This one's about the latest firmware update for Nokia's Symbian^3 "Smart-phones", The Symbian Anna.
Key features:
virtual QWERTY keypad in portrait mode, split-screen text input, an updated web browser, stronger security, an updated icon set and improved Maps functionality. Plus the Nokia C7 gains activation of its NFC chip.
Looks:
there's not much of a appearance change, its still very boring like other Symbian. The icons are derived from the existing icongraphy, but with rounded edges.
Update:
The Anna update has two stages:
1. Improved text input usability through the introduction of a portrait QWERTY keyboard and widespread use of split screen input. Split screen overlays text entry input boxes on existing screen elements and works in both portrait and landscape orientations. For example, in Maps a search can be entered and auto-completed results seen as you enter text. Similarly, in Messaging, when you reply to a message in Conversations view you can see previous messages in the thread. The portrait keyboard also enables Swype in portrait mode, giving you another input option (note you need to install Swype app from Ovi Store).
4. Mobile Operator Data is needed to connect to the Ovi Store, feature that is hated and from the obvious Blackberry.
5. While input with the prediction 'on' if you traverse to a word back the cursor goes through each and every letter of the word and not the entire word in one go like in the previous versions of Symbian. I found this quite annoying.
6. The Ovi Store is a big let down, after all there are not much of free-apps that are good enough. But hurray Fruit Ninja full version is free.
7. Lets face it, The Symbian Anna is no Android or Apple's Ios. Yes, Nokia has done a lot to come up this but they still got a lot of work to do to compete with the Ios and Android phones to whom Nokia is losing the smart-phone market or should i say LOST!
8. Nokia actually released the C7 with NFC Chip without any notice just because they did not have the software developed for it. Only after the Anna update we even know that its there.
Coming soon...
Nokia is too concerned about the smart-phone market and is desperate to bounce back. Will the Symbian Belle be it? can it save Nokia, we will have to wait till the end of November to get our hands on it.
Bottom-line:
The Symbian Anna definitely has some lag and a tiny bit not responsive enough but it sure solves the problem of the phone freezing and restarting time and time again during use while on Symbian^3. The Anna sure beats Symbian^3 but not enough for Android or Ios, hoping that Belle will be pleasing enough, atleast.
Until next time, its Subangh. Be Updated by hooking into
http://www.technomaniacz.com/
Key features:
virtual QWERTY keypad in portrait mode, split-screen text input, an updated web browser, stronger security, an updated icon set and improved Maps functionality. Plus the Nokia C7 gains activation of its NFC chip.
Looks:
there's not much of a appearance change, its still very boring like other Symbian. The icons are derived from the existing icongraphy, but with rounded edges.
Update:
The Anna update has two stages:
- Updating the core OS to v22 firmware (Anna) - this can be done over the air (OTA), e.g. through Device Manager, *#0000# on the Call screen and 'Check for updates', or via Ovi Suite.
- Installation of some additional software and application updates (including Quickoffice and Adobe reader). This is principally done using the 'Sw Update' application (look for "Symbian Anna Update 1/2" and "Symbian Anna Update 2/2", shown above, right). Note that at least one of these extra updates normally 'fails' on the first time you run it. Try again immediately. If that doesn't work, restart the device and try again - all our devices updated fully - eventually!
What's New:
2. Updated Web application with a more intuitive user interface and faster performance. This includes a standard location for the address bar at the top of the page (with improved auto-complete, which benefits from the new split screen text entry), visual back button accessible at all times (bottom left), and a redesigned and more responsive 'quick menu access' floating button. Performance of page rendering has been improved, with an updated version of WebKit and improved scrolling and page navigation performance. It also offers better compliance with recent standards. The Web application continues to be based on the Symbian WebKit code base.
3. Ovi Maps 3.6, which is already available for existing devices (it recently graduated from Beta Labs). The major features in this version are improved search, the ability to share a location via email and SMS (including to non-Nokia phones), public transport overlays to map view, improved social check-in functionality and the ability to download country maps directly to the device over the air.
4. Updated version of Social application (version 1.3.237), with new icon and improved performance. Previously available as an update via the Sw update application.
5. Updated Calendar application, which gains a split-screen month/day view.
6. Updated Photos application, which now opens straight into photo grid, rather than album / folder list view.
7. Updated Camera application, with reworked icons and UI elements, clearer indicator icons on the corners, direct return to the viewfinder after the setting of scene modes.
8. Updated Mail application, with better use and layout of UI elements (most notably in email lists), faster rendering and scrolling of HTML emails and improved stability
9. [Nokia C7 only]: The NFC (Near Field Communication) hardware in the Nokia C7 is activated by the update. It allows you tap C7's together to share contacts, photos, video and play games. In addition, NFC-enabled accessories can be paired by tapping and the device can be used to read NFC tags.
10. If 'Theme effects' are turned on, application loading is accompanied by a small circular animation to let the user know that something's happening. Previously loading applications would result in a short pause and a fade to black into the application.
11. Over 100 under-the-hood optimization and bug fixes. In general this means you'll notice both smoother and faster operations during usage.
12. Marking is much easier with the Mark Mode in File manager and in Photos, far far better than the original marking procedure of Nokia.
12. Marking is much easier with the Mark Mode in File manager and in Photos, far far better than the original marking procedure of Nokia.
For split screen input in conversations one has to remove the ConversationAppl and ConvServer apps from installed apps.
What Sucks:
1. After the update phone is particularly slow and a little non responsive, not what smart-phone users are looking for.
2. Some users still can't get the split screen input view even after removing the 2 Apps.
3. The music player has few bugs. Some users complain that Shuffle is turned 'on' automatically. Other difficulty I face is with the Shuffle turned 'on' if i select a song from the list the Shuffle is turned 'off'. WTF man, seriously.
4. Mobile Operator Data is needed to connect to the Ovi Store, feature that is hated and from the obvious Blackberry.
5. While input with the prediction 'on' if you traverse to a word back the cursor goes through each and every letter of the word and not the entire word in one go like in the previous versions of Symbian. I found this quite annoying.
6. The Ovi Store is a big let down, after all there are not much of free-apps that are good enough. But hurray Fruit Ninja full version is free.
7. Lets face it, The Symbian Anna is no Android or Apple's Ios. Yes, Nokia has done a lot to come up this but they still got a lot of work to do to compete with the Ios and Android phones to whom Nokia is losing the smart-phone market or should i say LOST!
8. Nokia actually released the C7 with NFC Chip without any notice just because they did not have the software developed for it. Only after the Anna update we even know that its there.
Coming soon...
Bottom-line:
The Symbian Anna definitely has some lag and a tiny bit not responsive enough but it sure solves the problem of the phone freezing and restarting time and time again during use while on Symbian^3. The Anna sure beats Symbian^3 but not enough for Android or Ios, hoping that Belle will be pleasing enough, atleast.
Until next time, its Subangh. Be Updated by hooking into
http://www.technomaniacz.com/
