AT commands - aren't those so 80's?

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 02:12:47 +0300

We have some documentation on how to use AT commands on Forum Nokia Web site although I have to admit that the documentation is scarce (see some AT command reference guides here). To be honest, I did not have a clue anyone was using AT commands anymore - especially to connect to mobile phones - until I started monitoring the general activity on FN discussion boards. If someone is as ignorant as I used to be, here is a short overview what the technology is about (blatant copy-paste from a site praised below - thanks traud!):

"Most GSM/UMTS mobile phones include an internal modem. You can do a lot more with the implemented commands than Internet access or Fax sending for example accessing the standard phonebook or sending, modifying and deleting your short messages (SMS) and there is much more – thanks to the 3GPP TS 27.005 and 27.007 specifications."

Apparently (while I was sleeping) many people are connecting to their phones using this commands set and doing amazing things with the technology. Want to learn more? I suggest you visit this excellent site by FN discussion board super contributor traud. The developer community bows to you :-)

TV-out on N93

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 22:24:07 +0300

I am a big fan of SysOpen Digia's ImageExpo tool, which allows you to display the phone screen on a big screen (for presentations and like) through a computer (over Bluetooth or USB). With that tool it is really easy during a talk to demonstrate midlet installation procedure, show how to change settings for the phone, and even allow the audience to see how the application looks like. Of course the BT/USB transfer limits the screen redraw speed, so 3D games and video do not look pretty.

After someone asked on the discussion boards, how the TV-out of N93 works, I decided to give it a try to find out if that can be used as a demonstration tool. BTW, the TV-cable comes with the sales package.

Turns out the system works very nicely. You plug the other end in the pop port and plug the video and audio jack on you TV / projector, and voila, you saw a giant phone screen displayed (of course you need to select the correct option between NTSC / PAL depending on what TV set you are using).

You can browse the menus and show your applications, and also fast animations are no problem as this is after all video output. When you start playing a video for example using the Real Player on the device or start using the camera, the video is displayed on full screen. So it is not shown as a phone screen with a tiny video screen in the middle, but as a full screen video.

I think I know what device I am bringing with me next time when I need to have a demo for a bigger audience....

Hartti Suomela's Forum Nokia Blog

AT commands - aren't those so 80's?

TV-out on N93