Getting most out of Series 60 - My selected gems

There are numerous shortcuts that help you get most out of your Series 60 phones, which are not very well know. I thought that it could be nice to share some of them here on Moving Experiences. They are not in any specific order.

Customizing the idle display application short cuts
Getting quick access to frequently used applications is crucial. You can change the default softkey labels from Phone settings under the Standby mode, You can select from the pre-installed applications and some selected frequently used commands like New Message.
I use the Camera on the left, because I like one click access to the Camera and Calendar on the right as I use my 6600 as my main Calendar, and I generally do not remember where I need to be next.

One key profile toggle
The Power key can be used as a one directional scroll and once the desired profile is highlighted the power key can be press and held and the desired profile is selected. Pressing the power key 4 times and holding it down turns phone into Silent

Long press on right softkey enables voice commands
The voice commands can be activated by pressing and holding the right softkey, this is independent of the labeled short cut. The possible commands can be recorded in the Voice com. application which is in the Tools folder.

Easy digit entry in alpha mode
Have you ever been annoyed how cumbersome it is to change the text input mode, when you just need to enter a single digit.
A long press on number keys 0-9 in alpha mode creates a number entry without changing the input mode.

Shortcut to frequently used applications
By pressing the application key and a number between 1-9 will launch the application which is in the same place as the Apps key and number launches application matching place in grid of 9.

One touch dialling
Are you constantly dialling the same numbers? Assign them into speed dials, you can have 8 of them (digits 2-9). 1 is reserved for Voice mail and 0 for Services. You can help your memory by assigning the Speed dial so that the characters on the number key match the first character of the Speed dial. Make sure you have turned on the Speed Dial in Call Settings, it is off by default.

One key Multi-tasking
Press and hold the Apps key and you will enter a small pop up menu with the open applications. You can start scrolling the open applications using the Apps key. Once the right application is highlighted you can press and hold to select it. You can ofcourse use the joystic as well.

Easy closing of applications
From the Applications short cut list you can easily close applications. Scroll to the application and press the C key and confirm with left soft key or OK.
Easy erasing of received messages
If have lots of messages you want to delete the easiest way to do that is to use the C-key and then confirming with the left soft key.

Naming your phone
An old trick for naming Nokia phones is to create a new profile with desired attributes and then name the profile according to your first name or whatever you want to call your phone.

For fast message sending create a group of one
If you are sending alot of messages to a single person make a group of that person and you have quicker access. I created a group of my wife and I find it quite handy, when I want to send off an MMS.

The handset key has some nice shortcuts
If you are in a picture details view, you can save a click by pressing the send key directly, you are offered the different sending options directly. If you are in Messaging and have a message open or are in the inbox, you can make a call to sender directly.

Update June 05: Muting the Nokia Jingle at start up
If you are in a place where you do not want anyone to know you are turning on the phone, then pressing either scroll keys (Up / Down) will terminate the sound. (Thanks Charlie)

Update June 05: Customizing the idle shortcuts
This is one of the most useful new features in Series 60, an ability to modify the idle short cuts. It is possible in all Nokia S60 phones after the SW update from September to the 7610. I have put Lifeblog on the Right SK or sometimes on the scroll left as it is logically the opposite of a calendar which is on scroll right. The reason it is on scroll right is that you then can scroll to thenext day without moving your finger (clever!).

Update June 05: Uppgrading
I flash my hpnes alot when I have new prototypes and I uppgrade my phones maybe 3-4 times a year. It is a hassle everytome, but I have started to do the following. I use the data transfer for Calendar and Phonebook, it will preserve the Default numbers. I also use Lifeblog, by taking a back up of the phone and then selecting the new phone as my new preferred phone, after that Lifeblog will push all my favourite pictures, videos and sms to the new phone. What has to be done is downloading the settings, setting the speed dials and tuning the calendar, the menu structure. It takes about 2h to do it so this is somethingthat needs fixing...

I plan to update this post as I remeber more little things that are perfectly natural to me, but are not very widespread among users. Let me know if you have some additional ones and can add them as well.