I don't know about you, but for me I started programming because my computer did not do something I wanted it to do or I thought I could do it better.  Well, to be more accurate, it was something my computer did but did not do effectively so I wrote a batch program. Wow that was fun, then a bit of Gee Whiz Basic and I was hooked. This same desire to change or modify a machine still exists and one of the first ways to personalize a mobile device is to set up the background picture on your device.
 
It used to be when you thought of graphics and mobile devices your only thought was the ads that they appeared in.  Recently wallpaper and themes have entered into the developer (and some hobbyist) mentality but generally we developers consider this low tech areas.  Well guess again, the technologies for creating graphics is quite advanced and what you can do with them is very exciting. A new wave of developers is arriving and they are improving or personalizing their devices using graphics

To help those people and you also I have created a new Wiki Portal for Design and a new Discussion Forum for Themes and Design.  Stop by and chat with people and have a bit of fun.  Download the Carbide.ui Theme Edition  and see what it will do for your S40 or S60 device.

You don't need to be an artist to do graphics anymore.

Ron

Hi All,

I'll be in Budapest, I hope to see some of my online friends while I'm there. 

Forum Nokia Goes to Budapest: Developer Day and Code Camps

19-20th November, Budapest, Hungary

A 2-day event, with updates on the latest technologies and mobile market trends in Europe. From business perspectives and market & operator landscape to hands-on coding in Web Runtime Widgets and S60 5th Edition Touch UI, all the information you need from development to deployment of your applications will be available there.

Say hi if you are there, just look for the fat pirate. For detailed agenda, venues and registration, please visit: http://mktools.forum.nokia.com/invitation/fngoesbudapest

Today we reached a milestone at Nokia and Forum Nokia by launching S60 5th Edition mobile platform for smart phones and the Forum Nokia online communities is joining in on the fun!!

There is a contest in the Wiki for contributions on articles for developing applications, utilities, using and any other thing you can think of about the S60 5th Edition. Our Discussion board will soon have a forum dedicated to the new UI features and all the news will be covered fully in blogs and announcements.

S60 5th Edition is the next generation of the S60 platform. A new touch screen capability with tactile feedback, sensor framework, and support for QHD screens brings an unprecedented level of expression and usability to S60 devices. These new features enable application developers to build more features into their UIs using the extra screen real estate, and leverage touch, tactile feedback, and sensors to provide users with innovative ways of interacting with applications. Web and Flash Lite developers are now able to fully participate in the creation of mobile-aware applications and services, since S60 5th Edition gives them access to device data and information such as location. For content developers, QHD screen support opens the way for richer, more engaging content.

The S60 platform has already spawned many innovative applications. S60 5th Edition offers new opportunities for developers to innovate further with a range of new APIs:

• C++ developers get new UI controls and touch feedback APIs; a sensor framework to support accelerometers, magnetometers, and tap sensors; and improved features for Web services and XML processing.
• Standard C/C++ developers get access to Open C++ (STL, IOStreams, and Boost libraries) as standard platform features.
• Java developers get an updated version of the Advanced Multimedia Supplements (JSR-234).
• WRT and Flash Lite developers gain access to S60 Platform Services, allowing them to access the application manager; S60 application data (Calendar, Contacts, Logs, Messaging [SMS and MMS]); device location and landmarks; system information; and sensors.
• Media developers gain support for Windows Media (WM) DRM 10, WM Audio 9, and WM Video 9 (in selected devices).

Find all the 5th Edition info, SDK and other resources you need for your developers on Forum.Nokia.com: http://www.forum.nokia.com/main/resources/technologies/technology_in_the_spotlight.html

Recorded webcast and general press releases of today's announcement: Http://www.nokia.com/A41196476

Jorge Santiago and Ron

There is an interesting development at MOSH with the launch of the new Spotlight Content where developers can pay to have their applications highlighted on MOSH.  MOSH wants to get the word out to the small developers first.  MOSH believes that once the word gets out that the bigger development houses will take all the ads.  So if you are a small firm right now is a good time to promote your product on MOSH.

Spotlight helps elevate your brand and mobile content through sponsoredplacement on Mosh. Through Spotlight, your mobile content will gain increased visibility, access to a global audience, a multi-channel distribution platform and access to today's most tech savvy audience who are actively looking for ways to improve their mobile experience.

Your content will appear in a highlighted area as users browse and search the site. If your content item matches a user's browsing pattern or search, your item will appear in the Spotlight section.

MOSH is Nokia’s vehicle for connecting, empowering and discovering the individuals who are actively shaping the future of the mobile Web.
MOSH connects content creators with a global community of consumers that are looking for free ‘stuff’for their phones

For more information contact: moshbusinessprograms@nokia.com

While I was in the service, we always had to follow the chain of command.  There was never any chance to just sound off to the person above you and tell them what you thought.  In work we have an open door policy and I can always go and tell my boss what I think...(although on some subjects discretion is wise).

Now you have a chance to sound off to the senior executives in Forum Nokia starting with the big man himself Thomas Libretto the Vice President of Forum Nokia.  Also various directors from all over the world have made their self available and listed contact addresses of others in the organiztion.

This unique opportunity is on trial for one month,  I encourage you to take this time to ask questions and send your comments to people that can help you do your job.

Check them out in the Discussion Boards Interviews and Ask the Experts forum

Ron

I imagine that almost everyone has noticed the new changes in the Forum Nokia community discussion boards.  The most striking change is the removal of descriptions for many forums.  The reason for this is to clarify what is forum in itself and what is a group of forums with sub forums. Removing these generally redundant descriptions will allow us in the future to shrink some icons and make more forums viewable without scrolling down. For those that do like the descriptions we plan to add them back in as context sensitive pop-ups later this year.

I personally felt that the idea of having a forum like Location Based Services have a description of "Use this forum for discussion of Location Based Services" as foolish and almost insulting to our members.

All of the Parent forums with child forums now have a listing of the sub forums until we have context sensitive pop-ups. The forums that are stand alone have no description.

The other step that has happened is many sub-forums have been promoted to a higher level. The most recent was the Widget/Widset forum was promoted up from a sub forum of Web Technologies.  Other notable changes are some of the feedback channels were merged into others and the parent folder was removed.  At no time are messages lost they are simply put into another category. 

 We have other plans to merge forums I think Games will merge into the General category both on Symbian C++ and Mobile Java forums.  They simply do not have enough traffic to keep them separate.

 Please feel free to let me know how you like or dislike these changes and other changes you'd like to see.

 Ron

 For Discussion on this event monitored by lecturers from the ITE  institue in Singapore go to Developer Discussion Boards >> Multimedia Technology and Content >> Content >> Graphics & Video & Streaming >> Mobile Animation Challenge 2008, Singapore

Are tyou attending the Spring VON 2008. March 17-20,2008. McEnery Convention Center. San Jose, CA 

If you are interested in attending the von conference (http://www.von.com/2008/sanJose/web/index.php). You can attend it free, just use the priority code :TELEPHONY2 during your registration process.

Here is what there web site says about the event:

About the Event VON.x has set its sights on the continuing evolution of Internet Communications. It's no longer just voice or video, it's everything over the Internet, commonly referred to as XoIP.

Covering Internet voice applications, wireless trends and technologies, presence, video and Internet TV, instant messaging, social media and more, VON.x is about predicting, disrupting, educating and gathering together the people who shape this ever-changing landscape, along with those who have a vested interest in partnering to help re-shape the future of Internet Communications.

With a targeted conference program for vertical industry segments and business communities along with an integrated exposition for those seeking to create powerful business relationships, VON.x is the ultimate gathering place to gain knowledge and realize profits from the Internet Communications Continuum™. It's the ONLY event of its kind dedicated to all that encompasses Internet Communications.

Ron

The Navteq Global LBS Challenge is under way, once again letting developers compete for a share of a global prize pool valued in the millions of dollars, as well as priceless exposure for their location-based services applications. Now in its fifth year.
Asia-Pacific (APAC)developers are challenged to build innovative LBS applications that work with mobile devices using dynamic positioning technology and Navteq map data.

Registration Dates:
APAC: October 29, 2007 – February 29, 2008

Resgister for the LBS Challenge and participate in the Code Camp online.

Forum Nokia would like to invite you to join us at the unprecedented Forum Nokia LBS Code Camp on 29 February 2008.

*During the code camp, you'll be overloaded with how-to tutorials, intensive discussions with our code camp leaders, plus hands-on experience with coding the LBS apps yourself. So, grab the chance! Join the camp and start creating LBS applications to get recognized by millions!

Details of code camp

Date : 29 February 2008, Friday
Venue: Singapore (exact location to be confirmed)
Trainers include Forum Nokia's technical consultants and Navteq's technical expert.
Preparation: Kindly bring your laptop for hands-on exercises during the workshop. Sharing of laptop between colleagues is also alright.

You can also participate via the Forum Nokia LBS discussion thread dedicated tot he code camp.

Ron

Forum Nokia has started production of Code Snippets in the Knowledge Base in the FN Wiki. Code snippets are well-written code blocks that demonstrate how to use APIs and methods to perform a certain task or use case, providing easy-to-use code for faster application development.

Forum Nokia developed snippets use interfaces from the public SDKs and have been tested on real devices. A code snippet also typically contains a simple application that uses the code, or information on how to apply the code in an application. Code snippets are provided for various technology areas and specifically address current themes of interest. For example, the first published code snippets concentrate on use cases related to the Symbian Signed test criteria.

Forum Nokia provided code snippets complement the existing offering of hundreds of code examples created by the developer community at FN Wiki. Besides being a separate category in the Knowledge Base, the code snippets are also listed in the Code examples section among other examples.

The Forum Nokia published code snippets can be easily distinguished by a specific banner and the CS prefix in the title. Check them out at: http://wiki.forum.nokia.com/index.php/Portal:KB_Code_Snippets  

If you have any specific topics that should be addressed, send your suggestions to forum.feedback@nokia.com

Most months Forum Nokia recognizes individuals that stand out in the developer’s community for their work.  This month we are happy to announce that the winners will receive one of the latest versions of S60 3^rd Ed. Devices in addition to the recognition and thanks for their achievement.

For the Wiki this user is Leisti who’s contributions for Java beginners Installing Java ME development tools for S60  and Creating your first MIDlet using EclipseME caught the attention of the Wiki Moderators. 

For the Discussion Boards it is an honor to name truf  as the Poster of the Month. Truf has been very helpful in organizing and leading the discussion in the new Russian discussion board.  However, it is his activity this past month and in previous months helping others with Symbian development questions that has made him a stand out community member.

Ron

Calling all LBS Expert Developers!
Forum Nokia would like to invite you to join us at the unprecedented Forum Nokia LBS Code Camp on 29 February 2008. 
 
During the code camp, you'll be overloaded with how-to tutorials, intensive discussions with our code camp leaders, plus hands-on experience with coding the LBS apps yourself.  So, grab the chance! Join the camp and start creating LBS applications to get recognized by millions!
 
Details of code camp
Date :      29 February 2008, Friday
Venue:    Singapore (exact location to be confirmed)
Trainers include: Forum Nokia's technical consultants and Navteq's technical expert.
Preparation: Kindly bring your laptop for hands-on exercises during the workshop. Sharing of laptop between colleagues is also alright.
 
To Register: Email: Hawa Hassan at ext-hawa.hassan@nokia.com with following details:
(1) Name
(2) Company
(3) Job Title
(4) Email
(5) Tel/ Mobile
(6) Special dietary requirements?
(7) Interested in LBS Technology in Java or Symbian? (please choose)
 
If you have any questions on the code camp, kindly email Hawa Hassan at ext-hawa.hassan@nokia.com.
 
Agenda:
9:30 - 10:00
Registration

10:00 - 10:30
Business Overview: Forum Nokia, LBS Opportunity
Speaker: Gary Chan, Developer Relations Manager, Forum Nokia Asia

10:30 - 11:00
LBS on Nokia Platform
Speaker: Eileen Khoo/Valerie Tai, Senior Technical Consultants, Forum Nokia Asia

11:00 - 12:30
Getting to know Navteq Maps
Speaker: Michael Moore, Technical Consultant, Partner & Developer Program, Navteq

12:30 - 13:30
Lunch

13:30 - 16:30
Hands-on Coding session

16:30 - 17:00
Networking session

Thank you.
Yours sincerely,

Forum Nokia Asia Team
www.forum.nokia.com

This weeks Ask the Expert is Wai Seto (wmseto); Forum Nokia’s expert on S60 Widgets.  Please take advantage of being able to get quick answers and tapping into a real expert regarding this exciting new mobile web technology.  

Post your questions on the discussion board for this topic. http://discussion.forum.nokia.com/forum/showthread.php?t=126180

Be sure to keep the answers on topic and include as much information as you can to make the questions clear.

Ron

Read more at http://www.betavine.net/web/guest/projects/students

This weeks ask the experts is on Carbide.c++ Nokia’s tool for Symbian C++ developers.  Our experts this week are Matt Salmo (msalmo) and Matt Pinsonneault (Mpinsonneault) from the Carbide support team.  If you have questions for them please ask in this thread.

Please keep the questions related to Carbide.c++