The Sony Ericsson W960 is a great looking smartphone with plenty of top-notch features to offer. However, the user interface and touch implementation make it difficult to get around, and frustrating to use.

...the flash is either on, or it is off. There is also no 'auto' setting, which makes things ever more frustrating, as it takes a minimum of 6 clicks to toggle the flash on or off.

One of the key features of the W960 is the Walkman music player interface, 8GB of internal storage, and dedicated, touch-sensitive media playback keys. Given that, I found it odd that the handset requires an additional adapter to use 3.5mm headphones. The Walkman music player application is certainly full of eye candy, and offers the ability to browse through your music by artist, album, playlists (created on the PC or device), and mood. I was very disappointed to not see the 'genre' option listed, as that's how I typically listen to my music.

The full review is at Mobile Burn.

Users can now search and watch YouTube videos directly on our UIQ 3 smartphones using CorePlayer Mobile latest version (1.24), there’s YouTube support which, during my test, worked beautifully (on 3G and WiFi connection).

This is one of the most requested functions from the UIQ 3 community and, although there is no support to play YouTube through the internet browser yet, the current function is useable and makes my P1i a true mobile workhorse and entertainment device. Commenting on the new release, Dan Marlin (aka Betaboy), CEO of CoreCodec, in his email to me said that this is only the beginning. “In future versions we are adding full YT support that includes video uploading, account login, related, more, email link, bookmarks. So this is really just the beginning of what our ‘Channels’ page will be…. Channels will list our current ‘HOT’ websites (like Veoh)”.

Here are some screenshots of CorePlayer Mobile's YouTube browser in action on my Sony Ericsson P1i :

Here's the changelog of the new version :

Version 1.2.4 build 4204 (4187 for Symbian) (20080509):

- FIX: YouTube seeking issues
- FIX: YouTube navigation on small screens
- FIX: Busy indicator on Palm and Symbian
- FIX: Revision3 RSS reading (watch out for the huge bandwidth needs)
- FIX: Keyframe issue on some rare AVC streams
- FIX: OS X: fix some display issues
- FIX: OS X: Conversion of some UTF16 strings
- FIX: Symbian: TCP/UDP connections are less blocking and more stable
- FIX: Symbian: Audio handling is more robust
- FIX: Symbian: UIQ3 backlight issues
- FIX: Symbian: Possible crash when playing MP3 and AVC
- FIX: Win32: File association on Vista
- ADD: FLV playback support (no VP6)
- ADD: F4V file extension
- ADD: Get the duration from RSS feeds
- ADD: Option to keep the screen on when playing audio files (too)
- ADD: Reading cover art from Zune folders
- ADD: Symbian: Keep the preferred access point in the preferences
- ADD: Symbian: Show the currently selected item in enums

Here's the CoreCodec announcement. And read my review of CorePlayer HERE

Asri al-Baker, All About Symbian

S60 3rd Edition 240x320:

S60 3rd Edition 320x240:

UIQ3:

Members of the Open Screen Project include all five leading handset manufacturers and several large operators as well as other technology, service and content providers.

Adobe is seeking to create a consistent run time environment (Flash intially, and later, Air) that will ease cross device and cross platform development and address technology fragmentation by allowing dynamic over the air updates.

In the short term this will not mean much for the average user. Flash Lite is already available on every S60 handset. The removal of license fees is likely to ensure that things stay this way, but more importantly is likely to increase the number of Flash enabled handsets making for a more compelling cross platform / cross device development platform. Adobe Air is also part of this announcement, but there are no specific guarantees about its inclusion on handsets.

More significant in the longer term is that this indicates the strategy than Adobe is looking to pursue for its web application platform. The concept of rich Internet applications powered by cross platform run time technologies (Silverlight, Air, JavaFX) is generally accepted as being a very important part of the future. In making the Open Screen Project and related announcement Adobe is firing one of the first shots in a battle that is  likely to become increasingly important over the next few years.

Here's the relevant extract from the Adobe website:

The Open Screen Project is dedicated to driving consistent rich Internet experiences across televisions, personal computers, mobile devices, and consumer electronics. The Open Screen Project is supported by technology leaders, including Adobe, ARM, Chunghwa Telecom, Cisco, Intel, LG Electronics Inc., Marvell, Motorola, Nokia, NTT DoCoMo, Qualcomm, Samsung Electronics Co., Sony Ericsson, Toshiba and Verizon Wireless, and leading content providers, including BBC, MTV Networks, and NBC Universal, who want to deliver rich Web and video experiences, live and on-demand across a variety of devices.

The Open Screen Project is working to enable a consistent runtime environment – taking advantage of Adobe® Flash® Player and, in the future, Adobe AIR™ -- that will remove barriers for developers and designers as they publish content and applications across desktops and consumer devices, including phones, mobile internet devices (MIDs), and set top boxes. The Open Screen Project will address potential technology fragmentation by allowing the runtime technology to be updated seamlessly over the air on mobile devices. The consistent runtime environment will provide optimal performance across a variety of operating systems and devices, and ultimately provide the best experience to consumers.

Specifically, this work will include:

• Removing restrictions on use of the SWF and FLV/F4V specifications
• Publishing the device porting layer APIs for Adobe Flash Player
• Publishing the Adobe Flash® Cast™ protocol and the AMF protocol for robust data services
• Removing licensing fees – making next major releases of Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR for devices free

Read on

Rather than take an approach that plugs-in to the existing media player on the S60 devices, the MyStrands Social Player plays back the tracks inside the application, which leads to a consistent interface, but one that lacks a tight integration to the rest of your phone.

But it's all here, including a recommendation engine that churns out pretty respectable matches, as witnessed in the screens.

We'll be taking a more in-depth look at the MyStrands Social Player later this week, but for now, there's more over at the Strands Blog.

We have just released version 3.1 of Nokia’s Mobile Rules! 2008 winning application, MyStrands Social Player, which allows you to scrobble tracks to Last.fm as you play music on your Symbian S60 3rd Edition and J2ME (optimized for Nokia S40) devices (download for S60 devices here and for S40 devices here). Recently listened tracks on your mobile device will now be available on your Last.fm profile.

http://blog.strands.com/

Read on

The Skype application can be downloaded from www.skype.com/m (the easiest install method is to visit this URL on your phone).

The application has the standard Skype contact list. From here you are able to select contacts and initiate calls or chat sessions. You can also add or remove contacts and set your status. Pressing right on the direction pad takes you to screen that allows you to initiate a Skype Out call and pressing right again takes you to a list of ongoing chats.

When you initiate call (be Skype or Skype Out) the application makes a local voice call to a server which then routes your call over the Internet (i.e. takes it from the PSTN network and transfers it to the IP network). Thus the Skype Mobile application is not a voice over IP (VoIP) solution. Similarly incoming calls are routed to your phone over the PSTN network. Skype will have chosen this method to solve both the bandwidth (especially in 2G areas) and latency issues that are typical of mobile data connections. This is the same method that iSkoot uses (it is not clear whether Skype have licensed iSkoot's technology or developed their own).

From the perspective of the user the application makes a standard voice call when calling out as shown below. An incoming Skype call will appear as a normal incoming call.

A local number is used for both outgoing and incoming calls. Incoming calls are paid for using your Skype credit while outgoing calls will be billed by your operator (though may come out of your inclusive call allowance).

I did some testing with Ricky of Symbian-Guru and Steve. I was able to make and receive calls to land line and mobile numbers using Skype Out. I was also able to call a Skype contact, but only if they were on a PC. Mobile to mobile Skype calls resulted in an engaged tone. This is a beta application so there are bound to be some kinks to be worked out.

The voice quality of the calls isn't all that great. Skype Out calls to landlines were acceptable, but Skype to Skype calls seemed to be of lower quality. While it was perfectly possible to hear the other end the quality was noticeably poorer than a standard mobile call. Subjectively I'd say the quality of Skype calls made through Fring are better. However neither of these match the outstanding TruPhone VoIP service (who must do clever things with their audio codecs).

The Skype application also supports Skype chat sessions (instant messaging). The application will alert you with a beep (providing the application is running) when a new message arrives and there's support for multiple chat instances.

Because the Skype application is written in Java the text entry interface is slightly cumbersome on S60. As with other Java applications a separate window is opened for entering text. The chat functionality includes the ability, via the menu, to add extra participants to a chat and set the chat topic.

I also tested Skype on the Sony Ericsson P1i and it works fine. However there is a slight problem with text entry - when starting a chat message (or entering log-in credentials) you need to press a number key (as if you were entering text T9 style). This is a bit fiddly, and not immediately obvious, but is not a major concern (this is a beta). Obviously this problem will not apply to the W950 and W960. Hopefully the text entry issue will be fixed in a later beta. The application also install and runs on the Motorola Z8.

Overall first impressions are good - the application feels particularly slick for a Java implementation (fast loading and few delays). However as we noted above there are a few problems, most notably with call quality, but given this is a beta room for improvement is to be expected.

More information is available from the Skype website including a full list of compatible devices.

Thanks to Gerrymoth at NokiaAddict.com for the tip via Ricky of Symbian-Guru.

Update

Outgoing calls are limited to those in Brazil, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Sweden and UK. Incoming calls and chat should work in all countries.

Via TechEBlog

Sony Ericsson's results are in range with what most people expected after an earlier warning, but do bring to an end a series of good results for Sony Ericsson. The numbers are set against Q1 2007 which was a particularly strong period for Sony Ericsson ensuring less favourable year on year comparisons.

UIQ phones are currently not a significant percentage of overall Sony Ericsson sales, although they do remain high margin items. Sony Ericsson has long stated its intention to broaden the use of UIQ across its portfolio, but progress has been slow. Instead Sony Eicsson has continued to evolve its Java Platform phones, introducing new functionality and capabilities.

The W960i came in last, alas, with 6/10 overall. Quoted downsides were 'laggy apps', 'long bootup' and a 'four second pause between music tracks'.

An interesting fact about Escarpod is that it is a project by a team of dedicated (and fairly famous) UIQ programmers led by Sebastian Brannstrom, aka teknolog, Lars Persson, aka anotherguest, and a few other members.

Escarpod is a podcatcher for UIQ - a downloader and player of podcasts. Podcasts are radio shows published and distributed on the Internet by individuals and corporations. Since Escarpod runs on Internet connected smartphones and can download shows by itself, it is one of the most powerful and convenient mobile podcatchers on the market!

Escarpod automatically keeps track of your favorite shows, and lets you download new episodes whenever they are published. It supports wireless downloading over 3G networks, as well as Wireless LAN or Bluetooth PAN if your phone supports it. You can even download files on your computer and play them from your memory card. It displays show info and cover art, and even keeps track of your last position inside episodes between runs, so you can finish listening whenever you have time!

Escarpod is open source, meaning that it is free to download, use and even modify if you'd like. You can always download the latest version of Escarpod for free from the Bergamot Project website, http://bergamot.googlecode.com