N-Gage games cover a range of genres and styles, but there are some basic standards which ought to be observed by all of them. In our latest AAN editorial, we look at seven rules which every N-Gage release should obey. If you have any suggestions for rules of your own, post them in the comments thread of this item.
Read on in the full article.
About the sound/no sound option. I onestly don't need it. Before I launch N-gage, if I don't want any sound, I just turn the profile to silent (long press on #). So, for me, a screen asking about the sound option is just lost time.
Radu
Before I launch N-gage, if I don't want any sound, I just turn the profile to silent (long press on #). So, for me, a screen asking about the sound option is just lost time.
Surely just clicking "no" is faster than switching the profile to silent though?
Surely just clicking "no" is faster than switching the profile to silent though?
I would say no. I tried it with Block Breaker. The game has a screen that asks about the sound. If I don't want sound I can click No (pre-selected). But if I want sound I have to press two keys (left+select).
On the other hand, if there is no such screen, the game doesn't stop loading and I can select before I start the game if I want sound or not (long press #) - just one key.
Anyway, I told you about # since it's a much easier way than going in the game's menu and selecting the volume for the sound (and music) each time you play. As you well said about Creatures. For that game I think # is perfect.
Radu
On the other hand, if there is no such screen, the game doesn't stop loading and I can select before I start the game if I want sound or not (long press #) - just one key.
Ohhh... yeah, I'd forgotten about that key. I see what you mean now, that is a pretty quick and easy method.
The problem is not all compatible models have it, and most people don't seem to know what it does it even if they do have it.
Also on a personal note, if I put my phone on silent I often forget to take it off silent and miss calls. 😊
If you forgot about that key, you being a heavy Symbian user, than I believe you that most people don't know about it...
But I thought # long press for silent is on most Symbian phones, especially N-series.
About your missed calls, I have only one thing to say: 😃
Radu
If you forgot about that key, you being a heavy Symbian user, than I believe you that most people don't know about it...
Well, I think part of the reason is that it's a fairly new feature, but also Nokia doesn't really advertise it or mark it on the phone itself. Most phones just have # and the up arrow.
The N95 and the N81 don't have the "silent icon", but the 5300 does have it. It's weird, it's like Nokia can't make up their mind whether to include the silent icon or not.
True. I think there is no silent icon on any N-series phone. But the feature is old. Starting with N90, probably N70, too. Maybe it's a feature we should know is there, Nokia would think??
5300 is instead intended for a different category of people so Nokia considers they should know that # goes to silent mode??
Radu
True. I think there is no silent icon on any N-series phone. But the feature is old.
Well, the 5300 is from 2006 so I suppose yes it is a couple of years old. And like you say, Nokia ought to tell people about it, I don't think most people even know the feature exists.
5300 is instead intended for a different category of people so Nokia considers they should know that # goes to silent mode??
Why would 5300 owners want a silent shortcut more than Nseries owners? I think this feature is something everyone would want to know about. 😊
There are two things. The shortcut itself (long press # for silent) and the icon near the # key (a musical key cut with a line).
I think the shortcut is very useful for all and everyone and should be used on all devices from now on.
The icon, on the other hand, could not be so necessary on all the phones. Maybe Nokia considers a N-series user a power user. So we could-should know about it. 5300 is a music device, intended maybe for new(er) users, that might not know about the utility of #. So they should be informed more than us.
Look at us! We started from a sound/no sound option to debating about an icon. :P
Radu
Yeah, maybe you're right that Nseries owners would be more likely to know it...
Still, it couldn't hurt to have the icon there on all phones?
I do think it's a REALLY useful feature, I just wish Nokia would tell people about it, maybe have it as a feature on their advertising ("One touch silence button" or something like that).
It's true. It sure would't hurt anyone, it would only do good. As far as I know there are different compartments in charge of developing each series of phones. So maybe the guys at "N" should take a peek at the guys from "music". And the advertising would do good, as well.
Radu