The PC Software for mobile devices, love ‘em or hate ‘em, are still here and perhaps for quite a while. Despite the fact that Nokia constantly declares their devices “mobile computers”, there are many task that can only be done or are facilitated by the PC software. Just think of reinstalling the latest firmware, editing many contacts or managing your files using the file manager on a much larger screen.  PC Suite, Nokia’s software interface between the mobile and PC was replaced by the bloated, media-oriented OVI Suite, but Now that Nokia is dropping the OVI brand, what should happen to their PC software?

1.Return to a task oriented interface

PC Suite’s interface was simple and based on specific tasks: if you wanted to edit contacts you would choose the contacts icon. There was a on-screen calendar and it even showed the amount of charge left. A specific icon for the file manager, images and backup. The same can be said about other commonly used tasks. Not only was the UI simple, but it was useful.

In comparison OVI Suite fills almost half of the available space with suggested apps and good chunk is taken up by massive icons showing media, contacts or files on your computer. While other task are almost hidden behind tiny icons. There’s nothing wrong with media, but dedicating almost the entire available space to media, not only makes it less useful, but it almost seems to almost suggest that those other hidden tasks are not as important.

Such a media-centric interface might look and might be useful if you only use your device for media consumption, but that’s rarely useful in the real world where you can to have instant access to feature like back or know that on Monday there’s soccer practice. That’s exactly what PC Suite managed just fine.

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This is a quick heads-up to let you know that Nokia Ovi Suite 2.1 has now graduated and can now be downloaded here. Those running the BETA should get a notification to upgrade to the latest version 2.1.0.87.

What I can’t understand is why the Nokia N900 still isn’t supported. The N900 is currently an orphan without any love from either PC Suite or OVI suite.

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Contacts

1.OVI Contacts Sync: There’s always the option to backup your contacts to your SIM, but what if your phone gets stolen? With this option you’ll always have an online backup that can be edited from any PC connected to the net. Another plus is that it’s great if you have multiple device, allowing you to sync all your contacts among your devices. I also like the fact that you can upload pictures to the OVI Contacts service and the image will be neatly added to that contact. You can always do this the other way around.

Setup is easy, but you’ll need to create a Nokia account. Once in your account, just go to Contacts and “Add a device.” Follow the instructions to get the SMS and save the sync settings.

On your phone go to Settings>Connectivity>Data Transfer>Sync. Once there go into Options and choose “Change Active Profile” and choose OVI.com. Press Options again and choose Synchronise. Your device should now be synced with OVI contacts! Only downside I could find to this method is that it doesn’t provide auto-sync. The process of syncing has to be done manually, but it works as advertised.

2.Google Sync: A service similar to OVI Contacts, but with one big difference: In just a few minutes changes will automatically show on your computer. The same can be said about changes made on the web.

For this service to work you will need to install Mail for Exchange. But once that’s done it’s simply a matter of heading to m.google.com/sync from your desktop and follow the instructions. If you already have Mail for Exchange installed you can skip to Set up Google Sync.

Files

3.Files on OVI: Backup for many meant emailing files to yourself, there are more useful ways of doing backup and access file stored online or your computer. Previously a paid service, Files on OVI is now completely free. Be sure to login into your account on your PC and and install the Files Connector. Now for the mobile client, point your mobile browser to https://files.ovi.com/wrt/fl/downloadw (Thanks to Steve at AllAboutsymbian) and you’re good to go.

4. Windows Live SkyDrive: Similar to Files, but without the remote access to files on your PC, basically 25GB of online storage accessible from the mobile browser. A major plus over Files is that it offers more than twice the amount of storage. On your mobile browser head on to http://skydrive.live.com/. Off course also accessible from the PC.

5.Windows Live Mesh: Live Mesh is like the previous two services combined, but on steroids. With online storage, remote file access from multiple computers at a time, a virtual desktop and even history showing what files were added and from what device, this service is clearly better the best. Only thing lacking is a native Symbian application.

Applications

6.Backup Memory Card/Mass Memory: Nokia devices sometimes come with apps preinstalled with no way of getting them back, good examples of this are Panoman for the N82 and Guitar Rock Band for the N97.As We’ve indicated earlier backup the content  of your Mass Memory or Memory card should be one of the first things you do when you get a new phone.

7:Backup using PC Suite/OVI Suite: Probably one of the earlier ways of backing up your Nokia smartphones but an important one nonetheless. If all else fails, a great way to backup everything from phone memory, mass memory, memory card, contacts, calendar, notes, messages, bookmarks and settings and to store them on a good old fasion CD-R/W and DVD-R/W +R/RW.

What’s your method of choice when it comes to backup? What methods do you use that’s not on the list?

This was a guest post by Ritchie a remote backup expert

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