I tried to upload some screenshots but this forum seems to be fussy about the size and it's limit makes for some pretty grainy shots. There really isn't much to look at with teh Wifi Detector as it is just a applet with some config screens. Best to just download it and give it a try. I could seem to use the 770's Opera to download and install the app. I just downloaded it on my desktop and transferred it over.

My impressions/observations:

Pluses:
- nice integrated unobtrusive little app
- works well with your existing network data
- handles autoconnection when the cover is taken off seamlessly so battery conservation is handled by simply closing the 770

Minuses:
- yet another applet on the limited space toolbar ... this could probably have been combined with the old network app easily ... maybe will in the next OS update
- networks that are hidden do not show up in the settings ... I am not sure if they show up in the scans
- don't know how to add new apps to start on connection list but I would imagine that there is a config file somewhere ... just not exposed on the UI AFAICT

Conclusion:
It's a keeper. Small and handy enough to find a permanent home on my 770.

I d/l'ed it to the 770 itself and installed it fine. No desktop needed.

I got to use the new App Mgr yesterday too. Damn, that's nice. *FINALLY* I'm seeing some of that Nokia Genius in the 770 -- it took OS 2006 to begin!

As for the snaps, I took them on the 770 using the Load plug-in and u/l'ed them directly from the 770 too.

Of course, today, just to prove me wrong, it works fine ... I blame sunspots

I didn't even think of the gallery <slaps head> ... tacking them onto the end of my post imposed a limit of 12k which didn't make for a pretty picture.

Are you talking about the AM included in OS2006 or is there a newer one available somewhere?

The one in 2006 that makes downloading and keeping track of app updates a breeze. Genius, Nokia!

I think the girl in the flash animation is pretty.

My thoughts exactly. These apps and the new Media Streamer app would be great to have in the next OS update. I guess it's better to have the option to install these apps in your own time if at all.

Ya ... I have been struggling with that concept.

Is it better to bundle all these related functionalities into one app that risks becoming bloated with things that most people don't want or won't use? ...

... Or do you have a separate tool for each and every sub-task and have all these separate UI entry points to do slight variations of the same thing?

My personal pet peave is that I have to have two different players to play both mp3s and ogg ... and now a third to play uPnP streams. While I love having the functionality, I'd love it even more if it was bundled under the same tool and I was able to build a playlist that combined all three sources. I was under the impression that that was what gstreamer was all about ... creating a plugable media layer that you could put whatever UI you wanted over top. But it doesn't seem to be used that way on the 770.

That other app that accompanied the ParkWifi detector, the ParkWifi Parkcast, is another example of another app doing a slightly related thing. I suppose if you have enough of these things, you can pick the one you like best and tailor your 770 to your likes. The downside is that the developer base gets somewhat dilluted so each app doesn't progress towards functionality and stability as fast as I might otherwise.

Yep, it's like trying to find a diamond in a coal mine and people keep pouring more coal as you look. What would be great if there was a standard set of apps that you could add codecs, plugins, etc. to each app. One Internet hub to add whatever browser you like: Opera, Minimo, and so on. Protocols should be easy to add, and should include all the VoIP/chat options as well. One Media Player hub to add support as you go. Advantages would be that it would take up less space initially and you could select the plugins/codecs you want and none of the ones you don't want, and you could even have skins and other customization options without too much hassle.

I have updated my Nokia 770 OS 2006 to latest update v1.2006.26-8 but did not receive the 2 new applets. Park WiFi Detector and Parkcast. Are these applets for North American 770 owners only ? I live in UK. I did the OS update from http://www.nokiausa.com/support/phon...61,770,00.html

Is there a link for manually adding Park WiFi Detector and Parkcast ?

Check URL in the first post of this thread, jpwb. You can download them from there. They are not in an application catalog as of yet.