How to Install MidpSSH

The Java application is composed of two files (jad and jar). It’s possible to download both files on your PC and transfer both on your mobile via BlueTooth or USB wire.

However, many mobile phones have protections that disallow Java file management, especially the locked mobiles. In this case, it’s possible to download and install MidpSSH via WAP connecting to http://xk72.com/wap.

Mobile SSH Configuration

Once the Java SSH client is installed on your mobile, it will be available in the Java application menu. Select MidspSSH and launch it. After few seconds, you’ll see the main menu:

• Sessions - it allows to save login sessions (hostname and account)
• Macros - file batch management. Here you can save the most frequently used commands
• Settings - configuration and connection settings (SSH1, SSH2, terminal types etc)
• About MidpSSH
• Help
• Quit

Once you saved a session select it and click on connect. Your mobile will connect to the Internet using the default Internet connection.

It should work on all Java capable cell phones, but due to handset variety it’s possible that you need special settings to let the application work properly. The forum can help a lot in this case.

Set up the Internet connection for Java on your cell phone

Here in Italy Wap and GPRS connection fees are different. The first one is more expansive than the other is. In this case, it is better to verify what is the default Internet connection on the cell phone in order to avoid using the most expansive one.

Useful Links

• MidspSSH home: http://xk72.com/midpssh/index.php
• Documentation: http://xk72.com/midpssh/wiki/
• Download: http://xk72.com/midpssh/download.php
• Forum: http://xk72.com/midpssh/forum/

I wanted to particularly check the differences on Nokia N95, which I myself paid for, in order to evaluate if it effectively constitutes the natural evolution to its predecessor.

What I liked most

Finally, the GPS has turned usable. I mean the Nokia Maps integrated to the cell phone and not the third parts.

The integrated GPS antenna finally gets the satellites information in acceptable time and it is rather reliable even when walking in impassable areas (it was tested in Rome’s alleys), or even driving in rural roads.

I’m aware that other bloggers have shown distrust towards the N96 GPS, but the tests have been satisfactory for me.

Another improvement is about the hardware resistance increasing under stress conditions. The N95 mobile streaming with QIK has frequently proved to be unreliable: the phone would get heated and blocked after 5/6 minutes of use compelling me to restart it after removing the battery. N96 seems to be more reliable: it gets heated with less frequency and shows more stability.

The photo camera is more sensitive under low light conditions and its antenna is more sensitive when compared to its predecessor. I spent New Year’s Eve in a ranch where there was no signal for N95, only for N96 instead (look the picture).

Here are some photos shot with N96 during daytime.

The memory is another improved feature: 16 Gb integrated in the cell phone, taken as Flash memory by the computer.

Unfortunately, the pros end here.

N96: the cons

Usability and ergonomics

Two malfunctions, to begin with, that annoyed me from a practical point of view (leaving aside technological resources): the slide opening mechanism and the keyboard.

The phone is not ergonomics at all and to slide it open, you must press the thumb against its surface. As a result, you’ll get a permanently dirty display.

Once it’s open, you’ll find out that the tactile references on the numerical keyboard disappeared: you need to look attentively at the keys in order to type the phone numbers.

From an ergonomics point of view, holding N96 or a little brick feels the same: it bothers.

Energy consumption

One of N95 weaknesses was related to battery length. I longed for an improvement on this feature, but Nokia did worst: it equipped N96 with a battery 950 Mah kind (with lower capacity compared to the N95 second series).

It is a fact that some improvement on the system consumption resources has taken place, but equipping this telephone with a less durable battery than the one on N95 is an unexplicable choice.

UMTS/GPRS Connection

I believe mobile connectivity features to be important on new generation phones. It’s a fact, now USB keys do exist, but if I have to carry the phone around with me, why not use it to connect myself with the notebook not having to carry extra objects during a trip?

Here’s the speed test video:

But, particularly, I verified if its functions really fit with the needs of a blogger, that is to say fast and easy micropublishing instruments.

Here you have all the impressions I had during these four months of use.

Nokia N95 video operating

It is out of doubt one of this electronics jewel strong points. If you then equip it with a 2 Gb SD memory you get one hour and a half high resolution video (DVD quality), even if you don’t need it.

Note that:

• You can set videos for: Tv, PC, 2 quality levels for mobile phones; MMS
• You can switch the audio off (very useful)
• It is equipped with a video stabilizer (in my opinion it gets the video worse).

Photos and video transfer via BlueTooth are a real blessing: you can download on your pc, nearly at once, all audios and videos. The software player used is the Real Networks (Real Player), and the video format is Quicktime. Be careful, because we are not dealing with a sort of video camera substitute, but for a blogger that’s an extraordinary instrument.

N95: a wireless webcam

This is one of its most interesting functions. Thanks to wwigo (and not to Nokia),  a new and free software,  you get the chance of using either one or the other integrated photo camera like a via BlueTooth webcam for streaming live or any recordings. Any other supply will read Nokia N95 as a real webcam (here you have its notice from N95blog.com).

Satellite maps

Its strength is that it is equipped with an integrated GPS antenna, even if to get an almost  medium quality signal reception you need to open it, otherwise it can’t connect to satellites. Then you really need to take care to one thing:

• Maps manager is included
• The navigator requires the payment of an additional fee

Maps manager

I am speaking about maps manager because Nokia N95 memory is not provided with maps, but it downloads them as you need their visualization. The main problem is that it needs, to download them properly, a GPRS or UMTS connection. And that rises all costs.

Nokia Map Loader starts this system. That’s a free software that whenever installed on your mobile phone you can do a sort of map “pre”-installation with home or office wifi connection, choosing among the maps you need. Therefore you won’t have connection costs on your mobile phone.

Integrated GPS

Your subscription lasts a definite period of time. I used it and I dare say that it really works, apart from the integrated GPS antenna problem that sometimes takes too much time to connect to satellites, even if, once connected in case it loses connection it just requires a few seconds to connect again (for instance out of galleries).

5 Mpixel photocamera

It takes high quality photos and it has a good configuration level but, to be straight, it has no chances with the same resolution (real) photo cameras.

Here are all the advantages:

• Optimum configuration level
• Day photos are very beautiful and night ones are medium quality
• You send photos via Bluetooth, mail or promote them directly on Flicker or other blogs

But the main and only disadvantage is the following one:

• Never touch the zoom!

Even when zooming lightly, the lack of analogical zoom causes an heavy photo quality drop down (as a consequence for its dimensions).

In few words: N95 can sometimes substitute an ordinary photo camera, but not always. For all significant occasions it is maybe better to use your  “old”, ordinary photo camera.

Power management and battery autonomy

That’s its weak point: the real matter is a real bad power management. Sometimes a well charged Nokia N95 can discharge completely in an hour. Here you have all functions list discharging this phone in a too short while:

• Automatic research of wifi network
• Connection to wifi net
• Active BlueTooth
• Active VoIp mobile programs
• Multiple functioning mode (3G, GPRS and GSM)

To have a clearer idea of the bad power management on Nokia N95: if you leave it on charge while connected to the wireless net, with Truphone on and in 3G mode, its charge level never completes. It seems that the latest firmware want to solve this situation somehow, but I’m not confident in any possible miracle.

The only possible solutions could be: use it in GSM mode (if you don’t need any faster connection); disconnect the automatic Wifi net scanning. Don’t keep wlan nets or BlueTooth connections on when they are useless.

Surfing the net and mobile internet

You can surf the net with Nokia N95 with a standard browser and not in WAP mode. Of course it shows you only one part of the web page but you can therefore check the interesting area using its buttons. The zoom setting is fundamental because you can reduce on the display the visible page area, limiting then the buttons use.

Wifi card is a very delicate one: sometimes it loses connection if you go far from router, and this is very annoying particularly if you are having a VoIP call, as you should then connect and call again.

Integrated FM radio

This is the most commonly undervalued function: Fm radio has a very good receptivity wherever you are, and you can install its headphones, speakers, or its  outside audio system using always the same jack. Radio, on the contrary of the other network functions, seems to safe power as it works for hours almost without consumption.

Mobile VoIP

I downloaded Truphone, that I have long since used for wifi ADSL calls at home. And…it works!!!! I have free calls towards 40 countries and the prices for all the other countries are very low (half an hour in Brazil costs nearly 1,5 €). The only trouble is the foresaid one, the wifi card is rather weak but at the end of the day it works.

A suggestion for Truphone: connect it only when you really need to do a call because it has a very high power consumption even in stand-by mode.

Take care: operators can disable your VoIP

I bought this unlocked version smartphone for 750 € (now it is certainly cheaper). If you want to use all its functions I suggest you not to pay attention to all those operators that sell it at lower costs and with one of their sim card, because this way they limit its functions.

We knew that Orange (British operator) offers Nokia N95 equipped with a disabled VoIP without advice to its costumers, but  our Italian TIM does the same! In fact, I could install Truphone on a Nokia labeled TIM. But after having installed and started the program, I dialed the number but the item “via internet phone call” was mysteriously absent. I really don’t know if and how this practice is widespread among other operators, but if you do please tell us!

Conclusions

Even if it seems absurd, underlining all these troubles about Nokia N95 is the consequence of the good impression I had of it! I often forget we are only speaking about a telephone and some of its obvious limits sometimes seem absurd as today we got used of doing with a mobile phone what yesterday was possible only with a pc or a photo camera and similars.

Also the battery endurance default for such a telephone really sounds to be impossible!