Pics: New Symbian^4 screenshots

[I keep getting distracted from blog posting today.]

A while ago in February, we saw some screenshots of Symbian^4, and today they’ve been updated somewhat. Ignore the Windows XP border (they’re from the ’emulator’). They can be found at Symbian.org Wiki page (I think someone tweeted it this morning but I forgot whom)

Here we can see:

• minimal status bar for battery, signal as well as clock (normal looking one at that, not Dali gone wrong)
• Note the bottom bar has finally disappeared
• The homescreens look much more appealing with a photo background (simple things make a big difference)
• Dot system at the bottom to indicate number of homescreens and which homescreen you’re at.

Note the free style widget system. In the screenshot below, there are 7 homescreens available (may not be the maximum). Yay for endless swiping -_-.  Whilst non static, lock grid widgets are more visually appealing (imo) I fear the widget homescreen may become as stupid looking as Samsung’s BADA with like space for 1-2 widget per homescreen, resulting in unnecessary swiping.

Now, if there’s a clock in the status bar, I don’t see the need for a clock widget – but hey that’s just me. It might help other people with sight difficulties – and it does look kinda nice..

I do wonder how to access contacts/dialler. Will this be through physical buttons or via widgets?

The homescreens/desktops are called pages. By clicking the space that would presumably mention the network name, you get your homescreen options. Possibly options may also appear by long pressing at the wallpaper. There maybe more settings by pressing the top left most triangle.

Screenshot below is for choosing wallpaper for the homescreen.  Note that these wallpapers are 16:9 but are croppe retaining portrait orientation. Presumably, when in landscape it will show the full wallpaper.

Notice the persistant status bar. The bar below it provides the option/page settings, back button (and when appropriate, application titles). This is much better than the previous solutions of having that ridiculous fat bottom bar that became this atrocious imposing side bar in landscape view.

This is an Application Categories view. I don’t know what context this is in (whether it’s for search, main view…?). It would be nice if the folders had different icons to differentiate each from being just another folder.

Finally here’s an application search (presumably appearing by pressing the magnifying glass)  This type of bar is acceptable as it provides quick access to certain functions. (The left most should be the multitask button, with the back button at the top right as always)

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Notice the rearranged T9 (as seen in S^3 dialler) whereby you maximise the available space for viewing the screen content.

That’s it for now. It seems improved from the February screenshots. What’s important to note is that you cannot obtain the sense of user experience, how the UI will feel without a) seeing how it performs, what the hierarchy/structure is b) actually using it.

Tags: Nokia, Screenshots, Symbian^4

Category: Nokia, Symbian