A presentation about the Symbian Foundation's approach to open source for its mobile operating system user interface.

1. Open Source and the User Experience
Scott Weiss
UI Technology Manager
26 September 2009

2. 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.

3. 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

4. Symbian Foundation
The foundation unifies Symbian
OS, S60, UIQ and MOAP(S) The intent to form the Symbian
software, creating an Foundation was announced on
unparalleled open software June 24, 2008 drawing strong
platform for converged mobile industry support and more
devices, and enabling accelerated endorsing organizations have
innovation across the whole been subsequently announced.
mobile ecosystem. The foundation began operating
during the first half of 2009.
Foundation membership is open
to all organizations.
Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 4

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Engaging the Community
 Developer site
 Wiki
 Blogs
 blog.symbian.org
 Symbian UI Brainstorm
 Discussion Boards
 UI Suggestions
 Ideas site
Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 12

13. http://developer.symbian.org
Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 13

14. http://developer.symbian.org/wiki/index.php/User_Interface
Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 14

15. http://symbianuibrainstorm.wordpress.com
Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 15

16. http://blog.symbian.org
Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 16

17. http://developer.symbian.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2350
Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 17

18. http://ideas.symbian.org
Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 18

19. Contributions Process
Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 19

20. Symbian’s First UI Contributions
Major Contribution Proposal: Characters
Single Tap in Dialer
Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 20

21. Open
Discussion
Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 21

22. Thank you!
And please register for SEE.
It’s Free!
Copyright © 2009 Symbian Foundation. 22