Interview with Premiere Themer – Giambi

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Good morning everyone, today I bring you one of the most renowned themers the Sybmian community has ever seen, he needs little introduction and I’m sure you will recognize his name and at some point or another have used one of his theme. Without further ado – Giambi

Hello and welcome to NokiaMobileTalk its great having you here.

Hi Jorge! Many thanks to you for your interest in me / my themes, I’m really pleased to be here!

Tell us a little bit about your background and what lead you to start developing Symbian themes?

I always spent my free time in graphics creations: is my passion, and my job is another. Some years ago I created themes for SonyEricsson phones and not for Nokia/Symbian, because my pc was very “slow” for the necessaire software… When I bought a new pc, I started to create themes for Nokia (in 2007) for 3rd edition (because few themes / themers did not give me satisfaction, and also because I wanted to do something “new”), then 3rd FP1 and FP2. Lately I have not enought free time for creating themes, but Carbide is always installed on my pc, so… eh eh eh… is not expected that…

How much time did it take to develop your themes, as far as coding the actual theme and which programming language was used?

Usually, I spent at least 15 / 25 days to create a new theme, using Carbide.ui (actually ver 3.4) released by Nokia for Nokia developers.

Can you share for our readers what developing is on the horizon especially with these new devices coming soon?

Now I’ve got (also) Nokia 5800 and I’m studing the new version of Carbide, especially the plug-in for 5th edition’s phones… to do “some experiments”: so… work in progress!

What are your favorite Symbian applications can you list your top 5 and why you like them?

Best Profiles
Best Blacklist
Nokia Maps
X-plore
Nokia Photo Browser

(But my REAL favourite application is THEMES!)

What’s your favorite theme from your collection?
Edge, Easy, Stairs, Absolute.

What are your thoughts on the future of Nokia and the newly created Symbian Foundation?

In my opinion, in the last year Nokia has lost share in favor of more efficient phones. The 3rd edition is too different from 2nd: the new of certificates has slowed the diffusion of Symbian devices instead of Windows Mobile and (now) Apple OSX (the REAL bet won). Also the 5th edition is focused on certificates: I hope Nokia take a step back with the Symbian Foundation, giving a “total” open source OS for developers community in favor of the final users and their use experience.

What are you favorite Themers can you list your top 3 or top 5 ?

Ivanov
Babi
Flahorn
Atlantis
P@sco

What advice can you give to new developers / themers?
Make only… not well made themes, but VERY WELL made, choosing sober color in favor of legibility, nice drawing, and (not last) using every part that Carbide offers to us: there is a big difference between a theme hurt and one VERY WELL made, and how we see… Try to ask to Babi!

Which Themes do you enjoy that are not yours?
Actually: Ultimate and NewOS by Babi, Disparity (dark and light) by Shilca, Prestige and Touch Zen by T7. All they are for 5th edition.

What Theme do you want to develop that you have not had time to start?

Depends on the moment: now Stairs Blue, for example…

Which Nokia phones have you used in the past?
Why only Nokia (eh eh eh )? 7650, 6600, 6630, N70, N73, 6120c, N95, 5800…

The Nokia Ovi Store is out are you planning to submit your themes or wallpapers there as well.
I don’t know yet, I am going to informe about the laws of the Italian state, before doing this.

What are your two favorite Nokia smartphone of all time and which Nokia smartphone are looking forward to use?

Only one at now: Nokia N95 is the best ever (I my opinion). May be I’ll buy the new Nokia N97, but I don’t know yet: I don’t like some hardware features to N97(the same as 5800 I already have), instead of the new iPhone 3Gs that in Italy have the same price. Actually, my first phone is iPhone 3G… We’ll see…

What is your favorite color, movie, music band, and sport?
Blue, Schindler’s List, Jamiroquai, Soccer (of course, from a good Italian, eh eh eh!)

Thank you for participating