There won't be any new articles on the Internet Tablet School for the next couple of weeks, but we'll be back after that with new tutorials. You can of course browse our archive of previous tutorials.
If you're interested, you may want to follow Nokia's announcements at the upcoming CTIA 2008 trade fair from the 1st to 3rd of April. One announcement will probably be the "N810 WiMAX Edition", which is a normal N810 tablet that also has WiMAX compatibility. WiMAX is a very new kind of wireless network which works like Wi-Fi but has a much longer range. However, there aren't very many WiMAX networks yet, so this isn't quite as exciting as it sounds, but things may change in the future of course.
Incidentally, we do know Nokia have some other interesting tablet-related announcements too, but we can't say what they are yet! ;-)
For all the latest news from CTIA, the Internet Tablet School recommends the following sites:
Internet Tablet Talk
Tablet Blog
Tablet Guru
Sunday, 30 March 2008
Having technical problems with your Nokia tablet? Read this first.
What to do if your tablet has technical problems
If you have technical problems, please DO NOT post about them on the comments sections of the Internet Tablet School. This site's comments sections are just for feedback on the contents of the tutorials, they are not intended as technical support forums.
You will get far more help and much better advice if you post about your tablet-related problems on the Tablet Scene and Internet Tablet Talk sites, which are dedicated to the Nokia tablets and have a combined membership of over 20,000. The two sites use the same database, so you can use your username from one site to access the other as well.
If you're new to the Nokia tablets, or if you're not a technology geek, click here to visit the Tablet Scene forums. This is the best place for new and casual users to ask for help or just discuss their tablets. Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question on Tablet Scene! :-)
If you're an experienced computer user who wants to ask a very technical question, click here to visit the Internet Tablet Talk site.
Some rules for when you ask for help on forums
1. Before you post, try searching the forums if you can, using the "search" link at the top of the screen. Someone else may have experienced the same problem as you, and the answer may already be somewhere on the forums.
2. If you do post a message about a technical problem, remember to say exactly what the problem is. If you're not sure about the technical details, try to describe what you see happening on the screen in simple terms. Say what you're trying to do and then say exactly what goes wrong when you try to do it.
3. When you post about a problem, use a descriptive title. Do NOT just have "technical problem" or "help me!" as the subject of your post. Try to say something about your particular problem, so for example if you can't get the main volume control to work you might use a subject like "My main volume control doesn't work".
4. Always be polite. None of the people on the Internet Tablet Talk site are paid to help you, they are not Nokia employees, they're just enthusiastic amateurs. If they help you, it's purely because they're good citizens, so it's important that you are a good citizen to them as well by thanking them.
Does my tablet come with a guarantee or warranty?
Yes, if you bought it new. All new Nokia tablets come with a 12 month guarantee, so if there's a problem with the tablet hardware in its first year you can ask Nokia to repair or replace it for free. You do usually need the receipt to claim this guarantee though, so make sure you keep it safe (some shops may store a virtual receipt though, so if you do lose the receipt it's worth asking the shop if they can print another one for you).
You can find your nearest Nokia-approved repair centre by going to nokia.com, selecting the website for where you live, and then clicking on the "Support" link at the top of the screen.
If you're European, it's worth remembering that the guarantee works throughout the European Union. For example if you bought a tablet in France but then you moved to Britain, the guarantee would still be valid and you could have the tablet repaired at a Nokia-approved British repair shop.
What if I bought my tablet used or second-hand?
If you bought the tablet used then there's no guarantee at all, at least not from Nokia. That's one of the risks you take when buying used electronics.
If you have technical problems, please DO NOT post about them on the comments sections of the Internet Tablet School. This site's comments sections are just for feedback on the contents of the tutorials, they are not intended as technical support forums.
You will get far more help and much better advice if you post about your tablet-related problems on the Tablet Scene and Internet Tablet Talk sites, which are dedicated to the Nokia tablets and have a combined membership of over 20,000. The two sites use the same database, so you can use your username from one site to access the other as well.
If you're new to the Nokia tablets, or if you're not a technology geek, click here to visit the Tablet Scene forums. This is the best place for new and casual users to ask for help or just discuss their tablets. Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question on Tablet Scene! :-)
If you're an experienced computer user who wants to ask a very technical question, click here to visit the Internet Tablet Talk site.
Some rules for when you ask for help on forums
1. Before you post, try searching the forums if you can, using the "search" link at the top of the screen. Someone else may have experienced the same problem as you, and the answer may already be somewhere on the forums.
2. If you do post a message about a technical problem, remember to say exactly what the problem is. If you're not sure about the technical details, try to describe what you see happening on the screen in simple terms. Say what you're trying to do and then say exactly what goes wrong when you try to do it.
3. When you post about a problem, use a descriptive title. Do NOT just have "technical problem" or "help me!" as the subject of your post. Try to say something about your particular problem, so for example if you can't get the main volume control to work you might use a subject like "My main volume control doesn't work".
4. Always be polite. None of the people on the Internet Tablet Talk site are paid to help you, they are not Nokia employees, they're just enthusiastic amateurs. If they help you, it's purely because they're good citizens, so it's important that you are a good citizen to them as well by thanking them.
Does my tablet come with a guarantee or warranty?
Yes, if you bought it new. All new Nokia tablets come with a 12 month guarantee, so if there's a problem with the tablet hardware in its first year you can ask Nokia to repair or replace it for free. You do usually need the receipt to claim this guarantee though, so make sure you keep it safe (some shops may store a virtual receipt though, so if you do lose the receipt it's worth asking the shop if they can print another one for you).
You can find your nearest Nokia-approved repair centre by going to nokia.com, selecting the website for where you live, and then clicking on the "Support" link at the top of the screen.
If you're European, it's worth remembering that the guarantee works throughout the European Union. For example if you bought a tablet in France but then you moved to Britain, the guarantee would still be valid and you could have the tablet repaired at a Nokia-approved British repair shop.
What if I bought my tablet used or second-hand?
If you bought the tablet used then there's no guarantee at all, at least not from Nokia. That's one of the risks you take when buying used electronics.
Friday, 21 March 2008
Nokia N800 & N810: Take notes and doodle with Xournal
To get the most out of this tutorial, watch the video above and then read the text below. The tutorial assumes that N800 owners have upgraded to OS 2008. If you want to find out more about upgrading your N800, click here.
If you want to comment on this tutorial, please post in the comments section at the end. If you have any questions or problems regarding your tablet, please post about them on Internet Tablet Talk's Newbie Forum.
Xournal for the N800 and N810
Xournal is a very useful and fun application for OS2008, the operating system run by the N800 and N810 internet tablets.
Its basic idea is very simple: it simulates having pads of paper, pencils, coloured pens, highlighters and rulers. This means you can write and draw on virtual bits of paper just like you would do in real life.
At this point many of you may be screaming at the monitor: "Why don't you just use real paper and real pens you idiot?" That's a fair point, but there are two main advantages that Xournal has over the real thing:
- You can write, draw and highlight in lots of different colours, on any colour or pattern paper you want, without having to carry a bag full of materials with you. It's like having a stationery shop in your pocket.
- You can save your work and refer to it later, or even turn it into a PDF file which can be e-mailed to other people and viewed on other devices such as your PC.
In any case, Xournal is completely free so if you're interested it's well worth installing it and trying it out for yourself.
How to install Xournal
Xournal is available for free from the maemo.org website's downloads section. Here's the exact way to get it:
1. On your tablet, open a new browser window and go to the address maemo.org
2. Click on the "Downloads" link at the top of the screen.
3. Click on the search box in the top right hand corner, enter the word "xournal" and click on the search button.
4. You should get just one result, the Xournal application. Click on its title and you'll be taken to a page all about it including user reviews and comments.
5. Click on the green arrow to install Xournal on your tablet. This will make the Application Manager open and start the installation process automatically.
6. Say yes, ok or I accept to all of the windows that appear.
7. Xournal will tell you when it has been installed successfully. You can now close the Application Manager and the web browser window.
How to use Xournal
You can activate Xournal from the Applications Menu (the green squares on the left). You'll find Xournal's icon in the Extras section, probably right at the bottom.
Xournal is a fairly simple application, but it also has lots of advanced options for people who want to tweak and customise it to their liking. The best way to get to know it is to try it out by doing a rough sketch and then pressing the buttons at the bottom and selecting the options in the menu at the top.
Here are some hints and tips to get you started though:
- The palette icon doesn't do anything, it seems to be just labelling the colour menu to its right.
- If you're using the text tool, if you've clicked somewhere and can't get any text to appear, try clicking on that place again.
- The horizontal arrows move you up and down through the various bits of paper you're working on.
- The curved arrows redo or undo your actions. You can press them several times if you want to remove or restore several actions. This might sound a bit odd, but it's very useful and you can see it demonstrated in the video above.
- You will find it easier to work with the paper by pressing the tablet's full screen button, and then clicking on the "best fit" option from the magnifying glass with the square inside it (in the bottom right corner).
- You can access the menu at the top while in full screen mode by pressing the tablet's "menu" button (it's the middle one of the three on the front of the N800, and next to the keyboard on the N810).
- You can zoom out with the magnifying glass with the "-" sign on it, and you can still write and draw while zoomed out. Pressing the "best fit" button is a good way of getting back close to the paper.
- You can save your work so far by clicking on the floppy disk icon at the bottom of the screen. You can start a new file by clicking on the icon that looks like a white bit of paper.
- You can turn what you've written and drawn as a PDF file by going to the menu at the top, then clicking "File", then clicking "Export to PDF".
- You can alter the thickness of pencils, rubbers (erasers), or highighters by clicking on the menu at the top of the screen, then clicking on "Tools", then "Pen Options" or "Eraser Options" or "Highlighter Options".
- You can change the style and colour of paper from the menu at the top, in the "Journal" section.
- You can save your current preferences or set them to save automatically from the main menu at the top, in the "Options" section.
- Don't be afraid to try stuff out, there are lots of useful things in the menu at the top. Remember to use the arrows at the bottom of some menus to see all their options.
How to remove Xournal
If you no longer want it, you can remove Xournal from your tablet by the following procedure:
1. Click on the Applications Menu.
2. Select "Settings".
3. Select "Applications Manager".
4. Select "Show Installed Applications".
5. Select Xournal from the list, and click on "Uninstall" at the bottom of the screen.
Xournal should now automatically remove itself from your tablet.
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
Do you use the built-in memory card on the N810? If so, read this.
The N810 built-in memory card bug
There have been several reports of a bug on the Nokia N810's built-in 2 gigabyte memory card. If you use the built-in memory card, you may want to read this post as it will tell you how to fix the bug.
It's very easy to fix, so don't panic.
What is the bug? What problems can it cause?
The built-in memory card on some N810s was incorrectly formatted at the factory. This may cause files stored on the card to become corrupted, which means you wouldn't be able to open them. If your N810's built-in card has this bug, even if it works fine now, it may run into problems later on. For this reason, it's a good idea to fix this bug now before those problems happen in the future.
Does Nokia know about this? Have they fixed it?
Yes, Nokia now knows about it, they've documented it on their official bug-reporting website. They have presumably fixed the formatting process in their N810 factory, but there is nothing they can do about N810s which have already been sold.
Does this affect the N810's main memory, with all my applications and other files?
No.
The main memory is separate from the built-in memory card. Any files stored on the main memory will be unaffected by this bug. The main memory's folders appear uppermost on the list of folders in the tablet's file manager, under the section marked "Nokia N810". Anything in these "Nokia N810" folders and sub-folders is unaffected by this bug.
Applications are all installed to the main memory, so the built-in memory card will not affect them either.
This bug only affects files and folders in the "Internal Memory Card" section of the file manager.
Does this affect all N810s?
No, it may only be a small percentage, but it's quite a tricky process to check whether your N810 is affected. It's actually much easier just to carry out the repair procedure below.
How do I fix this bug?
This bug is very easy to fix, all you need to do is reformat the card yourself using the tablet's file manager.
Before you do this though, you should be aware that formatting a memory card wipes all the information from it. If you have information you want to keep which is stored on the N810's built-in memory card, you should make sure you have a back-up copy of it somewhere else (such as on your computer). You can find out more about this topic by clicking here to read our tutorial on how to connect to a computer using the USB cable.
Another thing to be aware of: if you have used the built-in memory card to extend the N810's RAM, you will have to switch this extension off before you format the card. You can do this by going to the Control Panel (click on the Applications menu, then Settings, then Control Panel). Once you're on the Control Panel, double-click on the Memory Icon, then click on the "Virtual" tab at the top of the box. Make sure that the "Extend Virtual Memory" box is UNticked, i.e. make sure it is empty. Then click OK.
After you've backed up any information you want to keep, and made sure the virtual memory extension is switched off, you can format the built-in card. Here's how to do it:
1. Click on the Applications menu (three green squares on the left).
2. Click on Utilities.
3. Click on File Manager.
4. Click on Internal Memory Card.
5. Click on the menu at the top of the screen, select Tools, then Format Memory Card.
6. Click on OK.
The formatting process should now begin. After it's finished, the bug will be gone (if it ever existed on your N810).
Does this bug affect the N800?
No.
The N800 does not have a built-in memory card so this bug cannot exist on the N800.
Does this affect my N810's ordinary separate memory cards?
If you've formatted your memory cards on the tablet itself, they should work fine.
However, cards formatted on other devices such as a PC may have problems. If you're unsure about a memory card, format it on the tablet using the tablet's file manager. Make sure you select the correct card when doing the formatting. Cards show up in the file manager with the name you gave them when formatting them, or the name they had when you bought them.
There have been several reports of a bug on the Nokia N810's built-in 2 gigabyte memory card. If you use the built-in memory card, you may want to read this post as it will tell you how to fix the bug.
It's very easy to fix, so don't panic.
What is the bug? What problems can it cause?
The built-in memory card on some N810s was incorrectly formatted at the factory. This may cause files stored on the card to become corrupted, which means you wouldn't be able to open them. If your N810's built-in card has this bug, even if it works fine now, it may run into problems later on. For this reason, it's a good idea to fix this bug now before those problems happen in the future.
Does Nokia know about this? Have they fixed it?
Yes, Nokia now knows about it, they've documented it on their official bug-reporting website. They have presumably fixed the formatting process in their N810 factory, but there is nothing they can do about N810s which have already been sold.
Does this affect the N810's main memory, with all my applications and other files?
No.
The main memory is separate from the built-in memory card. Any files stored on the main memory will be unaffected by this bug. The main memory's folders appear uppermost on the list of folders in the tablet's file manager, under the section marked "Nokia N810". Anything in these "Nokia N810" folders and sub-folders is unaffected by this bug.
Applications are all installed to the main memory, so the built-in memory card will not affect them either.
This bug only affects files and folders in the "Internal Memory Card" section of the file manager.
Does this affect all N810s?
No, it may only be a small percentage, but it's quite a tricky process to check whether your N810 is affected. It's actually much easier just to carry out the repair procedure below.
How do I fix this bug?
This bug is very easy to fix, all you need to do is reformat the card yourself using the tablet's file manager.
Before you do this though, you should be aware that formatting a memory card wipes all the information from it. If you have information you want to keep which is stored on the N810's built-in memory card, you should make sure you have a back-up copy of it somewhere else (such as on your computer). You can find out more about this topic by clicking here to read our tutorial on how to connect to a computer using the USB cable.
Another thing to be aware of: if you have used the built-in memory card to extend the N810's RAM, you will have to switch this extension off before you format the card. You can do this by going to the Control Panel (click on the Applications menu, then Settings, then Control Panel). Once you're on the Control Panel, double-click on the Memory Icon, then click on the "Virtual" tab at the top of the box. Make sure that the "Extend Virtual Memory" box is UNticked, i.e. make sure it is empty. Then click OK.
After you've backed up any information you want to keep, and made sure the virtual memory extension is switched off, you can format the built-in card. Here's how to do it:
1. Click on the Applications menu (three green squares on the left).
2. Click on Utilities.
3. Click on File Manager.
4. Click on Internal Memory Card.
5. Click on the menu at the top of the screen, select Tools, then Format Memory Card.
6. Click on OK.
The formatting process should now begin. After it's finished, the bug will be gone (if it ever existed on your N810).
Does this bug affect the N800?
No.
The N800 does not have a built-in memory card so this bug cannot exist on the N800.
Does this affect my N810's ordinary separate memory cards?
If you've formatted your memory cards on the tablet itself, they should work fine.
However, cards formatted on other devices such as a PC may have problems. If you're unsure about a memory card, format it on the tablet using the tablet's file manager. Make sure you select the correct card when doing the formatting. Cards show up in the file manager with the name you gave them when formatting them, or the name they had when you bought them.
Monday, 17 March 2008
Nokia N800 & N810: How to install and use Skype to make free and cheap phone calls
To get the most out of this tutorial, watch the video above and then read the text below. The tutorial assumes that N800 owners have upgraded to OS 2008. If you want to find out more about upgrading your N800, click here.
If you want to comment on this tutorial, please post in the comments section at the end. If you have any questions or problems regarding your tablet, please post about them on Internet Tablet Talk's Newbie Forum.
What is Skype? What is it used for?
Skype is a popular internet phone application, which lets you make and receive free calls to and from other Skype users. It doesn't matter where you are, you can talk to anyone else on Skype free of charge.
You can optionally also make and receive cheap calls to and from ordinary phones (including landline phones and mobile phones) by paying a fee to use the extra services SkypeOut (for calling normal phones) and SkypeIn (for receiving calls from normal phones).
Skype effectively turns the tablets into mobile phones, especially if you buy the extra services. It works through the tablets' Wi-Fi connection and also through their Bluetooth mobile phone connection, though the sound quality may be very low if your phone connection is very slow (for example the quality is very bad on 2G phone networks but better on 2.5G, 3G and 3.5G networks).
Skype on the tablet is the same thing as Skype on a PC or Skype on a smartphone, it's all one network and all Skype users can talk to each other whatever device they're using. You can use Skype on many devices simultaneously. For example, you could have the same Skype account running on your tablet and on your PC, and any incoming calls will ring on both devices. You can answer these calls on any device you want, it doesn't make any difference.
How much does it cost to use Skype?
Calls between Skype members are free, you can talk for as long as you want and Skype will not charge anything.
Bear in mind though that if you're using Skype on the tablets through a Bluetooth mobile phone connection, you will have to pay whatever data fees your phone network operator normally charges you for using the phone as a modem. Check with your network operator if you're unsure what these charges are, and ask them about any special deals they have as many networks offer deals where you just pay a flat monthly fee for unlimited access.
The cost of calls to ordinary phone numbers depends on which country they're in. You can see a complete list of these charges on the Skype website. It doesn't matter which country you are in, all that matters is which country the number you're ringing is in.
How to install Skype on the N800 and N810
The N800 and N810 have a Skype icon in the "My Selection" part of the Applications menu (the green squares on the left). If Skype is already installed, clicking on this icon starts it up. If Skype isn't already installed, clicking on this will start the automatic installation process. Say "yes" and "ok" and "I agree" to all the questions it asks, and the Skype app should install without any problems.
If the tablet won't let you install Skype by clicking on the icon, you probably need to update the tablet's firmware. You can find out how by clicking here to view our firmware update tutorial.
How to sign in to Skype
Once Skype is installed, click on its icon in the Applications menu to activate it. You may have to agree to the app's user agreement the first time you use it.
If you already have a Skype account, for example from Skype on your PC or any other device, you can use this same account to access Skype on the tablet. Simply enter your username and password, and tick the box if you want it to automatically log you in when you start the application in the future (this is highly recommended!).
If you don't have a Skype account, click on the "New User?" icon to create one.
After you've signed in with your account's username and password, you will see your Skype contacts list appear on the left of the screen. This will happen even if you normally use Skype on a PC, because the contacts list is stored online and automatically downloaded onto whatever device you're using.
How to call other Skype members
If you already have some Skype contacts, you can call them by just selecting their name from the list and pressing the green "Call" button.
When you do call people a special window will appear which includes buttons for ending the call, muting the call and adjusting the volume. It will ring just like a normal phone until the other person answers.
If you want to add Skype contacts, click on the menu at the top and then "Add A Contact". It will then ask you to search for whoever you want to add as a contact. If you already know their Skype username, enter this in the search box and click on "Find". If you only know their real name, you can enter this too but the results may not be the person you think they are. For example searching for "John Smith" displays the usernames of many people with that name.
When you do find a username you want to add to the contacts, click on it on the search results and then click on "Add Skype Contact" at the bottom of the screen. Tick or untick the box depending on whether you want to share your Skype details with that person, and then click on "OK" to add them to your contacts. If you don't want to add any contacts at all, click on the "X" in the top right hand corner.
Remember that you can use Skype on any device to call people on any device. Skype on a tablet can be used to call Skype members on a PC for example, and you can have Skype active on many devices at once. This is handy if you want to use the tablet as a Skype phone around the house or on the move, so that you're not tied down to using Skype on your PC.
How to receive calls from Skype members
To receive calls on Skype, the Skype application must be active. When someone calls a window will pop up in the application with an option to answer the call or to reject it.
However, you do not have to have Skype constantly on the screen for it to be active. After you've signed in, you can leave Skype running in the background and use the tablet for something else if you prefer. This can be done by clicking on the minimise icon in the top right hand corner (it looks like an arrow pointing down at a line).
When a call comes through, you will hear the Skype ringtone, a notice will appear in the top right corner saying there's an incoming call, and the Skype icon in the task bar will flash. See the video above for an example of this happening.
If the Skype app is minimised when the call comes through, you can restore it to full size by clicking on its icon on the left of the screen. You can then answer the call by clicking on "Answer".
How to call real phone numbers on Skype
Skype lets you call real phone numbers using a service called SkypeOut. This costs money, in fact it's the main way that the Skype company receives an income.
If you want to call a real phone number, click on the blue phone icon near the top of the screen (watch the video above if you're unsure where this is).
You then enter the phone number using the on-screen keypad, but remember that you have to enter it in an international form, which means using the country code of the person you're calling and also dropping the first 0 from their number if there is one. For example, the country code for Finland is 358 so calls to Finland through Skype always begin +358. If a Finnish phone number has a 0 at its beginning, this is dropped in the international form of that number, so "09 12345678" would become "+358 9 12345678".
You need to have Skype Credit if you want to phone real numbers though. This can be added by clicking on the "Buy Skype Credit" link in the Skype application, which is next to the on-screen keypad. You can pay for Skype Credit using a credit card, or alternatively you may be able to buy Skype Credit vouchers with cash in certain shops.
As noted in the costs section above, the cost of calls to real numbers on Skype depends entirely on where the number is. It makes no difference where you are. You can see the current rates by clicking on the "SkypeOut rates" link next to the on-screen keypad.
How to receive calls from real numbers on Skype
As well as SkypeOut, there's another service available from Skype called SkypeIn, which gives you a real phone number that other people can call. Calls to this number go automatically to your Skype account, and it effectively turns your Skype account into a phone line.
Like SkypeOut, you have to pay for SkypeIn, but it's just a flat fee which lets you use the number for a certain amount of time.
To add SkypeIn to your account using the tablet, click on the Skype menu at the top, then Tools, then Settings, then click on the small arrow pointing right on the right side of the screen until you get a tab called "Services". Click on the "Extend" link next to the "SkypeIn" icon. It will then open part of the Skype website, follow the instructions to proceed.
How to tell if you've received a missed call
You can see a complete list of calls made and received by clicking on the History icon on the main page of the Skype app. The icon looks like a clock with a blue frame, it's next to the Contacts and SkypeOut icons.
If you have received an unanswered call, the History icon should have a red symbol next to it, and you can see who called you by clicking on the icon.
Where is the tablet's microphone? Where should I talk into?
In normal mode the tablet works like a speakerphone, you just put it on a table and talk to it like you would talk to a real person.
However, if you really want to know, the N800's microphone is in the middle of the top edge of the tablet, while the N810's microphone is in the middle of the bottom edge of the tablet.
What about privacy? How do I call someone without the call coming through the tablet speakers?
Very easy answer: just plug in some headphones. Any headphones will do as long as they have a standard 3.5mm plug.
You can also use the headphones that come with the tablet, which include a built-in microphone inside the plastic button along the length of the cable.
Alternatively you can use a Bluetooth wireless headset, which is useful if you want to handle calls without having to take the tablet out of a pocket or bag. Click here to see our tutorial on using Bluetooth headsets with the tablets.
How to use Skype for instant messaging
As well as voice calls, you can chat to other Skype members in text. To do so, just select a member from the contacts list and click on the blue "Chat" icon. Type in whatever you want to say, and they will see it the next time they log into Skype. They don't have to be logged on to start a chat with them. When you've finished with a chat close it by clicking on the "X" in the top right hand corner.
If you want to go back to a chat, click on the Skype menu at the top, then click on Chats, then select the name of the person you're chatting to.
How to alter the settings on Skype on the tablet
There are all kinds of options and settings on the Skype application. You can access these by clicking on the menu at the top of the screen, then Tools, then Settings.
The settings screen is divided up into many tabs, and you can scroll through these tabs by clicking on the small arrows on either side of them. When you reach the last tab in either direction, the arrow will turn grey.
When you've finished adjusting the settings, click "OK" to save your alterations, or "Cancel" to discard them.
How to sign in with a different Skype account
If you want to use a different Skype account on the same tablet, you have to sign out of the account you're currently using. To do this, click on the menu at the top and then Sign Out. You can then enter the username and password of the account you wish to use instead, and sign in to this different account.
How do I install Skype on my computer?
Just click here to go to Skype.com and then click on the Download link. There are versions of Skype for Windows PCs, Linux PCs and Macintoshes.
If you are going to use Skype on your computer, you will probably need a headset, but these can be bought very cheaply at any computer or electronics shop. Just ask the salesperson for help and explain you only want something cheap (don't let them sell you expensive headphones, you do not need them for Skype!).
Saturday, 15 March 2008
Web browser tutorial updated
Thanks for the very useful feedback on the recent web browser tutorial. The text and video have now been updated to include a couple of important points which the original tutorial missed:
-You can refresh most pages by just clicking on the green button next to the web address.
-You can highlight text on most pages by double-tapping the stylus and dragging it over the text you want to select. It can then be copied by holding the stylus on the highlighted text.
For more details on these points, please see the updated tutorial:
Nokia N800 & N810: Hints and tips for using the web browser
Thanks again for the feedback.
-You can refresh most pages by just clicking on the green button next to the web address.
-You can highlight text on most pages by double-tapping the stylus and dragging it over the text you want to select. It can then be copied by holding the stylus on the highlighted text.
For more details on these points, please see the updated tutorial:
Nokia N800 & N810: Hints and tips for using the web browser
Thanks again for the feedback.
Tuesday, 11 March 2008
The Internet Tablet School Companion
Since the Internet Tablet School launched last year, it's had an ever-growing audience and it seems that many people appreciate a tablet site aimed at beginners.
As a bit of an experiment, we've done something new: a book (just a short one though).
A portion of the cover price goes towards keeping the Tablet School going. If you want to show appreciation for what we've been doing, then click on our bookshop link below and buy a copy! :-)
The book is called The Internet Tablet School Companion, and it's been designed to complement the Tablet School website by providing tablet-related reference material which beginners can understand. The idea of the book is that you can look at it while using the site's tutorials or visiting other tablet sites. Most of the book is devoted to a Glossary section which lets you translate any weird tablet-related words you can't understand into plain English. The book also has some features discussing the past and future of the tablets, and an article on why tablets are better devices than smartphones.
The book does not contain any tutorials though, the tutorials will only be on the website.
You can order the Companion from our Lulu bookshop:
http://stores.lulu.com/tabletschool
Despite its rather amateurish cover, we can assure you it is a real printed book with proper pages and everything. Click on the book's title link and then click on the "Preview This Book" button to see a few pages from inside the Companion.
Thursday, 6 March 2008
Nokia N800 & N810: Hints and tips for using the web browser
To get the most out of this tutorial, watch the video above and then read the text below. The tutorial assumes that N800 owners have upgraded to OS 2008. If you want to find out more about upgrading your N800, click here.
If you want to comment on this tutorial, please post in the comments section at the end. If you have any questions or problems regarding your tablet, please post about them on Internet Tablet Talk's Newbie Forum.
Some hints and tips for using the web browser on the Nokia N800 & N810
The web browser is the most important feature on the N800 and N810 internet tablets as it lets you look at websites, which is the main purpose of the tablets.
The browser is fairly easy to use, especially if you're used to using web browsers such as Firefox or Internet Explorer on computers. However, there are still a few quirks and features which may not be immediately obvious, and that's what we're going to look at in this tutorial.
For those who are interested, the browser used in the N800 and N810 is called MicroB, and is based on the same Mozilla technology that Firefox uses. It is compatible with all the major advanced website standards such as Flash, Javascript and AJAX, and is possibly the world's best web browser on a pocket-sized device. The tablets are compatible with far more websites than the iPhone or iPod Touch because Apple's gadgets cannot display Flash-based sites.
How to open the browser
There are actually many ways to get the browser window to open. The three most popular are:
- New Window method: Click on the browser icon (the globe in the top left hand corner), then click on "Open New Browser Window", then enter the website address you want to go to in the address bar at the bottom of the screen (the one with the small globe next to it), then click on the green button to go to that address. You can open several new windows if you like, and you can switch between them by clicking on the icon featuring two white squares that appears in the bottom left hand corner and selecting the window you want. You can also close windows by clicking on the squares icon and then clicking on the "X" next to the window you want to close.
- Bookmark method: Click on the browser icon, then click on one of the bookmarks, and the site you selected will open in a browser window. If you already have a browser window open, the site you selected will appear in that open window. You can add your own bookmarks by going to the site you want to bookmark, then clicking on the small globe next to the address bar, then clicking on "Add Bookmark".
- Keyword Search method: Click on the Google search box on the tablet desktop, then type in the words you want to search for, then click on the arrow on the right of the search box. The results of your search will appear in a new browser window, or if there's already a window open the results will appear in that. You can change to a Wikipedia search if you prefer, by clicking on the Google icon and selecting Wikipedia. If you can't see the search box on the desktop at all, click on the "Home" menu at the top of the desktop, then "Select Applets", then tick the box marked "Internet Search", then click on "OK".
Menus in the browser
There are actually three separate menus in the browser window:
- The "Web" menu at the top of the screen, which is the most comprehensive and lets you access virtually all the browser's features.
- The Bookmarks menu, which is the small globe to the left of the address bar at the bottom of the screen. This lets you go to your favourite sites, lets you add a bookmark for the site you're currently viewing ("Add Bookmark"), and lets you remove and organise bookmarks using the "Manage Bookmarks" option.
- The Magnifying Glass menu, in the bottom right hand corner of the browser window. This lets you zoom in and out, choose whether to show images and lets you switch Flash and multimedia support on and off. It's also got a search function if you want to find a particular word or phrase on the page you're currently viewing. Do NOT tick the "Fit Width To View" option, see below for an explanation why.
How to refresh web pages
There's no "Refresh" or "Reload" button on the tablet browser, but you can refresh pages by simply clicking on the green arrow button next to the current page's address. For example if you're currently looking at www.google.com, you can refresh the page by pressing the green button next to "http://www.google.com/".
However, this may not work on some sites which use a web technique called frames. Pages on sites that use frames can be refreshed by going to the "Web" menu at the top of the screen, then clicking on "Web", then "Navigation", then "Reload". If you're using the web at full size the Web menu won't be visible. You can still access the reload option though, by holding the stylus down on the screen to make a menu appear (don't let go until you've selected an option), then select "Navigation", then select "Reload", then take the stylus off the screen.
Do NOT use Fit Width To View
There is an abominable option on the tablet browser called "Fit Width To View", on the magnifying glass menu in the bottom right corner. Do not use this option. Make sure that this option is always unticked.
For more details on why Fit Width To View should be avoided, click here to see our special mini-tutorial on the subject.
How to turn Flash on if it doesn't work
If you're trying to access a Flash-based site (for example homestarrunner.com or youtube.com) and it doesn't seem to work, it may be that your tablet browser has Flash support switched off.
To switch it back on, click on the magnifying glass in the bottom right hand corner of the browser, then click on "Components", then make sure you have ticked the "Shockwave Flash" option. Also make sure the "Default Plugin" option is also ticked.
How to stop pages loading when they get stuck
As regular web users will know, sometimes websites get stuck while they're loading, and you may want to just stop the page loading.
If a site gets stuck while it's loading, or if it's just loading too slowly, press the small red icon in the bottom right corner which appears during the loading process.
You can retry the loading by pressing the green button next to the website address bar. Alternatively, you can give up and go to another website by entering a different address or clicking on a bookmark.
How to highlight and copy text on websites
If you want to highlight text within a text entry box (for example in an e-mail or forum post you're writing), just sweep the stylus over the text you want to highlight.
If you want to highlight text on normal web pages, you have to use a special "double tap" method. Tap the stylus twice near the text you want to highlight AND DO NOT LET GO AFTER THE SECOND TAP. With the stylus still held down, move it over the text you want to highlight and the text should change colour as you do so. After the text is highlighted you can let go. If you want to copy highlighted text, hold the stylus on the highlighted text and select copy from the menu that appears.
The "double tap" method can take some getting used to, but once you get the knack of it it should be fairly easy to use.
The reason there is a double tap method at all is because a single tap could indicate you just want to scroll around the page. The tablet needs some way to tell that you want to highlight text rather than move the page. Ordinary computers with mice don't have this problem because you don't use the mouse buttons to scroll the page, they have a scroll wheel instead.
Sunday, 2 March 2008
Nokia N800 & N810: Word processing with Notes and Google Documents
To get the most out of this tutorial, watch the video above and then read the text below. The tutorial assumes that N800 owners have upgraded to OS 2008. If you want to find out more about upgrading your N800, click here.
If you want to comment on this tutorial, please post in the comments section at the end. If you have any questions or problems regarding your tablet, please post about them on Internet Tablet Talk's Newbie Forum.
Word Processing on the Nokia N800 & N810
There are two main ways to do word processing on the internet tablets: using a word processing application installed on the tablet, or using a word processing application hosted on a website.
This tutorial will look at the two easiest options: the built-in Notes application, and the online application Google Documents.
Some general hints on entering text on the N800 and N810
- You can enter text on the tablets using their on-screen keyboards (a small one for styluses, a big one for fingers), or the built-in physical keyboard of the N810, or using a wireless Bluetooth full-size keyboard. The best option for large amounts of typing is a Bluetooth keyboard as it has proper full-size keys. Click here to read our tutorial on using Bluetooth keyboards with tablets.
- You can activate the large on-screen keyboard by clicking on the text entry area and then pressing the button in the middle of the direction pad.
- Whatever application or text entry method you use, remember that you have to click on the area where you're going to enter the text, so that the cursor appears in that area.
- If you ever want to highlight text you just need to move a stylus or finger across it. See the video above for examples of this in action. If you are using the N810's built-in keyboard or a Bluetooth keyboard, you can also highlight text by holding down shift and moving the cursor across the text you want to highlight.
- If you are using the N810's keyboard or a Bluetooth keyboard, you can cut text by highlighting it and pressing Ctrl and X, you can copy text with Ctrl and C, and pasted text with Ctrl and V. These are the same shortcuts used on most PC applications.
- You can usually increase the size of a word processor's text entry area by pressing the tablet's "Full Screen" button on the top edge.
Notes - A simple built-in word processor
If all you want to do is write text with a little bit of formatting (fonts, font sizes, bold, underline, italic etc) then Notes is a perfectly reasonable application for that purpose.
To access it:
1. Click on the Applications icon (the green squares on the left)
2. Click on "Utilities"
3. Click on "Notes"
Click on the main view to edit text, and start typing. The icons and menus at the bottom of the screen handle most of the formatting functions and can be seen demonstrated in the video above. There's also a menu at the top of the Notes screen lablled "Notes" which contains a few more options such as text alignment and file format.
The "Notes" menu also lets you send the document by e-mail using the tablet's built-in e-mail application: click on "Notes", then "Note", then "Send", then "Via E-mail". Alternatively, you can attach the document yourself within whichever e-mail application you use.
Google Documents - An online word processor
Google Documents is significantly slower to load than Notes because it runs on Google's own servers rather than on the tablet. However, the online approach used by Google Documents can bring some significant advantages over normal word processing applications:
- It lets you use exactly the same word processor on your PC and tablet.
- Because Google Documents stores your files online, it doesn't matter which computer you access your Google Docs account from, the same set of documents will always be visible and up-to-date.
- It lets several people collaborate on a single document, by giving each other permission to access the same file within the application.
- You can publish documents online instantly through Google Documents, either as a web page or as an entry on a blog.
You access Google Documents on the tablets just like you do on a PC, by opening a new web browser window (from the globe icon on the left) and visiting the address docs.google.com You can access it using your Gmail username and password, or you can register as a new user if you don't use Gmail.
To start a new document, click on the "New" menu on the left of the screen and select "Document", which will open in a new window. To edit an existing document, simply click on its title on the page you see when you log in to Google Documents.
Google Documents automatically saves documents while you're working on them, and even automatically names them using the first line of text that you type. If you want to manually save the file, click on the grey "File" button on the left of the screen and select "Save".
As you may have noticed if you've tried it, Google Documents is far more advanced and complex than Notes, so if you find yourself confused it's worth paying a visit to their Help section, by clicking on "Help" in the top right hand corner of the screen.
Nokia N800 & N810: How to find and install themes
To get the most out of this tutorial, watch the video above and then read the text below. The tutorial assumes that N800 owners have upgraded to OS 2008. If you want to find out more about upgrading your N800, click here.
If you want to comment on this tutorial, please post in the comments section at the end. If you have any questions or problems regarding your tablet, please post about them on Internet Tablet Talk's Newbie Forum.
What are themes?
Themes are used by the internet tablets to determine what their interface looks like. If you change the tablet's theme, the appearance of the interface changes.
The tablets come with four built-in themes to choose from, which you can do from the desktop's "Home" menu at the top of the desktop screen. Please see our tutorial on customising your tablet's desktop to find out more about this topic.
If you're bored with the built-in themes though you can install extra themes, which is what this tutorial is about.
How to find and install extra themes
By far the easiest way to find and install themes is to use the maemo.org website, which is the official site for internet tablet software development.
1. On your tablet, click on the globe on the left, open a new browser window and go to the address maemo.org Don't worry if the site is a bit slow sometimes.
2. Click on the "Downloads" link at the top of the screen, and make sure you're in the "OS 2008" section.
3. Click on the search box in the top right hand corner, enter the word "theme" and click on the search button.
4. Scroll through the results, if you see a theme you like you can find out more about it by clicking on its title. If you want to install a theme, click on the large green arrow next to its name.
5. During the installation, say "yes" or "ok" to all the questions, and eventually the tablet should tell you that the theme has been installed successfully. You can now close the Application Manager and browser if you want to.
6. To activate the theme, click on the "Home" menu link at the top of the desktop screen, then "Set Theme", then select your new theme from the list. Click on "Apply" to activate it and "Close" to close the theme box. If you want to go back to a previous theme, simply repeat this process and choose the previous theme instead.
Note that the theme doesn't replace the wallpaper, that's a quite separate option in the "Home" menu called "Set Background Image".
How to uninstall themes
It is VERY IMPORTANT that you do NOT uninstall a theme you are currently using. If you uninstall a theme currently in use, this can cause your tablet to malfunction.
The way to avoid problems is to switch to a theme you want to keep before you uninstall a theme you want to remove.
To uninstall a theme:
1. Click on the Applications icon (the green squares on the left).
2. Click on "Settings", then "Applications Manager", then "Show Installed Applications".
3. Highlight the name of the theme you want to remove, and click on "Uninstall" at the bottom of the screen. The theme should now be removed from the tablet's memory.
Please read if you want to install the Star Trek LCARS PADD theme
One of the best themes on the tablets is called LCARS, but it's slightly more complicated to install it than normal themes because it does so much more than normal themes. We've done a special tutorial dedicated to the LCARS theme, click here to read it.
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