Open Source and the User Experience

Scott Weiss, scottweiss@symbian.org

UI Technology Manager
26 September 2009
Contents: 50 minutes of fun!

  What open source is all about

(Contributions!)
  Having a Vision
  The way Symbian Foundation’s UI efforts
are organised
  Engaging the community
  Symbian’s Contributions Process
  Open Discussion

Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 2

Symbian UI Vision

The Symbian community develops a

scalable, flexible, and attractive
UI framework in order to create
innovative, enjoyable, and
intuitive personal mobile user
experiences. We achieve
excellence through collaboration
and continuous evolution.

Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 3

Symbian Foundation
The foundation unifies Symbian
OS, S60, UIQ and MOAP(S)
software, creating an
unparalleled open software
platform for converged mobile
devices, and enabling accelerated
innovation across the whole
mobile ecosystem.
Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation.
The intent to form the Symbian
Foundation was announced on
June 24, 2008 drawing strong
industry support and more
endorsing organizations have
been subsequently announced.
The foundation began operating
during the first half of 2009.
Foundation membership is open
to all organizations.
4
Vision of an independent open platform
Application developers will be able to target the
Compatible broadest range of devices across global markets,
using rapid and easy web programming tools.

The richest mobile platform, helping vendors to

Compelling deliver the next era of mobile computing devices.

From hardware adaptation up to user interface and apps

Complete - all the software you need to build a leading-edge
mobile device to ship in any market.

&
Royalty-free Uniquely: built by the community, for the community.

5
The richest mobile OS
Web, email, •  Web runtime for easy
productivity and creation of web apps
Apps Productivity Multimedia Comms PIM apps, along •  Webkit browser
apps
apps apps
with new flexible
& User
Interface
multi-modal UI
•  Messaging & comms
Device •  Dozens of carrier-
UI Web
apps
Location apps management
apps framework
compliant apps

Rich middleware •  Location / GPS support

including location, •  Intelligent bearer-mobility
Multimedia
Location Comms
MW
Runtimes MW multimedia and •  Remote management
Middleware MW
seamless multi- •  Leading audio / video
Security Device
Web MW UI MW
bearer comms capture & playback
MW Mgmt
framework

•  SMP
EKA2 real-time
•  Platform security
microkernel with
•  High performance graphics
OS Security
Data
Telephony Multimedia
unparalleled
OS Services Graphics comms
power efficiency •  SQLite integration
and security •  Full multi-tasking & multi-
threading

Proven in over ¼ billion smart devices, so far…

6
The Symbian Foundation Platform Plan
Open for contribution

2009 2010 2011

* Proposal under review
S^2 S^4
Symbian^2 Symbian^4
• UI Makeover Step 1: WRT offers web design on mobile • Makeover Complete: Direct UI, a fresh new user
experience
• Personal: Customisable home screen supporting
embedded widgets and other personal content • Qt: Powerful and easy to use, becomes the standard
runtime
• Location-smart: Ability for apps to take action in response
to the user’s changing location • Majority of SHAI* in place, easing HW adaptation

Symbian^5
Symbian^4
Symbian^2

Symbian^3

S^3
Symbian^3
• UI Makeover Step 2: Graphics support for advanced layering and effects
• Simplifying internet access: Adaptive WLAN background scanning, energy efficient
• HiFi Audio + Video: Full HDMI support with HDCP
• Faster network: pushing the architecture to enable “fixed internet” performance, ideal for
streaming high definition content and VoIP calls.

Also available: August

• SDK based on Forum Nokia SDK 5th Edition, compatible with Symbian OS v9.x and S60 5th
Edition 2009
Symbian Foundation Platform Plan
Open for contribution

2009 2010 2011

Milestone dates to be confirmed by Release Council

Functionally
Hardened
Complete
Symbian^2

Functionally Hardened
Complete
Symbian^3

Functionally Hardened
Complete
Symbian^4

8
Symbian^2
2009 2010 2011
Functionally
Hardened
Complete
Symbian^2

PDK builds available starting here

Highlights include…
  UI Makeover Step 1: Web Runtime offers web design on mobile
  Personal: All-new home screen supporting user customization,
embedded widgets and internet content
  Adaptable: Support for multiple form factors and input methods
(touch, non-touch, flexible aspect ratios and resolutions)
  Dynamic: Location based event framework that allows apps to
take action in response to the user’s changing location

9
Symbian^3
2009 2010 2011
Functionally
Hardened
Complete
Symbian^3

PDK builds available starting here

Highlights include…
  UI makeover step 2: Graphics support for advanced layering and
effects (eg semi-transparent content layered over video, complex
animated transitions between apps)
  Sounding clear: A new high performance networking architecture
enabling broadband speeds, ideal for streaming high definition video and
high quality VoIP calls
  Movie time: Support for files >2GB in size, enough for full
length HD movies; Full HDMI support with HDCP
  Simplifying internet access: Adaptive WLAN background scanning,
energy efficient
10
Symbian^4
2009 2010 2011
* Proposal under review Functionally
Hardened
Complete

Symbian^4 PDK builds available starting here

Highlights include…
  UI makeover complete: Direct UI – a complete refresh of the
touch UI
  Great new app development environment: Qt integrated as the
primary runtime
  SHAI*: The majority of the Symbian Hardware Abstraction
Interface now in place, making hardware adaptation easier than
ever before

11
Engaging the Community
  Developer site
  Wiki
  Blogs
  blog.symbian.org
  Symbian UI Brainstorm
  Discussion Boards
  UI Suggestions
  Ideas site

Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 12

 http://developer.symbian.org

Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 13

 http://developer.symbian.org/wiki/index.php/User_Interface

Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 14

 http://symbianuibrainstorm.wordpress.com

Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 15

 http://blog.symbian.org

Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 16

 http://developer.symbian.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2350

Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 17

 http://ideas.symbian.org

Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 18

Contributions Process

Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 19

Symbian’s First UI Contributions

Major Contribution Proposal: Characters

Single Tap in Dialer

Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 20

 Open
Discussion

Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 21

 Thank you!
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Please stay in touch: Scott Weiss, scottweiss@symbian.org

Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation.