Mobile Multimedia

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 Forum Nokia can help you make the most of those opportunities.

Documents
Wiki
Discussion Boards
Device multimedia feature tables

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 »

More information on developing video playback applications »

Rate This