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.

Built using open-source components from the Linux desktop, Maemo 5 is a core platform for Nokia Nseries devices. Maemo 5 devices are characterised by high-performance hardware, exciting new UI principles, and an internet centric philosophy.

Maemo 5 device owners are early adopters who are keen to embrace innovation as part of their daily lives. This means they have an enthusiasm for trying new features and services, often while these features and services are still in beta.

Altogether this means Maemo 5 offers a unique opportunity for mobile application innovators.

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. Nokia Nseries devices based on Maemo 5 provide an exciting mix of hardware power and user appeal, offering huge potential for application innovation.

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 frameworks for development

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).

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.

Community means options

Maemo has a strong focus on open-source development and collaboration. This approach opens up additional development technologies to developers, such as Python for Maemo and PySide for Python or Maemomm for C++. As the community grows, so will the available options.

Software distribution made easy

Distribution of Maemo 5 applications is 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. In addition, maemo.nokia.com provides comprehensive information on the full range of services and downloads available.
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.

SDKs and tools that work the way you do

The Maemo 5 SDK has been developed by Nokia in collaboration with some of the best open-source community projects. The SDK comes with all the tools needed to develop and package Maemo 5 applications. Comprehensive documentation and examples introduce developers to the new Maemo UI paradigm designed for finger-based touch interaction.

Make your name as a Maemo innovator

With this range of technologies and a robust delivery mechanism there is no time like the present for developers to enter the Maemo software marketplace. Bring your ideas to Maemo 5 and establish your name as a Maemo application innovator.

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