Nokia Developer Newsletter

Nokia today launched S60 5th Edition with an SDK and the first device based on the new platform, the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic.

S60 5th Edition offers developers new opportunities for their applications. For Web innovation, the new platform increases the capabilities of applications for Web Runtime (WRT) and Flash Lite applications by providing access to local device information and functionality, such as device location and landmarks, phonebook and calendar entries, and message folders. S60 5th Edition also improves the user experience with new features that include a responsive and intuitive touch UI, advanced sensor framework, and broader media support.

To support the new platform, Nokia today announced the availability of the initial release of the S60 5th Edition SDK for Symbian OS. In addition, Symbian C++ developers can quickly convert or bring new applications to market using the latest version of Carbide.c++ Codescanner. This new version of the tool, available through an Eclipse update for Carbide.C++ 1.3, provides developers with the S60 5th Edition migration rules. These rules help developers identify code changes that ensure their applications can take full advantage of S60 5th Edition's new UI features.

With the introduction of the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, the S60 platform continues to enrich the smartphone portfolio from feature phones to high-end multimedia and enterprise-focused devices. Worldwide shipments of the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic are set to begin in the fourth quarter. The new device introduces two innovations: Media Bar, a drop-down menu for direct access to music, videos, and photos; and Contacts Bar, which lets consumers highlight four favourite contacts on the home screen and, with a single touch, track their digital histories of recent messages, e-mails, and more. The new device also supports Flash content and features up to 8 gigabytes of user memory, a 3.2-megapixel camera, graphics equaliser, and built-in stereo speakers. Worldwide shipments of the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic are set to begin in the fourth quarter, and the device will retail for 279 euros. Early next year a new version of the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic will include Comes With Music, the Nokia service that offers one year of unlimited access to the entire Nokia Music Store catalogue.

Start development on S60 5th Edition today.

Check out technical specs of the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic.

Explore more about the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic.

Listen to the S60 5th Edition webcast to learn more.

Nokia recently released details of the next software version of maemo, the platform for mobile tablets based on GNU/Linux and other open source components. The details of what will be maemo 5 were presented by Ari Jaaksi, Nokia's vice president of maemo software, during a keynote speech at the recent OiSM World Conference in Berlin. Upcoming features for maemo will include 3G connectivity over high-speed packet access (HSPA) networks for 'broadband anywhere'; support for TI's OMAP3 processor architecture for improved multimedia; and support for photo-sharing with high-definition cameras, Jaaski explained. An alpha SDK is expected by year's end, according to Nokia, and then the company will work with the open source community to create the beta SDK. Nokia also has become a Gold Sponsor of the Linux Foundation, the company says it is the first to contribute code for 3G/HSPA connectivity for OMAP3 to the Linux kernel. Nokia also revealed that 80 percent of the maemo software stack is now open source; the company considers the remaining 20 percent of code in UI and applications important to differentiate its devices from those offered by other vendors using the same platform.

Check out the Nokia maemo platform.

Delivering Series 40 Flash Lite content to consumers has gotten easier. The Nokia Flash Lite (NFL) package, available in Series 40 5th Edition, Feature Pack 1 and newer, offers developers a new way to package several related resource files and launch content using an application icon instead of the default Flash icon. NFL also lets developers display a localised application name in the Gallery instead of the file name. It also permits developers to protect their intellectual property using digital rights management (DRM). What's more, the NFL package format is based on the universally accepted ZIP archive format (with some requirements), making it easy to use and distribute.

Explore Nokia's procedure and file format for distributing Flash Lite to Series 40 devices.

Attention, games developers: Nokia recently announced the SNAP Mobile SDK 2.1. SNAP Mobile by Nokia is an industry-leading, turnkey, connected-game infrastructure based on Java™ technology. Release 2.1 of the SNAP Mobile SDK adds a new implementation of Maze Racer as the sample game; demonstrates compliance with the SNAP Mobile Standard Game Requirements (SGR) and uses the UI Framework; and includes an expanded SNAP Mobile API that supports game development with new features, such as bots that simulate opponents and the UI Framework for the creation of graphical UI widgets. Also, the SNAP Mobile Emulation Environment has been updated to support games that use bots and assets. The next SNAP Mobile SDK, version 2.2, is planned for release within the next month; it builds on version 2.1 by providing more templates and tools, such as bots and sample applications for matchmaking.

In addition, Nokia recently launched N-Gage™ Industry Insider, a site for developers and others involved with N-Gage games and devices. The new site features blogs, interviews, a developer discussion board, FAQ, technical information, news, and more.

Discover and download SNAP Mobile SDK 2.1.

Get up to speed on SNAP Mobile.

Visit the new N-Gage Industry Insider site.

Nokia's new Legends advertising campaign features an old-format newspaper, the fictional Legends Telegraph, to promote the company's latest cutting-edge technologies. Among the future technologies promoted by the Legends campaign are location sensors, mobile journalism, indoor positioning, personalised Web widgets, traffic works, and a multiscanner/language translator. The technologies are presented with a combination of short newspaper-style articles and ads, links to the Nokia Upcoming Innovations site, an online form (complete with old-fashioned typewriter sound effects), and online videos featuring Ron McLarty of TV's 'Law and Order' (in English), Vicky Luo (Mandarin), and Michael Colonnese (Spanish). The campaign will be promoted at Nokia press conferences and live events, on blogs and Web sites (including Forum Nokia, S60.com, and MOSH) and via social media.

Check out the Nokia Legends newspaper.

Travelers need directions to find restaurants, hotels, and other local attractions. A solution is at hand, literally, with nearme from Oxford Softworks Ltd. of Abingdon, England. This location-based service (LBS) for S60 3rd Edition devices uses a global positioning system (GPS) to determine the precise location of a traveler, then sends his or her device relevant travel information from a database of third-party information. Where GPS access is unavailable — inside a large building, for example — the software determines its location by identifying the cell of a network.

Currently available only in the U.K., nearme was the overall runner-up in the NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge 2008 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain where it received the highest score in the Navigation category. That's also where Oxford Software began its relationship with Nokia — staff from Forum Nokia PRO were judges on the LBS Challenge panel. Since then, Nokia has invited Oxford Softworks to attend the S60 Summit in Barcelona, Spain and nearme will be made available through Nokia's Download Store. 'It's been a fruitful relationship', says Calvin Hutt, Oxford Software's managing director.

Discover how Oxford Softworks delivers directions to S60 3rd Edition travelers.

Developers have a new source for personalised help for their next application development projects. The Forum Nokia Technical Consultancy service, staffed by highly skilled technical engineers, provides in-depth services to support every level and stage of development projects. The service is provided in cooperation with selected third-party service providers Movial, Nomovok, Digia, Teleca, and Wipro. Forum Nokia developers can purchase Technical Consultancy services either directly from Forum Nokia or from any of these third-party service providers.

Find out how the Forum Nokia Technical Consultancy can help your next project.

As a group, usability professionals — developers who work to create the best possible user experience on mobile applications and content — are frequently overworked. So how can a usability professional best allocate his or her time? In a new article on Forum Nokia, international usability expert Jakob Nielsen presents four possible strategies:

• Divide your available time across all projects equally. For example, if you had 12 projects, you would give each project one person-month of effort a year.

• Spend everything on one project, and let the others fend for themselves.

• Select one champion project and do whatever is needed to make that project shine. Limit the other projects to only the most important usability work.

• Allocate resources according to each project's money-making potential, its return on investment (ROI). For example, if one project accounted for half the company's revenue, it would receive six person-months per year; the remaining half of your time would be distributed evenly among the other 11 projects.

Which approach does Nielsen recommend? Read the rest of his article, 'Allocating Your Time', and find out.

Got a game-changing idea, but need some training before you can enter the Calling All Innovators contest? Forum Nokia can help with free e-learning sessions and Webinars, documentation, videos, code samples, widgets, and more. For example, if you wish to enter the Eco Challenge, you can check out videos and code samples from the we:offset mobile carbon offset application. Developers who imagine the possibilities in the Emerging Markets Challenge can learn about user-generated localisation in the Design for Africa application, with full source code. And if you are training for the Technology Showcase, Forum Nokia is offering code samples you can download and code camps you can attend.

Start training for the Calling All Innovators contest.

Watch inventor Dean Kamen discuss the launch of Calling All Innovators.

Developers can learn more about Trolltech at Qt Developer Days 2008. Trolltech, best known for its Qt cross-platform application frameworks, was recently acquired by Nokia, and Trolltech is now fully integrated in Nokia as Qt Software. Qt Developer Days 2008 will offer developers more than 20 technical sessions presented by Qt experts; best practices from Qt customers, partners, and renowned industry experts; an introduction to Qt with extensive optional pre-conference training sessions; and access to hundreds of Qt experts, developers, customers, and partners. Qt Developer Days will be offered in two locations: Munich, on 14 – 15 October, and Redwood City, California, on 29 – 30 October.

Register and learn more about Qt Developer Days 2008.