In our previous post we have given you a closer look at Symbian Foundation’s upcoming Mobile OS Symbian^3. On June 17th the Symbian community officially completed development of the biggest and most exciting Symbian software update yet.

Symbian^3 includes over 250 new features for Symbian users to enjoy, from whole new applications to ease-of-use improvements right across the platform. There is much for developers too, including integration of the Qt runtime.

So, let’s take a first look at the future of Symbian app development.

250+ new features

With Symbian^3 you get to enjoy over 250 new features. That means playing high definition video through your phone to your wide screen TV, switching apps with a flick and a tap, organising your online life on your home screen. Changes under the covers mean that Symbian’s heart beats with unrivalled power whilst a refreshed app suite is easier and more fun to use than ever before.

Multiple personalised home screens:

Multiple touch:

Swipe to scroll, pinch to zoom, tap to open. Navigating around your Symbian device has never been easier.

Put movies and games on the big screen:

Take advantage of your flat screen TV: plug in your phone to share your holiday photos and videos with family and friends, or to stream your favourite TV series or YouTube video. HDMI makes all this possible.

Turbo charged graphics:

A new graphics architecture turbo charges Symbian^3. Visual flourishes abound, delivering on the cool factor while ensuring that devices stay fast and responsive. And being Symbian, this is all themeable, so you can really make your device your own with a new look that goes way beyond wallpaper.

Real multitasking:

Symbian has always led the field in multitasking: listening to internet radio while browsing the web and leaving photos uploading in the background are taken for granted. In Symbian^3 improved memory management allows more apps to run at once and a new visual task manager lets you switch apps with a swipe and a tap. And all with Symbian’s famed efficiency to give you long battery life.

Intelligent networking:

In Symbian^3 intelligent network management tailors performance to the user’s needs: optimising for high speed when uploading photos or smooth streaming for a VoIP call or video feed. One-click connectivity makes connecting to the Internet a breeze and manages transition between cellular and WLAN networks, letting you get on with your life.

And for Developers:

Symbian^3 offers developers some of the most advanced features when it comes to mobile application development. Exploit the full power of Symbian using Symbian C++; try out the Qt runtime for great app development; or exploit the power of Web 2.0 with Symbian’s Web runtime. In Symbian^3 you can also write applications using the Java programming language, Python, Silverlight and Adobe Flash. As a truly open platform, there is also the possiblity to add your own favourite runtime.

[ Via Symbian Foundation ]