Yes, you can use google maps but it does not feature turn-by-turn navigation. It can only pinpoint your locations either via GPS or GSM network triangulation. Note that GSM triangulation is only so-so in accuracy. The maps are downloadable from internet either via WIFI or GPRS/EDGE/3G networks. Downloading from mobile networks will cost you money depending on your mobile plan rates. WIFI however is free.

One thing I like about google maps is you get to view satellite pictures of your location as well as viewing the terrain conditions. I would prefer and recommend Garmin Mobile XT. You may also use Nokia Maps. You can pre-download the maps via PC, WIFI, etc. You'll still be able to use the application to pinpoint location. Turn-by-turn navigation will require usage fees but you do get a 3 months free trial.

It may be a faulty memory card. However, lets confirm that the memory card is really faulty. You will need a memory card reader connected to the PC. Do a full format (not quick format) then do a scan disk. Then re-insert to the phone and install your application again. If you encounter the same disk error, it may be the memory card problem.

Another way to try is to connect it to the memory card reader. Then copy as much files into the memory card by populating it to the full. It will write the entire capacity to the full. If there's a memory problem, windows will prompt an error.

Don't wipe too hard and don't use detergent wor... otherwise you might remove the keypad finishing. Hehehehehe....

You can update the phone software just like your previous Sony Ericsson P1i. You have to use Nokia Software Updater (NSU). You can either find this on the CD that came with the phone or you can download from Nokia website. The E71 is supported by this NSU and recently (about 1 month ago) we had a software upgrade.

Yeah it would have been better if included a touch interface but thats not for E71. You'll see that implementation being developed on the N97.

Yeah, unfortunately imaging is not E71's forte. The white balance performance is disappointing. Nokia could have done better by implementing some of N-series processing techniques into it. I was trying to take picture of a product under the tungsten spotlight and guess what. The white balance detection was so poor, the picture came out 'colorless'. In other words, I was not able to tell the difference in color from the rest of the surrounding. I was hoping Nokia could solve this through its recent software update. Looks like we have to wait for the next round.

I believe the E71 can do better than this. This is my only disappointment so far.

Well I have heard the opposite - tinting films affect smartag and not GPS navigation devices. You see, tinting films are meant to filter out heat from sun. A sunshine's heat originates from a wide spectrum of electromagnetic rays from visible light all the way to infrared regions. In fact about 40% and above of the heat comes from infrared spectrum. So tinting films are specifically designed to block these infrared. Unfortunately thats the same spectrum our smartag uses which is infrared.

GPS signals however does not use infrared but microwaves. They require direct line of sight to work and that is the main criteria for location pinpointing. Having there direct lines emitted on a location will give you triangulation. If your signal is not straight but disperse like lower frequencies, you will not get an accurate signal. A perfect example is the use of GSM networks to pinpoint location. They can only give an accuracy of about 1km radius. Their signal is dispersed which is a criteria for covering as much city ground as possible so we get good mobile network coverage.

Unfortunately this means GPS signals are hard to detect if you drive in an urban jungle where tall buildings cover the sky. This is where a good and sensitive GPS receiver will come in handy. A lot of things affect GPS reception including weather, trees, availability of satellite at their current orbit/hemisphere, clouds, etc.