See into S60

November 25, 2005 Small online poll Posted by at 10:41 AM | Categories: Commentary

Today, I'd like to ask you for comments on a number of topics that I believe are interesting.... Obviously, I and my colleagues working for S60 are interested to get your inputs and feedback on your experiences with S60 devices, your hints and tips, and perhaps also new features and technologies that you would like to see in future devices.

Also, it would be great if you have tips on applications that you would strongly recommend to other users.
So, folks, your feedback on the above would be great. So sharpen your virtual pens and let us hear from you.

Leaving you today with one of my newer hobbies, namely Sudoku: Since this is a number-based "game", it is exceptionally suitable for mobile devices. So this time I went to Handango and look what I found! You can download trials and evaluate which game is the best one for you. Some are not expensive either. Let me know which ones you like!

Cheers,

BWi.

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Comments

Hi,

I think one of best apps for S60 is the next IM killer application, which has been available for ages already:

http://www.agilemobile.com/agile_messenger.html

Basically, although it is not a free app, it allows you to have the following on your s60 phone with one of the best user interface:
- Instant messanging support for AOL, Yahoo, MSN, Jabber (Google talk coming)
- Live image sending
- Push to talk (i.e. Live voice msg sending).

Everytime I use it with my friend behind their PC, they always have that "WOW" feeling :-)

Enjoy!

I'd like to see more recognition of S60 and S80 devices as music players. So many people these days assume that music playing on the move=iPod or similar. I know Nokia are gradually getting this message but it still needs ramming home further to every corner of the Symbian community - you only need to take the one device out with you.

Along with the above, more coverage of Ogg Vorbis (free and better even than WMA) as a music format would be good. I have over 30 CDs of high quality music on my Nokia 9500's MMC card...

Steve

same feeling here. Nokia could simply adopt and allow ogg files to be used in the music player S60 has, that is getting better and better. If we can have ogg files, why don't s60 can actually use them?

Cooli, I have also had good experiences with mobile instant messaging, especially when travelling and commuting.

WRT the second thread (Steve and Alexandre) - thanks for the tip, I need to look into this area more :-)

I also refer to this site: http://symbianoggplay.sourceforge.net/
Hope that is useful to you guys - not sure whether it fulfills the promises, but could be worth a try. I just installed it on my S60 2nd Edition terminal, (the stable version of the Ogg player), but have not tried it out yet. Have a nice week-end!

BWi

So, could not help myself so I downloaded some (legal) music and tried out the player. Quite impressive!

-BWi

Please make Nokia VPN client usable to folks without Nokia VPN policy server! I know many people who bought 6680 because VPN was advertised, but you can't use it without policy file that you can only create if you own Nokia firewall appliance!

One of my favourite tips which works on nearly all S60 phone and that people do not alwys seem to be aware of (well non power users) is that holding down the right softkey activate the speech recognition. Can be handy for quick dialing especially in the phones which have automatic recognition (i.e. no need to record voice tags). There's actually quite a number of these undocumented shortcuts that make life a lot easier that could be highlighted (the other one people sometimes miss is using the number keys to quickly choose an application icon in the grid view of the software screen).

I think one of the big job there is still to do is edcuate people that they can install third party software. A common complaint levelled against S60 (mainly when fans of other devices look at sales numbers!) is that people don't realise they are buying one. Indeed you still see commentators saying S60 is not that powerful and should not be compared with Windows Mobile / Palm OS etc. It's kind of ironic when if anything Symbian OS / S60 is more powerful / robust.

Everyone has different software tastes, but here are some of the ones I recommend to new users when asked. Mobile Search (http://www.nokia.com/mobilesearch/), Opera (http://www.opera.com), OggPlay (another vote - but I think getting music on the phone should be easier - the Nokia Music Manager needs to go the recycle bin in the sky - I know Windows Media sync is coming in the newer devices and that should help), HandySafe / SplashID (store passwords etc.), MobiPocket/ReadM/eBookReader (www.mobipocket.com/www.epocware.com) - reading eBook on the go, I do this quite a bit and things will only get better with the higher resolution screens coming soon.

I also like Qix (http://www.zicorp.com/qixfunctions.htm) and the concept behind it. Sadly not available publically.

New technologies/ ideas... well maybe more support for printing would be good. A generic printer driver via USB for more than just pictures - i.e. emails / docs / contacts etc might be nice for those that do have Bluetooth printers.

Convergence ideas might suggest trying to take on scanners - picture of business cards being parsed into contacts, or text into emails. Like the RealEyes3D technology. The humble dictaphone functionality could probably be improved (I dont think the recorder application has changed from the 7650!). Remote Control - the DNLA covers this, but I really like the concept. I'm sure there's more here and some more specifications to implement here if I thought about it...

More Intelligent links (e.g. have a show on map link on addresses from contacts using postcode / country). This is a bit like the Magpie technology that was demoed on Symbian (UIQ?) a while back that disappeared.

PC Suite extensions (maybe offer more control from the phone end - e.g. being able to get files or similar or control applications - maybe offer a local control of music from the phone for those who don't do the UPnP thing). I would also quite like to see a FileSync (a folder of regularly used documents that syncs back and forth). Currently this can be done with third party software, but you have to take the MMC out and use a USB card reader which is too much hassle. It would also be good to see the Store Image application extened to other user generated content [be it Office files / voice notes or perhaps even text messages and the like]. Make content created on the device easier to consume. Also consider this the other way round - i.e. stuff going to the device. e.g. Podcating catcher in PC Suite (as an addon like Connect to the INternet / GPRS wizard was to start with). While Gallery is a nice application its not good for what most people carry pictures around in their wallet for - i.e. showing off to people. Maybe create a my wallet pictures which stores people's favourites - their dog / baby / family which they can then show off to people.

A central jumping off site for Online Service be it MMS Postcards / Software Downloads / SyncML Services / Mobile Content / Mobile Services that available as a default bookmark in the browser so people can find these things more easily. [Check out wapreview.com for something that is quite similar for mobile sites).

Better stop babbling now, that turned into a mini Brain Dump :)

Really enjoying the blog, Bjorn and crew!!

I definately agree with Steve. Incorporting Ogg Vorbis would just make the device the ultimate player with no restrictions on which format is played.
I got an iTunes Music card as a gift and was forced to download some music :)Having Ogg made it easy to listen to the m4p format that iTunes music is in.

through my work (carphone warehouse uk) i am always championing the series 60 platform..ive had all the nokia series 60 handsets. i now own a se k750i, because quite frankly, the handsets being released (s60) by nokia were getting a bit, well, boring...actual phone memory is a major issue...why in gods name leave a handset like the 6630 with only 10mb of internal memory and poor ram...same with the 6680...both 3G handsets that are very capable...you only have to look at the k750i...33mb of internal..and its not even a smartphone...these are handsets are more than capable of running multiple apps, but frequent messages of " not enough memory close an app" is totally irritating..these problems started from the 6600 and worked upwards...nokia are heading in the right direction with the n series but christ...it's been a long time coming...from the number 1 mobile leader in the world it really has been a long time coming...

As I am in China right now, I checked out the Lenovo P930 cell phone last week. The new SymbianOS seemed to be much more improved than the one which is installed on my Nokia 6600.

However, I was quite disappointed by the P930 because it has been promoted (s60.com & Lenovo-Page) to have a built-in GPS receiver. After some minutes we found the positioning setting where I can only select "Bluetooth GPS". So I guess (because the new S60 is shipped with JSR-179) such an additional BT GPS will just be wrapped to the JSR-179 API. That's not what I expected because it should have a built-in GPS. I can use Bluetooth GPS with many other devices therefor I don't need the P930.

Jayson, Thanks for your honest feedback! Performance and device usability are core areas of the S60 platform. What can I say... at least that I hope that the fruits of our current efforts will help to re-gain your confidence in the S60 platform moving forward. Cheers, BWi

My wish list:

- WIFI Connection with a very good LAN integration to open files (.doc, .pdf, .ppt, .mp3 ) from a pc connected in wifi;

- Animated Themes and more customizables themes.

- Possibilty to connect the phone to a new computer without use driver!

- Mp3,Ogg,Divx native support for play but also for recording files in these formats;

...now i'm waiting N80 ;)

Rafe, you have made a great contribution with your hints and suggestions, thanks for this! In addition to recognizing many useful tips, I'd like to comment specifically on your input that people are not aware of the ability to download third party software. I totally agree with you on this. Many S60 device owners have yet to recognize the abilities of their devices. As you know by now, we have introduced a new feature brand, even with a logo/tag line: "S60 Open to new features". One of the key drivers for this move is to increase awareness on the fact that these S60-based devices are based on a common open platform (which by the way is by far the most purchased smartphone platform as of today) and our clear ambition is that a better recognition of S60 devices will help people to discover the extensibility that the platform allows. Actually, this stimulates not only the users, but also application providers/distributors, and also mobile operators.

Kind regards, Bjorn.

i am suhaib from india want to know how to make a animated theme for my 6600.. can u plz help me? i am a student, i am very much intrested in makin themes...

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