2. I mean, seriously? There’s not even a good & fluid PDF Reader app for Symbian in this modern age? What do Symbian users do with their smartphones? Only for making calls? Pfffttt….

3. The situation is so frustrating. If you receive PDF email attachments, and if you are not using Mobile Documents, you’ll be suffering from headache.

4. Today’s requirement for a proper smartphone is not the same as say, 5 years ago. Handling documents properly is one of the functions that defines true smartphones.

5. Enter PDF Eagle. A PDF reader app for Symbian that blows away other Symbian PDF readers. For real!

6. Visiarc, the team led by Peter Lindgren, the same team who brought us the multiple award winnings Mobile Documents, is working very hard to bring real PDF app for Symbian. I mean, this is “THE PDF Reader for Symbian“. Period.

7. The interface is fluid and smooth. It’s less cluttered. Menus and navigations are hidden and only shown when necessary by a simple tap on the screen. The app presents PDF documents as it should.

8. Pinching and zooming is also everywhere. Making viewing PDF documents a pleasure. And for the first time in Symbian, if I’m not mistaken, the app will follow screen orientation in all four axis. It doesn’t matter how you hold your Symbian smartphones when using PDF Eagle, it will rotate accordingly. This is cool!

9. The smoothness of PDF Eagle is apparent not only in the UI. But also in the rendering of PDF pages. It can open multi-megabytes of PDF files with ease. It does stutter when the PDF files contain a lot of graphics but for text based PDF documents, it has no problem dealing with.

10. I cant show you how PDF Eagle truly performs in words. Hence, I shot this video for you guys to see yourself the goodness inside PDF Eagle.

11. PDF Eagle was developed using Visiarc’s proprietary rendering technology and for the UI, they use Qt.

12. PDF Eagle is not only about the application. It’s a solution where Visiarc plans to bring the best PDF experience on your mobiles. For example, if you find a PDF document that cant be opened using PDF Eagle, you can email it to the team and they will inspect the file. Any improvements and patches will be included in future updates which will come free for regisered users.

13. When asked on why Visiarc brings PDF Eagle, Peter Lindgren answers :

“Dealing with PDFs on your mobile has always been a challenge, especially large PDFs. Frankly, we were missing a touch-optimized fullscreen PDF experience. We wanted a responsive interface that maximizes the use of the limited screen real estate, so we developed the PDF Eagle app to deliver its smooth and pleasant mobile PDF experience”.

14. On future updates and improvements, Peter adds :

“We hope that users will appreciate the user experience we deliver and see this as a good and promising start for something that will become great, and ever greater if they give us their feedback. Full text find/search, text reflow and links, top the wish list now, but we’d like users to provide their feedback.

Send your wishes to us!”.

15. PDF Eagle, in it’s current form is not perfect, it does have some weaknesses like unable to open PDF files at random, but for for an initial release, it’s an impressive app.

16. One more thing, Peter, if you read this, can we have a demo version with limited functions please? Maybe some people will be more convinced about it after testing it.

Get PDF Eagle for only 3 Euros from Nokia Store : http://store.ovi.com/content/186299

Official website is at : http://www.pdfeagle.com

Thank you Visiarc!

- For i-Symbian.Com
- Asri al-Baker
- October 19th 2011

1. Nokia Social app is an example of a very poor app design using technology that should have not been included in the first place. Say whateer you want but I really believe it is a bad app and Nokia could do better.

2. Nokia updated the Ovi Store app on Symbian^3 and Anna devices. It’s got the name changed to Nokia Store too. And it’s using Qt-Quick Components. Bringing in more user friendly UI and up-to-date functionalities.

3. I guess it’s a matter of time before Nokia announced a new Social app for all it’s Symbian^3, Anna, and Belle smartphones. I really believe Nokia is cooking something on that front because they did deliver a usable and better Social apps (Facebook and Twitter) on MeeGo Harmattan (Nokia N9).

4. On Nokia Conversations, there’s a new blogpost telling readers about the design story behind Symbian Belle. You can read the post here : http://conversations.nokia.com/2011/10/10/understanding-symbian-belle-exclusive-design-video-documentary/.

5. They showed a video, which is cool. And if you jump to minute 2.35 in the video, you can see it shows Symbian Belle homescreen with two rows of icons symbolising Twitter and Facebook. I never seen any Symbian Homescreen widgets that looked like that before. Could they be the new Homescreen widgets for the new Nokia Social app for Symbian? Written in QML?

6. Anyway, here is the video :

- Asri al-Baker
- For i-Symbian.Com
- October 11th 2011 (I wished I could fly….)

1. I dont know about you guys, but I’m really excited to meet Belle in person.

2. Belle is the new Symbian experience every Symbian fans have been waiting for ages.

3. Historically speaking, during the days of Symbian Foundation (R.I.P.), we should receive Symbian^4 sometimes early this year but everything went downhill for the Foundation. And the development process for Symbian has been disturbed. “There is a disturbance in the force“…

4. Belle is not Symbian^4. Belle is something else. Symbian^4 as what the Foundation planned, is dead, and buried together with the Foundation.

5. But the spirit and essence of Symbian^4 lives on. For example, during the Foundation days, the discussion about Symbian^4 directs to a UI revamp that will make use of a new set of toolbar at the bottom of the screen, with icons, for faster navigation and accessing apps’ functions without digging into “Options”. And Belle has this toolbar.

7. I will attend Nokia Malaysia’s Symbian Belle preview session for bloggers tomorrow. I have a lot of reasons to be excited and I cant wait to meet Belle myself.

8. If you have questions regarding Belle, ask me at twitter ok (@asrialbaker)

9. Oh, by the way. Nokia 700 and Nokia 701 are already available in Malaysian market. The prices are RM1130 for Nokia 701 and RM1025 for Nokia 700.

*** the above photo is unrelated to this post at all

1. I dont know whether you guys noticed this or not but apparently, Symbian Anna’s kinetic scrolling performance is worst than Symbian^3.

2. On Symbian^3, the kinetic scrolling works and feels faster. You can scroll in a long list with ease. It doesn’t stop frequently. You can flick your finger or thumb in all over the OS with ease.

3. However, since I updated my Symbian^3 smartphones to Symbian Anna, I feel it’s kinetic scrolling performance is slower and it stops frequently. Dunno why…

4. Many will say it’s not a big deal, it doesn’t matter, but for me, having a really fast kinetic scrolling does help in enhancing the user experience. I dont want to do a lot of flicking and I want a fast kinetic scrolling everywhere in my Symbian smartphones to go to the place I want faster.

5. I dig deep into Google and found a solution, a mod to be exact, which turbo-boosts Symbian Anna’s kinetic scrolling. It was developed by Ancelad. From what I read, it also works on Symbian^3.

6. This mod is unsigned. You need to know the workaround on how to sign unsigned Symbian app. Do ask Uncle Google

7. I’ve recorded a video for you guys to see how different my E7 with the mod installed to my N8 which does not have the mod yet. Both with Symbian Anna.

8. Notice how fast the kinetic scrolling is on the E7? With just a flick, the list scrolls from top or bottom vice versa without stopping. You can do another flick to make it go faster.

9. On the N8, without the mod, the kinetic scrolling needs continuous flicking and is jerky.

10. You can experience this yourself by installing this file :

Mediafire : Kinetic Scrolling Improvement for Anna by Ancelad.

11. Remember, it’s unsigned, you need to sign it first.

- Asri al-Baker
- For i-Symbian.Com
- September 7th 2011

2. Option 1 : Using the stock Symbian Web or Opera Mobile, or Opera Mini, you can access your Google Plus account using http://m.google.com/+. BUT, this URL will open the basic version. And sometimes the pages are not displayed very well.

3. True. You can use the basic version of mobile Google Plus but the basic page is too… well… Like the name suggests, basic…

4. Option 2 : is using Opera Mobile or Opera Mini to visit the HTML5 mobile version of Google Plus but the layout is effed up.

5. Option 3 : is to use the latest Opera Mobile 11, change the user agent to Desktop, go to http://plus.google.com. This opens the full desktop website of Google Plus with all bells and whistles. It’s very heavy on RAM and clunky to navigate on mobile.

6. Option 4 : designed for HTML5 enabled advanced mobile web browsers. It offers a better Google Plus mobile experience because it offers more than just basic html.

7. The full URL for this HTML5 version of Google Plus for mobile is https://m.google.com/app/plus/?force=1

8. Try typing that URL on your Symbian touch smartphone on the alphanumeric virtual keypad. Your brain wil pull a stunt and synchronising your thumb is painful.

9. Therefore, for all Symbian touch users all over the world, I developed this Widget launcher. Go download this Zip file, extract the “sweetgplus.wgz” file inside it and install. There will be an icon called sweetGplus in your Application folder.

Here is how it looked like :

10. Do take note that Google Plus is a new service and it requires registration before you can use it.

11. If you like what I do, and want to see more cool WebApps for Symbian, send me some PayPal love will ya!

Download the file HERE!

- Asri al-Baker
- For i-Symbian.Com
- July 21st 2011

Donate to us

If you like what we do, please help us to maintain the Independent Symbian Blog.

2. According to the official website, Opera included a number of updates in this version. Which makes Opera Mobile 11.1 the closest thing to a desktop class internet browser for supported mobile devices such as Symbian smartphones.

- An easier way to select texts on any webpage and copying them (also searching the texts on Google). Honestly, it is very intuitive and easy to use.

- Viewing webpages in a single column. Eliminating the need to scroll left and right. This is just a rebranding / rewrite of Opera Mobile’s mobile view which is good. Great and very useful in portrait mode using one hand.

- Browse websites in mobile version or in full desktop glory. There’s a new item in the advanced setting that enables users to select between “Desktop” or “Mobile” user agent. And this does wonders. More on that later.

- More HTML5 compliant than any other web browser for Symbian. For example, using http://www.html5test.com as a benchmark place, Opera Mobile 11.1 Symbian scores 269. Waaaaayyyyy higher than the stock Symbian Web browser who only scores a disappointing 36…

4. I really like the new version especially the User Agent changer. Which enables full scale desktop web browsing on my Nokia E7.

5. True, there are some issues, particularly the following.
- Unable to post to Disqus comments
- No Flash support for Symbian
- RAM usage is still high.

6. Get it from :

http://www.opera.com/mobile

or

http://m.opera.com

7. More information from :

http://my.opera.com/operamobile/blog/2011/06/30/opera-mobile-11-1-has-arrived

http://my.opera.com/operamini/blog/2011/06/30/opera-mini-6-1-launched-today-for-java-blackberry-android-and-s60

2. It’s the User Agent changer. Though limited to Desktop and Mobile only, it opens a lot of possibilities to Opera Mobile 11.1 users because when the Desktop User Agent is selected, Opera Mobile turns almost to Opera Desktop.

3. For bloggers who use self-hosted WordPress, and happen to be a Symbian user at the same time, this is a great option to blog using Symbian devices. Why? Because it’s better than anything else on Symbian currently.

4. There’s an official WordPress client but I hate to say that it’s almost useless. It’s buggy, always crashes and doesn’t have copy & paste function (a bug in Qt text implementation).

5. With Opera Mobile 11.1, you can do almost everything to your WordPress blog that you normally do on desktop web browser. Things like creating new posts, managing plugins, approving comments, uploading and embedding photos to your posts and more.

6. Opera Mobile 11.1 has an extensive support for Javascript and it’s the only web browser on Symbian currently that can comfortably load WordPress Admin Panel without a choke. Try that with the stock Symbian Web browser.

7. For me, I’ve been waiting for this day to come for years. Mobile blogging is something I do very often.

8. Here’s how :

- I write the text using the stock Notes app on my Nokia E7.

- The hardware qwerty on Nokia E7 is really good. Making typing texts so easy. For example, this post is written entirely using Notes on Nokia E7.
- I copy the texts using Ctrl + A (Select All) and Ctrl + C (Copy)

- I log in to my WordPress Admin using Opera Mobile 11.1

- Create a New post

- I paste the texts into the text field using Ctrl + V (Paste)

- If I want to add screenshots or photos, I can use WordPress’ upload function.

- Screenshots were taken using Smartphoneware’s Best Screensnap.
- All posting options like Categories, Tags etc can be configured using Opera Mobile 1.11

- Publish!
- It’s just like using a desktop web browser!

9. I cant say enough on how I love Opera Mobile 11.1!

10. Get it if you havent tried it!

http://m.opera.com

1. I know… I know… It’s been months. We’ve been waiting for months for Symbian Anna to come.

2. Nokia Australia has just released a video, explaining some of the updates and new features inside Symbian Anna.

3. These including (but not limited to) :
- New portrait QWERTY
- New Calendar
- New Web browser
- New iconography
- Yada yada yada…

4. Just watch the video

5. Symbian Anna will be made available for existing Symbian^3 devices during August 2011 (depends on market conditions).

1. Nokia Malaysia organised a special preview session for bloggers on Friday May 27th in Kuala Lumpur.

2. This preview session is intended to show the latest Symbian devices which are the E6 and the X7.

3. Also previewed, was the first glimpse of Symbian Anna. The new Symbian revamp that was scheduled to be shipped with the E6 and X7, and also to be made available to all existing Symbian^3 smartphones (N8, E7, C7, C6-01) in the coming weeks.

Some observations

Calendar

1. I only had a brief moment with Anna, particularly with the X7. And I wasted no time, for 25-30 minutes or so, I digged into X7 user interface and found some interesting tidbits.

The calendar view is improved. In here, calendar entries are displayed. Just like on Symbian^1. Interestingly, it applies for month and week views.

For single day view, time-slots are displayed all the time even on empty days.

The toolbar has been removed. Giving more space for contents. However, this means changing views is harder (Options – Change View…).

Full screen view can be activated by pinching the screen.

Editing screen is also improved (no screenshot)

File Manager

1. Finally. Selecting multiple files (Mark) is easier. When activated, checkboxes will appear on the left of the filenames. Very easy to mark any files that we want. The menu also dynamically changes when selection begins.

2. Speed is increased, eg. opening large photo.

Web-browser

1. I was impressed with the rendering speed. Definitely better than the old Symbian Web.

2. But the UI is still not to my liking. e.g. Changing tabs/windows is still needs many clicks.

3. Creating new tab/window is supported. But the UI for it is very slow. The closest comparison I can mention is like creating new tab on Skyfire for iPad. Very sloowwww….

Overall impression

1. To be honest, Symbian Anna is a step in the right direction. The most obvious change is the application icons, where they are now standardised and looks cooler. And that’s about it.
2. There are some core application changes like the Web browser, and Photo viewer. But most apps stays the same like on Symbian^3.

3. For Symbian^3 users, the changes are not that noticeable. Particularly it has the same UI. Not really a refresh.

4. The overall speed is increased. Launching apps is faster.

5. The portrait QWERTY is included, users can choose between the alphanumeric keypad or the new portrait QWERTY. But, in my opinion, the new portrait QWERTY keyboard needs some time to get used to. The individual keys are too small for my thumbs.

6. Anna will be shipped with E6 & X7 first. Then only for existing Symbian^3 smartphones via software update.

7. Nokia E6 will be priced at only RM1155 when it reaches Malaysia market in early June 2011. For the X7, the price will be determined later. It will be made available in early July 2011.

8. All in all… cant wait to test it in real life

*** More coverage from Tallboyz who also attended the preview session.

- For i-Symbian.Com
- Asri al-Baker
- May 30th 2011

1. It’s been a while since Symbian apps looked beautiful and function well, making using them a joyful ride. If I remember correctly, Jan Ole’s Gravity is one of those apps which brings some fresh ideas to the world of Symbian apps. But that was like 2 years ago…

2. With the full release of Nokia Qt SDK 1.1 last week, developers can publish their Qt Symbian apps (developed utilising Qt 4.7) in Ovi Store. This include apps that are developed using latest Qt (including QML). Lets leave the technical jargons and see what Qt and QML can do :

Flowd

In my opinion, flowd is the best-looking Qt app for Symbian at the moment. Developed by a Digia, it is a social networking client of http://www.flowd.com that connects to your Facebook and Twitter accounts to follow favourite artistes and celebrities, as well as to check-ins and create locations.

The UI for Flowd for Symbian, is very iPhone-ish but there’s some twists and enhancements done by the team. Makes you feel very easy using it.

For some people, who couldn’t get what Flowd is, you can use this app to create favourite locations that you can visit, add details, add photos and so on.

Flowd for Symbian requires latest Qt and Qtmobility to work. Get it from Ovi Store : http://store.ovi.com/content/118220

Linkedin

For professionals, business and corporate users, Linkedin is their preferred social networking platform and for years, Symbian users have been left behind.

Finally, us Symbian users can experience Linkedin in our Symbian smartphones using a dedicated Linkedin app. It is available for FREE in Ovi Store : http://store.ovi.com/content/121603.

Although it is not as extensive as the Linkedin Web or the mobile client on other platforms, it performs very well, smooth and connects without problem.

If you are a Linkedin user and carry a Symbian^3 smartphone, this is a must.

TwimGo

A Twitter client, developed by Tommi Laukkanen. It’s not as feature rich as Gravity but for a free client, it does offer some great functions.

You can visit the developer’s website to follow the development, because it is being heavily developed and new versions are released.

Get it for free from Ovi Store : http://store.ovi.com/content/103956

Kasvopus

A Facebook client, also developed by Tommi Laukkanen.

If you hate the built-in Social app inside your Symbian^3 smartphones, you must try Kasvopus.

It is not yet feature complete but the basic Facebook functions are there. Heck, it’s so smooth and a joy to use compared to the crap Social app.

Get it for FREE from Ovi Store : http://store.ovi.com/content/120928 or from it’s official website : http://kasvopus.substanceofcode.com/

- @asrialbaker
- May 8th 2011
- For i-Symbian.Com