A quick update for freeware fans. No nag screens, no reg codes, no hit on your wallet. There's a much updated table of S60 freeware over on 3-Lib, with over a dozen new entries in the last month.
Guido van Rossum, the creator of the Python programming language that holds a lot of the cool stuff on the Internet together, has been personally enthusing over the recent Nokia S60 port of the language, which allows users to create innovative smartphone applications extremely rapidly.
NTT DoCoMo has launched a Japanese version of the S60-based 6630. Dubbed the NM850iG, this smartphone has a slightly different keypad layout, with the appropriate Japanese characters catered for.
Steve discovers XXL Screensaver, a freeware utility to replace the default Nokia 'strip' screen saver, and finds it incredibly cool and rather useful. Here's the review.
TechDigest is carrying a report that ALK's CoPilot Live sat-nav software (previously Windows Mobile only) is coming to Symbian/S60, and for free. Subject to a monthly T-Mobile contract on a Nokia N70, anyway.
ShoZu, the moblog client for Flickr, Webshots, Text America and Buzznet has been updated to v1.6 for S60 users. New in this version is the ability to back up and edit (via the Shozu website) your contacts. To get the latest build, log into Shozu with your username.
On Tuesday Skype announced a partnership with Hutchinson to put Skype on phones on the 3 networks around the world. However, Skype were not willing to answer questions on specific handsets saying only that they were actively working on development for the Symbian platform. However at the 'Do New' booth on the Nokia stand there was a demo of Skype running on two 6680s over a 3G network. Read on for details...
Over on Phone Scoop's 3GSM coverage, there are more pics of the M600i and W950i, and even a good video of the latter, demonstrating music playback, selection, multitasking and message sending. I'm sure Rafe will be along soon with his own scoop, though...
Interesting interview over on Yahoo, with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, talking about the fight to make Windows Mobile devices as affordable as those using Symbian OS. Some fighting talk here, though even he admits that Symbian are currently 'dominating' the sector.
Moving away from Handango, Sony Ericsson have launched their Application Shop powered by Motricity (the company behind the Gear sites, including PalmGear and SymbianGear). The shop will support the Pxxx series of phones, from P800 to the P990, and the newly announced Walkman W950 and M600i.
Following on from Nokia and Sony Ericsson's agreement on DVB-H (digital mobile TV), Philips have announced a new DVB-H solution on (incredibly) a 7 by 7mm chip. If this isn't in an awful lot of smartphones within a couple of years then I'll eat my hat.
Symbian have announced some interesting 2005 and Q4, 2005 figures. Almost 34 million smartphones running Symbian OS shipped in 2005, the fourth consecutive year in which shipments have grown by more than 100%. Over 10 million shipments were in Q4. Here's the full press release, which goes into a lot more detail.
On the heels of the launch of the Yahoo! Go! client, Yahoo! have signed up to the Symbian Platinum Program, which gives members access to technical support, commercial services, and marketing opportunites from Symbian.
