During its N8 developer event, which took place in London yesterday, Nokia demonstrated some of the key features of their upcoming Symbian^3 handset. This included, for the first time on a real device, a preview of the new Ovi Store client. The new Ovi Store client is written in Qt, which offers a significant performance improvement over earlier WRT-based incarnations, and has been redesigned to make it more attractive and easier to use. Read on for some exclusive images and preview comments.
Read on in the full article.
guys will the new qt based ovi store client be available for the n97 too when the n8 releases???? Looks pretty slick
Looks really sweet!
Damn, I look forward to get my hands on the N8. The most interesting Nokia device in years!
Incidentally, WRT performances issues should largely go away with the next release of the browser and accompanying WRT engine (both based on QtWebKit). However, the new version is not expected to be available before the N8 becomes available.
Rafe are you referring to the new web browser coming out? What more do you know about it? Thank you.
Ah, this sounds much better... if only they include application updates and if only it hadn't taken them about one and a half year to get there. I seriously hope they put Qt in the next n97 firmware upgrade so that those of us who fell for it can enjoy the bright new qt future.
They realy havent learnt. Why not have the screenshots of the app appear when you open its detail page? Realy Nokia.
Very willing to be corrected (in fact as an N97 owner I very much hope I am) but I don't believe the N97's hardware will be able to cope with the Qt libraries. Hope I'm wrong, fear I'm not.
One of the unmentioned disasters surrounding the unfortunate (rip off) N97 is that with the introduction of S^3 and Qt if it can't run run the Qt libraries and as above I don't think it can (and run other programmes sensibly) then all App development for the N97 has effectively stopped as I would guess 90% new apps will now be written in Qt with S^4 in view.
Orphaned after a year (actually it was ages ago because they can't fix the hardware limitations), just gives us a trade in discount for the N8 or E7 Nokia and we'll go quietly , well I will.
umarrnagi wrote:guys will the new qt based ovi store client be available for the n97 too when the n8 releases???? Looks pretty slick
There's no information on this. If I had to guess I would say there's a very good chance of it. Afterall Qt will run fine on the older devices.
Unregistered wrote:Rafe are you referring to the new web browser coming out? What more do you know about it? Thank you.
There's not much to say at this point in time. But yes I am referring to the new browser. It's going to be based on QtWebkit and is a very significant upgrade. One of the advantages of using QtWebit is that we'll get a more up to date version of the WebKit engine (and it will continue to be updated). It should be bang up to date with web standards too (HTML 5, CSS 3 etc.). It will also get a new Javascript engine (should help WRT performance too).
I'll look at doing a separate article on this in due course.
Nemoi wrote:Ah, this sounds much better... if only they include application updates and if only it hadn't taken them about one and a half year to get there. I seriously hope they put Qt in the next n97 firmware upgrade so that those of us who fell for it can enjoy the bright new qt future.
Application updates are on the roadmap, although no specific time line has been publicly announced. Clearly though it is something that an app store should support. While not quite basic hygiene, it is close to an essential feature.
Qt won't need to be in firmware. Developers (and Nokia) can use the Smart Installer, which will download and install Qt as necessary (e.g. the Orange Wednesday app uses this).
@snoFlake: Qt works just fine on the N97, only downside is that it takes a few megs from the C: drive when the Qt libraries are installed.
I have it running on my N97. Have played around with it, since the beta was out.
In terms of speed/performance, it performs more or less like any other native app.
/Henrik...
Rafe, when you discuss WRT performance and the fact that the new Qt-based browser won't be out in time to match the N8's launch, are you sort of implying that the N8's browser is poor? Nokia has gone to great lengths to show off all of the N8's strengths while seemingly never showing off the browser at all. The product is due to launch within a couple months, supposedly, and we've never seen the browser demonstrated by anyone as far as I can recall. This is somewhat disconcerting.
Do they intend to launch the device without its true killer app being up to snuff? I appreciate that the 680MHz ARM 11 CPU in the N8 is the fastest (I believe?) Nokia has ever delivered in a Symbian-based device, so that might alleviate some of the issues, but what are we really looking at in terms of the browsing experience?
Is there any facility reboot the device if the device hangs up and power button is unresponsive? This happens with my 5800 and I remove battery and put it back. In N8's case battery can't be removed on the go. How can we reboot in this situation?
Almost everybody who has previewed the N8 has said that the one disappointment has been the browser. Just search online for previews of the device, this is a known quantity. I for one am glad that it is being addressed in a timely manner (purportedly) meaning we don't have to wait until the middle of next year for the update.
snoFlake wrote:Very willing to be corrected (in fact as an N97 owner I very much hope I am) but I don't believe the N97's hardware will be able to cope with the Qt libraries. Hope I'm wrong, fear I'm not. One of the unmentioned disasters surrounding the unfortunate (rip off) N97 is that with the introduction of S^3 and Qt if it can't run run the Qt libraries and as above I don't think it can (and run other programmes sensibly) then all App development for the N97 has effectively stopped as I would guess 90% new apps will now be written in Qt with S^4 in view.
Orphaned after a year (actually it was ages ago because they can't fix the hardware limitations), just gives us a trade in discount for the N8 or E7 Nokia and we'll go quietly , well I will.
Qt will definitely run on the N97 - I've seen it do so. However there may be an issue with C: drive space. Not sure if the libraries have to be on the C: drive. So that may be a limitation for some (things are better now with Maps etc, in firmware).
I'm not sure everyone else will go quietly 😊
Unregistered wrote:Is there any facility reboot the device if the device hangs up and power button is unresponsive? This happens with my 5800 and I remove battery and put it back. In N8's case battery can't be removed on the go. How can we reboot in this situation?
You hold down the power key for x seconds - can't remember how long it is though.
inept wrote:Rafe, when you discuss WRT performance and the fact that the new Qt-based browser won't be out in time to match the N8's launch, are you sort of implying that the N8's browser is poor? Nokia has gone to great lengths to show off all of the N8's strengths while seemingly never showing off the browser at all. The product is due to launch within a couple months, supposedly, and we've never seen the browser demonstrated by anyone as far as I can recall. This is somewhat disconcerting.Do they intend to launch the device without its true killer app being up to snuff? I appreciate that the 680MHz ARM 11 CPU in the N8 is the fastest (I believe?) Nokia has ever delivered in a Symbian-based device, so that might alleviate some of the issues, but what are we really looking at in terms of the browsing experience?
This is a bit subjective. It the same 7.2 browser currently found in devices like the X6 and E72. This is still decent, but it's not up to the standards of the N900 or high end Android devices in my opinion.
The capacitive screen makes a different (compared to the N97 say) and performance is better because of improved networking and graphics architecture in Symbian^3. The CPU isn't that big an issue when browsing actually, but the graphics co-processor will make a difference.
I've used the browser and would say it is acceptable, but it is good that the new version is on the way. There's no official information on timing, but from what understand it is due in Q4.
Nokia are really trying to make the N8 there Top Device For Ages,an o.k its been dragging on a bit,but you do not release something that is not completely ready or all you do is give yourself a bad name with the Public,Eldar or Mobile-Review got the First Prototype of the N8 an give it a bad review,so Nokia are really trying Hard to Shut Eldar Up an show him the N8 is a really good Top Class Mobile,the new Browser looks a Good idea from Nokia,Hope we do finally get the N8 released soon
A brand new client to a lousy app store = a same old lousy experience.
You know what are the two major things dragging Nokia phones down?
1) The software i.e Symbian
2) Ovi *anything*(Ovi suite, Ovi app store, Ovi maps etc etc)
Drop these two items and Nokia will soar again. The more lenient ones will say 'wait and see' for Symbian^3/Symbian^4, and they may be right.
But Ovi has to go.
Otherwise, OPK, Nokia shareholders and fans will find out the hard way. Yes, Nokia dominates the dumbphone business, but even that may be at risk if market share for smartphones is further eroded.
Me? My first phone was a Nokia phone. All my previous phones were Nokia. My current phone is a Nokia. Not so sure if my next purchase will be a Nokia. Most of my friends are happily using IPhones or HTC phones. I have resisted peer pressure for a quite while to join them. This may change.
Lol.. why exactly? Ovi Maps is great. Ovi Store is fine and getting better by the minute as we can see - more content is also guaranteed to come with Qt.
I heard differently: The new Ovi Store client is supposedly not written in Qt, but using already the new web runtime based on QtWebKit.
snoFlake wrote:Very willing to be corrected (in fact as an N97 owner I very much hope I am) but I don't believe the N97's hardware will be able to cope with the Qt libraries. Hope I'm wrong, fear I'm not. One of the unmentioned disasters surrounding the unfortunate (rip off) N97 is that with the introduction of S^3 and Qt if it can't run run the Qt libraries and as above I don't think it can (and run other programmes sensibly) then all App development for the N97 has effectively stopped as I would guess 90% new apps will now be written in Qt with S^4 in view.
Orphaned after a year (actually it was ages ago because they can't fix the hardware limitations), just gives us a trade in discount for the N8 or E7 Nokia and we'll go quietly , well I will.
All 5th edition devices will be able to run Qt (and I think 3rd edition eventually), subject to your C drive as mentioned by some. When you try to download your first Qt app, then it installs the app and looks for Qt. If it cannot find it then it downloads Qt smart installer (approx 7MB). Once installed all other Qt apps will install and run without installing Qt Smart Installer.
Want to try it now? go to Ovi and download Orange Wednesday app, you cannot get 2 for 1 but all other funcationality works. This is Qt app and runs really well on my X6.
Unregistered wrote:I heard differently: The new Ovi Store client is supposedly not written in Qt, but using already the new web runtime based on QtWebKit.
That's possible - I was told Qt, but no specific technical details. In a sense running on QtWebkit would Qt based too. It may actually be a combination of both (i.e. QtWebKit based, but not specifically WRT). If anyone can shed some light please chip in.
[QUOTE=Rafe;472706]You hold down the power key for x seconds - can't remember how long it is though.
Is this procedure different from normal switch off phone? Also is this equivalent to removing battery from device? thanks for the information you are providing.
A bit OT Rafe, but any news if the Internet Radio app from S60v3 will make it to Symbian 3 and the N8? It's one of the hidden built in gems of the E-series that unfortunately hadn't made its way to S60v5 for God knows whatever reason.
The internet radio app, along with the podcasting app bundled in with the N8 firmware would likely make it more appealing for an upgrade, even to older E and N series users.
Unregistered wrote:[QUOTE=Rafe;472706]You hold down the power key for x seconds - can't remember how long it is though.Is this procedure different from normal switch off phone? Also is this equivalent to removing battery from device? thanks for the information you are providing.
Yes. Its equivalent to pulling the battery.
Jimmy1 wrote:A bit OT Rafe, but any news if the Internet Radio app from S60v3 will make it to Symbian 3 and the N8? It's one of the hidden built in gems of the E-series that unfortunately hadn't made its way to S60v5 for God knows whatever reason.The internet radio app, along with the podcasting app bundled in with the N8 firmware would likely make it more appealing for an upgrade, even to older E and N series users.
I'm not sure on Internet Radio, but Podcasting is definitely in there. I do recall hearing something about Internet Radio, but can't track down anything concrete - sorry!
i heard AN internet radio app (note: there may be another version that is more mature of course) is in Nokia's "backstage" stage which is apperently what they call apps at the pre-alpha stage. therefore, i would imagine it will only become available after n8 has been released to shops. obviously, this not 100% confirmed info and it could also move quickly.
Rafe wrote:The CPU isn't that big an issue when browsing actually, but the graphics co-processor will make a difference.
I'm disappointed that someone who has been following the smartphone arena for so long could make such a statement. Today's smartphones (even the fast ARMv7 devices) are CPU bound when loading/rending websites. Double the CPU power and you almost half the load/rendering time.
The only significant impact that GPU acceleration will have is to make scrolling and zooming around the webpage smoother. This is after having to wait for the slow ARM11 CPU to load and render the webpage.
Rafe wrote:The capacitive screen makes a different (compared to the N97 say) and performance is better because of improved networking and graphics architecture in Symbian^3. The CPU isn't that big an issue when browsing actually, but the graphics co-processor will make a difference.
Is rendering webpages really the sort of task that a GPU is well suited to? I would expect that this task would be mostly CPU. Also, wouldn't the existing browser need to be modified and updated anyway to support use of the GPU if the GPU was indeed well-suited to performing the task of rendering webpages?
This is really my greatest point of concern for the N8. Nokia is in a tough position here. They're already way behind with the N8 and they can't wait for the browser, but it's arguably the single-most important feature on a modern smartphone and "good enough" might not be the ideal thing to ship.
I'm still eagerly awaiting (1) a release date and (2) a thorough, unedited video walk-through of the final product. I really need to retire my E71!
CPU vs GPU for web browser? Comments missing the point? The time it takes to transfer data from a web server to your phone matters more than a few MHz from one of these processors.
That's for sure, WRT performances issues should largely go away with the next release of the browser and accompanying WRT engine (both based on QtWebKit). I request if someone can provide the pictures of the new Nokia N8.
The majority of web page content parsing/rendering will be handled by the CPU, and not the GPU.
A GPU can be used to render 2D or 3D graphics. In case of a web browser, it'd impact UI effects, and it'd impact 2D vector processing (such as SVG imgages or Flash (if the Flash implementation has been written to use the GPU and not a software rendering library), but not much else.
I don't know about the N8, but in the past on Symbian/S60 devices with a GPU, the GPU was only accessible via the OpenGL ES APIs (which wouldn't be used by the browser, in all likelihood). The Symbian^3 new graphics acrchitecture changes things, I'm sure (I'm not too intimate with the details of Symbian^3), for UI rendering, but most of that would be useful for the actual browser UI (standard UI controls such as list, scrollbars, text entry fields, window opening and closing, etc.), not the web content itself.