The Maemo platform

Bring your vision for PC-style applications
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 offers the simplicity of Qt, Maemo 5 provides unique opportunities for developers to create innovative mobile application.

Key resources

• Tools 
• Documentation and examples
• Wiki 
• Application 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 applications.

Read more about the hardware and software features of the Nokia N900 device »

Maemo 5 enables developers to leverage their existing skills in Linux development to create mobile applications quickly and easily. The Maemo 5 SDK runs in the Linux environment, offering a development environment that’s already familiar to many developers. In addition, support for Qt Development Frameworks provides developers with the opportunity to create applications that can be implemented on other mobile and desktop platforms easily.

Rich cross platform framework for development

Maemo 5 introduces support for Qt and currently offers developers a technology preview of the features that will be offered in a future version of Qt 4.6.

Qt is a framework that offers the same application performance as native Linux applications. Qt is, however, a much more intuitive application and UI framework to work with. In addition, applications 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.

Read more about how Qt is offered on Nokia’s mobile platforms »

Take games to the next level

For applications 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 applications to embed web content within their UI. This means applications can take advantage of dynamic web content easily without reprogramming, as seen in the Ovi Maps application.

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 applications. The framework facilitates rapid development because it handles an application’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 applications over the internet.

Software distribution made easy

Whether it is an early implementation of innovative ideas or a fully commercial application, the Ovi Store makes it easy for consumers to discover applications. The Ovi Store will be available on Maemo 5 device, making application discovery possible anywhere. In addition, maemo.nokia.com provides information on the full range of services and downloads available.

Back to top