3-Lib has added extra weightings, future-proofing and software catalogue attributes to the big, free, Grid. Which is your perfect smartphone? Let the Grid decide!
Nokia has put up lots more goodies on its web site concerning the new 9300i smartphone and (indirectly) its older sisters, the 9300 and 9500. Thanks to Brent Laursen over on my-symbian for the heads up. Here's the 9300i user guide and some extra applications.
There's been a huge amount of talking on the net about the S60 Yahoo! Go! client. Christian Lindholm's blog has a great post, although given he previously worked at Nokia and is now with Yahoo! maybe that much would be obvious. Tarek has a huge number of screenshots from his installation and first experiences, while CNet points out that the client will be pre-installed on Series 60 devices in ten countries (but handily doesn't say which ones).
[Huge personal plug alert] Programme 1 in a new 'TV' series looking specifically at smartphones has aired. The show covers all software platforms and is currently free to download online. Read on for details...
Expansys (Germany) have started listing the Nokia 9300i, quoting February 6th. Here's the link (in German, obviously). If you spot other appearances round the world, use the Comments, please.
I'd been rather concerned that the Canalys figures throughout 2005 had been somehow 'missing' all the Windows Mobile smartphones branded by network operators. But according to Bill Gates himself, total worldwide sales of Microsoft-powered smartphones in 2005 were only about 3.6 million. This compares to Nokia's combined S60 and Series 80 sales of around 23 million. Symbian OS thus outselling Windows Mobile by 5 and a half to one. Now that's what you call a market lead.
Nokia has expanded their range of 'own brand' memory cards, now including a 1GB DV RS-MMC (a.k.a. MMC Mobile). If you'd rather buy Nokia and not take the risk of third party cards not working with your smartphone, here's the full list.
As MobHappy puts it: 'Another problem is that people don't compartmentalize their music into "music I can listen to on my stereo," "music I can listen to on my computer," "music I can listen to on my MP3 player," and they won't add "music I can listen to on my phone". People just have their music, and expect it to travel across all their playback devices.' We couldn't agree more. Look out for some music 'How to's coming soon on AAS.
That was the year that was (reports SymbianOne), as they look back at Q1 and 2 of 2005 to see what in the Symbian world was changing. It's a nice historical round up of a busy year for Symbian, but of course most of the hardware announcements were of phones that just arrived at the tail end of the year, or are due out Q1 Q2 2006.
Nice piece over on The Register about Symbian's new OS kernel (EKA2) and the 'smartphone on a chip'. Thanks to Richard D for the heads-up. I've got a copy of the book being talked about and it's awesome(ly thick and technical). Microsoft have got a job on their hands trying to catch Symbian in real time performance...
Just spotted this, released over Christmas. Emil Tchekov has produced OPeLo, a freeware Windows OPL editor, with color syntax highlighting, pop-up command lists and more. Your code can be translated by using the official OPLTRAN tool. Nice idea!
To celebrate the Christmas holiday period, Symbian Themes has removed their 20 file per day limit, giving unlimited downloads of all their content for the 25th and 26th December. Happy holidays from the Symbian Themes team!
An official S60 blog has revealed that S60 version 3 devices will be totally plug and play, in terms of connection through USB. No special drivers needed, meaning that you can connect up to any PC anywhere in the world without having to worry about PC Suite. About time!
Symbian's David Wood enthuses over free software and the community spirit in the latest of his excellent series of 'Insight' articles. A good introduction to freeware, though don't forget Rafe's and my freeware guides.
