Why device (or device family) specific applications?
A couple of weeks ago, Nokia released the enterprise-focused Team Suite application for Eseries devices through Nokia Catalogs client. A bit later, somebody extracted the sis file, and put it available for all S60 3rd Edition devices. Seeing this sequence of events a bit odd, Steve Litchfield raised a valid question:
“Nokia, how about putting some of these apps (Team Suite, Search, etc.) on the actual Support download pages?”
Good point. Anyone?
The problem in nutshell: the users, or at least the bloggers, don’t seem to understand Nokia’s approach to artificially limit certain S60 applications to certain devices. Of course, some apps, such as Barcode Reader, have special technical requirements, like high-quality camera. But others, such as Search and Podcasting, apparently have none.
Why certain applications are officially limited to certain devices, I dunno. But I think it is mostly aspirations for software-based differentiation (which is perfectly acceptable and wise), with a pinch of Conway’s Law (which as a reason would be just dumb).
Worth thinking about.
I can see this point of view, after all, using the same S60v3 platform, there’s little other than physical features to differentiate the E-Series from the N-Series. It’s a delicate situation, to be sure.
However, I think that Nokia could (and should) maintain the artificial software differentiation, but at least make things available equally across that “platform” (E-Series vs. N-Series). For instance, the Team Suite. Built-into the E50, and then only released (officially) to the E61? What about the E70, or E60? It just doesn’t seem very….orchestrated, in my opinion.
However, there’s always going to be a way to get the app in .sis format, and that’s that. Personally, while I have (and reported on) the Team Suite app, because I don’t use PTT or Conference Calling in my mobile use, it’s just there more as proof of concept than anything else. For me, the built-in Caller Groups accomplishes the same thing.
So I wouldn’t get too caught up over it, Tommi. I think, though, if you’re passing info along, that just keeping unity across the platform would be a big start.
Thanks for the link love. The thing is - S60 is marketed these days as ‘Open to new applications’ or similar, implying it’s a platform that apps can just…. well, run on. The same applies to Nokia’s own in-house-produced apps.
At the very least, as Ricky said above, have the Eseries apps available for download on the relevant support pages. If I was an E61 or E60 or E70 user and didn’t know about Search and TeamSuite and had been missing them all these last 6 months, I’d be livid.
More work needed for your web team!!!
Steve
One word. CHAOS.
And we are talking about Nokia Corp.
Embarrassing.
This comment may not be related to Nokia Team Suite application. However, I just post it here because there seems to be issues with compatibility across S60 3rd devices. It’s true that S60 3rd is supposed to maintain compatibility. However, in reality, this is not the case.
As an example, I had an experience when the latest Eseries firmware changed one of the key code (http://mobile.antonypranata.com/2006/09/13/screenshot-problem-on-latest-firmware-of-nokia-e61/).
Another example, the same function may behave differently on different phone (http://discussion.forum.nokia.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94242&page=3)
Well thanks for clarifying the situation at least.
And when you put an application on your Support download page, dear Nokia, be sure that it works.
The new N80/N80IE Barcode Reader is somewhat corrupted: wrong 2.0645 version number, strange 1K size, and most of all, you cannot install it!!
Fortunately the one you can get over-the-air through Catalogs/Download is fine…
You are all right, Nokia should maintain the division between E-Series and N-Series. Nevertheless, compability is the issue. There are more examples. For instance, why E60 has an application for changing screen layout from portrait to landscape and N80 does not? Why the golf game runs on E60 anf N80 not?There are more questions like that.
Hmm, I wonder how people would react if a PC manufacturer would sell devices with software (not drivers but real applications) that would only work on certain models. Software-based differentiation? Doubt it. Artificial lock-in? Getting closer, I’d say. Nokia markets smartphones as “multimedia PCs”, not recognizing that there is still some way to go. Removing the lock-in of software to particulat phones would be the first thing to remove.