All About Symbian - UIQ News

UK rail times to Calendar

Lifted from the comments to a previous story, I wanted to highlight an addition to the excellent traintimes.org.uk. When accessed from your phone browser, the site now has the facility to add a UK train journey (via a vCal file, don't worry, it all happens seamlessly) into your phone's Calendar. Very cool, and the site only needs just over 100K of data per lookup, much less than the full Nation Rail equivalent.

Tweak Peaks UIQ 3 version 1.30

These guys dont know how to stop! CellPhoneSoft are still actively releasing new and interesting UIQ 3 apps, despite the prevailing mood in the industry. If you think your P1 or P990 is starting to be slow and can't cope with daily chores, then it’s time to get Tweak Peaks into action. Screen and notes below.

Version 1.30 just released which adds :

- Setting the start page for the built-in internet browser application

- Improved performance and speed boost on the latest phone models and firmwares

- Optional integration into the Control Panel.

Head over to Cellphonesoft to get this awesome utility! And it’s only $14.95, a small fee for a highly useful app.

Some super USPs but still unfinished - the MOTO Z10

After four review parts from Ewan, prodding the new Motorola MOTO Z10 from most angles, I finish off with a detailed test of its crowning glory, its camera. Although, mid-2008, this isn't as cutting edge as it once would have been. Despite this, there are numerous unique selling points, including a fabulously fast multishot mode and an initial focus in video recording mode. Plus, I summarise the Z10 as a whole: it might still be great, but needs a lot more work on its firmware.

"Whatever you think of the rest of the Motorola MOTO Z10's specification, user interface and applications, the one point you surely can't criticise is its camera, right? The original Z8 was dubbed (somewhat over-eagerly by Moto PR) a 'multimedia monster' and the Z10 is undoubtedly better and of higher specification. But by how much and is it enough, in these Nokia N95-dominated days?

Read on

Sony Ericsson "to axe 2000 jobs"

The BBC News website is reporting that Sony Ericsson is to cut two thousand jobs over the next year, in order to cut operating costs. The company was making a profit this time last year, but in the last quarter it reported a small loss.

A Z8/Z10 theme for a true Tifosi

If your eye was caught by the release of a Motorola Z8 "Ferrari Edition" late last year, you might like to note that our related site, Moto Smartphones, has now made the official Ferrari theme available for any other UIQ 3 smartphones. Some screenshots below for other Ferrari fans!

(Grabbed from the review Z10)

The MOTO Z10 as a music smartphone

In part 4 of his continuing review of the UIQ 3-powered Motorola MOTO Z10, Ewan tests out its music capabilities. Might the Z10 make it as a music device if all else fails? Here are parts 1, 2 and 3 of the Z10 review, in case you missed the story so far. Part 5, covering photogaphy and video, plus the wrap-up will be down to me...

Read on

E71 and MOTO Z10 in PDA Essentials 77

I see PDA Essentials magazine has renamed itself as "PDA Esssentials, Smartphone & GPS"... Anyway, issue 77 of this UK-based newstand magazine, out today, has full reviews of the Nokia E71 and Motorola MOTO Z10, along with a multi-page feature on '10 things to do with GPS on your smartphone' and the inclusion of the Sony Ericsson W960 and the Nokia N82 in a 'budget' group test.

Going online with the MOTO Z10

Continuing his extended test (this is part 3) of the Motorola MOTO Z10, Ewan tries out its Internet applications. In summary, Messaging and Opera are adequate, but there's little else to shout about and the lack of RAM is crippling. Here are parts 1 and 2 of the Z10 review.

Dataviz announces Documents to Go Premium v4 for UIQ

Dataviz have announced the immediate availability of Documents to Go Premium Edition version 4. The new version, among other features, brings full viewing and editing of Office 2007 documents to the UIQ3 platform. The full press release follows the break.

Milford, CT, July 8, 2008 – DataViz®, Inc., the leading provider of Office compatibility solutions today announced the availability of Documents To Go® Premium Edition 4 for Symbian OS™ based UIQ 3.0 and 3.1 smartphones. The award winning mobile office suite will now enable customers to view, edit and create Microsoft® Word, Excel® and PowerPoint® Office 2007 files and attachments instantly on their devices.

Other New Features Include:
• Support for password-protected files (Word & Excel 97-2004, X, XP)
• Support for Text (.TXT) files
• Edit and insert hyperlinks in word processing files
• Edit and insert bookmarks in word processing files
• View charts in spreadsheets
• Freeze/unfreeze panes in spreadsheets

Pricing & Availability
Documents To Go Premium Edition 4.0 for Symbian smartphones based on UIQ 3.0 and 3.1 retails for $49.99 and is available directly from DataViz as well as many retail and online stores including Handango.com, Mobihand.com and the network of DataViz resellers and distributors worldwide. Upgrade pricing of $29.99 is available directly from DataViz for all previous Documents To Go UIQ customers. Supported devices include Sony Ericsson M600, P990, W950i, W960i, P1i, G700, G900 and the Motorola MOTO Z8 and Z10. For more information and to download a free evaluation, visit www.dataviz.com/symbian

DreamLife a great last gasp in the UIQ world

Asri al-Baker reviews DreamLife, billed as a 'Life Information Manager' but essentially just Calendar and Contacts, done better and integrated to a degree. DreamLife is slickly programmed but in the light of the impending demise of UIQ has to be seen as something of a last gasp. Asri also makes sure to get the developer's view of the future, including news that DreamLife will now be ported to S60/Symbian.

The Z10 and Brotherly Love

Continuing our MOTO Z10 smartphone coverage, Motorola have been holding a competition to see who can create the best video entirely ON the phone itself - i.e. all shots and editing on the Z10. And here's the winner - the Z10's video quality isn't the best, but the editing software's certainly up the job, it seems. (via IM)

Personal Information Management in the MOTO Z10

Ewan continues looking at the UIQ 3-powered Motorola MOTO Z10, and in part two of his review takes the PIM Suite apps out for a test. See also part 1 of the review. Future review parts will cover wider applications, music and camera.

"The Z10 relies a lot on the regular UIQ3 suite of applications, and no more so than in the Personal Information Management (PIM) apps. That shouldn't mean we skip looking at them, because not everyone buying this phone will have a history of UIQ devices. I'd wager most Z10 owners will be completely new to UIQ and Symbian, so let's take a closer look."

Read on

The Smartphones Show take on the MOTO Z10

Smartphones Show 62 is now up, with a hands-on review of the UIQ 3-powered MOTO Z10, plus my Top 5 (Smart)Phones for mid-2008 - a personal choice, with reasons!

Files on Ovi now available in beta

Files on Ovi, which provides access to files on remote computers, is the latest Ovi service and is now available in beta form. After installing a software 'connector' on your PC you can then access files on your computer from any web enabled device (e.g. another PC or your phone). Files on Ovi is the results of last year's acquisition of Avevnu by Nokia.

Browsing the files on my PC from my phone.

Files on Ovi acts as a bridge allowing you to access files on your own PC from any remote device. Access is through the Files on Ovi website which displays a file and folder structure similar to Windows Explorer (see screenshots below). You can preview certain file types before downloading them (Word, Excel, PDF, images). You can also upload files from the remote device to your PC (e.g. upload a document from your phone which means it will be sitting in your My Documents folder when you return to your PC).

Image listings and a preview of an Excel spreadsheet.

A key feature of Files on Ovi is the ability to access files even if the host PC is switched off. In order to do this files or folders must be marked as 'anytime files' (you do this on the website), the connector software will then upload these files from the host PC to be stored in the cloud (Files on Ovi server). As you add, update or remove files on the host PC they will be automatically synced up to the cloud. Each Files on Ovi subscription comes with 10GB of storage.

Anytime files can thus be accessed even if the your PC is switched off. If you upload files from a remote device when your PC is switched off they will be downloaded to the host PC the next time it is switched on.

The ability to share files and folder with others is another important feature. You can opt to share a file or folder for a given length of time by sending a sharing message, by email, to anyone you like. You can, optionally, revoke sharing privileges at any time.

On a mobile device most operations take place on the page for each file / folder:

Note the links at the bottom for sending (to others), downloading and adding to anytime files. You can also see how the image has been resized (previewed) to give the optimium display on the mobile device.

Files on Ovi is the first Ovi service to use the new unified Nokia / Ovi login (account.nokia.com). It may be worth signing up for an account now to ensure you get the username you want.

Files on Ovi is currently in Beta. In the future the anytime files function will be a premium service for which you will have to pay a fee. Using the service using only the connector shoudl remina free (if the Avvenu model continues to apply). However the anytime file functionality is where the most value is; for the time being you can sign up and receive a 90 day trial.

You can download files (or folders) from Files on Ovi or Upload files from your phone to your PC. If you
upload a file from another device it will automatically be downloaded to local storage on the host PC.

You can search for files on your PC (if you have Google Desktop Search installed).

You can also access Files on Ovi from a PC browser. This more cloesly replicates the experience of using a file manager on a PC.

Viewing the contents of a folder full of pictures.

Showing a preview of an image.

Previewing an Excel Spredsheet

The connector software runs silently in the background.
Here it shows the anytime files that have been updated.

Although branded under to Ovi name Files on Ovi, like Share on Ovi, can be used on a wide variety of devices. There's currently no on-board client software for viewing and downloading files - all you need is access to a web browser - as such it should run on most recent phones.

Currently the PC component (the connector software) in Windows only, but Nokia intend to extend this to other platforms in the future.

Thanks to Taskussa (a Finnish blog) for informing us of the availability of Files on Ovi.

Process Explorer hits for UIQ3

Cellphonesoft, those brilliant UIQ 3 developers, strike again with the release of Process Explorer, for all UIQ 3 smartphones (including the new SE G900 and Moto Z10). It's a utility to list all programs running on the phone, including server processes that (normally) run invisibly in the background and are not shown by task managers. And Process Explorer gives users the ability to terminate unwanted processes (ouch!!!). Screenshot after the jump.

Detailed information is presented on each process, including child threads and windows, that was never before available. Process Explorer can terminate any process, provided platform security enforcement is disabled on the phone. The Cleanup command performs automated multiple termination which may lead to free memory amounts previously unprecedented.

While Process Explorer is most useful on early UIQ3 phones with notoriously low memory, it is also a valuable general tool on any UIQ3 device, for analytical purposes and for killing the occasional "stray process".

Major features:
- Lists all running programs, including server processes not shown by task managers.
- Detailed technical information about processes, threads and windows.
- Cleanup command to maximize available memory.
- Ability to terminate individual processes (available when platform security is disabled).