We'd argue that the "wow" factor still isn't there quite yet, but we'll admit:
Symbian^4 is clearly going to be a bit of a departure from the versions that came before it. The Symbian Foundation has posted the first handful of home screen UI shots on its developer wiki recently showing redesigned widgets, app categories and search, pop-up menus, and a standard-issue numeric touchscreen keypad -- and unlike
Nokia's concept videos from before, these are from a real emulator running real code. While
MeeGo is still expected to dominate the high end of its range, Nokia's expecting to use Symbian^4 in at least some of its devices by
early 2011 -- and knowing how these guys like to go big with global roll-outs spanning tens or hundreds of millions of devices, this is a UI you might end up getting to know
extremely well within a year or two.
posted July 17th 2010 2:18AM
@spartandre217 Speed only matters if it impairs a device so that it isn't a pleasure to use. I think we're at the stage where $300 dollars unlocked gets you a piece of hardware capable of running android just fine. Symbian runs well on devices because it runs a graphically unintensive OS and caters to the low end, please run Meego on those $300 dollar devices. Why make two platforms, then have to optimize both for different ends of the spectrum, when the natural progression of hardware will take of it for you, wait one year, release lower pieces of kit that can run the OS that last year took a 500-600 dollar device?
Nokia may have a large marketshare but it's losing smartphones, and soon all phones will be smartphones..
@nickyP
Wrong, the cheapest android devices that run 2.0+ smoothly cost 350+
Your logic precludes any company's need to MAKE MONEY. You don't make money by waiting a year then releasing hardware and software from the previous year, especially if you want to make a dent in the high-margin high-end of the market.
It's not losing smartphones anytime soon. They've lost the high end, but they dominate everywhere else. The amount of work they have to do regarding optimisation is a lot less than it used to be provided that there are a large number of contributors to the OS.
All they have to do is stick the OS on the hardware that they build and make their contributions to the future of the OS.
@nickyP
You should probably check out the blog I write on.
Your opinions would be greatly appreciated.
www.mynokiablog.com
Trust me when I say we're not blind fanboys over there.
We lay into the company as much as we lay into the competition.
The coolest part of this screen shot is the HONG KONG RED TAXIS