I have a Sony Ericsson P1i and this is tested on that phone. But most can be applied also to the other phones using Symbian UIQ 3 operating system. Phones which have UIQ 3 includes:

  • Sony Ericsson P1, P1i, P1c, M600i, M600c, P990i, P990c, W950i, W950c, W960i, W960c, G700 and G900
  • Motorola Z8, Z10

What I will bring up in this guide are

  1. Short introduction to UIQ 3 and Symbian
  2. Web browser and installing Opera Mini
  3. How to manage email with UIQ 3
  4. Google maps
  5. iSkoot to use Skype
  6. Worldmate
  7. Swiss Manager
  8. Adding new programs as icons on your start page
  9. Download and installing new desktop themes
  10. Installing GDesk
  11. Rss reader
  12. Top blogs and websites about UIQ 3
  13. Sites for downloading games and applications
  14. Bonus: Walkman 3.0 (for SE P1i only)

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1. Short introduction to UIQ 3 and Symbian

UIQ 3 is a graphical user interface for Symbian operating system. It comes preinstalled with some important programs such as browser, email applications etc. In addition you can download and install new programs and games. There are two different type of applications which can be installed.

  • Applications which are made especially for the UIQ 3. They run native on your phone and these should be preferred.
  • Java games and applications. Use Java only when there are not any good native programs available.

Programs which are made for S60 Symbian (Nokia) will not work on UIQ 3.

The easiest way to install applications is to download them using the main Opera web browser in your phone. When you have downloaded you will be asked if you want to install the program. Another way is to download to your computer and transfer by USB or card reader to your memory card or phone. Then run the file from the file browser.

If I recommend you to download from Sony Ericsson, simply type in www.sonyericsson.com/fun in your main web browser and browse around until you find the right applications.

If you have a P1i I can strongly recommend that you upgrade to the latest firmware. If you do that your phone will be much more stable. Remember to back up everything in the phone memory since all data will be wiped out during the installation. Data on the flash memory will not be touched. All information about how to do is located on this page on Sony Ericsson’s website.

2. Web browser and installing Opera Mini

The browser which comes with the phone is Opera 8.65 and this is a quite poor browser when compared to the best. Opera is developing a new version, Opera 9.5, for UIQ and everybody hopes that when it is ready, Sony Ericsson will release a new firmware including this new browser.

Until then there is one alternative and that is to install Opera Mini 4.1. It is the only Java program I will recommend using in this guide. This browser is really good and it has most things that a modern mobile web browser should have today, such as iPhone-like full web page and zooming capabilities, landscape mode, and even synchronization of your bookmarks.

If you don’t have a flat rate deal with your phone company I can recommend to browse without downloading photos. Then you can browse way more full sized web pages and pay less. Turn on photo’s when needed.

Another trick to easy input all your bookmarks in your Opera Mini is is that you download Opera 9.5 beta for your computer, copy all your bookmarks from your main web browser to Opera 9.5. Then you can sync continuously the same bookmarks from both the computers Opera browser and your phone’s Opera Mini, fantastic.

Opera Mini is a absolute must-have in your phone.

Download Opera Mini to your phone by typing www.operamini.com in your normal browser and download the program. This is Opera Mini’s homepage.

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3. How to manage email with UIQ 3

My absolute best recommendation to handle email is by IMAP, using UIQ’s built in mail application. This can be done by any email service provider offering IMAP, I use Googles gmail. IMAP is good choice because you can download only the subjects and later download all the messages. This also mean that you wont need to access your mail throw a web browser or download a additional program.

If you want to use Google IMAP you first have to change the settings, click forwarding and POP/IMAP, and click enable IMAP. Then you simply input your Gmail account data in your phone in control panel, messaging, email accounts. The only thing which can screw up is if you forget to set secure connection SLL. Do that by clicking more, advanced and enable SLL for both incoming and outgoing. Now you have quick and good access to your Gmail or your custom IMAP mail.

My company use Microsoft exchange server and for synchronization with such a server you can use Exchange Active sync. You can download it on Sony Ericssons web page in the area fun&downloads. How to set it up depends on your server configuration.

Another alternative to access Gmail except for the browser interface is to download this program from Google. To install it, type gmail.com/app in your main browser, download and install.

4. Google maps

Google maps is available as a native UIQ 3 application and it is awesome. Even if your phone doesn’t have built in gps, this program uses signals from the 3g towers to make a pretty good guess where you are.

To install it, just type in google.com/gmm in your main browser. Then download and install.

For more info, here is the link to to Google map’s homepage.

5. iSkoot to use Skype

If you want to use Skype on your mobile phone I recommend the program iSkoot. You can download it at Sony Ericsson’s web page directly from your phone. Type in www.sonyericsson.com/fun in your main browser and find iSkoot. More information and instructions can be found at iSkoot’s home page.

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6. Worldmate

Worldmate is a free, native and really nice application for travelers. It gives you currency, weather information, world clocks, etc. To download and install, type in http://mobile.mobimate.com/uiq in your main web browser. Check it out at this site.

7. Swiss Manager

A great, geeky and native UIQ app is Swiss manager. Basically it’s a better file manager than the normal one but it comes with some geeky features such as closing all programs at once and to see uptime (how long time since you rebooted. You can download and install it from this web site.

8. Adding new programs as icons on your start page

Of course you want to have easy access to your new favorite programs you just installed. You can add and change the icons on the desktop on your phone using this method.

Scroll using the scroll wheel to a empty icon location or the icon you want to change. Click more and replace or add icon. Pick the program you want.

Very easy.

9. Download and installing new desktop themes

To make a good looking and slick desktop I really recommend that you download a beautiful theme. There are thousands to chose from really. A Theme has the .utz extension and if you download and execute (run) the file, the phone will ask you if you want to install and apply the theme. You find the theme management in control panel, device, themes.

The three best places for finding your theme is Mobile9, Zedge and Mobile 88. Check out the sites.

Here are some examples of beautiful themes.

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10. Installing GDesk

If you don’t like the arrangement of the standard desktop you can install GDesk. It is an application which will make it possible to get a completely different look with support for widgets and so on. You can download it from this page.

Here is an example how it can look.


I have never tried the software but I understand that it is quite popular. Google around for GDesk + UIQ for more info. The Sony Ericsson P1i blog, also mentioned below, also has several articles about it.

11. Rss reader

To read your rss feeds on your phone, use Opera mini and Google Reader for mobile. It really kicks ass and it is super easy to use. I recommend it for all portable devices (and desktops as well).

  1. Get a google account and register all your feeds at Google reader.
  2. Type in www.google.com/reader/m in your browser in your phone and start reading

The only down side is that you can’t read when you are off line. If you have that need you could use the built in RSS reader even if it is not very good since you have to read one feed at a time. I believe that there are better applications available though, even though I never found them so far.

12. Top blogs and websites about UIQ 3

13. Sites for downloading games and applications

There are tons of sites but I will name a few.

14. Bonus: Walkman 3.0 (for SE P1i only)

Sony Ericsson P1i is hacked and there is a way to install Walkman 3.0. Walkman 3.0 is said to be a awesome program and it only comes only with Sony Ericsson W960i. How to do it is described on this forum. I didn’t try it and its basically because I don’t listen to music on my phone.


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