SmartMovie, always a competent (though quirky) video conversion system for Symbian-based devices, has recently embraced the terrific CoreMP4 codec and boasts much better performance. Steve Litchfield reviews the result, tested in this case on the Nokia 9500 and N70.
The Nokia N series includes smartphones that have the potential to replace yet another home gadget - the camcorder. Steve Litchfield muses on the current abilities and where the technology will undoubtedly go.
In an open letter to developers, Steve Litchfield muses on the unique requirements of software on the smartphone (compared to the limited restrictions when run on a standalone PDA). Nobody ever said this would be easy, but hard work will reap rewards.
The W950 takes UIQ, adds the Walkman brand, and turns out the most desirable Music Phone yet. Now Rafe has had a chance to get a hold of a device, and Ewan's thought about the market implications, it's time to take a first look at the Sony Ericsson W950i.
Is Python a replacement for OPL on Series 60? Is Nokia on the right track by backing it? Is it easy to get started? And can you produce full standalone applications using Python? Steve Litchfield answers these questions and produces an application as concrete proof.
TDG Research in this report claim that Symbian will lose market share over the next four years so that 2010 it will be behind both Microsoft (29%) and Linux (25%) with just a 22% market share. While the future is not yet written this particular prediction seems to be a little unlikely. TDG's figures for current market share are also seem mistaken. Read on for more.
According to this Reuters story Symbian is planning to develop a reference design using a single chip solution with US chip maker Freescale. This follows similar reference design in partnership with Intel and Texas Instruments. Reference designs are aimed at lowering development times and cost for Symbian phones. Additionally the reports states that Symbian, as expected, will be lowering its licensee fees. The official details of these announcements will likely be made at 3GSM. Read on for more.
To go with the M600i announcement, Sony Ericsson has revealed some more details on the software that will come bundled with the P990 at launch. Read on for the new applications and some thoughts…
Ewan takes a closer look at the M600i and tries to work out Sony Ericsson's strategy in releasing this capable but occasionally confusing device. There's oodles of business power here and some (but not all) consumer features as well. What do you think?
Steve's been trying to stay platform-impartial, as part of reviewing smartphones for his TV show, but it's just... so... hard.... It's not just in sales that Nokia's S60-based smartphones are ahead of the Windows Mobile competition. Read on...
Ewan's been doing some hard thinking about the issue facing music on your smartphone, and, in summary, he's having a few doubts about the whole concept. Read the article (and the second opinion) and then let us have your thoughts in the comments thread.
Rafe Blandford looks into his crystal ball and looks ahead to the world of Symbian in 2006. He also takes a wistful look back at how his predictions for 2005 fared. Also, a sneak preview of the cover of the December 2006 issue of 'Symbian Magazine'!
