot with microSDHC support
• Built-in accelerometer
• 3.5 mm audio jack and TV-out
• Stereo FM Radio with RDS
• microUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth v2.0
• Web browser has full Flash and Java support
• Nice audio reproduction quality
• Office document viewer

Main disadvantages

• The S60 touch UI is still inconsistent
• Outdated camera interface and features
• No DivX or XviD video support out-of-the-box
• No smart dialing
• No office document editing (without a paid upgrade)
• No camera lens protection
• No FM transmitter (though that may be stretching it too far)

Nokia N97 mini vs Nokia N97

• More compact (113 x 52.5 x 14.2 mm, 75 cc vs 117.2 x 55.3 x 15.9 mm, 88 cc)
• Lighter (138g vs 150g)
• Smaller display (3.2" vs 3.5")
• Less internal memory (8GB vs 32GB)
• Smaller battery (1200 mAh vs 1500 mAh)
• No lens cover
• No FM transmitter
• Arrow keys vs D-pad

The N97 mini has quite a task on its hands, constantly being compared to the moe high ranking Nokia N97 even though it comes later to the market. As usually happens in such cases, the price difference that would have been present if both handsets were launched simultaneously is reduced and the balance of powers has shifted.

Nokia N97 mini at ours

Still the reduced display (and mostly body size) is a welcome change for many users, who used to find the Nokia N97 intolerably bulky. We certainly hope it's got a few tricks up its sleeves so it can put up the original N97 a good fight and differentiate enough beyond size and pricing. Well, we're about to check that and much more in one of our trademark reviews, starting with the unboxing on the next page.

Nokia N900 preview: First look

Introduction

Usually when Nokia makes an Nseries announcement the geek world trembles with excitement, expecting to see the next master of the multimedia realm. Nokia N900 didn't make any exception to this rule though it was pitched for its web browsing prowess more than anything else (at least multimedia-wise).

Nokia N900 official photos

Or at least so it seemed in the beginning, before anyone actually knew how far Nokia has gone with the user experience on the Maemo 5 platform. Soon after it was first demoed, the N900 was quickly deemed a serious peril to most smartphones out there. It even went as far as threatening Nokia's own Symbian platform.

The Nokia N900 has been so universally positive up so far that it easily turned up high on the wishlist of the tech-inclined. Expectations quickly rose quite high matching its top place in the company portfolio lineup.

Now we've got one and while we're working on a full-featured review as we usually do, we decided to post this quick preview covering Nokia N900 key features. And speaking of those, here's a brief recap of what's under its hood.

Nokia N900 at a glance

• General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 900/1700/2100 MHz, HSDPA 10 Mbps, HSUPA 2Mbps
• Form factor: Full touch device with a side-sliding hardware QWERTY keyboard
• Dimensions: 110.9 x 59.8 x 18 mm, 113 cc; 181 g
• Display: 3.5" 16M-color TFT resistive touchscreen, 800 x 480 pixels WVGA
• CPU: ARM Cortex A8 600 MHz, PowerVR SGX graphics
• OS: Maemo 5
• Memory: 32 GB storage, 256 MB RAM, microSD card slot
• Camera: 5 megapixel auto-focus camera with dual-LED flash; WVGA(848 x 480)@25fps video recording
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, USB v2.0 with microUSB port, GPS receiver with A-GPS, 3.5mm audio jack, FM radio, FM transmitter, Infrared port
• Battery: 1,320 mAh Li-Ion battery
• Misc: Built-in accelerometer and ambient light sensors, proximity sensor, IR output port for remote control
• Software: Ovi Maps (voice-guided navigation purchased separately), Mozilla-based browser with Adobe Flash 9.4 support, Facebook and Twitter integration

The chubby Nokia N900 certainly isn't a handset to answer mainstream tastes but then again all those features rarely come in much smaller packages. The geeks know that and are willing to live with it if the performance is worth it. So now that we have a final version of the handsets on our hands we can check that out.

All rise or the honorable Nokia N900

We are giving you a short preview now, to keep you warm until we are done with the full-fledged review. We will try to cover all aspects of the devices performance there but feel free to drop us a line in the comments if there's anything specific you want to know about it. We aren't making any promises, but will do our best to provide the answers to all questions.

So cutting to the chase we begin examining the Nokia N900 ergonomics on the next page.

Samsung B7610 OmniaPRO review: Pro toolbox

Introduction

Now that we have the B7610 OmniaPRO running on the much-awaited Windows Mobile 6.5, we're finally up to speed. Omnia smartphones have a pretty wide reach already and they are known for their WinMo customizations and feature-rich specs sheets. The B7610 OmniaPRO however was the first family member to sport a full hardware keyboard and by the looks of it, Samsung have done a great job.

Side-sliding or not, the B7610 OmniaPRO is definitely a capable device in both hardware and software equipment. The QWERTY keyboard however is a convenience tool usually reserved for the competition's high-end offerings, so you can bet the OmniaPRO will have to tackle some really capable contenders. But you can easily tell, it a tough nut to crack as well.

Samsung B7610 Omnia Pro official photos

Key features:

• Quad-band GSM support and 3G with HSDPA
• 3.5" 16M-color (65K effective) AMOLED display of 800 x 480 pixel resolution
• Work & Life mode switch key
• Full side sliding QWERTY keyboard
• 800 MHz processor with dedicated graphics accelerator
• 5 megapixel auto-focus camera with dual-LED flash and D1 video recording at 30 fps
• Windows Mobile 6.5 fully skinned with TouchWiz UI
• Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, standard microUSB port
• Standard 3.5mm audio jack
• 2GB built-in storage, 256 MB RAM, microSD (up to 32GB), 8GB card included
• Wi-Fi with DLNA
• GPS receiver with A-GPS
• Built-in accelerometer for UI auto-rotate and turn-to-mute
• TV out functionality
• Nice audio output quality
• Large capacity Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery

Main disadvantages:

• Bulky and heavy
• 65K color limitation of display has color gradients banding
• Poor sunlight legibility
• Comes with OmniaLITE-grade HSDPA speed, and no HSUPA support
• microSD card slot under the battery cover
• The display and back pannel are finger print magnets
• Performance under WinMo 6.5 not a good as it was under 6.1
• No preinstalled SatNav software
• No voice dialing
• No web Flash support
• No stereo speakers

Samung B7610 OmniaPRO at ours

Who is the OmniaPRO is a multiple choice question. And there is more than one correct answer. The original Omnia has produced such an offspring choosing names became a problem. They even had to name one of the kids after the uncle. If you've been keeping track, you'd know the OmniaPRO has an Armani-branded alter-ego - the B7620. But well, Giorgio was lucky. The B7610 OmniaPRO less so.

Now, there's nothing wrong with the name except that there are another couple of Pros in the family. And perhaps too many of them in other houses.

We've never had a doubt about the quality of the Omnia genes but such a strong and versatile lineup perhaps exceeds the most optimistic scenarios. Samsung are obviously not only trying to update their portfolio but confront their key market rivals by matching competing devices spec for spec.

The B7610 OmniaPRO will be engaging the enemy on the high end of the performance and pricing scale. And that's where even the smallest details count. The B7610 doesn't have a unique defining feature like the Omnia HD to give it an edge against some unforgiving rivals. So, it will have to squeeze every bit of performance out of its system. It can count though on Samsung's solid record in multimedia and interface customization.

Speaking of which, the custom-made TouchWiz looks and feels better than ever. So much that it's worth the spoiler. And the mode switch for toggling Work and Leisure is keen to make a point that this here Pro knows good fun too.

So, the B7610 OmniaPRO will be trying to make its mark. And so will be Windows Mobile yet again. Because the OmniaPRO is certainly not running against PocketPCs only - the competition's finest will stand on its way. That's Symbian, and Android, and Maemo.

Nokia N900 review: A new hope

Introduction

It's crystal clear by now that the Nokia N900 has almost nothing to do with the traditional Nseries values. The full QWERTY side-slider may look similar to its double-digit mates but the Maemo experience is completely different. However, the N900 is not there for the mere sake of difference - a tablet and a phone, it tries to get the best of both worlds. These are worlds though where Nokia feels at home.

Nokia N900 official photos

The internet tablet genes are strong in the Nokia N900 so connectivity and web-browsing are its greatest virtues. The large high-res display and great typing skills are the right kind of backup but we've seen plenty of similar packages already. We told you though - the N900 is different. It's a Maemo-powered phone with Mozilla browsing and all-you-can-eat connectivity. Call it good news, call it a good start or just call it good. Let's see if it calls back.

Key features

• 3.5" 16M-color resistive touchscreen of WVGA (800 x 480 pixel) resolution
• Maemo 5 OS
• State-of-the-art Mozilla-based web browser with Adobe Flash 9.4 support
• Slide-out three-row full QWERTY keyboard
• ARM Cortex A8 600MHz CPU, PowerVR SGX graphics accelerator; 256 MB of RAM
• Quad-band GSM and tri-band 3G support
• 5 MP autofocus camera with dual-LED flash and active camera lens cover
• WVGA (848 x 480 pixels) video recording @ 24fps
• 10 Mbps HSDPA and 2 Mbps HSUPA support
• Wi-Fi and GPS with A-GPS
• 32GB onboard storage
• DivX and XviD video playback
• Foldable kickstand
• microSD card slot with microSDHC support
• Built-in accelerometer
• Proximity sensor
• 3.5 mm audio jack and TV-out
• FM Radio receiver, FM transmitter
• microUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth v2.1
• Solid audio quality
• Kinetic scrolling
• Contacts integration of Skype, Google Talk and other VoIP services
• Great build quality

Main disadvantages

• Large and heavy
• UI only works in landscape mode (for now)
• No smart and voice dialing
• Outdated camera interface and features
• No preinstalled voice-guided SatNav application
• No voice recorder, no MMS, and no handwriting recognition
• No FM radio application (despite that the hardware's there)
• Limited third-party software availabilty
• Limited 3G support in the US (no AT&T)

In our preview we saw the Nokia N900 as a lean and mean browsing machine. This price range though has little to no room for one-trick ponies. The chubby phone/tablet will have to play its best and that's where Nseries come in. Of course, the Maemo has still to catch up with Symbian in terms of system expandability but the N900 is an Nseries handset and all-round service is implied.

Nokia N900 studio shots

One thing to definitely note about the Nokia N900 is the 16M-color WVGA screen, which is virtually unmatched by other smartphones - platform limitations are hard to get around. There is of course the Vodafone 360 H1 produced by Samsung and running LiMo but it's very much a niche device. Now add the QWERTY keyboard, which turned out pretty comfortable despite the three-row layout, and things are starting to get there.

So, it's time we checked what the Nokia N900 can do for you and where it can possibly fail. A new OS (new to phones anyway) should be able to at least come close to the current crop of smartphone platforms and show a high enough development potential. For what we saw in our preview, the Maemo and the N900 may as well be even more ambitious. But if you take nothing for granted you've come to the right place. Join us on the next page as we power up the N900 and the review unfolds.

Nokia E72 review: The business of messaging

Introduction

Nokia E72 is one of those handsets everybody is talking about long before their release. There may be nothing much to talk about - after all everyone knows what to expect of the Eseries and they have never let us down. But still, savoring the next batch of Eseries steel is always a pleasure.

The Finns keep feeding business ammo to the market and there's nothing out of the usual at first sight. We already tasted the new Eseries generation and the E52 and E55 were the usual good healthy meals. The E72 though needs to be nothing short of delicious.

Nokia E72 official photos

There's no need to tell you the Nokia E72 walks and talks business. The big one though has greater responsibility to carry. We guess the E72 will not fear being judged against the best messengers in its class. But it will certainly look back to a haunting shadow within its own family. The Nokia E72 can certainly go where the E71 would not venture. But it's not only the equipment (of which the E72 has aplenty) that makes a winner.

Key features:

• Quad-band GSM support
• 3G with HSDPA 10.2Mbps and HSUPA 2Mbps
• Landscape 2.36" 16M-color display of QVGA resolution
• Comfortable full QWERTY keypad
• Optical trackpad on the D-pad
• Symbian 9.3 OS, S60 UI with FP2
• 600 MHz ARM 11 CPU and 128 MB of SDRAM
• 5 megapixel auto focus camera with LED flash
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UPnP technology, DLNA support
• Built-in GPS receiver, A-GPS support, digital compass
• Accelerometer for turn-to-mute
• 250 MB of internal memory, microSD expansion, ships with a 4GB card
• Standard 3.5mm audio jack
• Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP support and microUSB v2.0
• FM radio with RDS
• Remote Wipe
• Great battery life
• Office document editor (including MS Office 2007)
• User-friendly Mode Switch for swapping two homescreen setups
• Smart dialing
• Full Flash support
• Great audio output quality
• Lifetime Nokia Messaging subscription

Main disadvantages:

• Optical trackpad is not as handy as we'd like
• Limited camera features, no geotagging, video recording maxes out at VGA@15fps
• No DivX or XviD support (can be enabled, possibly requiring a purchase)
• No TV-out functionality
• No dedicated camera key (trackpad compensates for that)
• Poor loudspeaker performance

Eseries are always trying to get more skills on their resume. But the one that's supposed to be the next big thing in its class is really pushing it. Nokia didn't have to try and experiment with the E72. Build muscle on the E71 was their main objective. And by the looks of it they did more than well. The E72 promises richer experience and superior skill. But it will still be expected to deliver more than the sum of its parts if it wants to prove anything to the standard-setting E71.

Nokia E72 in our office

The Eseries spirit is all there - and we guess in-house competition is always in the picture. The E72 is bold and impressive, but manages to keep its cool too, as befits a conservative business handset. Armed and dangerous or polite and elaborate - the E72 will be whatever you want it to be. So, make up your mind, and take the jump. We're unboxing and feeling the cold Eseries steel in our hands.