Symbian ^3 overview

saw it on twitter, its kinda mixed he gives it some credit but nothing ground breaking still no pics or vids from the device itself and there seem to be alot of good changes for those that like symbian, themselves, but nothing new compared to other os's
 
We all know what Symbian^3 meant for the OS. If anyone is surprised, I want to slap them across the face.

Nokia really should promise Symbian^4 is going on the N8. The processor may be lacking, but I would think the GPU could handle all the UI enhancements.
 
I'm not that surprised, just a little disappointed I guess. I don't want to be too negative, so I'll say that Symbian 3 looks competent.
And that Nokia and Symbian really, really still love those scroll bars, because they're all over the place.

Yeah, it's unexciting but the very least Nokia can do is make sure the initial OS firmware is stable out of the gate with no crashes, low memory warnings and random reboots, because who wants that noise again?
 
The problem I see is that Symbian is essentially an OS designed for a button based interface, scaled up now for touch screen phones, and from what I see from previews and Eldar's review is that this hasn't changed.

I don't think anybody will disagree with the statement that the pinnacle and best version of the Symbian OS exists in the present line of E-series devices. If you're going to get a Nokia Symbian phone, get an E-series phone.
 
here are some things to look at
* One click operation. Many current models require clicking on the field, choosing it and then clicking again to perform an action. Now two clicks were replaced by one as it is the case in the majority of modern OS.
* Gestures support in the better part of applications – home screen, gallery, video, etc. It is hardly a breakthrough as similar functionality is to be expected from the modern phones and they usually offer it. Once again Symbian will be playing a catch up game with the rest of the field.
* Faster UI due to hardware acceleration for better lists scrolling, content download, etc. This just brings the phones in line with the modern market requirements.
* Better use of RAM – see above. Again this is a mere correction of mistakes.
* Additional home screens for widgets and an opportunity to install one widget several times (for example, to have weather forecasts for different cities). Yet again, we see nothing new here as Android offers five home screens, while Bada has up to ten of them, and the majority of Samsung handsets feature no less than three home screens.
* Updated design of the music player.
* HDMI support with the display of multimedia information on supported devices (if the latter have the necessary slot).
* Integration of the music store with radio when you can learn the name of the performer and add it to the shopping cart, which is not a revolution.

May be I overlooked something, for example, old-fashioned menu icons or arbitrary breakdown of applications by folders and sections, but S^3 has no other significant differences.

Everytime they improved on something he knocks them and while it isn't revolutionary, its something symbian users wanted and it is an improvement.
 
Exactly this is what it is. Look at the screenshots, man, it is what V5 should have been, I tell you more, if you have the N97 or the mini install this theme and you will have all the Symbian^3 look (http://www.dhsthemes.com/archives/2228)

I must admit that I am a Nokia and a Symbian fan, I am using Nokias since the 2160 (I think was 1998) and Symbian since the 3650 (ugly as the N8 and with the same blue color), Nokia/Symbian served me well, but I just becoming to feel really stupid and let me tell you why:

a. My last four Nokias, the N95 was great, no complain at all (but this was in 2007/8), the E71 a solid and reliable phone (2009), the E72 was forgettable, build quality not on pair with the E71 (hey, not on pair even with the Mini) and the horrible Nokia Messaging built in were enough to sold it after a month. Currently the N97 Mini, overall is a good device and I am happy with it but lacking processor power/memory and waiting for a firmware update forever.

b. So focus on the Mini (or N97 is the same), since S^3 is what S^1 should have been (it must be called S60 5th Edition FP1), and since Nokia is promoting it as an optimized and more efficient version, why we will not have it on our devices?
I will tell you why, Nokia firmly believe that we are stupid people and just launching a new device with a 12mp camera with the Nokia brand will be enough for us to buy it (and probably will be), while buying an Android phone or an iPhone you get at least a major update once a year (even with RIM OS and WebOS you get the same) with Nokia every single time that they release a major update you need to throw away your phone and buy the new one. Worst, not only your phone, you will need to buy again your apps since the stupid IMEI chain registration model (or at least begging developers to provide a new registration code), looking back to the iPhone, today I upraded my wife?s 3GS to iOS 4, after upgraded and synced it by iTunes her apps was there, no mails asking for codes, no buying nothing again, no mess.

c. In 2010 I am seek of dealing with the email on my phone, Nokia Messaging is just horrible, when you see mail?s apps on iPhone, BB, Android or even some Samsung feature phones I am really feeling stupid.

d. Ovi Store; you cannot buy anything in South America, no chance with credit cards or operator?s bill, simply no way. I have a support ticket open with the horrible Nokia Support since February 24th, four months later and they are still investigating what is going on, returning to my wife?s iPhone, she can buy what she wants since 2007 and the first iPhone...

e. Nokia (IMO) is lost, really lost, if you look their strategy in detail it has no sense, they don?t know if they must focus on S^3, S^4, on Maemo, on Meego, on services or whatever and they are unfocusing resourses, they are right now where WinMo was three years ago, dying quarter by quarter. They lost the smartphone battle, they are still counting casualties, but they lost, may be as it is happening to WinMo they can come with a new solution in 2 or 3 years, but right now better for they to focus in the low end market.

f. Nokia bloggers, they are as lost as Nokia, they are right now publishing really funny things, for instance Rita (AKA Dotsisx) from Symbian-Guru proposing that a $1K phone will solve Nokia image problems (http://www.symbian-guru.com/welcome/2010/06/should-nokia-release-a-1000-phone.html) or Steve from AAS suggesting why you need to buy an app if there is a web page for it (comparing popular iphone apps), for sure Steve has a point...but if your web brownser is inside a N900, iPhone or Android device, but in Symbian is a joke (take a look at the screenshots because they are risible: http://www.allaboutmaemo.com/features/item/Theres_a_Bookmark_for_that.php). What I think that is a clear sign of what is going on is that if you follow some Nokia bloggers on twitter you will find that their tweets come from "twitter for iphone", "twitter for blackberry" and so on...

g. Last and may be funny, but I am thinking about SPB Shell, I cannot imagine SPB launching a shell replacement for android, iphone or webos, something wrong is happening to symbian, the same that happened to WinMo.

Closing, Nokia did some clever moves, for instance Ovi Maps is an example of a good job and a right management choice, but overall I think that is late for them, I normally don?t agree with Eldar, but he has a point here:



So I think that at least for me is time to stop feeling stupid, I don?t like Steve Jobs? way, but at least he has a way.
 
What do you mean build quality not on par? Maybe the battery door on the e71 was better, but you have 3.5 mm headphone jack on the e72, upgraded camera, and usb charging. Besides obvious other things like the faster processor ETC...


Plus it's pretty easy to decline Nokia Messaging if you don't want it...
 
He's talking about build quality and it was slightly worse than the E71. But then again, EVERYTHING is inferior in build quality compared to the E71. The E72 is a solid device but that doesn't make up for the ****** code and lack of RAM.
 
I get BT lockups with my Acura system now that didn't happen on v22 and the "7", "8" shortcut screw up is major. This will be my last Symbian device and I can't get rid of it soon enough.
 
It might be major, but it's not a dealbreaker for me. I've already rearranged all my least used icons in the 7 - 8 slots. Should I have to do that, no but it doesn't bother me.


I could understand your frustration about the BT. I can't remember the last 15+ min conversation that I've had on a cell phone without using a BT headset of some sort. Even if it's an incoming call I still switch over on the fly. I don't and have no desire to have a car BT system. All I need is my Moto H715 and I'm set for life, but I understand your BT frustration.


As for a last Symbian device? Sure I'm dying to see and use Meego, but I haven't written off S^4...
 
Don't get me wrong, for the most part it does it's job. I just have little faith in Nokia's software department. It's a constant battle between software and RAM usage and the E72 is a hold over device until I can get a decent Android device on AT&T. I was waiting for the Milestone on Telus but those are still close to $700. But after using Maemo I will certainly be waiting for an AT&T MeeGo device. The UX blows anything Symbian away.
 
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