AAS favourite Malcolm Lithgow has produced a handy reference article for anyone new to UIQ 3 smartphones such as the Sony Ericsson G700 and G900, with tips, application pointers and third party recommendations. One to bookmark.
The best SatNav app for Symbian [in Asri's opinion! - Ed], Garmin Mobile XT, just reached version 5.0. The new version looks like a totally new app because the interface has been redesigned and the speed in loading map data is also greatly improved. Both S60 3rd Edition and UIQ 3 users can now enjoy the new version. Blurb and changelog below the break.
On my WinXP laptop, Foxit Reader is my preferred PDF reader because it's fast, it's slick and doesn't hog memory like crazy. Although the future of UIQ is uncertain, some developers are still showing support to this platform. This 1.00 Beta version enables you to view PDF files easily on Symbian UIQ 3.X devices. With small size, fast launch speed and friendly user interface, Foxit Reader for UIQ 3.x is recommended and it's FREE! More from me and the developer below the break.
A short note to all Sony Ericsson G900 users. You can now use Fring, the free application that lets you interact with all your Fring and IM buddies with "free calls, live chat, file transfer and much more"... So get fringing and let us know how you go!
ProfiMail has been around on all the Symbian OS sub-platforms for longer than I can remember. But did you know that the developers have been making great strides recently with full on IMAP Idle support and better integrated file and attachment browsers? Nick Anstee's been using ProfiMail for ages on his Nokia E90 and presents details of his personal email client quest, together with a detailed list of pros and cons for this quirky application from Lonely Cat Games.
Platypus is a quirky side-scrolling shoot 'em up that's done well on other platforms. Astraware has got in touch to say that it's now available for S60 and UIQ smartphones. Screens and description over on the main Platypus product page etc.
You may have gathered, over the years, that Ewan's a bit of a Mobipocket Reader fan. Personally, I sit there fuming wondering why the developers still haven't got round to programming a 'Find' function, but that's another rant for another day. Anyway, Ewan's penned a useful beginner's guide on how to make your own ebooks, for reading on the move and for saving huge amounts of excess book-weight when travelling.
Yes, it's Talk Like A Pirate Day again, and in celebration you might want to steal software see our guide to ScummVM for S60 3rd Edition devices (which lets you play Monkey Island on your phone and is available for all Symbian versions), check out Astraware's Pirate Day half-price discount on Hidden Expedition Titanic (which is available on UIQ3 and S60 3rd), read our review of Return To Mysterious Island for S60 3rd Edition, or get nostalgic with the original gen N-Gage's High Seize review.
Whoa. Some UIQ 3 news? I'm stunned. It's good news too, with the remote TV/video-watching solution SlingPlayer now available for all UIQ 3-based smartphones. You'll have to buy a SlingBox too, of course... (via MIR) Anyone out there got the kit and inclination to find out how well it works?
Salling software has announced the release of Salling Media Sync. The software allows you to sync playlists, songs and podcasts from iTunes to Nokia and Sony Ericsson mobile phones. Salling Media Sync is available for both Mac OS X and Windows PC. The basic version is free, the premium version, which costs 15 EUR, adds sequential intelligent sync (only new or changed files after first sync).
In partnership with Sony BMG, Warner Bros and EMI, Sony Ericsson have announced the launch of PlayNow, an online music store to be stocked initially with one million DRM free tracks, and the goal of carrying up to five million tracks available to all of Europe by the end of 2009 (Washington Post and Sony Ericsson).
In case you hadn't gathered from the RMR news piece, NS Basic has now been formally released for Symbian. It's a Visual Basic-like development environment which "makes it easy to create apps for S60 3rd Edition and UIQ3 devices". The full press release is here. Comments welcome if you give this a try.
In All About Symbian Insight #36 (AAS Podcast #89) Rafe, and Steve chat about the web as a platform for services and follow on with a discussion on whether Nokia should make its services available on competing hardware. There's also a debate on the relative merits of the N78 and N82 for those looking to make a purchase decision.
It was fascinating to read Malcolm Lithgow's very detailed real-world head to head between some budget Symbian smartphones, the Nokia 6220 Classic and the Sony Ericsson G700 and G900. Mainly because Malcolm has been (and still is) a big fan of UIQ 3, which gives him a novel perspective on the strengths and weaknesses of the two platforms (and individual devices). Some good points in here, even though most of us would have wanted to see a higher spec S60 device used for the comparison. (via Carnival of the Mobilists 135)
It's been a while since I updated my (smart)phone-choosing Grid, but I bit the bullet and this now has the iPhone 3G, the Nokia E71, the Nokia N78 and the HTC Touch Diamond, among others. How does it do for you?