I should note that this part of review applies also for the E6 in 80% of most cases, i'll write a dedicated part anyway ;)

And yes !

The big first difference with the Calendar functions with the Symbian Anna update is that we now get a split view approach to the layout. Previously the screen was dominated simply by numbered squares, now you'll find this has been condensed and a new empty pane added.

Click on a date on the calendar and where as before you simply got an empty page, now you'll find that a timeline has been added down the left-hand side so you can choose what time to add you appointment, helping speed up the whole process.

Dual-pane layout in the monthly view, the Calendar application in Anna becomes even more useful. You can tap on any day on the left panel, while on the right all of your appointments are shown. You can also use multitouch to zoom in/out switching between monthly and weekly views.


In Portrait mode you'll find the calendar at the top of the page and the Tap to Create Entry pane below it, while in Landscape mode they sit side-by-side. The main difference you'll find is that it takes one click out of adding an appointment or reminder. Previously you had to tap on the date and then tap again to enter information. Now you simply tap the Create tab and you're away.

You can still view in Month, Week or Day mode and there is still a To-Do list function. However, you'll also find that Agenda lists can be created within the Calender. This new look is far more intuitive and allows you to see at a glance what you have coming up that day, which is what you want and need most.

PS : The Anna screenshots on the left, pre-Anna (N8) on the right, and you can click on the screenshot to view it in the real size :)




 

What is interesting is that now the "add a place" for a meeting is highlighted on the meeting process (before you have to select "options" and then "add a place") and clicking on the surrounded area bring the Maps application to choose the meeting place/address :)




Another logical enhancement is when you want to join a note to an event, anna don't propose to create or to join a note as pre-anna did, which makes more sense...


 

The good news is that we have now a contact -or actually a mailbox- integration, for reminding or inviting contacts/guests to upcoming meetings (meeting request) :


So that we have now the ability to add participants (from contact application but only for contacts with an email address filed in by tapping on the surrounded area) to a meeting and we can even add needful ones and "optional" ones !





 

When the event is created it's presented as following on both versions :





 

With anna we can send this event as a meeting (to participants we included in the event) or as an email with details of the meeting !


But with pre-anna, we got an extra option on the other hand to search a N°, Email or Web link in the event (not sure how is it useful and i guess that's why it was removed from Anna.




If we hold the tap on the meeting event both version offer the possibility to view the address of the meeting, delete it and send it but on  pre-anna we have an option to copy the event into agendas while on Anna this option was replaced by edit the event :


 

As i said earlier we can send the meeting to all participants included in the event, and what's the most interesting thing is that i the event was updated or canceled we have a popup asking if we should alert and inform the participants about that (by email with the subject "update" or "canceled") !!! Very nice touch !