NiceAlarm v.1.0.9 for Symbian v.8.1 and v.9 smartphones release.

First,
of all we would like to apologize for inconveniences related to usage of the first version.
We think that it will be fair if we try to compensate these anoyances.
All NiceAlarm v.1.0 registered owners that were affected by known issues and posted corresponded message(s) on the official forum can write short e-mail to: We'll answer back with tiny indemnity.
Action will be lasted from 20.Nov - 10.Dec.2007

Secondly,
moving closer to subject. NiceAlarm v.1.5 updates and improvements are listed below. Novelties that were available in the beta-version are described in the previous post "NiceAlarm v.1.0.9 beta" and not listed here. Latest updates:

• Volume setting improved;
• Random tone melody selection;
• Dynamical language selection added;
• Possibility to expand interface localization with separate sis packages;

Most probably new version will be released very soon.

Thirdly,
there is glad thing but at the same time it irritates us.
We are glad to see your help with localization, but we are always needed to update application's feature which requires additional text to be added. So, every new release or update requires new localization files.
Most likely now all resources that need to be translated will be uploaded to our forum. After translation independent sis packages will be made and released for free downloading.
That's all news for now related to NiceAlarm.

In next few posts I will show forthcoming Symbian software releases from VerySoft. Stay connected.

Better late than never.

This post is about beta release of NiceAlarm v.1.0.9 for Symbian smartphones.

• Date/time indication added to the NiceAlarm main dialog window. (Thanks for the idea, g54pcys)
• Vibration added (Thanks for the remark, panhead)
• Stand-by (hardware) alarm added;
• Alarm filters added;
• Tone folders selection added;
• Random tone option added;
• Graphic updated;

• Snooze issue (Issue description: NiceAlarm knowing issues);
• Improper reminding if the battery low (Issue description: NiceAlarm knowing issues);
• Registration after reinstallation (Issue description: NiceAlarm knowing issues);
• Automatic handling of display mode change;
• Fixed the issue with "none" sound option;
• "Alarm duration" issue fixed;

• Multimedia key & Contacts key issues (Issues description: NiceAlarm knowing issues);

For the present moment we need Testers with Symbian devices and Translators to localize the NiceAlarm interface.
Today I'll send the letters to all previously registered Localizators asking for the help with NiceAlarm translation.
Here is the list of languages that users will get in the NiceAlarm release. Great thanks to the responsive People that help Symbian Community to have NiceAlarm on native languages:

• English - by VerySoft;
• Russian - by VerySoft;
• German - Sebastian Bredt;
• Romanian - Adrian Rapan;
• Italian - Sebastiano;
• Polish - N.;
• Portuguese - Jorge Aguilar;
• Dutch - Arjen van Hassent;
• Finnish - Paavo Leinonen;
• Norwegian - Lars-Fredrik Gjolstad;
• Swedish - Lars-Fredrik Gjolstad;
• Turkish - Santor;
• Spanish - Luis;
• Japanese - Masazumi Kasahara;

Don't see your language in the list? You can participate in the action. Just inform us on

NiceAlarm v.1.0.9. beta-testing [finished].

NiceAlarm v.1.1 release

Will be straight after receiving feedbacks from NiceAlarm v.1.0.9 Testers and localizations from Translators. Now we will greatly appreciate if you participate in the application testing.

Links
NiceAlarm v1.0.9 for Symbian v.8.x smartphones
NiceAlarm test report form

All Testers and Translators will have NiceAlarm (or any other application from VerySoft Mobile Software Department) copy for free.

I have some free time to make a new short post )

While projecting and developing software for OS Symbian (also for any other system) sometimes notices interesting undocumented possibilities or kind of (as it's happens with every professional). They are pretty simple but could help in customizing or managing your device.

This time I'll describe how to change the language while installing a new application.
It's still a mystery to me why Symbian developers change the installer and remove the possibility to change an application's language while setup. Sometimes it ticked me off. I neved used my native language as a primary in the user interface. Firstly I get used to English and secondly as a part of my job I must test developed applications with different languages. Anyhow it's only a tiny example why developers must not limit users' freedom.

Getting closer to the point. If you want to install other language than primarily selected by the Symbian installer and you are sure that the application supports several localizations try to do the following:

• Open "Settings" menu choose "Phone" then "General".
• Change the "Phone language" setting to the language that installed program doesn't have. After confirmation dialog smartphone will be restared.
• Install the desirable application. After choosing the "install" option in the menu you'll see the language selection dialog. Complete the installation dialog to the end and restore the previously used language. After the phone restart you'll have the program with desired UI.

Illustrated steps to the previous description basing on the latest NiceAlarm installation:

For example, let the phone interface is in English and I want to have NiceAlarm in Russian.	Switching to Deutsch	and restart
Sorry, I don't know Deutsch. Heeeeelp me Google translator!	Ja	Ja. Ja.
Here we are	and back to English	Resulted UI

Few more important notices and advices:

• Check the list of supported localization in the program before the start of this affair. It helps you to choose right interface language temporary switch to in the device;
• If you are not experienced Symbian user then better to make backup before this trick;
• If you stack somewhere in the middle use Google translator;

See you later.

Hello everyone,

NiceDial 2 release was already presented some days ago and it's time to make kind of "how to" post.
As I said before license agreement of NiceDial2 allows to change it's resources after installation (BUT NOT IN DISTRIBUTIVE ITSELF!). We think that the most convinient way of modifying the resources is to make "customization pathes". To demonstrate how to do it (very simply) we prepare the archive with original resources and and necessary building tools.

Package: NiceDial2 original resources archive (zip, 75kb).

Inside you'll find 4 folders and a "sis.bat" file to build overall patch. All resources that can be modified are located in the "data" folder:

• "0.png" to "9.png" - digit images. They can be modified with any graphical editor.
• "Sounds.au" - file with pronounced digits. Can be modified in any sound editor.
• "ndsounds.txt" - configuration file for digits pronunciation.

Imho, almost everyone knows how to deal with graphical resources, but sound file and it's configuration worth to be described.

All recorded digits pronuncations must be gathered in one file ("Sounds.au") in correct order (starting from "0" to "9").
Sounds playback can be adjusted in the "ndsounds.txt" file:

As you can see on the screenshot time interval of every digit must be indicated in the config file.
Pauses between digit intervals in the .au file must contain silence.
Keep notice that different smarthone models have different delays in player start/stop and if the pauses will be too short next digit pronuncation will be cutted.

And now there is a chance to:
FEEL YOURSELF A SYMBIAN DEVELOPER - MAKE YOUR OWN NICEDIAL2 CUSTOM VERSION! (and have fun :-)

As usual translators for NiceDial2 localization wanted for a simple reward :-)
Contact us on:

Discussion: NiceDial2 forum.

P.S. Knowing bugs: if Nokia 3rd edition SDK installed then sis.bat will not be operable. Additional SDK configuration requires.