All About Symbian - S60 News

A Feast of Python

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:00:23 +0100

You can't fault posts like this, listing some of the top recent Python applications written for S60-powered phones. Whether you're after some very useful example code for your own Python masterpiece or just some ideas for cool freebies to install and use, from a GPS tracker to game controller to equation solver, this is a good starting point, as will be the hosting Croozeus PyS60 Applications section, as it accumulates the results of similar choices and postings. In each case, there's full source code.

Last minute game concept ideas? Get your entry in quick!

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 09:03:29 +0100

Nokia's 70,000 euro game concept competition closes tomorrow (8th of September) so you'd better get your skates on if you want to take part. They're not looking for any actual code, all they want are detailed ideas for Symbian, Java or N-Gage games optionally including mockup images and/or video too. Note that the competition is only open to professional development companies, private individuals cannot enter.

Out and about with the Samsung i8510

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:28:56 +0100

Steve and I have had the Samsung i8510 (a.k.a. the INNOV8, in some markets) for the best part of a week, putting it through its paces. In all honesty, it's too early for a full review because there are some things needing to be attended to by Samsung, but what Steve was really interested in was how well the screen, 8 mp camera, focussing camcorder and DSP-powered music playback performed. I hope you'll be interested too.

BBC iPlayer available on Nokia N96 soon

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:46:33 +0100

Several sites are reporting that a BBC iPlayer application will soon be available for the Nokia N96. Some N96's will ship with the application preloaded, but it will also be available for download from the BBC website. The application will support both the downloading and streaming of BBC TV and radio programmes. Read on for more.

First impressions of the Nokia N96, plus photo samples

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:07:00 +0100

Guest contributor Nick Anstee signed up to be one of the first to get a Nokia N96, as part of a limited 'wildlife' run. Read on for his first impressions of the N96, after a couple of days of intensive playing, plus photos of the device and some really nice photo samples taken on the device.

Utility triumph or UI disaster?

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:25:46 +0100

Some folks are gonna love this. Others will hate it. But Handy Shell is coming, taking over the whole S60 standby/menu/control key schema and making it remeniscent of a Windows Mobile home screenadding new functionality. Ricky Cadden's been playing with the Handy Shell beta and you'll find his thoughts and screenshots right here.

Catching Shazam ID out

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:13:11 +0100

Shazam have been at the music recognition game for a while - and we look here at the native S60 version of their flagship Shazam ID utility, which samples music snatches from the radio and then lets you know where it's from. Ewan's been trying to catch it out but ended up quite impressed.

N95 classic firmware v30 now available

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:03:00 +0100

An updated firmware, v30.0.015, has been made available for the Nokia N95 classic. Updates include the latest versions of Nokia service applications (Nokia Maps 2.0, Share online 3.0), inclusion of the full N-Gage client and smaller updates to a number of applications. The updates also adds automatic screen rotation to the N95 classic. Read on for more details and screenshots.

Nokia N96 starts shipping, in shops soon

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:35:55 +0100

Nokia yesterday announced it has started shipping the Nokia N96, which means it will become available, SIM-free, in shops over the next few weeks. Availability via operators will take a little longer; the UK launch on the 3 network is scheduled for October 1st. The N96 is a high-end Nseries device with a focus on mobile TV and video (large 2.8 inch screen, video stand, DVB-H receiver, and preloaded movie content). It also features a 5 megapixel camera and integrated GPS. Read on for more details.

Sauna Talk returns!

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:59:21 +0100

There's a new episode of Sauna Talk on the N-Gage developer site, where once again host Arnold Faber discusses mobile gaming with Nokia's Miikka Skaffari while not wearing any clothes.

Jumping ship back to the Nokia N93?

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:30:25 +0100

And I thought it was just me. James Burland's written an eloquent rant about how he keeps wanting to go back to his trusty Nokia N93, which still outperforms allcomers on the video recording front (stereo sound, optical zoom). With photo and video capture being critical to many people's phone use these days, is he right to criticise Nokia's direction? Although agreeing with him in a way, I'd also point to GPS, larger screens and 3.5mm audio output as modern boons.

Internet Radio for the E71

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:08:21 +0100

Ah - you see, Nokia do keep tweaking their apps and compatibility lists after all - the E71 finally has a proper version of Nokia Internet Radio made especially for it. (via the E71 blog)

Hands-on preview of the Nokia N79

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:13:06 +0100

Rafe gives his first impressions of the Nokia N79, along with detailed analysis on exactly who it will appeal to and where it fits into Nokia's burgeoning Nseries range. The hardware is the main focus as Rafe takes an early look at a prototype of Nokia's latest Nseries 'candybar' handset.

Comes With Music to Debut in the UK via Carphone Warehouse

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:51:18 +0100

Nokia have announced that Comes With Music will make its debut in the UK, through an exclusive deal with The Carphone Warehouse. Available with the the S40 based 5310, the deal is an exclusive for Carphone Warehouse pre-pay customers until Dec 31st 2008. As advertised, the service will allow users to download as much music as they can from the Nokia Music Store for a year. Pre-orders can now be made at www.carphonewarehouse.com.

Why Do We Expect What We Get On A New Smartphone?

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:03:02 +0100

What was once the latest hot feature on our smartphones has become the 'without that I'm not buying it' necessity. Ewan takes a look at the features that were once the hot news but have become little more than requirements in the spec list and why this march of progress isn't going to stop in the near future.