Symbian OS is one of the most popular smartphone platform is designed like many desktop operating systems with multitasking and memory protection.  In Symbian OS was designed to provide the integrity and security of user data while saving user time and get maximum benefit from the limited resources available with the mobile platform.
With its root from Psion Software’s EPOC, it has the following system structure:
The Symbian OS System Model contains the following layers, from top to bottom:

* UI Framework Layer
* Application Services Layer
o Java ME
* OS Services Layer
o generic OS services
o communications services
o multimedia and graphics services
o connectivity services
* Base Services Layer
* Kernel Services & Hardware Interface Layer

Of the Symbian Versions, the latest version is Symbian OS 9.5 that supports digital television broadcasts in DVB-H and ISDB-T formats, and provide location services. With touchscreen and many more facilities, Symbian is one of the most advanced and increasingly popular mobile operating system.

With advancement of mobile technology, people are now looking for more features and performance in their mobile phones; this demand has led the revolutions of smartphones and made the mobile more usable than ever. This demand has also given a rise to many operating platform. Along with individual mobile platform which are capable of running Java™ applications there are quite a number of popular operating systems. Below is a list of smartphone platforms:

» Symbian OS™ Software

» Windows Mobile™ Software

» BlackBerry® Software

» Palm® Software

» Android™ Software

Follow the links above to know more about mobile platforms and available devices based on that platform. Don’t know which operating system is your smartphone? Click here

Google has recently launched the Android based phone with T-Mobile in selected region. The phone comes preloaded with Search, Maps, Gmail with Contacts, Calendar, Google Talk, and YouTube. While Google implements these apps into the phone, their aim seems to help the users organize the information and make it universally accessible; Search is an integrated function of the phone which is easy to use and not limited to the web but also the phone itself.

This is done, by making the applications searchable. With a ‘Searchable’ application the ability to search inside the application has just become easier. For example, just starting typing will automatically open the search interface and show the respective reuslts. Even the phone includes a dedicated Search key on bottom row of the keyboard upon pressing which will enable the user to start searching immediately.

Search has also become easier with suggestions which will be displayed ‘As you type’ and the list of suggestions refines itself by selecting options will  immediately lead to that search. Developers will be glad to know that the phones API is designed to  catch up with third party developers to incorporate search into their applications. This will add more to the user experience on the go with the phone.

Sense is already implemented in mobile devices to recognize shakes and get various information like counting your footstep or determine the speed of your bicycle. Touch screen are also not too recent invention while many devices already incorporate the touch technology to provide user a better user interface. Some PDA’s like Sony Ericsson’s P990i or O²’s or Palms. But for a smartphone it’s.

The waiting is over. On October the 2nd this year Nokia Announced their cross generation mobile platform S60 5th Edition that will let you touch the screen of your cellphone to perform all actions on your favourite S60 V5 platform. Recently, s60 platform has been made open source and now introduction of the s60 V5’s advanced set of features will definitely secure the s60 platform to a higher position in the mobile market and put it’s competitors behind the race. This will enable new innovations and consumers will have better experiences from their devices.

According to Nokia, “With S60 5th Edition, the user interface is extended by the introduction of touch and with full support for tactile feedback. Enhanced display resolution support and a new Widescreen mode further compliments the touch UI and enables engaging visual experiences. Also, for the first time, the platform includes a framework for the use of advanced sensor technology. This all allows S60 device manufacturers to create innovative new device concepts for a wider range of user segments, while preserving the rich capabilities of the existing software platform.”

The first of the device, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is designed for music lovers. So, what comes with the Touches? As S60 web browser is the 2nd best (PC World) mobile web browser after iPhone’s Safari, it continues to support the use of internet technologies and with it’s web browsing capabilites, it may lead the mobile internet world with desktop-quality browsing with Adobe Flash Lite 3; scrolling web pages and interacting directly with Web content has become easier by touching with a finger or the use of keys or stylus.

Sensors will enable the consumers to take the advantages to a integrated sensing feature that will lead to more exciting application expereinces. With an integrated multimedia experience of image and video editing makes it simple simple to edit pics and vids directly on a the device.

Still there are loads of features that are integrated and more SDK’s are there for the developers to add more to the platform.

Please visit www.s60.com for more information about the s60 Platform and Nokia’s website for information about 5800 XpressMusic

Well, It’s really difficult to understand the ‘HTC’ behaviour. While HTC has kept their track on the ever-expanding mobile internet industry with its devices, they are at the same time, re-defining the text. Without communication what is a smartphone? Other than talking or surfing, HTC S740 offers a highly appreciable key-control to provide an comfortable experience with writing on mobile phones.

S740, which has been available in the market since the end of August this year, has been designed to meet the text messaging needs (like short-messages or email) of the consumers. Like all other HTC products, the device is designed for beauty and never forgetting the function. It’s slide-out keyboard makes typing-intensive tasks more enjoyable.

The hardware is not all. The built in quick messaging tools for writing documents, texts, emailing and instant messaging conversations gives it a choice for users to take the freedom to communicate. It also comes with a built-in RSS hub to keep you updated.

HTC S740 - Released in August 2008

HTC S740 inhibits a Qualcomm 528MHz processor that operates on Windows Mobile platform with its 256 MB RAM. Other features are just good. I just wish that the display could be a little more larger rather than the 2.4 inch with only a QVGA resolution. Also, a better Camera could make it more attractive to those who also love multimedia and web.

Earlier this month Opera has announced to work with NVIDIA to enhance the mobile web experience. Though from the first glance it appears that it will help the mobile web browser performance but it is surely going to improve the overall performance of the device.

Primarily, the combination is expected to come with NVIDIA Tegra chip based devices with Windows Mobile and Windows CE operating systems. Opera Software is going to offer the full desktop Web-browsing experience with JavaScript, accelerated vector and video content. While seamless internet connectivity is critical to any mobile device now-a-days, the combination of Opera 9.5 and NVIDIA Tegra is surely going to bring some changes to the total mobile internet market.

The Tegra family of computer-on-chip solutions that comes with a high-performance ARM CPUs that accelerates media is also with an integrated GeForce® GPUs. When collaborate with Opera’s browser will be providing consumers with rich media and for web, in-page video playback.

NVIDIA Tegra hardware Devices powered by Opera browser powered is expected to be available to consumers in 2009; yet no fixed date has been scheduled.

Good News for the Gamers on the Go. Nokia, the developer of the N-Gage platform for the gamers has jointly announced with Capcom that the classic game Resident Evil Degeneration is scheduled to be released by the end of this year. Capcom is one of the industry leaders in gaming has agreed to provide the game to be optimized for N-Gage in multiple play modes and multiple mission types. The graphic is expected to be 3D quality. It seems that Nokia is to confirm to the consumers about the unique capabilities of the N-Gage platform

Both Nokia and Capcom’s mobile gaming division are really thrilled about the deal to bring such a good game to the N-Gage platform and let the gamers extensive gaming experiences from the limited mobile resources.

However, though N-Gage was limited to a number of handsets earlier, now N-Gage is a mobile games service available in compatible Nokia Nseries and other S60 3rd Edition devices.

HTC has announced thier latest HTC TOUCH HD, the smart computer with a Large, 3.8 inch wide-screen VGA touch display of 480 x 800 resolution which is designed to perform the extensive multimedia display with its Qualcomm® MSM7201a™ 528 MHz processor and 288 MB RAM. For the lovers of multimedia, there is a standard 3.5mm audio jack to reach the music fans and a 5 megapixel auto-focus camera to enhance the photography.

HTC

Not only multimedia is the target of HTC’s TOUCH HD. Taking over the handheld internet market is always HTC’s part of the big dream and the handset the unveiled, comes with a desktop-class broadband browsing in a Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE:850/900/1800/1900MHz, WCDMA/HSPA:900/2100MHz and/or HSDPA 7.2 Mbps network capabilities.

Being one of the global leader in mobile computing, HTC attempts to combine a high performance device with a stylish design to make it both a design and innovation. The graphic comes with stunning clarity, the colours are very vibrant. According to HTC, they have tried to implement the best of mobile computing to reach the users who love to watch TV in a widescreen mode or browse the internet at the speed without compromising the performance.

The HTC Touch HD is scheduled to be available in the European market through major carriers in Q4 2008. And their promise to let the world know their innovation would follow shortly.

HTC HD at a glance:
Size: 115 x 62.8 x 12 mm
Weight: 146.4 grams/5.164 oz with battery
Connectivity: Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE:850/900/1800/1900
MHzWCDMA / HSPA: 900/2100MHz. HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
Software/Operating system: HTC TouchFLO 3D with Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional
Display: 3.8 inch Wide Screen VGA screen (480 x 800 WVGA) 288 MB RAM
Camera: 5.0 megapixel with auto focus – Second Camera: VGA
Internal memory: 512 MB flash; 288 MB RAM
Memory card: microSD™ memory card (SDHC™ capable)
WLAN: 802.11b/g
Bluetooth®: 2.0 with EDR
GPS: GPS/AGPS
Interface: HTC ExtUSB™ (mini-USB and audio jack in one; USB 2.0 High-Speed)
Battery: 1350 mAh
Talk time*: WCDMA: Up to 390 minutes / GSM: Up to 310 minutes
Standby time*: WCDMA: Up to 450 hours / GSM: Up to 390 hours
Chipset: Qualcomm® MSM7201a™ 528 MHz

*conditions apply

Lets see how big the dream comes out to be. We still have to wait to see the full.

Nokia has always been promoting DVD-quality videography that started earlier with the NSeries devices like N91 and later releases of some other handsets. It is experimental to produce broadcast video programs with handheld devices and no other company has yet take the significant step like Nokia.

Mike Hodgkinson, a writer and video director from Hollywood has shot ‘up’ the new music video “Surfing at 32ºF” by Eskimohunter, which is a Los Angeles based band formed in 2002. Once again Nokia promotes their smartphones a show of portable and feature-rich multimedia computers.

“Surfing at 32ºF,” the second video directed and shot by Hodgkinson using Nokia Nseries devices. Basically three handsets are used in the video; Nokia N93, Nokia N93i and Nokia N95 all of which are equipped with Carl-Zeiss Optics and many other video capabilities. The director complements that they have shoot videos from 100 meters away or even from under the water. That sounds interesting.

This kind of projects really encourages new directors because they can do with which they already have with them. Thanks Nokia for such initiatives and should do more the kind so that everybody get to know the potentials of their devices.

To view the new “Surfing at 32ºF” music video and the creative “Behind the Scenes – Making of Surfing at 32ºF by Mike Hodgkinson” please visit Hodgkinson’s blog here.

Source: Nokia

Palm has recently released a minor software update for its latest Treo 800w that is expected to fix a couple of problems with the device’s use.

According to Palm, some of the users have complained about battery charging which happens with a fully dischared battery which is left not to use for a couple of days. In this case the battery would not charge. Some others have told about using external usb devices. They complained that the device can’t recognize the external USB accessories.

These problems are expected to be solved with the software update. But Palm has recommended the update to all users.