The above title not necessarily must for every users. It only applies for certain users in specific conditions. I’m making this entry to share some essential applications for those who so secretive and hideous in what they got in their Symbian phones, just like me. Sorry, I just can make entry about Symbian OS (and only for SymbOS9.4 and earlier), not iPhone, Androids, PDAs and others, because I only own a Symbian.
Usually if someone need to hide things in his/her phones, he/she just simply use “lock phone” function to avoid other peoples use the phone and worse finding out the contents. But, in contrast with me, if I simply use the function, it will make someone more curious to me, and they certainly think I got something fishy in my phone. The apps that I use as alternative to hide stuff as follow:
1) File Manager
Of course, file manager is an essential app should have in every phone, to organize media downloaded to memory card and mass memory, and even every phone got a built-in file manager, but the built-in ones certainly lack in features. For older Symbian devices that use UI s60v1 and v2, I use “Fileman” or “smartfileman”, the full system name. Fileman is a good file manager that give privileges to users to access the system directory and also a good software to manage Bluetooth messages instead of using built-in message inbox. you can hide/show system folder in setting. To hide multimedia using filemen, simply mark all the media that you need to hide and simply set the attributes as hidden. The media will not shown in gallery. Recommended for you to move the files into system folder before set to hidden, it will make more secure. But the only bad thing for fileman is, the app can’t be password protected. Fileman not necessarily be the best file manager, and every people got their own desired ones. Other popular ones are Fexplorer and X-plore which more reliable and can be password protected. For S60v3v5, of course X-plore is my first choice. X-plore besides of just file manager, it has integrated notepad viewer, image viewer, audio and video players. Not like other file manager that opens such file using system apps, X-plore opens such files using its own viewer. For hiding files, just set the attributes as Read-only, System, and Hidden. The files will not be indexed in gallery, built-in file manager, music player and also real player.. What I like here is, the files will also not visible in Windows PC if feature “hide protected operating system files (recommended)” enabled in windows folder option. And of course these files attributes cannot be changed using Windows built-in attributes changer. The more secure way to hide files is by putting them in mass memory, inside of “private” or “sys” folder, and then apply the attributes.. With this method, of course the file will not visible in Windows if you connect phone to PC using “mass storage” mode, because it only shows memory card whereas you hide the files in mass memory. And even if you open mass memory also known as drive C: using PC suite or OVI Suite, systems files and folders from phone will remain hidden even if you disable “hide protected operating system files (recommended)” in windows folder option, to ensure you don’t modify the system. The only restriction to do this is, you need to hack your phone, and caps off you phone using Rompatcher, before can view “private” and “sys” system folders. You can search how to hack your phone using HelloCarbide (for earlier S60v3 only) and HelloOX and HelloOX2 (for later S60v3 and S60v5, and recommended for all phones instead of using HelloCarbide) and also hack by Flashing using JAF (PNHT solution, and the only solution to hack latest firmware). This blog will not post entry on how to hack phone because this blog will not make a post regarding something illegal. Hacking your phone using flashing solution is not safe and highly not recommended because you may make your phone permanently dead. I will not take responsibilities if you do so. Other file managers for S60v3v5 are ActiveFile, Y-Browser, Fexplorer. If you need a file manager for java, try MiniCommander.
2) SMS Hider
Hiding your SMS is the major concern not only for couples who did not others to read their personal text messages that they don’t want to delete, but also for individual who don’t want their important SMS like password, pin code etc unknowingly passed to other peoples (although that reading other person sms is unethical, but surely got someones with this bad habit, and you want to take precaution). The app that I use till now is an application called MumSMS. MumSMS is a password protected app that can hide/show SMS. The hidden messages will not be visible in built-in Nokia Messaging application. You can turn monitor on to automatically hide new received messages. Before, I used to use “Migital Smartguard” for S60v1v2 to hide not only sms, but also contacts, notes and media in gallery. But if you set the media hidden using it, the media only hidden in gallery but still visible in other third-party file manager. Also MumSMS is available for s60v1v2. Even you can hide sms with mumsms, it still can be visible in application to view sms in conversational view (chat-alike messaging view) such as Free-iSMS by junnikokuki from OPDA.
3) Application Locker
This method is the same like using “lock phone” method, but instead of locking the phone, this app just only lock apps that you set to be locked. When you open the locked app, this application quickly pop-up and ask for password, if the password correct, the locked app will be unlocked, but if pass is wrong, the locked app will be quickly terminated.. Installing this app at your own risk, if you forget the pass, you need to format your phone. By the way, the app called “Mobivation AppLocker”. The part for phone content security is now finished. Now for phone security itself.
4) Antivirus
Antivirus, as all we know is the most concern for our computer. But how about mobile phone. Yes, it is. And my phone myself used to be infected by SymbOS virus even with my protected-by-a-Cr@ck3d-Kaspersky phone. So the moral here is, don’t ever try to install Cr@ck3d app to your phone. The popular anti-virus for S60v1v2 are Kaspersky, F-Secure, NetQin (or NetKing, I forgotten already) etc. But earlier Symbian system not as secure as newer versions, even your phone protected by a good antivirus, your phone can be still infected and even you not realizing it cause your anti-virus said it’s all good.. But usually if your phone got infected, the virus will attempt to send message to a predefined number, that a Trojan dude, to steal your data. If you see the message-sending logo at the top-right of the screen appears all the time, your system definitely infected (but before assume that, check in outbox, if you previously try send sms, but zero credit or network failure make the sms sending deferred and keeps sending all the time.) If you cant see any pending SMS in your outbox or got SMS pending to send to an unknown recipient number, that a positive sign your phone already infected. So precaution step is to always make a backup of important data in your phone using Nokia PC Suite, in case of viral infection, you can reset your phone, and then recover back all the contacts, messaging, settings etc. Most important data of course your contact list, so keep in your mind to always duplicate your very important contacts to sim card memory, in case you forget to backup, you still have important contact in sim card, sim card will not erased if you do reset phone, and don’t worry, virus will not infect your sim card.
Antivirus problem only approached S60v1v2 users. There were no issues for Symbian 9.x users (S60v3 and V5) as no virus till now can infect the phones. Even there are virus, you need to install them inside your phone before they can infect your system. Saying about install, S60v3v5 security needs the app signed before grant any installation attempt, and of course no virus installer come signed unless you sign them. But the security will vanish if you hack you phone like I mentioned above. One of the good thing for hacked phone is you can sign any apps without sign it. And one of major problem aside real risk of dead phone during hacking (valid for hacking using flashing method only), is the capability of installation of non-signed virus file..To recover infected phones, refer this tutorial.
End about security. Lets talk about entertainment.
5) Music player
Built-in music player already good but you need something that give you more functions.
When I went to bed, I always enjoy listening to music before fall asleep, but if you love to do that, your phone battery will drain faster, because the music plays the whole night meanwhile you already asleep. So you need to use a music player that offer sleep timer function. “LonelyCatGames (LCG) Jukebox” and “TTpod” came to the rescue. They have the sleep timer function, and also support .lrc lyrics too.. even newer version of default music player got .lrc playing function. You can refer my tut on how to make own .lrc here. Before, I use LCG Jukebox, but since it did not give kinetic scrolling funtion, I moved to TTPod. LCG Jukebox available for both S60v1v2 and S60v3v5 phone, while TTpod for s60v3v5 only, but S60v1v2 can use the java version.. LCG Jukebox is a paid software, u can try play music up to an hour, after that you can choose to buy if you like it. But it’s okay to download the cr##ked version. TTpod is a freeware, but disadvantage is it come with default Chinese language, but you can download unofficial english modded version.
6) Video Player
Video is my soul, I love to watch music videos in my phone. But RealPlayer only plays .3gp, .mp4, .flv and .wmv videos (as I know) and plays only .3gp for S60v1v2 phones. So as the alternative, I recommend to use “LCG SmartMovie” or “DivxPlayer”. They can play .avi videos and of course play videos with framesize much larger than your phone’s resolution. I tested working my 7610 that should plays 208×176 videos can play 320×240 videos using both apps.. In addition, “CorePlayer” and “UCplayer” can play various file format including .mkv..
If you keep sticking to realplayer, you can read here, how to erase realplayer history, and here, for optimized video conversion.
Other stuffs that considered important
7) QuickOffice
Essential to view Microsoft Office documents in your mobile phone. You need to know that MS Office 2007 and 2010 documents (.docx, .xlsx etc) need newer version of Quickoffice installed.
8) PDF Viewer
Quickoffice can view PDF but must be in support of AdobeReader, but the app new to be paid and there were issues in installing the cr**ked version, so AlternateReader DjVu is an alternative for AdobeReader.
9) Task Manager
you need to use a task manager to handle your phone in efficient way, when your phone hang or you need to kill task properly, jbaktaskman come to the rescue.
10) freesigner
This app, just like its name, is a freeware. With this you can sign your app directly from your phone. You can use SisContent to sign in pc, but this app is faster. You can choose either to public-sign your app or use your own 17 capabilities certificate that you can requesty from OPDA and Symbiansigned site.
11) Virtual keyboard
X-plore, the file manager that I use have so many shortcuts on numeric keypad, but touch screen phones cut down the function. So this virtual keyboard can solve my problem. This keyboards is far better than built-in taouch keypad, it has more unique qwerty than built-in one. Also, you can use this as conroller to play n-gage games on non-compactible touch screen phones. You can google to find out how to play n-gage in 5800 for example..
12) AppUIDviewer
This app can be use to view UID for each apps. UID is essential code for beginner at least to change and add default icon in theme making, and for advanced users, to illegally moddify certains things that can make phone more stable..
13) GPS
For phones that support GPS, of course cannot only depends only on Nokia/OVI Maps. You can install more reliable GPS apps such as Garmin, PapaGo and N-Drive.
14) Opera Mini
As an alternative for the default web browser. Using this, make you phone likely browsing web pages on pc. And I think everyone got this in their phone if he/she is an addictive mobile surfer.
15) Symtorrent
Download torrent from your mobile phone.
(16) BrightLight
You can find this on Nokia OVI Store, very useful for those you own Nokia phone with flash light at primary camera. This as can turns your phone into a torchlight.
17) Free-iSMS
This app not necessary for those with their phones already got messaging function to be viewed in conversational view. This app can view messages in chat-alike view. But you need to setting your messaging to save sent messages. So many app like this, but I use Free-iSMS.
(18) Chemical Element
Java app that I like most when I used to be a student. This app displays name, symbol, atomic number, atomic weight, atomic vol, density, electron configuration, heat of fusion/vaporization, person and year of discovery and so many more.. All those for each elements.. So useful for Science students..This app is by Yuanxi (www.anyuok.net)
(19) Drawing Pad
Touchscreen phone enable us to make treat them as a drawing pad. You need to find a good app to make this real. Unfortunately, I didnt found any. I just found PaintPad, a better one, but it doesnt have save feature. I also found MobilePaint, can be saved but function not so good.