S60 Open to new features

Many Java applications are showing all sorts of user prompts during runtime. There's Internet Access Point prompts and different Access prompts for sensitive features (aka Security Prompts). These prompts allow flexibility and security for the user but when an application is used more and more they start to be just plain irritating. Luckily there's a feature in S60 devices to configure these prompts to be asked either less frequently or not at all (depending on the feature).

On S60 devices users may access Java application specific settings via Application Installer menu item. In the list showing installed applications there's an options menu item "Suite settings" (on 3rd ed FP 1 it's just "Open" menu item).

On 3rd ed FP 1 devices you will be able to configure a default Internet Access Point for that particular Java application. If you set it the application won't never prompt you for the access point but automatically uses the specified IAP when connecting to network.

The device access settings are also configurable via the same view but mostly this only makes sense for signed applications as the available settings for unsigned (aka unidentified) 3rd party applications are forced to be more prompting as defined by Java specifications (MIDP, JTWI and MSA security recommendations).

We are also working on improving this functionality even more on S60 3rd ed fp 2 devices (read: getting rid of those annoying prompts). But more out of that later when details are more solid.

Btw: The Internet Access Point prompts are S60 specific feature which isn't available in other platforms, at least to my knowledge. Many other Java devices simply use the same access point as configured for Browser. S60 is more flexible as you can use a specific access point for each Java application. For example, Browser may be configured to operator's "WAP access point" and a certain Java application to more free "Internet" access point.

Java Developers can now start developing for a new eSWT UI toolkit. On actual devices eSWT will be available starting from S60 3rd Edition FP2 devices. eSWT API takes S60 Java Platform user interface capabilities to a completely new level.

The graphics capabilities of Java are already very rich but so far, the capability of the S60 Java platform UI toolkit (MIDP LCDUI) has not been on par with the S60 native UI frameworks. However, the S60 3rd Edition FP 2 changes this dramatically by introducing a completely new UI component toolkit to the Java Platform called eSWT. Standing for embedded Standard Widget Toolkit, eSWT is a significant facelift for Java UI frameworks.

eSWT is a cross platform toolkit developed in cooperation in Eclipse open source project called eRCP. What's even more interesting is that eSWT shares most of the API with desktop SWT.

The eSWT API provides:
- A rich user interface component set
- Flexible and scalable layout system via layout managers
- Rich user interface events
- Access to native UI functionality on par with smartphone UI frameworks.

Screenshots from an example application using eSWT

Since eSWT on the S60 has been implemented using the normal S60 UI services, applications built using it will automatically have the standard look and feel of S60, including S60 themes and internationalization features.

The eSWT plugin for S60 Java SDK is available:
eSWT plug-in for S60 3rd Edition SDK for Symbian OS, Supporting Feature Pack 2, for MIDP, Beta.
You need to have the beta SDK which is available here:
Java SDK for 3rd Edition, FP 2, Beta.

The plugin implementation for the SDK is identical to the actual device implementation. It is just compiled to S60 emulator target (Intel). We are very interested to hear your comments about the new toolkit.

There's different ways to contact us. We are part of the Eclipse eRCP project so you can post comments to the Eclipse eRCP newsgroup. On how to access see eRCP project pages for info. For bugs you may find a report to Eclipse Bugzilla is preferred. Or you can drop a comment also to this blog.

I am on a holiday, enjoying the beach and sun. Good thing about holidays, besides the obvious, is spending time with old friends.

I was talking with a colleague from a past life, who is a java veteran. We were discussing the java integration on his mobile phone.

The integration on his phone was simply a menu item for java applications. He was not happy about this behavior at all. Unfortunately for him, he is not using a S60 device.

S60 does not treat java applications special. There are no special menus for java applications, they appear as any other S60 application. The integrated behavior goes beyond application's icon appearing on the menu, covers installation as well. It is possible to install java applications via browser directly from a web site, with the PC Suite or directly from the memory card. The end result is java applications provide the familiar end user experience.

I do not know, if first class java experience is enough to convince my buddy to get an S60 phone but I was able to brag about for a good half hour.