S60 Open to new features

One user recently complained during testing: I wish I had more applications available on my Active standby application list (note: the user did not actually say this; he said “…on my primary screen”). Users generally do not like to “travel” too far to do anything on their mobiles. If, for example, they don’t have the Clock application on their shortcut list, they have to complete several steps to actually set an alarm.

One possible solution is to create a more “active” interface. Take again the clock example: What if the clock were an icon to which the user could move the cursor and select the clock? Then the user, without leaving the primary screen, could set her alarm, check her various World clocks etc. And, even better, the user can replace the Clock application on the Active standby application list with another application he uses regularly!

Another good template for all of you creating S60 Themes. In addition to the previous Photoshop template, Forum Nokia released brand new Adobe Illustrator template that is highly useful for many of you with lots of creativity but no will or time to spend learning a quite complex method of creating Themes. With this file you can start experimenting with Theme creation even if you are not using a PC. What is exeptionally good in this new release is that now you can start creating SVG and other vector graphics based Themes!

If you have ideas to make it better, please give us feedback and post them here.

Adobe Photoshop, S60 Themes and Creativity

Upside: this text includes new stuff to help some potential Theme developers be more creative than ever. Downside: creativity is not included.

It's a well known fact that you can create 100% customized look & feel for your S60 through Themes. They can be really beautiful and expressive and, at the same time, they can be simply too-hard-to-use. This hard-to-useness is mostly a result of forgetting a few simple rules. Achieving beauty without the beast is a designer’s daily challenge--some can do it, others just can't, while many could. I've been wondering for a couple of years why most Themes make me basically sick. Let’s face it, 70% of current themes actually incur some physical damage to my body. I really would like to offer some examples, but you know, that wouldn't be very constructive.

Yes, I’m provocative. And yes, I think I have the answer...which I will divide into forthcoming topics. But, in general, one of the reasons is that Themes are still penetrating into top-designers day-to-day life. There is lot's of experience and talent for other themes and skins but you can't see clearly in S60 Themes yet. It's something like mobile advertising, every creative person talks about it but most of them haven't done any actual projects. This may be because there isn't enough demand and/or it hasn't matured enough.

But it's getting there, and fast. Tools for S60 Theme developers are now becoming really cool and effective;­ trust me. ­ There's even some unique support from the Nokia side. For example, this brand new Adobe Photoshop template can be useful for many of you with lot's of creativity but no will or time to spend learning a quite complex method of creating Themes. With this file you can start experimenting with Theme creation even if you are not using a PC (yes, I know may Mac users who would love to work out couple of cool Themes). If you have ideas to make it better, just post them here.

What do you think, what is status of S60 Themes today? If you know of any excellent theme designs, post the link as a comment. I know a couple of wonderful ones but I hope someone out there will be the first to contribute. Feel free to show your own stuff;)