Worth noting that the Python rapid app development system for S60 has been updated again, it's now up to v1.3.18. Anyone know if they've fixed the text display bug yet though?
Probably a touch of formality after completing their accquisition, but Sony Ericsson have confirmed that UIQ is still being licenced to other manufacturers if they so wish. In addition to this they're also inviting other phone vendors to become share holders in UIQ (which is currently 100% owned by Sony Ericsson). An interesting move, but will anyone take them up on it?
Bewitched by the new Nokia N77? A fabulous use of ultra converged high-tech? Or a restrictive, distracting and debilitating waste of time? In this editorial, I put forward my own opinion, m'lud, the case against mobile TV.
Nokia's free Smart2Go maps and routing service for S60 and Windows Mobile smartphones has finally gone live, only 3 days late and it would be churlish to complain too much. There will be a review along fairly shortly, I'd expect, once any of the AAS team get a chance to draw breath...
Just for interest sake, I see Nokia now has uploaded all the official tech specs, plus in some cases 3D models and animations/presentations of most of its new devices. Here are the pages for the E90, the E61i, the N77 and the 6110 Navigator.
SanDisk, the most respected manufacturer or add-on flash memory for smartphones and handhelds, has just announced the first 4GB microSD card (staggering, if you've seen the size of microSD media) and has also announced the first multi-adapter SD kit, the likes of which we'll be seeing more and more of in shops. Details below.
Symbian's press briefing in Barcelona featured the latest round of financial numbers. The headline numbers they want you all to know is that last year there were 51.7m Symbian OS powered phones shipped; a grand total of 110 million devices since Symbian was formed; and 6896 third party applications available (all numbers as of Dec 31 2006). I always find it interesting that Symbian, as a private company, does not have to release these numbers, but they continue to do so. As CEO Nigel Clifford said at the Smartphones Show, it keeps everyone on their toes. And it also helps to remind everyone that Symbian isn't just another commodity on the 'parts required' list in Finland.
You may remember a news post a week or so ago about Nokia integrating their 'Search' tool (which accessed online databases like Yahoo) and their 'Search' tool (which lets you search for any text content on your device)? Yes, the names were confusing everyone and they were supposedly combined. Except noone told their web team and it hasn't been available. But it is now. Recommended for all.
Having proved surprisingly popular, the updated Qwerty range from Nokia now welcomes the E61. It's clearly an evolutionary approach, with the joystick replaced by a d-pad and the new application keys the most obvious tweaks. With the addition of a camera there must be some demand from the consumer market as well as the Enterprise. Full pictures and details below. [updated]
Rafe's had some hands on time with the new devices from 3GSM, and when he finds even a trickly of bandwidth we'll have his reports. In the meantime, some of his pictures have made it through, and there is an immediate bit of trivia, with the previously announced LG Joy being relabelled as the LG KS10. Picture ater the break...
Ewan Spence has been watching the E65's launch today and remarks on similarities to last year's N80. With a certain core feature set now well established, is the E65 all about marketing?
More from Nokia at Barcelona, this time with the Nokia 6110 Navigator - a S60 powered device that has GPS built in. alongside the more high-end N95 and E90, the 6110 has GPS and location based services as the focal marketing point. With HSDPA, WCDMA and GSM connectivity (there's no Wi-Fi), it's going to be interesting how the companies that have built up a niche market with GPS (such as Tom Tom) feel about Nokia's entry into their space with their own bundled software. Availability is late Q2 2007.