Standard S60 UI components

Designing a great user interface for an S60 application can be a challenge. Among the variables that need to be addressed are how intuitive or learnable is the interface, is it pleasing to the eye of the end user, and does it fit well into the device for which it has been designed? The S60 platform offers solutions for UI design challenges thanks to a variety of different graphical UI components designed especially for S60 applications. These UI components form the backbone of S60 application UI design, and they come in many different shapes and sizes.

Some of the most obvious benefits of using S60 components in an application include:

Saving resources, time, and money. Rather than reinventing the wheel, designers can utilise existing UI components and focus their efforts on other tasks.
Reliability. S60 UI components have undergone rigorous usability evaluations and end-user tests. More usability resources have been devoted to user testing S60 components than the average mobile application development project. Developers who use ready-made S60 UI components needn't worry about component-level usability issues.
Ease and familiarity. An application will fit in more naturally with its S60 environment if S60 UI components are used. Users will instantly recognise components and know how to interact with them; it is far easier for users to accept applications that have a familiar look and feel.
Adaptability. S60 UI components have been built so that they are automatically scaled to fit the display. In other words, S60 components will adapt to the different resolutions and display sizes supported by the S60 platform. These components also adapt to both portrait and landscape UI styles.
Localisation. Common components adhere to local device settings and localisation rules, such as input language selection, language-specific alphabetical order, date, and time formats.
Personalisation. S60 UI components reflect the UI theme of the S60 device. This means that the user's choices for personalisation will be continued in all applications that use S60 UI components. Using ready-made components helps an application look and feel at home in the S60 device.
Future applicability. S60 components have been built to last and are updated for each release so they can be relied upon to function properly with each platform edition. For example, common UI components will support QWERTY and stylus input and new screen layouts.