Editing S60 (software platform) (section)

== Unification of Symbian interfaces ==
{{Main|Symbian}}
{{See also|Symbian Foundation}}
As an OS, Symbian OS originally provided no [[user interface]] (UI), the visual layer that runs atop an operating system: this was implemented separately. Other than S60, other examples of Symbian UIs were [[MOAP]]; [[Series 80 (software platform)|Series 80]]; [[Series 90 (software platform)|Series 90]] and [[UIQ]]. This separation of UI from underlying OS created both flexibility and some confusion in the market place. The Nokia outright purchase of Symbian in June 2008 was brokered with the involvement of the other UI developers and all major user interface layers had been (or pledged to) donating to the [[Open-source software|open source]] foundation, [[Symbian Foundation]], who would independently own the Symbian operating system. It announced its intent to unify different Symbian UIs into a single UI based on the S60 platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hickey |first=Andrew R. |title=Take That, Google Android: Nokia Creates The Symbian Foundation {{!}} CRN |url=https://www.crn.com/news/applications-os/208800481/take-that-google-android-nokia-creates-the-symbian-foundation |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=crn.com}}</ref>

S60 5th Edition was the first version under the unified Symbian interface, and it was therefore also named Symbian^1. After this, the S60 name was dropped entirely with the release of Symbian^3 in 2010. In November 2010, Nokia abruptly announced that the Symbian Foundation will close down, leaving further Symbian development in question. The company had previously stated that [[MeeGo]] would become its smartphone future.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Arthur |first=Charles |date=2010-11-29 |title=Nokia closes Symbian to the world: can MeeGo make up the gap? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2010/nov/29/nokia-symbian-closes-meego-awaits |access-date=2024-09-20 |work=The Guardian|location=London|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>https://www.theregister.com/2010/10/22/symbian_wound_down/</ref> In February 2011, Nokia instead announced a partnership with Microsoft to adopt [[Windows Phone 7]] as Nokia's primary operating system, while promising continued support for Symbian and its newer devices until at least 2016. On 29 April 2011, Nokia announced that it would transfer Symbian activities to [[Accenture]] along with 3,000 employees.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-04-27 |title=Nokia to shed 7,000 staff as part of reorganisation |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13207148 |access-date=2024-09-19 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref>

=== Symbian^3 ===
Symbian^3 was announced together with [[Nokia N8]] on 27 April 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nokia N8 unveiled with Symbian 3 |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/nokia-n8-unveiled-with-symbian-3/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=CNET}}</ref> The software is faster than the previous S60 5th Edition and takes better advantage of hardware capabilities to create a snappier performance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Slavov |first=Rad |date=2010-05-24 |title=Nokia N8 to be 180% faster than the N97 |url=https://www.phonearena.com/news/Nokia-N8-to-be-180-faster-than-the-N97_id11468 |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=PhoneArena}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2011-01-12 |title=Living with Symbian^3, Part Two |url=http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/reviews/item/12451_Living_with_Symbian3_Part_Two.php |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=All About Symbian}}</ref> Interface wise it is not drastically different although it does have multiple home screens. The task switcher has been revamped and now show thumbnails of each open app.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-01-07 |title=Living with Symbian^3, Part One |url=http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/reviews/item/12450_Living_with_Symbian3_Part_One.php |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=All About Symbian}}</ref> Web browsing experience is also improved with the addition of pinch-to-zoom. The native text messaging app now features a "conversation" interface. While the virtual keyboard is still T9, a QWERTY is offered in landscape view.<ref name=":0" />

=== Symbian Anna ===
On 12 April 2011, Nokia announced Symbian Anna as a software update to the Symbian^3 release.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nokia Symbian Anna update proves Symbian isn't Finnished |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/nokia-symbian-anna-update-proves-symbian-isnt-finnished/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=CNET}}</ref> Three new devices (500, X7 and E6) were announced which will have Symbian Anna pre-installed. The most significant changes were:
* Portrait QWERTY with split-view data entry
* New Icon Set
* New web browser with an improved user interface, search-integrated address field, faster navigation and page loading.
* Updated Ovi Maps (search public transport, download full country maps via WLAN or Nokia Ovi Suite, check-in to Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare).
* Java Runtime 2.2, Qt Mobility 1.1 and Qt4.7.

=== Symbian Belle ===
On 24 August 2011, Nokia announced Symbian Belle (later renamed Nokia Belle)<ref>{{cite web |title=Nokia Belle coming soon – Nokia Conversations : the official Nokia blog |url=http://conversations.nokia.com/2011/12/21/nokia-belle-coming-soon/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111222162636/http://conversations.nokia.com/2011/12/21/nokia-belle-coming-soon/ |archive-date=22 December 2011 |access-date=9 April 2015 |website=nokia.com}}</ref> as a software update to the Symbian Anna release. Three new devices (603, 700 and 701) were announced with Belle pre-installed. The most significant changes were:
* Free-form, differently-sized, live widgets
* More homescreens
* Improved status bar
* Dropdown menu
* Modernised navigation
* New apps
* Informative lock screen
* NFC devices
* Visual multitasking

=== Symbian Carla and Donna ===
In November 2011, Nokia announced the Carla and Donna updates. Carla was expected to be released in late 2012 or early 2013 and feature a new web browser, new widgets, new NFC capabilities and Dolby Surround audio enhancement. Donna was going to be a dual-core processor exclusive, and was planned to be released late 2013 or early 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=Symbian Carla and Donna to come next, but not for everyone |url=http://www.gsmarena.com/symbian_carla_and_donna_to_come_next_but_not_for_everyone-news-3394.php |website=gsmarena.com}}</ref> However, in May 2012 a Nokia executive claimed that Carla and Donna were cancelled, and that Nokia would instead only release Belle Feature Pack 2 later in 2012, lacking many of the new features that were planned for Carla and Donna.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hristov |first=Victor |date=2012-05-23 |title=Nokia cancels Symbian Carla, Belle FP2 to be the last Symbian? |url=https://www.phonearena.com/news/Nokia-cancels-Symbian-Carla-Belle-FP2-to-be-the-last-Symbian_id30478 |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=PhoneArena}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=25 May 2012 |title=Symbian Carla Cancelled, Beginning of the End For Symbian? |url=http://www.itproportal.com/2012/05/25/symbian-carla-cancelled-beginning-of-the-end-for-symbian/ |website=itproportal.com}}</ref>