One of the benefits of using a mobile device based on the Symbian platform, is the compatibility you have with a wide array of applications developed in languages other than the native C++, like Python for example (see our Top 5 Python apps) as well as Java. Of course, a native application is simpler to install, doesn’t usually have any resolution issues, and runs smoothly, whereas Java has some limitations, asks for permissions for almost everything and runs slow. Nevertheless there are Java applications that are extremely well built with an unbeatable free price tag, so here’s our rundown of the top 5 of them. 1. Opera Mini 5 Beta
There used to be a time when we were unconditional users of the built-in browser here on Symbian-Guru, but Opera Mini beta 5 (as well as Opera Mobile 10 beta later) completely changed our mind. It’s graphically pleasing and offers more functionality than you can begin to expect from a mobile phone browser: multiple tabs, speed dial, download manager, password manager, low bandwidth consumption, mobile and full web view, adaptive zoom, built-in search, image and text selection and copy/pasting, shortcuts… Even recently, they added support for Opera Link, so if you type in your Opera username and password, your Bookmarks, Search Engines and Speed Dial settings are all sync’ed across your different devices. Brilliant. Get it here. 2. Snaptu
Snaptu is one of those widget-based hubs that keeps getting better and better. Basically, it shows you a menu-like view of different services that you can access. The beauty of it is that it supports killer services like Accuweather, Facebook, Twitter, Picasa, Flickr, Google Calendar, importing your feeds from Google Reader into the News & Blogs section, and more widgets about games, sports, news. Basically, it’s a good all-round internet hub on your device if you don’t like installing several applications for each of these functions, and surprisingly, it works as well as dedicated and paid standalone clients for some of them. Get it here. 3. Gmail
If you use Gmail for your email needs, nothing can beat the official mobile Gmail client from Google. It offers multiple email address support, reading, marking as unread, starring, viewing folders (or labels) all which you might be able to get with any other email client, but also adds features that are unique to Gmail: Archive, extensive Search function, Mark As Spam and most importantly Threaded email view like in the browser. In a word, if it had the option to add a label to an email, it would totally replace Gmail on our computer. Get it by pointing your phone’s browser to m.google.com. 4. MobileGTD
GTD or Getting Thins Done is a new way of improving one’s productivity, but there’s a very serious lack of good and affordable mobile applications that help you go through your list of things to do. MobileGTD by Tommi Laukkanen aims to fill this void, with folder support, adding new tasks, marking tasks as done, importing, exporting, flags and purging finished tasks. For those of you who keep a nice and tidy to-do list, this is way more efficient than the one included in the built-in Calendar. Download it here. 5. Gcal
Gcal by Alessandro La Rosa is, like its name specifies, a Google Calendar application. It supports multiple calendars with color coding, retrieves as many events as you want, shows you a daily view, allows you to search for certain events, create new ones, supports map view, and basically just gives you an easy yet efficient way to manage your Google Calendar from your mobile phone. Get it here. What about you? Do you use Java applications on your mobile device or do you prefer native Symbian applications? And if you do, what are your Top 5 free Java software?
