Nokia's accessibility group has recently released Nokia Magnifier, a free downloadable app for select Nokia phones.

The app is pretty straightforward. It uses the phone's camera to and screen to magnify items of interest. Magnification is limited, requiring the user to hold the device about 6 inches from the item being magnified. But, it can come in handy when reading restaurant menus, forms, and other short bits of text.

After a fairly easy download and installation, the user simply activates the app and aims the camera at the object needing magnification.

If you have very low vision this app may be less useful. But, it certainly adds another visual aid in the toolbox. And, since many people have cellphones, this app will almost always be at hand.

The app works on the following Nokia phones: N96, N95, N95 8GB, N82, N73, E90, E71, E66.

It does not work on: N85, N78, E65, 6220.

It can be downloaded at Nokia's site for software currently in the beta stage of development: http://betalabs.nokia.com/betas/view/nokia-magnifier.

Check out our video review on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLfLlf-MzaE