Comments on: Symbian Foundation woos partners with King Kong of smartphones

By: christexaport

christexaport — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:12:24 +0000

@ info,
You’re right. Neither Nokia nor Symbian developed the chip. But with ST Ericsson as Symbian Foundation partners, they’ve gotten first shot at this hardware because the Symbian Foundation’s feature roadmap will need the capabilities only this chip provides. Watch how fast the Symbian Foundation will have a working testbed with this new hardware up and running before other manufacturers have had a chance to even test a single chip. This was designed with a purpose, and for specific function per a pretty deep pocketed buyer know for making devices of powerful hardware.

Its to run future OS functions. In order to have a dual touchscreen display with Haptikos technology on the lower screen for button controls, they can design the software for it to run on this instead of waiting for Haptikos to be ready. That way, when future tech comes around, the framework for it has already been engineered. This is a common thing for Nokia/Symbian Foundation. That’s why I use the term testbed. It goes along the lines of their research and product roadmaps.

Membership and purchasing power has its privileges. The Symbian Foundation’s manufacturing partners sell more devices yearly than any other OS, so this is where the money’s at. ST Electronics, now ST Ericsson, has slowly become Nokia’s new best friend. Notice the move from OMAP to ST in the post-N95 era devices? They’re their new hardware partner for their next generation stuff instead of OMAP3. Whether this is good or bad, we will see. Hopefully it will allow more 3D acceleration and faster stuff.

By: info

info — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:17:24 +0000

@ chstiexaport

I don’t think Nokia or Symbian developed this chip at all, it is a ST-Ericsson chip.

And this is a chip, not a testbed for the next generation. Notice the article mentions that this is a production chip.
Symbian does need this chip, not to test but for manufacturers to use with their OS. But again, this chip is not Symbian specific. It can run Symbian, but it can also run Android or Windows.

By: christexaport

christexaport — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:28:34 +0000

@ Tyrone D.,
Do went think Nokia and Symbian did all this in months?? This took years of development, and millions of dollars in R&D. Competitors are following Nokia, not leading. Most of the market research in the sector is paid for by Nokia.

This isn’t a device, but a testbed for the next generation of Symbian Features. The second screen will most probably feature Haptikos technology, and Tat, designers of the iPhone UI technology, are actually major members of the Symbian Foundation. When we see a device, its a culmination of things done 3 years prior. By the way, ST Ericsson is also a Symbian Foundation member, as are most of the major manufacters. Symbian needs this platform to test the stuff for 2011 and 2012.

By: Tyrone D.

Tyrone D. — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 15:01:25 +0000

@ Deaconclgi – did you really have to use all those exclaimation points to get your ‘excitement’ across within your statements?

This is cool but, I’m wondering why they would announce all of this goodness if they don’t already have a device to come to the market. All it does is give its competitors an edge in coming out with something better (highly doubt that would happen anytime soon). Let’s see what happens in the next 6 months.

By: info

info — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 08:40:35 +0000

@Deaconclgi,

Just in case you didn’t catch it, ST-Ericsson is a different company than Sony-Ericsson (same parent, but completely different).

That means that the chip described above can be used in anyone’s cell phone; RIM, Apple, HTC, LG, etc.

ST-Ericsson competes with Texas Instruments, Qualcom, and Broadcom.

By: Frank

Frank — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 05:14:02 +0000

wonder what the battery life would be? battery technology has to catch up. it isnt really a “mobile” phone if u have to plug it in every 2 hours…

By: Ramble On

Ramble On — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 04:45:50 +0000

Vapor.

By: Deaconclgi

Deaconclgi — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 04:17:26 +0000

This is great news for ALL technology lovers! The big picture is that HD is where our devices are headed. Nokia and ST-E aren’t the only ones moving in that direction. In a few years, RIM, APPLE, Samsung, LG, HTC and everyone else will have devices that are capable of HD and blazing fast 3D processors!!! I for one can’t wait!! Then will times be great for everyone!! Even dumbphones will be better than our current smartphones!!!

I remember trying to get Quake to run on a Pentium 66Mhz at 320×240 and now almost EVERY PC has a dual core processor pushing double or greater Ghz, several GIGS of ram, HUNDREDS of GIGS on the HD! That has become normal. We don’t even think about it. I remember when a 4MB Memory upgrade was almost $50!

Soon, our phones will have 3D chips and HD recording (or atleast VGA 30FPS) standard and several GB internal memory standard. Remember when phones had <5MB user memory?

This is great news to all!!!!

Time…it only takes time…

By: info

info — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 03:35:42 +0000

The interesting thing here, the Symbian Foundation didn’t develop the chip. It is just that their OS will run on that ST-Ericsson chip.

Oh, and with a port any OS can run on that chip.

By: fanboyFAN

fanboyFAN — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 02:33:11 +0000

The dream device above needs to become a Vertu NOW!

By: drunknbass

drunknbass — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 01:12:52 +0000

They were passing our free nokias outside WWDC lol. No thanks! Haha.

Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).

By: matthias

matthias — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 23:44:46 +0000

there needs to be a People’s carrier in the states. i really am getting tired of all this competition between carriers that filters down to consumers. it’s just one more (rediculous) thing that degrades the good name of progress. then, maybe, technology like this can actually be a reality for us.

By: Jarred

Jarred — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 23:31:27 +0000

I knew I converted from Blackberry for a reason, not that any of this will go consumer. But it’s nice to know there thinking this stuff up.

By: christexaport

christexaport — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 23:26:58 +0000

this stuff will be in devices in 2012 and 2013. As usual, Nokia is leading in innovation. As in REAL innovation. Ask RIM, Apple, WinMo, and WebOS if they’ve prepared a hardware/software combination that’ll be ready in that time…

By: JC

JC — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:56:06 +0000

All of that means nothing unless they clean up their outdated UI and do something to get some developers on board.

By: Beeve

Beeve — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:55:41 +0000

So, as Symbian flagship phones go, these stats would run you $4500.00? Can you say 10 year contract? Sounds nice, but doubt we’ll see anything Stateside that will matter.

By: Ano

Ano — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 20:05:11 +0000

they arent talking megapixels……jus plain pixels…..18 million is quite high for a mobile device…..but not that much for a properly spec’ed computer

By: po.op

po.op — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 19:40:43 +0000

“Up to 18 Million pixels camera”

can computers even process images that big??

By: David Thande

David Thande — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 18:22:50 +0000

With every great company you have to take a back seat to develop amazing stuff. Otherwise it will be stale like Apple is….oh my god two years to bump the camera to 3 megapixels!!!

By: Jeeverz

Jeeverz — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 18:02:16 +0000

This HAS to be in retaliation for BGR’s review on their Flagship N97

Their new slogan should be STUNT 101

By: Swagger

Swagger — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:54:22 +0000

Nice