How to copy your N95 web bookmarks to Firefox

I've been using my Nokia N95 8GB for almost a year now and have managed to accumulate a serious amount of internet bookmarks.

I have two varieties of bookmark - links I use, like Gmail, mobile Twitter, Facebook, RTÉ mobile and so on, and then there's the ones I see linked to, click on to save and read later but rarely get back to. I needed to save all these bookmarks to read on my computer.



I went googling last night on how to copy bookmarks from the phone over. Whatever search terms I used didn't bring me up what I was looking for until I found this 2007 post on n95blog.com detailing how you might want to:

isolate the .nbu files, convert them to .nfb and then export to HTML with another program

and ending with the writer admitting "I haven’t tested this, but it seems to be possible." Yikes.

Reading on though I found a simpler comment on what to do, which worked. So, following from my "How to comment on a blog" and "How to embed YouTube videos into your blog" posts, here's my beginners guide on how to copy the bookmarks you create on your N95 8GB to your internet browser. At least, it worked for me...

I'm using Vista Home Premium SP1 on an Acer Aspire laptop. I assume the instructions below can be adapted for your own computer set-up. My browser is Firefox 3.0.5 but we'll be using IE as well. Please make sure Internet Explorer is closed before you start this.

Assuming you have the Nokia PC Suite installed (if not, download from here), connect your phone and select PC Suite. You're finished with your phone for now.



On your computer Start menu, go to All Programs -> Nokia -> Nokia Nseries -> PCSync.



When the PC Sync window opens, choose Settings and you should see something like the below:



Select Bookmark Items and then click on the Bookmark tab.



I've chosen to Export to Microsoft Internet Explorer (even though it's not the browser I use) as it seems to be easier for the exporter to work with this. Click OK at the bottom and then click Synchronise Now on the next screen. It should only take a moment and when done you'll see something like the below:



When finished, it's simply a matter of going to File -> Import... in your Firefox browser:



Choose to import from Microsoft Internet Explorer



Select Favourites and then click Next > and that should be it! I now have a folder in my favourites called Mobile bookmarks which I've synced with my Google Bookmarks meaning they're accessible to me anywhere.



A bit easier than searching for .nfb and .nbu files, eh? I hope that helps someone.

If you have any hints or tips, suggested applications requested how-tos for the N95, please let me know and I'll see what I can do. I'm still only learning my way around it and am open to learning and sharing any hints and tips!

ICE: Helping out the emergency services

A simple idea but one that might help save a life. I've was emailed it today but it seems to be around for ages. Grannymar has a great podcast on it here.

Message from the Ambulance Service

We all carry our mobile phones with names and numbers stored in its memory. If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call.

Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency? Hence this 'ICE' (In Case of Emergency) campaign.

The concept of 'ICE' is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations.

All you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name 'ICE' ( In Case Of Emergency).

For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc.

In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialling the number you have stored as 'ICE'.

Please tell people about this. It really could save your life, or put a loved one's mind at rest.



The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents there were always mobile phones with patients but they didn't know which number to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognised name for this purpose.

Sent (apparently) via email from the office of Gerard Lane, Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Emergency Department, Letterkenny General Hospital.

I think it's a great idea with lots of potential. I hope it works.

Don't say a word to her!

Please, please, please do NOT say anything to my mother. Not a word. She'll just get all of these ideas into her head, she'll want to do something about it and she'll want to join in. And really I don't want that. Not really.

No, I'm not talking about this, I'm talking about Grandad's post on computers being made for older people. You couldn't have kept it to yourself sir, no?

Microsoft UK is developing a "senior PC", which will have a simple interface and be aimed at older users.

The PC will come with software that allows users to manage prescriptions as well as simplified tools for everyday use, such as managing photos.

Jaysis.


Photo owned by pepewk (cc)

Now I love my mother. Honestly. She's one of the only two I have, but she's the one that reared me, that changed nappies and stayed up at night when I was sick and so on. And while I'd like to see her being a bit like Olive, the 108 year old blogger from Australia or Maria from Spain who's 95 or even jurassic Grandad himself, technology and herself have never been the best of friends.

I can completely empathise with the very funny Bec's apprehension at her dad being on Facebook now. It's funny how parents are similar :

He rang me up a few weeks ago to inform me about this new brilliant previously unknown website he had just discovered that you could join and meet people you know on, and how amazing and ground-breaking it was and how he just thought that I should probably be told about such things because I work in computers and I should really keep up to date on the latest trends.

I can so see my mother doing that to me. And there are certain photos, never mind comments, friend stories or videos that I'd prefer my mother not to be worried about. Remind me to tell you about this some time:



But to highlight just why I'd be very apprehensive, let me share this true story. (It may help to read it in a culchie accent)

After years of "sure why would I want one of those things?" my mother finally let me buy her a mobile phone.

'Tis a very simple type - none of your fancy wap or bluetooth or even a camera - push buttons, press green, talk.


Image from mobilegazette.com

We sat together for an afternoon, me going through it patiently, writing things down, ringing the phone, her answering, her ringing me, me answering, ringing the house phone etc. She said she had it. I thought she had it.

I left for Dublin.

She was off to Kilkenny the next day and we had arranged that I would call her at 2pm just to see how her hospital appointment went. I called her at 2. No answer. 2.05 no answer. 2.15 no answer. And so on.

Checked if she was at home - no response there either.

Hmmmm.

The phone was ringing, it wasn't switched off. Had she turned it to silent? Had she lost it already?

Later that evening I got a call from home.

"Where were you earlier? I tried to call. Is the phone okay?"

"Don't talk to me about that bloody phone. Terrible yoke. We were up early to go in, so I put it into me bag. I had it charged like you told me. Off we went.

I took it out at half one. I said to save you the money I'd give you a call. I dialled your number and pressed the button - nothing.

I tried it again - nothing.

I pressed the red button like you showed me to make sure it was on - nothing.

I tried ringing your sister - no answer. I tried your uncle - no answer. Couldn't get the thing to work at all at all.



So I brought it back to that shop you bought it in, looking for a refund. I didn't have the receipt but sure they could have rung you.

So I told the fella behind the counter that the phone was a dud and he should be ashamed for selling them and that I'd complain to the ombudsman and everything.

And he looked at the phone

And he said

"Mrs, sorry about that but that's your TV remote control".

True story, I promise.



And now there's a chance she could get onto a computer?

Uh oh.

Do not tell her a thing!