3, the 3G mobile operator, has announced the launch of X-Series. X-Series brings 'flat fee broadband access to mobile'. 3 is partnering with other companies to create X-Series services and applications, these include Sling Player, Google, Orb, eBay, Skype, MSN and Yahoo. X-Series will launch in the UK in December with other 3 countries to follow in the new year. The handsets that will feature X-Series include the Sony Ericsson W950 (UIQ 3) and the Nokia N73 (S60).
HanDBase, the professional database system that's been such a major player in the Palm OS and Windows Mobile worlds over the last five years, has now been made available for S60 3rd Edition (2nd Edition has been supported for a while), albeit in beta form. If you're into databases on your smartphone, get involved with the beta - this is one app that I for one really want to see mature on Symbian OS.
Ewan's been struck by the buzz surrounding Papyrus and decided to try it for real. How does this S60 Calendar replacement fare on Ewan's E61 and N91? Find out in his review.
It's been a bit of an N93 week here. I took the Golf Edition out to the driving range at the weekend and was quite impressed by the vision behind Pro Session Golf and its implementation, letting me analyse a real world golf swing and find things that need addressing.
Ordance Survey Ireland will shortly make OSi Streetsmart for Dublin, an interactive mapping and information solution, available through its website. Streetsmart has been developed for Ordnance Survey Ireland (mapping) in partnership with Fáilte Ireland (point of interest database) by Augmentra, the same company who has developed the ViewRanger software.
Ex-PDA refugees who are still struggling with the relatively limited feature set of S60's Calendar might like to note that Calendar-replacement Papyrus has just scored another major release. There will be an official review along shortly from Ewan, too, watch this space.
The S60 world's favourite utility, Screenshot, is now officially Symbian Signed and has an extra shortcut key, at long last. Is 2.45 the definitive version?
TomeRaider, a fabulous reference/database tool from the PDA world is now available for beta test, apparently, for S60 3rd Edition. Or would be if it would install - email the developers and we're sure this app will eventually make it fully onto S60. Via Shaun.
Ewan and Steve have been busy reviewing the lastest games from ZingMagic for S60 3rd Edition such as the Nokia N73. Steve has been looking at BlokBlitz, a breakout clone on steroids. Ewan, meanwhile has been playing the block/gem matching puzzler GemMagic. Both games live up to ZingMagic's high development standards although both have room for improvement.
The number one request I hear from new users of S60 3rd Edition devices is for a better Calendar, something which the Papyrus project aims to fix. There's a major new version (1.2.04) just released and worth trying if Calendar is a frustration for you. There'll be a big, formal review along at some point too...
