Music and video are the most used features on mobile devices. Nokia is the world's leading manufacturer of digital music players, cameras, and movie players. Add the capability to stream content over the Web and the picture becomes even clearer. Nokia platforms play a key and growing role in bringing multimedia content to consumers.
As a media developer, you'll find that Nokia platforms offer many ways to reach your audience. Nokia features leading technologies and services – from DVH to FM radio transmission through Web streaming and content-download services. Mobile multimedia reaches through the entire range of mobile devices – and Nokia can help you make the most of those opportunities.
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Nokia devices offer a variety of options to developers who want to create multimedia applications and services. On the S60 platform, developers can use the existing platform applications, such as the Web Browser for S60, Music Player, and Media Player, or create their own applications using Java technology, Symbian C++, Flash from Adobe, or Python. In general, development options that require more development effort, such as Symbian C++, also offer more access to platform features and more opportunities to customise applications.
On the Series 40 platform, developers can take advantage of native multimedia applications, Flash Lite, and the mobile Web browser. They can also develop their own applications and services using Java MIDP 2.0.
Multimedia use cases and development options.
The following tables describe common multimedia development use cases and how they are supported in Symbian C++ and Java, the two most powerful programming environments for Nokia devices.
| Music Use Case | Symbian C++ Support(S60) | Java™ Support (S60 and Series 40) |
|---|---|---|
|
Play unprotected files |
Supported |
Supported |
|
Play DRM-protected files |
Supports OMA DRM versions 1 and 2 |
Supports OMA DRM version 1 |
|
Play MIDI files |
Supported |
Supported |
|
Play buffered audio |
Supported |
Not supported |
|
Control audio effects |
Supported |
Limited support |
|
Play a live RTSP stream |
Supported |
Supported |
|
Read metadata from a file |
Supported |
Supported |
|
Record audio to a file |
Supported |
Supported |
|
Video Use Case |
Symbian C++ Support |
Java™ Support |
|---|---|---|
|
Play a local file or RTSP stream using the S60 Media Player and RealPlayer engine |
Use AppArc APIs (RApaLsSession) to launch the S60 Media Player application |
Use MIDlet.platformRequest to launch the platform Media Player |
|
Play a local file or RTSP stream using a custom UI and RealPlayer engine |
Create your own UI and use the CVideoPlayerUtility API to play and control a file or URL |
Use JSR-135 |
|
Play a local file with your own player |
Create your own player. Use CMdaAudioOutputStream for audio rendering (1) and CDirectScreenAccess APIs for video rendering |
Not recommended |
|
Stream video content using your own player |
Use network APIs (RSocketServ, RConnection, RSocket) to connect to the network (2). Then use CMdaAudioOutputStream for audio rendering (1) and CDirectScreenAccess APIs for video rendering. |
Not recommended |
|
Implement a custom MMF plug-in |
Use MMF APIs (CMMFController, CMMFCodec, etc.) |
Not possible |
(1) CMdaAudioOutputStream can decode some formats on some devices, if a DevSound codecs for the respective formats are present
on that device.
(2) The high-level streaming protocols (e.g. RTSP, RTP, RTCP, SDP) have to be implemented by the application.
More information on developing music and audio playback applications
