First of all, it will be more apt to call it "a computer with phone ability": it has all the characteristics of a computer. A display, inputs, a standard processor (ARM9 running at 200MHz), primary storage: memory (128Mb), and secondary storage which consists of in-built flash (256Mb) and external flash (M2 card, max 4Gb). On top of that, it even has Bluetooth, GPRS, WLAN (802.11b only...), and the standard USB connection. So from any angle, this is computer-grade piece of hardware. Full spec of this phone can be found here (2.62Mb PDF).
How about software then? It has a pretty robust OS - Symbian OSv9.1 with UIQ3 graphical user interface. Symbian employs a micro-kernel-ism approach with the core kernel only keeps the minimal functionalities while other features are implemented elsewhere and interact with the core kernel through message-passing. This contrasts greatly with monolithic kernels like Linux and Windoze. However, this OS is coded in C++, which is something Cuppa Chai not familiar with.
It turns out Nokia is very keen to promote the Symbian + UIQ combo (Nokia has 47.9% stake in Symbian Ltd.). The result is Carbide.C++.
Carbide.C++ is an Eclipse-based IDE targeting Symbian-based devices. It even comes with a variant with much-reduced functionality (read: nearly useless for anything serious) for free. To produce something more useful, you need to pay at least US$450 and purchase the missing essential functions like on-device debugging and real-time profiling. Even more advanced version where you can work on the ROM and do kernel debugging is available at a whopping US$6000 price tag.
Familiarity notwithstanding, C++ can't prevent me from having a shot at programming this device. Well, this is what the free Carbide.C++ can do anyway.
Here you go.
My salute to all my fellow nerds in this world: Hello World
3 comments:
I wrote a simple dictionary for Symbian for my class last year. Maybe you can port it to your phone. ;)
I wouldn't mind a computer with a phone functionality. I think I'd turn off the phone most of the time and use it as a PDA type device, only turning on the phone in case of emergencies. Haven't seen anything with a battery that can last as long as I want it to, though.
Is there Skype for Symbian? You could turn on Skype and use it with the WLAN. Free calls to people with other Skype capable phones?
From what I understand, there is VoIP functionality built-in for Symbian, no need skype. Btw, I am not aware of any skype port available
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