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Professional Symbian Programming: Mobile Solutions on the EPOC Platform
 
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Professional Symbian Programming: Mobile Solutions on the EPOC Platform [Illustrated] (Paperback)

by Martin Tasker (Author), Jonathan Dixon (Author), Mark Shackman (Author), et al (Author), John Forrest (Author)
2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 1000 pages
  • Publisher: WROX Press Ltd; illustrated edition edition (1 Feb 2000)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 186100303X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1861003034
  • Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 18.5 x 4.9 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 1,001,637 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
  • See Complete Table of Contents

Product Description

Synopsis

This work is about understanding and programming the EPOC operating system in C++ and Java. EPOC is a robust 32-bit operating system designed specifically for the demands of mobile computing. EPOC is developed by Symbian, a partnership formed by Motorola, Nokia, Ericsson, Matsushita and Psion. Since its creation, Symbian has forged partnerships and licensing deals with other industry leaders including Phillips and Palm. Already implemented on hardware manufactured by Psion and Ericsson, EPOC could be the OS of choice for the next generation of smartphones, wireless information devices and handheld computers.


From the Publisher

Professional EPOC Programming gives developers the low-down about the EPOC operating system: how it works, what it can do, and how to make it perform. The book explains the demands of programming within the constraints typically imposed by mobile platforms (relatively low memory, limited display size, unconventional input devices), and how EPOC is designed to help overcome them. It contains examples written in C++ and Java that demonstrate EPOC as platform for both standalone applications and connectivity to other similarly equipped devices and the Internet. The book includes a CD containing emulators for popular EPOC devices, compilers and documentation: everything required to start developing for the EPOC platform.

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Customer Reviews

8 Reviews
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (4)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
2.4 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Out of date and not that well written..., 12 Dec 2001
I'm not sure whether it's the book I don't like or the OS it describes. However, this book suits the OS perfectly by being over indulgent. If you thought Microsoft were overbearingly patriarchal in suggesting that you use their naming conventions and coding style then you haven't seen this lot yet.

The book spends the first 40 odd pages telling us how clever the EPOC developers were fitting such a remarkable OS into 12Mb of ROM and then descends into discussions of code not actually printed in the book. Admittedly, the code is supplied on a CD-ROM (along with the version 5 SDK) but I'm not Mork and I can't read 'em without a computer which limits where you can study the text.

To add insult to injury, it's for version 5 and Symbian have actually changed the build process for version 6 making some parts irritatingly inaccurate. It also assumes you're developing for a Psion thingummy, with no coverage of the problems of developing for other devices.

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7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction and very comprehensive, 29 Jun 2001
By A Customer
This is a really good book. I don't understand the other comments here. I found it very readable and easy to follow.

I did cheat a little and did not follow the chapter order, starting instead with the Cone stuff and maybe that helped.

It was really an eye opener. Now I am writing Symbian applications for a living.

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6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars The Worst Programming Book I have seen, 13 Feb 2002
By A Customer
It took a while for me to realize that the EPOC OS does have many redeeming qualities -- from looking at sources outside the book.

The book, by and large, is written in an extremely undreadable style, with few practical examples (that you can compile), and is extremely evangalistic, occupying about 4 pages to promote Symbians rather odd conventions and style, for each page of real information.

The book also bashes against other styles. There are certain parts of the book written in this manner making me certain Symbian is covering for some parts of the OS that are just not ready -- many parts of the book refer to things that will change in Release 6 (6.1 is already out); so be careful here (an example is threads vs. active objects; while active objects (basic event-driven programming, nothing more) are nice, there is no reason to state-machine your engine code when a thread will do).

My Advice: On every new subject you come to, refer to the SDK before you continue; the SDK still evangalizes, but it is pretty much to the point.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Yup, Too Advanced
Unreadable. I'm another experienced C++ programmer who simply can't crack into EPOC programming, and books like this don't help. Read more
Published on 5 April 2001

1.0 out of 5 stars Too Advanced
Like at least one other reviewer of this book, I didn't understand a word of it, despite being an experienced c++/visual c++ programmer. Read more
Published on 4 Aug 2000 by kwright@bigfoot.com

4.0 out of 5 stars A good introduction
I found this a good introduction to programming EPOC. There are heaps of examples that cover most of the basics. Read more
Published on 5 Jul 2000

2.0 out of 5 stars This book is not a reference manual
I am an epoc developer and have been waiting for a good book to add to my bookshelf for ages. Unfortunately this book is not the one Im waiting for. Read more
Published on 27 Jun 2000 by andy.leadbetter@lineone.net

4.0 out of 5 stars It's OK
The book does a good job of explaining the design decisions made in producing EPOC. It's also very useful in explaining the various tools that come with the EPOC SDK. Read more
Published on 28 Mar 2000

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