Nokia sensor

[sperm]

Around may/june last year, Nokia launched its 'sensor' application. A good description to those unfamiliar follows:

With Nokia Sensor, users can create personal pages on their phone, including text and graphics. Nokia Sensor users can also check out the pages of other Sensor users in their vicinity, exchange messages and share files with them. The Nokia Sensor application works over Bluetooth wireless technology, providing connectivity within a range of up to 10 meters from the mobile device. Nokia Sensor is free of charge.


Theres also a nifty little flash movie on the download page that shows the idea in use: http://europe.nokia.com/A4144923
Here is also a 3rd party review: http://digital-lifestyles.info/display_page.asp?section=cm&id=2204

Supposedly this application is only support for a number of Nokia products (symbian) including the Nokia 3230, 6260, 6600, 6620, 6630, 6670, 6680, 6681, 6682, and 7610.

However, my new nokia 6131 seems to have an implementation in java. The latest symbian is v2.33, mine is v1.05, and Ive tried to install the .sis version and clearly doesnt work. Perhaps nokia seems to think there may be life in the idea yet ...

There are also competiting product like mobiluck, but they are more jumped up bluejack and toothing, and nowhere near as good as the sensor app.


Anyway, back to the point of it all. Does anyone know/use/experience this ?

In my opinion it seems to be a dismal failure despite the potential. The flaws I see are:
1. it isnt quickly apparent what it does, when I first saw it, I thought it was just another money grabbing nokia comms program. Its actually free.
2. even once its realised what it is, you have to create a profile to get started. That smacks of effort.
3. noone else uses it, and even if they might have a phone, it has to be a nokia
4. bluetooth is a battery sucker, noone will leave the program idly running if they arent going to encounter anyone.

I think two things they should have done to make this have more uptake is:
1. Make it default the program 'wakes' every few hours, switches on bluetooth briefly and scans for active profile. If a profile is found, it informs the user to get their own profile started. This 'waking' option is easily disabled. But considering most users are clueless, you need this ram-down-throat approach initially.
2. Make a pc software version available, but it can only scan active profiles, but not interact with them. That way geeks get into the tech more, and you arent always relying on your phones bluetooth to detect others.


Anyone else want to venture an opinion, and if this thread just dies, I think it will be indicative of this entire premise .....

[sperm]

Theres also a nifty little flash movie on the download page that shows the idea in use: http://europe.nokia.com/A4144923


Looking at that video again, its actually rather amusing.
At the start the girl is bored, because she is a third wheel to another couple, at the end of the video the guy shes contacted has come over, and is talking to that other couple, and ignoring her !

hahaha

[muppet]

if it were available to the 6111 (which is what I have) I'd use it, the effort of creating a profile is over once the profile's made - how long could it take to create one?

The wake up option is a good one, bluetooth is a battery sucker, and so far, i've found that the 6111 doesn't have the staying power of my 6110. Maybe I just spend more time on the phone now, who knows? :p

[sperm]

My proposal of the wake up option is only good for those passively looking for profiles, its only something to sucker people in.


The system works on that you are offering a profile, so if you were a real user, bluetooth would have to be on all the time.

I've tried looking around for the program thats running on my phone, ive found the source files for the 6233, but not the 6131, or any other java version of sensor that would run more universally. If I spot it, I'll report back.

Hopefully you wouldnt be liable to bluetooth attacks though, some stuff they can do isnt pleasant, check this out:
http://trifinite.org/trifinite_stuff_blooover.html
some loopholes allow others to sniff your phonebook, insert dummy entries, initiate a call, divert your calls.

Even funnier with cars with built-in bluetooth, you can broadcast voice into the speakers, or even creepier, use it to listen to people inside the car having a private convo ! :aah:

[muppet]

i've heard about bluetooth breaches and whilst possibly funny if you're the one doing it, the person who's being subjected to it is liable to have a fit. This is the first time i've had a phone with bluetooth so it's a new toy for me. I've heard a few horror stories, so whilst i want to play with the new toys, i'm wary and subsequently don't use it.

[sperm]

ok, found out how some of the users were dumping the copyrighted nokia files, the standard nokia pc suite doesnt allow you to transfer their files they want to keep to themselves.

After much stumbling around in dodgy russian hacked websites, and piecing together the gist of reading backward characters...
The program they are using is mobiMB: http://www.logomanager.co.uk/php/products.php?id=51
hopefully i'll be able to rip my copy of sensor from my working phone.

unfortunately mobiMB uses a dodgy bluetooth interface that i cant get working yet. I'll either have to go to my backup bluetooth interface, or try to ressurrect my broken laptop that has a infrared interface......

Im such a geek :1337:

[sperm]

Well, I managed to extract the java version of this application from my phone, it says it will work no problems on :

Nokia-Platform: Nokia6126*@Nokia613*@Nokia6280*@Nokia623*

I imagine those are only the verified phones, and it may well work on others.

I would upload the files here, but zgeek isnt co-operating. If anyone is interested, reply in the thread and I'll either email them, or hassle admin.

Muppet, yours is in the mail.

[muppet]

thanks :D and when i get around to finding my phone software, installing it on my crap pc, finding the cable to attach said phone to crap pc, i shall download it and see if it works :D