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Although the year may still be early, the next generation of Symbian Operating System (Symbian^4), which is scheduled to be completed by Q3, is certainly on its way. The Symbian Foundation recently unveiled the changes that will take place in its user interface (UI), targeting at simplicity and ease of use. The layouts have been renewed, placing the title bar on top of the display while the content of the application follows right below. The title bar region will consist of 3 interactive elements; a universal indicator button that shows network strength and battery life, while the title bar will consist of the application title and will drop down into an option list when touched. The bottom toolbar (Application toolbar) can be auto-dismissed via a simple animation that hides it downwards. The new layout places first order commands (used most frequently by users) in the primary application view, while the second order commands will be placed under the Options menu or Settings.

Although the new interface sounds pretty complex at the moment, the visuals provided certainly does seem neater and easier to use. The new OS is scheduled to be completed by the third quarter of the year, and will be implemented on devices in early 2011. Visit the Symbian Developer Forum for the official documentation of the new interface.