Touchscreens through the years - and my new party trick

I have a new party trick and you won't be surprised it involves my smartphone. And a kitchen knife. All of which has got me musing about the nature (and role) of touchscreens on handheld devices through the years. Expectations and roles sure have changed. Though it's tempting to say that there's nowhere else for the touchscreen to go. The rest is surely up to the programmers behind the glass?

The sadly flawed Symbian world top-end line-up

In this feature, I've been taking a long hard look at the top-end smartphones in the Symbian powered world over the last three years, pointing out their flaws and frailties, and - where appropriate - pointing out what should have been done to fix things up. Yes, Symbian has been cracking along at record momentum in the mid-tier, with Nokia trouncing the iPhones, Blackberries and Android phones in terms of raw unit sales, but as many others have pointed out, Symbian's partners have been scoring rather a lot of own goals in recent times. And what of the 2010 Symbian^3 crop - will these suffer a similar fate?

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.

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!"

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?

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...

Qwerty on Symbian - the options

Steve reprises his 'Gotta have QWERTY' theme and explores the current options... (oh yes - and he promises not to mention 'Psion'!)

To Touch or not to Touch?

In contravention of the spirit of the age, Steve Litchfield finds himself unconvinced by a touch interface on a phone. And, for a change, there's survey data (see the postscript) to back up his crazed(!) opinions....

The New Executive Director - Lee Williams and the Symbian Foundation

At the Symbian Smartphone Show last week, Lee Williams was announced as the Executive Director of the Symbian Foundation. Right after that, he sat down with Rafe and Ewan to talk in more depth about the plans for the Foundation, and to discuss what he brings to the table.

The Symbian Foundation unwrapped

Rafe looks at the details of the Symbian Foundation and its possible implications.

The argument for QVGA - more is not necessarily better

Are manufacturers wrong to still be putting QVGA displays into phones? Steve doesn't think so - at least, not yet, in 2008.

Searching the world around your position

Steve Litchfield looks at the state of the market in terms of location-based search software and services. A bit of a mouthful, that - what we're talking about is ways of asking 'Where's the nearest hospital (or ATM or hotel) and how do I get to it?' That sort of thing.

There's a Time To Tinker and a Time to Stop!

Steve Litchfield argues that sometimes you just need to stop lusting, stop fiddling and simply enjoy.

Software that's truly worth paying for: The Top Applications

With so much freeware around, is there still a market for paid-for software? And which would be the top picks of the All About Symbian team?

Top 10 - Classic Smartphones

Steve Litchfield proclaims the ten smartphones from the Symbian OS world that have made the most impact in terms of innovation, style and functionality.

The 2008 Audio 'Head To Head To Head' (W960 Walkman, N81, iPhone)

2007 - the year in review

AAS Predictions for 2008

Malware and Anti-malware now a distant memory

New theme, new personality, more fun!