User:Peterschneider/maemo software
Maemo Platform
The Maemo platform is the core software stack that runs on mobile devices such as the Nokia N810. The Maemo platform is built in large parts of open source components. The Maemo SDK provides an open development environment for applications on top of the Maemo platform.
The Maemo platform consists of the software stack from the Linux kernel to the Maemo APIs and the Hildon UI framework. Commercially available devices running on Maemo come with the pre-installed Hildon UI and a set of applications delivered by Nokia. It is possible to develop other UIs on top of the Hildon UI framework. As an example, the Maemo SDK is delivered with an generic UI, the so-called Plankton UI.
Maemo platform is based on Linux operating system which itself inherits its architecture from the Unix operating system. Linux and other open source projects contributing to the Maemo platform embrace sharing of source code, collaboration and open development model. The Maemo community promotes these values by keeping the Maemo platform wherever feasible open, by sharing source code, and by contributing code directly to the upstream projects.
Maemo platform is based on the Linux operating system kernel. Linux is a monolithic kernel that supports multiple hardware platforms and is able to support a wide range of different kinds of devices from wrist watches to large server systems. Currently all devices running on the Maemo platform have an OMAP chipset, which contain a general-purpose ARM processor and a DSP unit. Maemo 4 uses the Linux 2.6 kernel.
The user space software links with the standard GNU C library interface. The package management framework, the file system hierarchy, and general design policies come from the Debian distribution. The Maemo platform aims at following Debian policies as much as possible.
The user interface architecture of Maemo 4 is based on GNOME framework, especially the GTK+ widget set. GNOME is a leading application framework for desktop Linux systems. Maemo platform has inherited many central components such as GTK+, the GStreamer multimedia framework, the GConf configuration management, and the XML library. The Maemo platform extends GTK+/GNOME technologies by providing extensions for a mobile desktop.
Evolution of Maemo Software
A series of Internet Tablets with touch screen have been built until today with the Maemo platform. The first device was the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet that was launched in November 2005. The Nokia 770 Internet Tablet allowed Internet access over WLAN connection. It had an Opera Internet browser and allowed consumers to stream files, tune in to Internet radio, and play favorite videos and music.
The next device on the Maemo platform was the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet built on Maemo 3 release. It added Skype/VoIP-calls over WLAN and had an integrated camera.
Another step forward was the Nokia N810 using Maemo 4. It has also a full QWERTY keyboard beside the touch screen, a Mozilla technology-based Internet browser, GoogleTalk support, and GPS onboard.
The latest device on the Maemo platform is the Nokia 810 WIMAX Edition on Diablo release, which added WiMAX connectivity to the software.
Figure: Latest announced device on the Maemo platform - the Nokia N810 WiMAX Edition