In case you missed it, the PDA world got a bit of a "woah" when PalmSource was bought out by Access (the people behind the NetFront browser). Now it turns out Palm bid make a bid as well (reports Business Week). What's more interesting from a Symbian point of view is that "...major US and European handset makers jumped into the bidding, and drove the price too high." So who would that be? Nokia? Sony Ericsson? Motorola? It might be speculation, but if one of them had accquired PalmSource, what might that have meant for Symbian?
Nokia has announced a Blackberry-killing comprehensive business email system, Nokia Business Center. Java-based and integrating with Exchange, Notes, Domino, etc, it's not exactly a pure Symbian solution, but the only smartphones capable of running the client are the Nokia 6630, 6680/81/82 and 9300/9500.
Dan Amir of Peroon has been chatting to Symbian One about the market opportunites open not just to Peroon as a Symbian Development house, but also about Symbian OS as a whole. "... I am sure that at some time in the future there is a huge market waiting for embedded open Operating systems like Symbian OS."
The Sendo X2 is possibly one of the best handsets to never get released. However, that hasn't stopped the Sendo Smartphones website from getting hold of enough content to produce the first (and only) online review of Sendo's last baby, the excellent, if now extinct, Sendo X2.
Yes, Steve knows it's not an original title, but he's just put up a short e-book for new Nokia 6630 or 6680 owners over on 3-Lib. Perhaps grab/print a copy for a friend or colleague who doesn't seem to be appreciating their new Symbian smartphone?
One of AAS's favourite bloggers, Russ Beattie, describes his 'conversion' to Linux. Plenty of pro-Symbian ripostes here in the comments, interesting reading.
After my own critical comments about F-Secure's media barrage (e.g. here), Symbian have responded officially in an interview with Silicon.com. Bottom line: don't be worried, don't panic and there's really no need for anti-virus software.
On the MEX blogSimon Judge has posted an excellent series of articles on the theme of current moibile user experience from the developer perspective. Taken together the four posts on payment, simplicity, testing and personalistion give an excellent introduction and insite into not only the challenges, but also the opportunities facing developers in the mobile world.
The Internet seems to have gone wild over the weekend with gossip about a Sony Ericsson P950i, with Symbian OS 9 and UIQ 3. No further comments here, but here is a good starting point if you like rumours...
Starkey have launched the Eli Bluetooth hearing aid adaptor. Essentially, what this interesting device does is convert a standard hearing aid into a Bluetooth headset. Read on...
Another Series 60 virus 'outbreak' reported in the Register, and yet again it's the anti-virus software vendor who's prominent on the scene. "Prospective victims need to accept a download"? More like explicitly choose 'Yes' three times... Mutter mutter... Further reading.
What does it take to make a good UI on a smartphone? Symbian One talk to Giuliano Maciocci of Mobile Innovation, abut the design issues and challenges confronting modern day developers.
With interesting timing, given my editorial (above), Nokia has launched a new, free mobile search tool, as detailed here, in the 6630/6680 forum. The new tool aims to simplify searching on a mobile device by providing it as an application service. Search functions include web and images (via Yahoo) and it also includes 'local search' functionality in select countries (Yell in the UK).
