Finally we were able to unveil the beauty of XPERIA X10, our first phone based on the Google Android OS. We’re very happy to join the incredible success of the Android OS. This will be great!
Just to sum things up if you want to know more about developing for the X10:
Here’s the news item full of juicy bits including a few videos.
The security framework around Java ME is a topic for muchdebate. Believe me when I say, Sony Ericsson is well aware of the pain involved with signing and security prompts for midlets. This is something that the Head of Developer World, Simon Walker makes clear in our official announcement about a change in our signing policy for application submissions to our application store.
To sum it up, here’s the revised certification criteria:
* Applications can be unsigned at submission
* Applications that don’t require any permissions can be unsigned when deployed to the sales channels (NEW!)
* All Java applications must pass the Unified Testing Criteria .
* Applications that require permissions should be signed through JavaVerified or with Thawte Premium Server CA (NEW!) or Verisign Class 3 third-party certificates. (NEW!)
As always comments are welcome! You can also make your voice heard using this poll.
Srikar Kasarla is working as a Partner Manager in the Content & Services team here at Sony Ericsson. At the Symbian Exchange Exposition in London next week he will be talking about “Shortening the path from code to cash” . I grabbed him in the corridors of the Sony Ericsson Lund office and asked him a few questions about his talk.
Developer World: So, what will you talk about?
Srikar Kasarla: I will be talking about open source as the future for mobile development and what new business models this shift opens up for.
DW: What kind of business models?
SK: We’re seeing a growth in mobile advertising and service subscriptions for example.
DW: Sounds like mobile is moving in the direction of the web. What benefits are there to working with the Symbian platform in this environment?
SK: One big benefit is the fact that you have multiple application stores compared to other platforms. This competition is very good for the developers. It also makes it possible to target different markets. Another benefit is that different application stores can have different philosophies behind how they accept application submissions. Sony Ericsson has chosen Quality over Quantity, with a fast approval process and free submissions.
DW: OK, that’s certainly sounds like a short path between code and cash?
SK: Yes, we are working hard to make sure applications are reviewed as soon as possible after submission. But we welcome feedback from developers on how to make things even better so I’m looking forward to SEE to meet the people behind the code.
The good folks over at symbian.org just published a blog post on their blog about our presence at the SEE 09. Some quotes:
Sony Ericsson will be showing the new Satio™ phone (above – which is now available for retail); running speed-meeting sessions for developers and be hosting a workshop entitled Shortening the path from ‘Code to Cash’, as well as taking part in the Wednesday panel discussion ‘Open Innovation, The Collaborative Evolution of Symbian’.
“Location, location, location” is a well known mantra for real estate agents. Context awareness is also a key success factor for mbile applications. Tomi Ahonen calls the mobile phone “the seventh mass media” and highlights seven unique properties the mobile has:
1 – The mobile phone is the first personal mass media
2 – The mobile is permanently carried media
3 – The mobile is the only always-on mass media
4 – Mobile is the only mass media with a built-in payment mechanism
5 – Mobile is only media available at the point of creative inspiration
6 – Mobile is only media with accurate audience measurement
7 – Mobile captures the social context of media consumption
In order to fully maximize the value of these unique properties you need location awareness. With the Sony Ericsson JP8.5, available in Sony Ericsson Yari and Sony Ericsson Aino, we’re adding more and better support for location based services.
For example:
We now support the LMX format. When an LMX file appears in the device, a list with actions will be presented to the user (Show on map, Navigate to etc.) This can be used also by applications to get access to the map and navigation applications.
We now support KML files in the browser. When you link a KML file (e.g., http://foo.com/… /companylocation.kml) the phone will launch Google Maps with the URL of the KML file as the inparameter so that the geographic data is displayed to the user.
You can also use the Ericsson Labs vector maps API SDK to build applications with maps. It includes map data from TeleAtlas and OpenStreetMap.
Ever since JP 7.3 it’s been possible to query the phone for network properties that can be used to determine the location of the device.
Consider this blog post an open call to our developer community to be as creative and innovative as we know you can be and come up with location based applications like something we’ve never seen before. As usual, you can submit your application over at the app store submit site. We’re looking forward to your contribution!
The Sony Ericsson Satio™, which runs S60 5th Edition Symbian™ OS applications unmodified, has support for OpenGL ES 2.0. In other words: stunning 3D graphics. Tools Product Manager Albin Olofsson recorded a short demo video to show you what can be done with this device:
Our application store has been open for application submission since July and the first applications have been available on PlayNow™ arena for a couple of weeks.
Developer World: Tell us a little about your company and the application you submitted?
Rebecca Williams: The idea of GoSpoken is to read or listen to your favourite books whenever and where ever you are; simply books on the go. We launched GoSpoken last April (08) at the London Book Fair with 8 audio books on our mobile site. Since then we have grown to a catalogue of over 6,000 ebooks and audio books (25,000 by the end of the year) for download direct to mobile including bestselling authors such as Stephen King, James Patterson and Sophie Kinsella. Bestselling author and ex SAS operative Andy McNab is an enthusiastic business partner and last year Lord Ashcroft’s investment companies invested in GoSpoken to allow us to expand into new territories.
The app we have live on Fun & downloads and PlayNow™ arena is our ebook reader which downloads onto any JAVA-enabled handset. Each book comes with its own reader which means you don’t need to download the ereader and then the content. It comes all at once so you have quick and easy access to your content.
DW: What was your biggest challenges when developing the app? Any advice to other developers who’s thinking about selling an application?
RW: The biggest challenge was to create an ebook reader which serves many handsets whilst being easy to use. We speak to our customers as much as possible to understand how we can improve it and we are constantly developing it from their feedback. I personally love the night mode (white text on black background) which means I can read in bed at night without waking my husband! My advice to other developers is; whatever the application it must be easy to use or you will turn customers off very quickly.
DW: What can be improved from our part when it comes to selling and developing the application? Any feedback to Sony Ericsson?
RW: We have a great relationship with Sony Ericsson and the process of going live on your platform has been quick and painless. We are already talking about how we can best promote books to your customers, particularly on your large screen handsets which are ideal for reading books, and offer our full catalogue rather than selected titles; so watch this space!
It would be great to have access to real time reporting and be able to pre-load new handsets with free books or exclusive content.
Thanks, Rebecca, and good luck with your application!
