Nokia has several Bluetooth headsets like the BH-609 and 607 with a “My own key” function, basically a dedicated key that can be customized. The cool thing about this is that the customization can be done on the phone and that it wirelessly  reprograms the headset via Bluetooth. Earlier devices required a small program called  the Nokia Accessory Setup Application, but newer Symbian^3 devices have this function built-in.

I wasn’t even aware of this until I connected the BH-609 to my N8, because strangely the manual informed me to download the Nokia Accessory Setup Application, but the OVI Store quickly showed that this program was incompatible with the N8. After pairing the BH-609 a menu popped up with many options to customize the headset on the phone itself! But after accidentally closing this menu I was left clueless as to where it could be found.

It turns out you have to go to: Settings>Phone> Nokia Accessory. This menu doesn’t appear until your headset is paired and connected to your Symbian^3 device. Once there it can give you info on your headset like the battery life, hardwar version, software version and model number. Most importantly you can change many functions like the initial volume, indicator lights and the My Own Key button. Afterwards it just a matter of “sending” the settings to the headset without connecting a single function. I do wish the My Own Key had more cusitmization options, like for example giving it the option Play/Pause music as it’s currently limited to just just a few options. It would be interesting to see if somehow the firmware of the headset can be upgraded using this method.

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The current trend of thin, large screen slate-type smartphones might offer more power and lots of screen real-estate, but due to the the lack of a stand they sure make it more difficult for you to just glance at the screen and get the information you want. As screens get larger and widgets more advanced, it’s seems like every new generation of devices seems to be able to show more info at once, on a single screen. Yet at the same it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find a device that can stand upright or sideways on its own and actually allow you to see what’s on the screen, without having to pick it up, sort of like a night clock.

Earlier devices like N96, N86 8MP made it easy due to the inclusion of a kickstand, while smartphones with a flip-out keyboard (E7, N97) also have an angled screen that make this possible. The same can’t be said about the N8, for example. It’s even worse with those 4.3” monstrosities that can’t stand upright, at least not at an angle, requiring you to constantly pick it up. Holding a phone upright, even for a 15 minute video can get tiresome. I’ve had my share of trying to balance my N8 in front of a heavy device, only to find the angle not quite right or the device falling flat.

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