All About Symbian - Feature Articles

Features - Series 60

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Choosing a smartphone platform: motorhome or plush hotel?

Holidays are a touchy subject in our household. But holiday plans got me thinking about smartphone platforms… Unlikely? Well, yes, but bear with me as I think I've hit upon a rather apt analogy. Do you prefer to cruise in a motorcaravan or to be pampered in a five star hotel - or something in between? And, having chosen, how would you cope living that way full-time? Your decision may affect your happiness with each platform!

# Posted by Steve in Comment at 7:12 UTC, Dec 14th || Comments

The thorny question of screen resolution. Is Symbian now ultimately limited?

The last nine years has seen an increase, not only in the physical size of smartphone screens, but even more dramatically, in their resolution. We've gone from the original S60 smartphones (e.g. the 7650 and 6630) right up to the monster 'superphones' of 2011, with the highest resolution model offering a staggering twenty-five times as many pixels, all to (arguably) do a job that's not dissimilar. Which begs the question of how the various resolutions compare, of how many pixels you actually need, and whether Symbian as we currently know it is up to the job for competing in screen resolution with the smartphone class of 2012? Here are my (illustrated) thoughts.

# Posted by Steve in Comment, Hardware at 7:44 UTC, Sep 28th || Comments

Five things Nokia is doing wrong in their smartphones - and could put right in 2011

Yes, yes, a year ago, I'd simply have been able to say 'Stick some more RAM and flash memory in your phones!' and that would have been it. Thankfully, this has finally been addressed in the current crop of Symbian^3 phones from Nokia, only to be replaced by a few other hardware design issues and concerns. Think of this as an open letter to Nokia, ahead of its 2011 campaigns...

# Posted by Steve in Comment, Hardware at 10:40 UTC, Dec 31st || Comments

The history of Snakes is the history of Nokia

Over on the Nokia Conversations blog, they’ve looked at the history of their “Snake” game. Right from the first bundled version on the Nokia 6110 handset through to Vanixon’s Snake game on the Ovi Store. It’s a nice article that I suspect gets to where the author wanted (i.e. let’s link to a game on the Store) but really does show just how much Nokia’s eye is no longer on the Snake. When you look closer, the winding path of the snake seems to follow Nokia's smartphone strategy.

# Posted by Ewan in Comment at 10:50 UTC, Nov 29th || Comments

How Nokia could extend the battery life of their new smartphones - and a classic top 5!

A smartphone with a dead battery isn't very smart, I think we'd all agree. Constantly overlooked by many of the world's smartphone manufacturers, battery capacity and the efficiency with which it is used is often shoved to the back of the priority pile, behind exciting bullet points like 1GHz processors and 4.3" screens. In this feature, I quote an old rant and embellish the point, before launching into a passionate plea to the guys behind Nokia Social Networking - and then, for fun, I list my top 5 battery champions of the Symbian smartphone world in the last 10 years.

# Posted by Steve in How To, Comment, Hardware at 7:18 UTC, Nov 15th || Comments

Nokia, taking apps local

While “global” apps, such as Foursquare app and games such as Hero of Sparta HD, grab the headlines, local apps and services play a significant role in Nokia’s future. The new local app focus was revealed at Nokia World in September. Last week I got the opportunity to see how it’s starting to play out at the grass roots, in the form of the inaugural Forum Nokia developer breakfast in Auckland, New Zealand.

# Posted by Richard in Develop at 9:15 UTC, Nov 10th || Comments

Qt for Symbian for Linux and Apple

Hopefully you will have seen Steve’s posting about Lucian Tomuta’s video on using Qt to develop apps for Symbian devices. If, however, your computer runs on Linux or Apple you may have run into a small problem, there is no compiler for Symbian apps on these platforms. But never fear, there is a solution.

# Posted by Richard in How To, Develop at 10:38 UTC, Jul 25th || 4 Comments

Defining the Smartphone - part 1

In leaps and bounds, the term 'smartphone' is being bandied about by manufacturers, analysts, journalists, developers and end users across the world. Which would normally be a good thing, except that there are many definitions, all totally different. What exactly defines a smartphone in 2010? What did it used to mean in 2007? Or 2003? With reports regularly quoting the word, it would be good to all agree what the word means, surely? Steve Litchfield addresses the issue, in part one of a two part feature.

# Posted by Steve in Comment, Hardware at 12:05 UTC, Jul 16th || 23 Comments

Good Photos mean 50% Good Camera and 50% Good Photographer

The popular misconception about camera phones is that the higher the spec level, the better the photos you'll take. While I'll accept that there is some correlation there, another big factor is the skill (or, more accurately, imagination and common sense) of the user. In truth, you don't have to be David Bailey or own the current top-rated camera smartphone costing megabucks in order to turn out pleasing photos. Let me demonstrate...

# Posted by Steve in How To, Comment, Hardware at 10:20 UTC, Jul 14th || 21 Comments

Not a Dedicated Follower of Fashion - 10 Reasons Why Touchscreens Suck

Playing devil's advocate, but only to a degree, Steve Litchfield turns the entire smartphone world on its head by rejecting its latest darling - large touchscreens. Ask any pundit in the mobile world about smartphones and you'll get the answer that it's all about touch. About large displays that can be caressed and programmed and manipulated with your fingers. Except that traditional, non-touch form factors have these 2010 'flagships' well and truly beat - here are the Top 10 Reasons Why Touchscreens Suck.

# Posted by Steve in Comment, Hardware at 19:25 UTC, Jul 7th || 48 Comments

Hero or Zero smartphone? - Staying ahead of the need for RAM

Using a mixture of diagrams and literary quotes, Steve Litchfield re-examines the thorny issue of RAM, explains why it has been an issue for years and identifies the models that have been up to scratch and those that haven't. Where do the devices you've owned sit in the grand RAM pantheon? Finally, he asks whether the upcoming crop of devices have sufficient of this precious resource? Comments welcome!

# Posted by Steve in How To, Comment, Hardware at 12:26 UTC, Jun 26th

How to: Use the mobile web - There's a Bookmark for that!

Over the last few years, I've had a burning conviction that's been growing and growing as I watch the current craze for 'Apps' blossom. Now, I've nothing against genuine applications or games, but it has to be said that a large number of so-called 'Apps' are simply scraping or managing exactly the same data as you get right now, on any phone, for free. And my way there are no installations, no complications and no hassle. Apps? Pah - I've a new slogan to rival Apple's. "There's a Bookmark for that!"

# Posted by Steve in How To, Comment, Software at 9:41 UTC, Jun 22nd || 21 Comments

How long SHOULD a smartphone battery last?

Starting with a throwaway line from a US podcast, Steve Litchfield works up a head of steam over the ever-slipping battery life standard in our smartphones. How long is long enough when it comes to keeping a modern smartphone going on a single charge? Are we destined to need to carry around mobile chargers in our pocket in 2011 or is there a better way to go? Surely making it through the day is a fundamental that should never be compromised?

# Posted by Steve in Comment, Hardware at 14:19 UTC, Jun 18th || 38 Comments

Why size matters

No, not a cheap attempt at Google search traffic on male enhancements, but another serious look at the ever changing, ever growing statistic that is phone screen size. Steve Litchfield looks at devices and use cases past and present, from Psion Series 5 to Apple Newton to Dell Axim X51V to Nokia 7710 and through to the Samsung i8910 HD in the current day. Initially cautious over whether phones might get too big, Steve points out that a 4" display is more a 1995 phenomenon than a 2010 one....

# Posted by Steve in Comment, Hardware at 18:56 UTC, Apr 18th || 20 Comments

The Extended Twitter Round-Up

David Gilson recently performed a big feature on Twitter applications on S60. Mind you, thanks to the feedback of AAS readers, he has now expanded his survey to now cover an eye watering seventeen options for S60 users wanting to get more out Twitter. Gulp. Read on!

# Posted by David in Software at 19:32 UTC, Feb 3rd || 6 Comments

Twitter applications for Symbian phones

When it comes to Twitter applications (perenially popular, it seems), Symbian and S60 have no shortage of choice. Guest author David Gilson has done a mass review of all the Twitter applications he could find for S60, and presents us with a detailed feature comparison, along with a number of recommendations.

# Posted by David in Software at 23:35 UTC, Jan 26th || 18 Comments

Battle of the Maps - Revisited

Last year, David Gilson compared Google Maps and Ovi Maps, controversially finding that Google had the edge. However, Nokia has today announced that voice guided road navigation for Ovi Maps no longer requires a subscription fee and is available to all. Read on to see how this game-changing move effects the battle of the maps!

# Posted by David in Software at 14:50 UTC, Jan 21st || 31 Comments

Wikipedia on Symbian

S60 has long been without any form of Wikipedia application, besides the mobile web site. There are now two applications in early development, but do either of them significantly add to the mobile web site experience? David Gilson has been comparing all three and answers that question in this feature.

# Posted by David in Comment, Software at 10:12 UTC, Jan 11th || 4 Comments

Nokia 5530 XpressMusic - Tutorials, Tips & Hints

This page contains all of All About Symbian's tutorials on how to use the Nokia 5530 XpressMusic smartphone. Click on a link to see the relevant tutorial.

# Posted by AAM in How To, Hardware at 9:31 UTC, Jan 1st

The Symbian Phone of the Decade

I asked an eclectic selection of 20 luminaries, bloggers and power users from the Symbian ecosystem: "Which is the Symbian-powered smartphone of the Decade? Which one was most significant, the most memorable, the most game-changing and the most loved?" Here are their answers, for your interest and amusement - and yes, a clear winner emerged...

# Posted by Steve in Comment, Hardware at 21:33 UTC, Dec 30th || 46 Comments

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