Bring your vision for PC-style apps to mobile
The Maemo™ platform, first introduced in 2005 on Nokia Internet Tablet devices, realises a vision to bring PC-like features and user experiences to mobile devices.
Maemo 5 is a core platform for Nokia Nseries devices, which are characterised by high-performance hardware, exciting new UI principles, and an internet centric philosophy. Based on well known open-source Linux components and offering the simplicity of Qt development, Maemo 5 provides unique opportunities for developers to create innovative mobile apps.
Key resources
- Tools
- Documentation and examples
- Wiki
- App distribution
- Technical support
Why should I start developing for
Maemo 5?
Maemo 5 fuses the power of the PC, the internet, and the mobile phone together with an intuitive UI.
The Nokia N900 mobile computer is based on Maemo 5 and provides an exciting mix of hardware power and user appeal, offering
huge potential for innovative apps.
Read more about the hardware and software features of the Nokia N900 device
Qt for rich cross platform development
From firmware version 10.2010.19-1 (released in May 2010) the Nokia N900 includes the Qt framework, enabling developers to use the Qt APIs and Qt APIs for Mobile Development to create apps. Delivering the same app performance as the native Linux APIs, Qt offers a more intuitive app and UI framework. In addition, apps written using Qt can easily be compiled to run on other mobile platforms, such as Symbian devices as well as Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh, and Linux based PCs. Development is supported with the state-of-the-art Nokia Qt SDK. The SDK eliminates the need to download the Maemo 5 SDK as it includes the Qt Simulator, which enables app testing on a computer, as well as all the tools to build apps for the Nokia N900.
Find out more about the Nokia Qt SDK
Leverage you Linux skills
Maemo 5 enables developers to leverage their existing skills in Linux development to create mobile apps quickly and easily. The Maemo 5 SDK runs in the Linux environment, offering a development environment that’s already familiar to many developers.
Take games to the next level
For apps that require high-performance graphics including 3D features, such as games, developers can utilise OpenGL ES 2.0.
Such graphics can be coupled with the variety of sensors available on the Nokia N900 device, to deliver unique and engaging
user interaction, as seen in Bounce Evolution.
Embed the internet everywhere
Harnessing the capabilities of the Gecko 1.9.2 rendering engine, Maemo 5 offers a rich API that enables apps to embed web content within their UI. This means apps can take advantage of dynamic web content easily without reprogramming, as seen in the Ovi Maps app.
Rich frameworks for development
In addition to Qt, Open GL, and the Mozilla Gecko engine, Maemo 5 implements a rich set of frameworks that are open to developers. Among these frameworks are:
- Maemo Sharing Framework enabling the sharing of multimedia across the internet, while eliminating the burden of developing UI code.
- RTCom Framework, based on Telepathy and Farsight2, enables the integration of messaging services into Maemo 5 through plug-ins. The framework eliminates the need to develop UI components while enabling plug-ins to offer a complete communication experience by encompassing voice, SMS, and presence, among others.
- Multimedia Application Framework, based on GStreamer, provides interfaces for multimedia apps. The framework facilitates rapid development because it handles an app’s low-level multimedia playback requirements (such as codecs, formats, and protocols, among others).
Maemo 5 offers Maemo Update, a platform service similar to Update Manager on Linux desktops, that enables users to update the OS and install apps over the internet.
Software distribution made easy
Whether it is an early implementation of innovative ideas or a fully commercial app, the Ovi Store makes it easy for consumers to discover apps. The Ovi Store is available on Maemo 5 device, making app discovery possible anywhere. In addition, maemo.nokia.com provides information on the full range of services and downloads available.