The popular Space Invaders spinoff Accelerinvaders for S60 has recently been updated to beat a few bugs and update the certificate. I've played with this new version on my Nokia N82 and it is a lot smoother and accurate compared to the previous version. It's now easier than ever to make your war against the martians.

Here's what's been updated according to the developer Luis Valente...

The game now uses the official Sensor API, which means that it is not required to install/use the RD Accelerometer Plug-in anymore.
Minor sensor tweaks.
Self-signed the game again with another certificate, because the previous one has expired. It should last for a long time now.

To play you just move your phone back and forth to control the direction of your gun and let the rockets fire!

If you haven't tried this game then what are you waiting for? Who doesn't like blowing aliens out of the sky. I find simple games like this funner for passing time than the highly touted N-Gage games. Accerinvaders was one of the first games developed to make use of the accelerometer in the Nokia N95 and N82. There are no high scores or options in this game, just launch and play.

Check out the video below to see the gameplay...



Right now the only bummer is I can't get it to go into landscape mode on the Nokia N82.

Click here for the download link, and if you want to learn more from the developer click here.

This has to be one of the coolest accelerator applications I've seen come out. Believe me we've seen a handful of useless accelerometer applications. Don't get me wrong, there are some good ones, but I think I'd be using this one the most. Basically with ShakeLock you just shake your phone to lock and unlock your Nokia N82 or N95. It's that simple, which makes it so beautiful. It's not gonna work unless you give it a good shake, so don't worry about it unlocking in your pocket. Keep in mind this is only the first version, so it will only get better with time.

Best thing is this application is freeware, but donations are encouraged. If you donate you get the latest updates to the application, so I think it's worth it to give a few bucks. This application is already signed, however, before installing you have to set your phone's date back one year, install ShakeLock, then you can switch the date back. Has something to do with the certificate being expired, good thing you can get around it.

Click here to download ShakeLock for the N82 or N95.

Also, if you haven't aready, it looks as though you need to have Python installed on your Nokia Nokia. You'll end up needing Python anyways since a lot of developers are using this method to make applications. Click here to install Python.

I first read it at Symbian-Guru's blog.

Well the title pretty much says it all. Say your phone is sitting on your desk or table. When it starts ringing, simply pick it up and flip it over face down if you want to either silence the ringer or reject the call. I tried out FlipSilent today and it does what it says without using much RAM. The accelerometer is used to sense if the phone is face up or face down. Remember the Nokia commercial that went around the net months ago showing off the upcoming Nokia touch screen device? Remember the scene where the girl flips her phone over when someones calling? Well the developer of SymbianBlog.com took that idea and ran with it.

One thing this application doesn't do is silence the alarm, which is a bummer I was hoping it would. Maybe we'll have to wait for Samir's version of this application ShutUp! to get that functionality. I also hope the developer releases an update that prevents the phone from changing profiles when it is locked. I find that once in awhile the phone switches profiles when it's in my pocket and I sit down. This is an application that will stay on my phone and come in good use. I'll probably start using it like second nature.

Currently this application is unsigned so you either have to sign it yourself or the developer of FlipSilent will be so kind as to sign it for you for a small donation of $1.99.

For now this application is freeware, but donations are being encouraged to continue the development of this great application.

Click here to visit the website
or
Click here for the direct download of version 1.01.

Check out the video of FlipSilent in action:

That's right folks. Someoone is developing an iCrap style music player for the Nokia N95 & N82, and hopefully all S60 devices. The music player is actually one of the cool things about the iPhone. The description of the video when you go to the actual YouTube site says that it's made using the Flash Lite player, I'm assuming Flash Lite 3. As you can see in the video below, it has one up on the iPhone. You can use the accelerometer in the Nokia N95 & N82 to control the playback and tracks by moving the phone in a certain direction, much like is already implemented in the NokMote application. Once again, this proves that the possibilities of the S60 3rd Edition platform are endless.

Check out the video below:



If anyone has anymore information on this application or a link to the developer that would be greatly appreciated. I just randomly came across this video on YouTube.

This isn't out yet, but Samir (I feel like I mention his name everyday) is developing NokMote, which allows you to control the d-pad functions of your Nokia N95, with movement of the phone instead of buttons. This goes for games as well, which is pretty amazing. It's pretty much the same functionality as a Wii's controller, except you have it all on your phone. Check out the video below to see all the awesome games you can play using the movement of your phone with the built in accelerometer of the Nokia N95. Games include Quake, Snakes, System Rush, Asphalt 3d, Midnight Pool and pretty much any N-Gage games as well. Seriously, this guy needs to be hired by Nokia, or be paid for his ideas. In my honest opinion, I'd rather play games on a Nokia N95 with NokMote than a Playstation Portable. I keep forgetting these are just phones.

Watch The Video:

Nokmote in action
Uploaded by soueldi

Well a few weeks ago the buzz around the net was an upcoming application called ShutUp, which is being developed by Samir (the same guy who brought you RotateME). He is quickly becoming a legend. All we new about the application was the name of it and that it uses the accelerometer in the Nokia N95. Everyone speculated what they thought it might be, and I figured it would silence your phone when you turn it over. Well sure enough Samir posted a video that puts the rumors to rest. Beware of the cheese factor of the video. Check it out below:

ShutUp - bySamir
Uploaded by Ali-Parodisiaque

Here is the link: ShutUp

I made a post a few weeks ago about the latest accelerometer application for the Nokia N95 called Activity Monitor. Well it's officially released and still under beta I believe. I have sent back my Nokia N95 already so I'm not going to be able to test this application. Obviously this isn't an extremely crucial application, as people who like to stay healthy will only find this valuable.

From The Official Website:
"The Nokia Activity Monitor displays charts and statistics, in real-time, about your movements while walking or running. It counts the number of steps, and determines the distance covered and the energy expenditure. Summaries are stored in a diary so that you can compare your activity level on different days, and over longer periods of time. Your steps are detected by analysing the output from the accelerometer in an S60 smart phone. It is most accurate when you attach the phone to your belt, or upper arm, and it also works well if carry your phone in a pocket of your clothing. It might underestimate the number of steps if you keep the phone in a bag that you hold in your hand (as opposed to over your shoulder), and the most difficult case is when you hold the phone in your hand. Inevitably, false steps are detected sometimes, for example when you are cycling or driving. The Activity Monitor currently runs on the N95 and the N95 8GB. You must have a memory card in your phone for the application to work. Be aware that the Activity Monitor's use of the accelerometer requires a fair amount of battery power. It does not shut down gracefully when the voltage drops, so keep an eye on the battery indicator during the day, and don't forget to stop the Activity Monitor before you go to bed! Your feedback is greatly appreciated, so please use the contact forms on this page to send us your impressions."

As you can see below, you get lots of real-time details about your activity. You can get them in chart formats and graph.

Screenshots:














Click here to download the application.

Update: Some people are reporting problems if you have Sports Tracker already installed. Nokia is working on this issue. Also, I'm seeing reports that it works for the N82 as well. Update: Confirmed working flawlessly on Nokia N82.

Samir, who is the creator of the popular RotateMe application, is up to something. On his site there is a coming soon image with an application called ShutUp. What can this be? My thoughts are it's an attempt at making an application that can silence your phone during calls or when the alarm goes off, just by shaking or flipping upside down the phone. This idea first came out when Nokia released a preview commercial of their upcoming touchsreen smartphone. Ever since then people have been dying to try something like that out. Of course this would be making use of the accelerometer in the Nokia N95 and N82. This idea would be for the WOW factor, showing this off to friends would be awesome. Especially the one that thinks he's cool because he has an Iphone. Only time will tell what the ShutUp application by Samir really is. We can only sit tight and wait.

Samir has already created the RotateMe application, which I'll talk more about in a few days. What it does is automatically rotate the screen on the Nokia 95 when you rotate the phone in your hand using the accelerometer. It's still in beta right now, but you can go to his site and make a donation to try it out. It should be finished and released by the end of the month. For other Nokia handsets that don't have the accelerometer, like the Nokia N73, you can use RotateMe to rotate your screen using a shortcut. I find it very handy especially for web browsing.

Video of RotateMe on Nokia N95:

RotateMe on N95
Uploaded by soueldi

The same developer is also creating an application called Nokmote. Moving your phone up, down, left or right, allows you do control certain aspects of your phone. Functions such as navigating the menu and controlling your music player. See the sample video of Nokmote below:

Video of Nokmote on Nokia N95:

Nokmote
Uploaded by soueldi

Like I said, I'll be posting a in a few days a review of the RotateMe application for the Nokia N95. If you check out his site, make sure you remember that his applications must be signed by you. If you check out Howard Forums, there are a few people who might be willing to sign it for you.

Thanks to the poster sunilvarma at HowardForums for alerting us on ShutUp by Samir.

Sorry to get you guys excited by the title, but this isn't out just yet. Nokia is currently developing an Activity Monitor application, which uses the accelerometer in the Nokia N95 to record your movement. Activities such as distance, steps, time, and energy can be recorded using your Nokia N95.

Heres what the developers say about this application:

The Nokia Activity Monitor displays charts and statistics, in real-time, about your movements while walking or running. It counts the number of steps, and determines the distance covered and the energy expenditure. Summaries are stored in a diary so that you can compare your activity level on different days, and over longer periods of time. Your steps are detected by analysing the output from the accelerometer in an S60 smart phone. Currently, the Activity Monitor runs on the N95 only. The Activity Monitor is most accurate when you attach the phone to your belt, or upper arm. It also works well if carry your phone in a pocket of your clothing. It might underestimate the number of steps if you keep the phone in a bag that you hold in your hand (as opposed to over your shoulder), and the most difficult case is when you hold the phone in your hand.

It's amazing how much Nokia is doing to tie your phone in with your everyday routine. You know have a pedometer for the Nokia N95. I'll post an update as soon as this application becomes available.

Click here to check it out.

Over at NokNok, they've come up with a list for the Top 5 Ways It Should Be Used. All the ideas are good, my favorite is this one:

"1) Shake to snooze alarm clock

Most people use their phones as an over-priced alarm clock, so why not use the accelerometer to silence it with a shake? It beats fumbling for buttons, and makes grabbing an extra ten minutes shut-eye no more complicated than a flick of the wrist. That’s just about complicated enough for us first thing. "

What ideas can you come up with? The possibilities are endless, and like Nokia says, they are open to anything.

Click here to check out the article at NokNok.

Now this is taking the accelerometer in the Nokia N95 to a whole new level. First we saw the moving ball, then rotateme, then Space Invaders, and now ShakerRacer. This guy developed a program that uses his Nokia N95 and bluetooth to control his remote controlled car. Simply amazing. Check out his blog for an article about how it was made.

Quoted from the article: "Using the Python module aXYZ from cyke64, it was possible to write a small application that translates the movements of the N95 acceleration sensor to commands that can be understood by the car. This enables you to go as fast as 30 km/h by just tilting your phone!"

Here is a video made by the creator of the application.



What other cool ideas do you have for the accelerometer?

The recent discovery of the Nokia n95's accelerometer is another great reason why I really want to get one of these phones. Besides the awesome capability of have an auto-rotate screen, you can use the built in accelerometer to make new games and applications, like this one.

I was browsing around the net today and found a guy thats developing a version of space invaders that uses this new tool. Basically you control the movement of the ship with the movement of the phone. Here's what he says about it from his blog:

"Hello!

I took a simple Space Invaders clone I wrote, and changed it to use the N95 accelerometer. Here it is:

Click here to get it.

Also, this game uses OpenGL ES for graphics (although it is not 3D), and the vibration API. The vibration feature should be enabled in the user profile, so it can work.

The controls are:
shoot: big d-pad button
move ship: move phone:

Anyway, I'll refine the movement with the accelerometer near in the future

Have fun!"

Sounds cool huh? I don't have a Nokia N95, so I can't really test it. If anyone has one, try it out and let me know how it is.

Updated with Video:



Before installing, make sure you first install the N95 Accelerometer Plugin.