Symbian has had a bit of a string of bad news lately, but starting today, things might just start looking up again. Major changes have been announced with regards to the Symbian Foundation and Nokia's involvement with the platform, which all basically come down to this: Nokia is taking over development of the platform, while the Foundation focusses on licensing.
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Member since:
2008-12-26
Uh, it seems that the best place to control the development of Symbian is the company that stands almost completely alone in both 1) paying for the development and 2) using the OS.
Thanks for the Ocock article reference anyway, it's a pretty accurate review of the history of Symbian. Nokia's approach to developer ecosystem has completely changed over time (basically after Qt came around). It used to be "We know Symbian C++ development is terrible, deal with it, it's profitable anyway" but now developer efficiency and powerful tools are seen to be critically important. It pretty much has to be since now developers can vote with their feet if they think you suck.
The fruits of that work will mostly be seen throughout 2011.
Member since:
2010-08-06
I dont have much working experience on Symbian phones but I have some friends that really like it.
I'm perplexed on why it has become so unfashionable so quickly.
On usability what would Symbian(Nokia) have to do to catch up to Android and Apples IOS?
Or has Symbian got some unfair treatment?
Edited 2010-11-08 21:14 UTC
Member since:2005-07-23
Member since:2005-07-06
The N95 was a wonderful phone, technically very advanced and the UI worked very well - but it was all controlled with keys, not a touch screen.
Then the iPhone came out with a totally different tactile interface. The N95 8GB was a technically much better phone but the iPhone GUI was years ahead.
Nokia have spent the last few years trying to catch up with the iPhone GUI.
You've actually answered your question here. It's all perception - what makes you think Symbian has to catch up with MeeGo?
Member since:2006-07-14
Member since:2005-07-23
Reviews?
Comparisons with WebOS, Maemo and iOS?
Nokia themselves? (Why the need to develop it further, delay it or use Maemo/MeeGo for higher end phones unless there's a difference?)
All the other phone companies switching from Symbian to Android or something else instead of staying with Symbian?
Edited 2010-11-10 10:31 UTC
Member since:2005-06-29
Member since:2005-11-10
I use both XP and Windows 7 and don’t see much difference. One is more modern than the other, but I still get the exact same work done in the same time, using the same tools.
Sure, once people stop writing for XP outright, then you have a point, but let’s not be throwing our working tools away for the name of nothing more than fashion.
Member since:2008-10-23
And what would be the Windows 7 or Snow Leopard of mobile phone os then? All other major OSes are still running some kind of old UNIX kernel. I don't see anything more modern yet. I agree the GUI that Nokia puts on top of Symbian could be improved though but the latest developments seem to go in the right direction.
I don't know why Symbiab receives all the hate. I suspect that is because it is not owned by an Alerican corporation. People always mention Android, iOS and WP7 and never Bada. Why is it so?
Edited 2010-11-10 09:39 UTC
Member since:2005-07-23
... and never Bada. Why is it so?
UI, toolkits, shipped-with applications, application store, browser, Flash and video support, GPS software, phonebook intelligence, IM and social networking support, ...
Bada? Probably because it's small and people haven't used it?
Member since:2008-10-23
The point is that Symbian is not "old". The linux kernel is fine, I agree. I just object to the comment made that Symbian is old stuff. It's not. It's actually younger than most UNIX kernels in use in mobile phones.
The Symbian micro kernel is well adapted to mobile phones. It's secure enough to run native applications without resorting to iOS style walled garden. Its network stack is well suited for the mobile phone. It is a very advanced kernel actually. I would not call it the Windows XP of mobile phones.
Edited 2010-11-10 10:59 UTC
Member since:2005-07-23
, but it's damn jumpy all the time, higher lows for four periods though.
Member since:2005-06-29
And yet, I'm not an American. I say Symbian is a pile of outdated crap because I own Symbian devices.
Bada isn't sold in the US.
Member since:2008-10-23
And yet, I'm not an American. I say Symbian is a pile of outdated crap because I own Symbian devices.
Indeed but you watch hollywood movies. You probably know english better than your own language. You probably get your informations in english from American media.
Bada isn't sold in the US.
It isn't? Now that explains why it doesn't get any media exposure.
Member since:2006-08-20
Member since:2008-10-23
Member since:2008-03-17
I would claim that there are some aspects of usability in Symbian that I haven't found on Android (dunno about the others).
An example for me would be when needing a wireless connection you can define connection profiles by which it will prefer wifi (if available) and then move onto the phone network. You can choose for this to be done automatically or let you choose which network.
On Android I have to be connected to the wifi before it is used, sometimes an app will offer to send me to the settings page to turn it on (why can't it just be turned on in the dialogue?). However, many apps just put up a dialog moaning that they don't have a connection.
it is a royal pain (unless I'm doing something wrong).
Member since:2008-07-15
On usability what would Symbian(Nokia) have to do to catch up to Android and Apples IOS?
Or has Symbian got some unfair treatment?
Because it's the cool thing to love iOS and Android, I think. People seem to believe that, now that those two do things differently and all by touch, that there's no room for anything else anymore and that maybe, just maybe, different people prefer different styles of os. Symbian bashing is like Microsoft or Apple bashing, it's the cool thing to do so everyone does it. I, personally, love Symbian for its lack of bling and battery-guzzling graphics. If I want that sort of thing, I'll load up a game. I just want the os to do what I tell it to and stay out of my way, and as a mobile os, Symbian does exactly that for me.
Member since:
2005-08-12
Member since:2005-07-06
Maemo was shaping up nicely, but got discontinued. Meego for Handset, at this stage, sucks pretty badly. I will be surprised if they can produce a usable Meego phone one year from now. It was just a month ago when it has the ability to make phone calls.
So, I don't think Symbian will be deprecated shortly.
Member since:2008-12-26
More like, it got renamed to "MeeGo Handset UX".
MeeGo for Handset is not what Nokia will release on their upcoming MeeGo phone. It will have "MeeGo compatible" Harmattan, the artist formerly known as Maemo 6.
You can't judge that product from reference applications and graphics you see on MeeGo Handset UX.
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:2005-07-23
Member since:
2006-08-20
this would go in the same vein of news as NASA suddenly decides to head the development of steam rocket engine. delusion of past grandeur is so pathetically funny.
i have written nokia off my gadget radar 2 years back when i purchased my first so-called nokia smartphone, the accursed n96, and i have been having a good laugh at everything nokia has been trying to do to get back to the top. this is not going to change thing one bit. know why? it's because they are like a horny dog humping the leg. everybody else can see what's wrong and having a good chuckle. but they simply think they are humping the wrong leg.
Member since:
2010-10-27
Member since:
2010-01-18