Symbian Bug Squad invites you!

The Symbian Bug Squad has been a great success in terms of testing and bug reporting. The Squad has raised over 40 bugs raised over the last few weeks. Now it's time for the Squad to take the next step and start fixing bugs. We will therefore run a Fixing Week starting from May 10th.

We invite developers of all skills and interests to take part in fixing week. This is a great way to make a valuable contribution to Symbian, get your name into the Symbian code base, get to know our tools, learn about industrial software development, get Gecko Gold (which can be turned into real goods) and much more.

To contribute to bug finding and fixing, you will first need to learn build package.
Here is online session on how to build package.
The session is on 28th May 2010.

Do you want to contribute to SF Location Package?

If you wish to contribute to SF Location Package but not sure about how, please go through Roadmap for Location

If you have potential ideas, you can discuss them here.

If you wish to contribute to defects, please have a look current defects here

In general, we found out potential opportunities [though not restricted] you may like to contribute:

WLAN and Cell ID adaptation modules (Effective positioning)
We are very keen to discuss contributions concerning new positioning technologies based on improving device capabilities to obtain a fast fix in urban and indoor environments which complement A-GPS.

Satellite ephemeris projection services (Effective positioning)
Services that extend the "life" of satellite orbit data to more accurately determine positioning without requiring the device GPS hardware to re-establish a new positional fix can be beneficial in enriching many types of mobile applications. A standard protocol module would exist to specifically support extended ephemeris data supplied by the chipset.

New GNSS assistance data classes (Effective positioning)
The SUPL v2 specification allows up to 6 different classes of GNSS to be supported. Galileo, GLONASS are planned to be supported plus other constellations are potentially available so contributions are welcome which enable any class of GNSS to be supported.

API libraries available for preferred runtime environments (Vibrant developer community)
The present roadmap features a number of interesting APIs which are available to application developers as native enablers. These enablers can also be available to many other application developers if bindings can be defined for different runtime environments. Contributions are required to define these bindings to support application developers who are unfamiliar with Symbian's native programming environment.

Map and navigation framework (Mapping provider services)
The existing Map and Navigation API is available for any mapping content provider to contribute an adapter module to more easily allow service providers to access 3rd party content which supports mapping applications. There is an opportunity to contribute extensions to the framework to enable any content provider to more easily make its services available to application developers.

Location updater defined for 3rd party applications and location service platforms "(Vibrant developer community)"
The Symbian platform is capable of updating 3rd party applications with occasional positional data without requiring any action from the user. This enabler can improve the performance of applications that need to be "location aware" and we are interested to define different use cases that use this feature.

If you have an idea not listed, kindly leave me comment here.

Create design prototypes, no coding required

Have you seen Flowella? Flowella allows designers and developers to create design prototypes — without writing a line of code.

With Flowella you start by creating a series of screen mock-ups, using any image-editing package you like as long as it produces PNG or JPG files. Then define links between the screens. Flowella uses your images and defined links to create an Adobe Flash Lite 3.0 application or Web Runtime (WRT) widget. Now you can walk through the Flash Lite or WRT prototype, show it to your supervisor or client, and make sure everybody buys into the basic operation before you commit the time to actually coding the app.

• Start with the Introducing Flowella video
• Read the tutorial
• Check out the example Flowella project file and images for the prototype of a podcast widget.
• Or jump right in and download the free tool.

New Mobile Video Apps Innovation Challenge - $10,000 Prize!

Dialogic Corporation is calling upon mobile application developers to participate in the Second Annual Dialogic Innovator Challenge. The theme of this year’s Innovator Challenge is to create the ultimate sports application based on video. The grand prize winner of the Challenge will receive a cash prize of US$10,000, while the first runner up will receive a cash prize of US$5,000 and the second runner up will receive a cash prize of US$2,500. More details are available at: www.dialogic. com/innovator. Submissions for the contest will be accepted from April 21^st through August 31^st. Winners will be announced at the end of September.

Applicants are also invited to download software from the Innovator Challenge portal to develop their video applications. The developer platforms include Dialogic IP Media Server, Dialogic Host Media Processing Software and the DiaStar Server, as well as to use the Dialogic® Vision™ Servers and Gateways. Dialogic is also offering access to a developer network that will allow developers to use and test Dialogic products for the development of trial applications. Additionally, in-person or online training courses are available to help developers gain proficiency in evaluating, developing and deploying solutions based on Dialogic products.

The contest is open for developers who are ready to trial, go to market or have recently deployed a new video or social networking application, for any kind of smart mobile device, that is sports related. All entries will be featured on the Innovator Challenge web site, where the general public will be invited to rate the applications. The winners will be determined by online rating in conjunction with a global judging panel of independent representatives from telecoms, media, analysts and industry institutions.

Ovi Maps Racing Game Lets You Speed Around Your Neighborhood

A sneak preview of the Ovi Maps Racing game (coming soon to the Ovi Store) was unveiled at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas by Nokia earlier Thursday.  

In a truly unique experience, you use the GPS in your device to find your location (or use Ovi Maps to choose any location in the world), then customize a track around your neighborhood, and finally fire up those engines! --Nokia Conversations 

As pictures are better than a thousand words, check it out below!   Enjoy!  Leave me a comment.

Industry analysts' first take on the Nokia N8 and S^3. "Pivotal device" but "UI still has much of a legacy feeling"

Thanks to the Industry Analyst Relations team for compiling and sharing this analyst feedback on Nokia's latest flagship product, the N8. The device is already being put under the microscope in this hyper-competitive environment, so this early input is extremely valuable to get a feeling of coming sentiment. Surprises are for birthdays.

Compiled by the Nokia IAR team:

Dear All,

Nokia Industry Analyst Relations briefed 30+ leading industry analysts in Europe and North America face-to-face over the last two weeks including a hands-on demonstration of the Nokia N8 and S^3. This is the summary of the key industry analyst feedback and recommendations to Nokia.

Positives:
-Pivotal device in Nokia's effort to make its high-end phones credible again.
-'Good foundation stone for Nokia as it tries to get back on its feet in the highly competitive high-end smartphone market.'
-Beautiful device, extremely elegant. Analysts applaud the design, overall look and feel and form factor.
-+++Amazing display, capacitive touch, high def video capture and playback a huge plus.
-Extremely feature rich and demonstrates all the things Nokia does well - fit and finish, core, battery life, camera.
-Performance VASTLY improved.
-Significant improvements in the UI. 'It's not quite where you need to be, but going in the right direction.'
-Excellent camera quality.
-'12 megapixels with Carl Zeiss optics - wow!' 'This is where you clearly beat Apple - they can't catch up with you on the camera side anytime soon.'
-Analysts also very impressed by the multitasking ability of N8 involving heavy computing (e.g. running simultaneously 2 email accounts, Twitter and FB with live streams, music player, Maps and video).
-Good move with implementing social client so that the users are in control.
-Web TV - 'this is where you can make big deals!'
-Very competitive and attractive price point.
-Compares favorably with many Android and Windows devices.
-'In all frankness, this is the first device from Nokia that I've seen for a while that I consider a lot more competitive. It's not on par with iPhone yet, but it will get you a lot closer.'


Concerns:
-Surprised that Nokia is announcing so far ahead of actual shipping date ('thought this would be something you would have learned not to do after N97').
-S^3 is evolutionary rather than revolutionary. UI still has much of a legacy feeling. It doesn't look 'fresh enough' - it still looks like Symbian.
-Nokia's biggest challenge will be to get users to pick up the phone and play with it, because the -UI looks just like the 'old' Symbian which so many users dislike. It is only by using the new OS that the improvements can be seen. 'Couldn't you at least have change the icons to make it a bit 'different??'.
-S^3 UX might not be enough to get you on par with the iPhone - that brings more and very high expectations for S^4.
-The delay (3Q instead of 2Q) gives Apple and Android camps more time to develop their OSs, solidifying their positions in high-end.
-With the binary break from S^3 to S^4 - how are you going to position N8 and S^3 platform to developers. Qt will clearly be key here and needs to be evangelized.
-You still don't have enough focus on US. You should launch a device like this first in the US because that's where the buzz and innovation in mobile currently is.

Recommendations:
-Continue UI improvements urgently, competition will not stand still while you catch up.
-Going forward you also need extreme attention to detail in UI. You need to be super-consistent (number of clicks etc.).
-With N8, pick a right angle when you market/position this to consumers. It is critical that you differentiate from all the smartphones out there.
-HDMI is such a cool feature that you need to sell it proactively to consumers. Offer concrete use cases and drive it in explicitly.
-With respect to the social client, disappointing that you have not signed up more partners. You should have at least 10 at launch. Talk more about how your social client implementation puts you in control of your social networking contacts.
-'Really, really hope you'll get this in with a major US carrier.'
-After the N97 fiasco (which did serious damage to your brand), it is crucial that the quality of the N8 does not disappoint. With N97 you over promised and under delivered. Don't make that mistake again.

Microsoft Communicator on Nokia devices

Microsoft and Nokia have launched the first application of the mobile-productivity alliance the two companies formed last August. The new application, Microsoft Communicator Mobile for Nokia, is a unified communications client that connects directly with a company's communications systems to streamline mobile collaboration. Owners of Nokia E72 and Nokia E52 smartphones can download the English version now from Nokia's Ovi Store. Looking ahead, the two companies plan to deliver Communicator Mobile for Nokia pre-installed on select Nokia smartphones; they also plan to support additional devices, including the new Nokia E5.

Learn more about the application’s debut.