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Introducing Nokia Situations - tell your device how you want it to behave

Fri, 2010-11-26 12:20

Written by Roope Tassberg

Hi,

We have created an experimental application called Nokia Situations which you can use to define how you want your phone to behave in different situations, like "In a meeting", "Sleeping", or "Playing with the kids". With the application running in the background, your device automatically senses the situation you are in (e.g. based on time, day, location, available networks) and adapts to it according to your preferences.

Before we further develop this kind of capability, we want to hear from you about the concept. So instead of getting into the details of the application itself, think about how you would like your phone to behave in different contexts. Over the coming weeks we will have some questions and polls to dig into the topic more.

For now, though, please download Nokia Situations and set up a few situations you might encounter on a daily basis. Try it out for a while and begin thinking whether you'd like your phone to do something more for you in the situations you've identified.

- Roope

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Comments

#1: 2010-11-26 @ 14:13

That's definitely the future.
It should be in the platform, let it be Symbian or MeeGo.
Definitely a differentiator.

#2: 2010-11-26 @ 14:46

HOW IT IS DIFFERED FROM TRADITIONAL PROFILE CHANGER? (i.e normal profile changer in NOKIA)

#3: 2010-11-26 @ 14:58

Wel, it is a whole lot like just a simple profile, but a good bit more given how much can be tweaked. In a respect, it is how Profiles should be on one's device right now. Am going to try this on my device with Nokia Bots as there is some cross-over here with this functionality. Good idea though, and something that can probably graduate a bit faster than Bots and Feel.

#4: 2010-11-26 @ 15:23

having it behave like a macro on a universal remote would be good. Going running? Have it launch Endomondo, turn on blue tooth and pair with bluetooth headphones and play your predefined playlist, plus send an automayic text message in response to a received message indicating that you are in fact out running/living.

#5: 2010-11-26 @ 16:10

Yes yes yes!!!! Great application!! Thanks

#6: 2010-11-26 @ 20:08

Love it

#7: 2010-11-26 @ 20:55

Oh! Way Cool, been waiting for something like this for awhile.. :) - I'll get right to testing this!!

---< N95 31.0.0.17 | N97 22.0.110 >--- http://hi.im/iivo | http://www.twitter.com/iivo

#8: 2010-11-26 @ 21:37

Just installed it (N8) and set it up, looking very good!

One idea, in the wlan selection, also show the wlans which I've connected to recently, rather than just the ones I see right now. I.e. if I decide at home to make a profile for school, I would use its wlan as the trigger, but it doesn't show it since I am at home.

First test, it switches to sleep mode right on the time I chose (I really like you can change the theme as well), though the big screensaver clock does not disappear, which it should since sleep mode has battery saving enabled.

Perhaps a "all to silent" button would be handy when configuring a silent profile, since there's otherwise 4-6 options or so.

Great idea, seems very usable implementation already, looking forward to its development and eventual integration in all Nokia devices!

#9: 2010-11-27 @ 02:24

I must say im liking this app a lot with all the extra functionality it adds to the standard profile system.

In my case its slightly frustrating because i want it to automatically switch to silent mode when im at work. Work has no wlan hotspots to trigger it, i don't work regular consistent hours so sitting there programming them in every week would take ages. The cell site that covers work has a very large coverage area so triggering on that would be impractical as my phone would switch to silent a mile away from work!

The only thing i can really use is GPS, but i don't see how this is practical on any phone! Have you guys at Nokia actually tested how long a phone battery lasts when its GPS is activated every 5 or so mins all day!
I guarantee it wont make it till the end of the day without dying!

Also a cool feature i though of is can we have a profile that can automatically activate when/while the charger is plugged in.
I charge my phone up every single night while i sleep, so it would be nice if it could automatically switch the SMS tone to silent, call level down to low and only activate on contact list entry's only etc etc so i can get a nice nights sleep.

Keep up the good work, cant wait to see how this progresses :D

#10: 2010-11-27 @ 06:18

It's good, i like it

#11: 2010-11-27 @ 07:31

I try to place as much of my schedule into my ovi and phone calendar as possible. more integration with the calendar would be very helpful. this may require being able to tag calendar events with situations or profiles. or possibly selecting events to go with the profile.

Also, it would be nice to be able to select a preexisting profile as a basis for a situation.

Somewhat unrelated, it would be great to have profiles available as a shortcut on the homescreen, like s60v5. Also, expanding profiles to include bluetooth settings and app launching, and some of the other settings in situations.

It would also be helpful to have a 'close apps' to close all open applications, and to be able to open multiple applications.

It would also be helpful to have certain sequences to be programmed into situations i.e. close all apps, open app x and y, change to this profile.

#12: 2010-11-27 @ 09:33

Good concept but I don't think it will be dicisive for consumers in making up their minds as to wether or not to purchace your product. Is'nt this what you really want? To be liked and wanted like no other? I have a similar thing with my N95 a few years back where in my profile would change when I get to a certain place or areas in my house. It's cool but I did'nt want it to work all the time because I maybe at certain places or areas but that does'nt mean I'm doing the exact same thing each time, so I still needed to manually adjust the settings more often than I wanted to, for my phone to behave exactly as I wanted. I think I ended turning the application off. By the way, what happen there? 4 years ago I was able to download this cool application for my N95 but now I could'nt even get a security application for my N900. All I have is the phone lock wich I think can be easily reset with poeple with the know how. So each time I go out, I have this fear of losing my phone with all the various accounts that I'm loged in. It's frustrating. It should at least have the option to be tracked and could be wiped or reseted remotely. Applications like F-Secure is a must with this kind of device.
Going back to the insolidity that is your question... I thhink the question in the first place should've been 'How do you really want your phone?' Having been a fan of smart technologies, specially with phones, I've checked out countless of sites and this is what poeple 'really' want and need...
1. Sleek- Some poeple like their phones slim, light and elegant. Qwerty keyboad is out.
2. Tough- Some people don't care about the looks as long as it's dependable and durable. Maybe even shock and water proof. Would't it be nice if you could just bring you phone with you in the bath tub?! Oh yeah!
3. Complete- Some poeple wants it all. The bluetooth, the ever useful documents such as microsoft word, power point and excel, the qwerty keyboad, a trustwothy security app, the bar code reader, can be used as a modem, infra red- who's to say that the bar code reader and infra red are useless?- clear voice for poeple with hearing disability, clear visuals for poeple with eye sight disability, lockable abilities with: messages; transfering files; usage of calls and Wi-Fi; changing of status for everything; shuffling songs in the playlist; deleting ect., call barring options, flash light, compass, converters, timers, you name it, they want it! If it's possible and doable, hey! put it out there.
4. The best- Some poeple simply wants it to be the best- the loudest, the fastest, the brightest, the smartest, has insane memory capacity, the easiest to use and the unbelievable photo and video capabilities that would rival even devices known only to strictly work for such purposes.
I've been a Nokia user since I got my very first unit which was the 3210 10 years ago. Needless to say I've had changed my phone numerous times since but never with any other brand because back then, I could'nt careless about the device the guy sitting next to me has in his pocket... hell I got Nokia! Me and Nokia was like peas and carrots, spaghetti and meat balls, tuna sandwich, Becks and Posh... untouchable. Now a days things have changed because of the rise of the androids and the mere presence of the I-Phone. They seem very impressive, caring and... fun. They have the looks of Clooney and the wits of Potter so every one wants to be with them. Character, looks and wisdom? Huh?!... That can't be right. None the less, we are no longer the star couple that we once were. There are even times now that my friends and I kinda doubt my own sanity. Bewildered as to why I'm still with the one that does'nt seem to listen, care and understand me anymore. And though it's frustrsting and demoralising, I stuck with you. Hoping, believing, wishing, praying that am still the one that could make you come back one day. Why? Guess that's just how it is with us-the kepper. Poor Jen...
Having to know and said all this, i think it's time for Nokia to finally start listening to consumers and start to finally break away again from the pack. Now I'm not sure if you value my thoughts, let alone hear them, but, don't you think it's better if you just have one set of phone in each category (mid-range, phone for the mass and high end ones), but has the caracters every one desires? I think you can combine some of the features wich poeple really want like that of being sleek, tough, durable and the best. Like a high end phone only has one unit but has different models, maybe four? And lots of colours. Like 2 of them could be sleek, the best and complete- one with a qwerty and the other does'nt. The other one can be tough, complete and the best- one with a qwerty and the other one does'nt. And same goes with the mid-range and low end phones. Exept for the fact that the low-end phones can't have the qwerty and not as smart.
Is this a crazy and impossible idea? What do you think Nokia?

#13: 2010-11-27 @ 09:37

Maybe a good Idea would be to be able to set WHICH Calendar Event should switch a special profile on? Not every Event needs to switch my phone to silent but maybe "homeoffice" for example should do it :-)

Best regards

Mike

#14: 2010-11-27 @ 10:04

Would love to give it a test drive. Any plans for a Maemo/MeeGo version?

#15: 2010-11-27 @ 16:19

Sounds like a differentiator from other phones, at least for now. Any chance of getting a version for E71 model ?

#16: 2010-11-27 @ 16:22

I tried it on my E71 and it did not launch at all. Would be cool if there is an auto switch on and off feature in built. Keep it up Nokia, i am a fan since the Nokia 909, I still have the memories, with the phone securely kept to show future generations hahaha

#17: 2010-11-27 @ 17:52

someone mentioned a "close all running apps" options, i fully agree.
Im using a profile for jogging with sports tracker, which is set to launch automatically. would be great if it could launch multiple apps, so i could launch music player too.
Also, can you add an option so the phone will turn itself off? It would be great, i sleep with my cell turned off.
And it might sound crazy, but when im taking pictures, i dont want any distractions. How about an app triggering a profile? So whenever i launch the camera, the phone switches to offline mode. Having said that, its a great app, one of the best from beta labs, i think. Make some noise if you guys ever come to bangladesh, i owe u a round of coffe.

#18: 2010-11-27 @ 19:06

I have a GPS positioning based on network but I don't want a 3G/GPRS connection every time it needs a gps fix. Can you enable positioning based on WLAN?

i'd like a "Ask when changing profile" as parameter

When i'm bed sometimes I read and would love to disable the sensor used for rotation. Can you include that sensor in the parameters.

React to events like calls: if i receive a call and i put it on silent, i'd like to have a msgbox with for example silent 5min, silent 15min, silent 30min, meeting 1h...etc

React to events like calls: if i miss two calls and i'm on silence ask if I want to put it back on general

Can you measure the noise level as well? Enable outdoor profile when noise level goes beyond a certain db level

I second also the request to support actions around application like sporttracker

Overall, this is looking good and I hope you get enough funding to incorporate this in future phones. Regarding testing this app, to be honest, the only thing that's stopping me trying this further is that it should come pre-compiled with as many profiles as you can think of because i don't feel i have the time to create them (I know, that's beyond the scope of betalabs where perhaps I, as a user, am supposed to help creating new profiles).

#19: 2010-11-28 @ 09:32

tried it on 5800 xpressmusic. excellent! perhaps there should be an option to automate auto sms responses only to particular groups.
why are there only four shortcuts available maximum for customisation on s60v5?, why not allow for unlimited shortcuts on the home screen?

#20: 2010-11-28 @ 17:30

just insalled looks like it could be very useful will post more later

#21: 2010-11-28 @ 17:38

Thanks for sharing! I come from China ,I hope it will support Chinese(the apps language).

#22: 2010-11-28 @ 20:31

Please please nokia. When signing applcations. Include old devices, or give us an update of certificates required for latest applications installations. It hates to get certificates error on handset.
SMuol

#23: 2010-11-29 @ 08:49

I just downloaded Nokia Situations and it is working without a stitch. I've created a sleep situation and set the hours, and it automatically went into powersave mode, and disabled all ring settings. It is an useful app, and I look forward to giving it a once through.

#24: 2010-11-29 @ 11:43

I installed it yesterday on my E75 and it works good it takes litle time to get the different steps to work for an retired person as me. Nice apps, the profiles are little different from the download page but they works.

#25: 2010-11-29 @ 14:56

Dr. Amit Johari M.D. Medicine
I m using Best Profiles from Smartphoneware, which does all the function which i see in this application. Anyways i will try and report its functionality vis a vis PAID Application -- BEST PROFILES from smartphoneware.

#26: 2010-11-30 @ 01:25

Good program. Automates profile switches such that I do not need to do so. Especially so for meetings that you scheduled on your phone, it will automatically switch to the profile setting and even power-saving mode.

I have yet to test out the bluetooth connection condition. Basically am hoping that the bluetooth signal from my car system can wake up the phone and autoconnects with the car system, that will be cool...

Thanks Nokia Beta Labs.

#27: 2010-11-30 @ 04:47

the functionality is still very limited. I would like to see more control linked to specific calendar entries, connectivity and apps. Say going silent or offline when a certain tag is entered into calendar #meeting will switch on silent, #flight toggles offline.

#28: 2010-11-30 @ 06:49

why does it not work on the E63, please don't ask me to upgrade as I love my phone.

#29: 2010-11-30 @ 10:36

I have couple of years of experience from a similar Symbian application. Although this Situations app has a lot more possible actions per profile than my current app has, some finetuning for the conditions would be needed:

The most important missing features:
1) Possibility to priorize situations: I'd like to have a one general location and time based profile for work, but also for example bluetooth based profile for my work desk or a calendar based profile for work meetings. Now it is not clear, which situation/profile is triggered, if there are two possibilities.
2) Possibility to trigger by calendar entries title, such as *meeting* (matches all calendar events, which has the word 'meeting' in the title). Also multiple items could be added, separated by comma.

Nice to have features:
3) Possibility to list more than one visible devices for the bluetooth condition (in a similar way as the tower cell id condition which can have more than one tower listed)
4) Possibility to change the phone mode, which is possible at least on E72 device (personal/work). Basicly this just changes the active desktop settings, such as reorganization of shortcuts.