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Maemo

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Internet Tablet OS
Screenshot of OS2008
DeveloperNokia's maemo project
OS familyLinux
Source modelLargely open source with closed source components
Latest release4.0.1 / OS2008 2.2007.51-3 / February 21, 2008 (2008-02-21)
Marketing targetNokia Internet Tablets
Available inMultilingual
Update methodAPT and Flashing
Package managerdpkg
PlatformsARM
Kernel typeMonolithic (Linux)
Default
user interface		Hildon UI
Official websitewww.maemo.org

The Internet Tablet OS (ITOS) is an operating system for the Nokia 770, N800, and N810 Internet Tablets, and is often referred to as "maemo" in reference to the name of the Nokia-sponsored maemo project that oversees its development.

ITOS is based on Debian GNU/Linux and draws much of its GUI, frameworks, and libraries from the GNOME project. It uses the embedded-targeted Matchbox as its window manager, and like the forthcoming Ubuntu Mobile, it uses Hildon, a lightweight GTK-based toolkit designed for handheld devices, as its GUI and application framework.

Components

ITOS is a modified version of Debian GNU/Linux slimmed down for mobile devices.[citation needed] It uses an X Window System-based graphical user interface using Xomap and the Matchbox window manager.[citation needed] The GUI uses the GTK+ toolkit and Hildon user interface widgets and API.[citation needed]

BusyBox, a software package for embedded and mobile devices, replaces the GNU Core Utilities used in Debian-proper to reduce memory usage and storage requirements (at the expense of some functionality).[citation needed]

ESD is used as the primary sound server, and GStreamer is used by the shipped media player to play back sounds and movies. The formats supported by GStreamer can be extended by compiling GStreamer plugins in scratchbox (maemo SDK), which was done, for example, to bring Ogg support to the platform.[1] 3rd party media players can access GStreamer directly or via "osso-media-server". [citation needed]

Although Internet Tablet OS implements preemptive multitasking, the Matchbox window manager limits the screen to showing a single window at a time.

Features

Updating

ITOS can usually be updated to more recent versions of the operating system by their users. This is done by turning off the tablet, connecting it to a host Linux-x86, Mac or Windows computer by a USB cable, then turning on the tablet so that the boot ROM goes into flash mode.[2] Future releases of Internet Tablet OS will support "Seamless Software Update" (SSU) to allow incremental operating system upgrades "over the air" using APT without the need for reflashing via PC.[3] Flashing a the full OS image will remain available as a "secondary method" for starting with a clean install.[4]

Security

The quick start guide for developers warns that ITOS security concentrates on preventing remote attacks (e.g. by wireless networking and Bluetooth). In particular, it warns that ITOS makes use of a root account, but has a trivial default password.[citation needed]

Independent of the root password, ITOS provides a way to lock the device's controls and display to help prevent casual access.[5]

Software

ITOS comes with a number of built-in applications, and additional packages can be installed using the Debian package manager "apt" (using network sources) and "dpkg" (local files).

Applications available for Internet Tablet OS include the Mozilla-based MicroB browser, Macromedia Flash and Skype. [6]

Third-party applications

One of the strengths of Internet Tablet OS is that there are many compatible third party applications, due in part to the free and open source nature of Linux and the maemo SDK. Some applications are original software written specifically for Internet Tablet OS, while other applications are straight ports of existing Linux programs.

Some notable applications include:

  • Canola - a media player with network streaming
  • Claws Mail - a full featured email client
  • FBReader - an e-book reader
  • Gizmo Project - a peer-to-peer VoIP program
  • Gnumeric - free and open source spreadsheet program.
  • GPE - PIM that can be synchronised with any format that is supported by OpenSync and with Google Calendar via a 3rd party program called Erminig
  • Modest - a lightweight mail program that is set to replace the built-in one
  • MPlayer - a media player
  • Pidgin - a full featured internet messaging client, with AIM, MSN, Yahoo and Jabber support
  • rdesktop - RDP remote access
  • Rhapsody - a subscription based music service (US only)
  • ScummVM - ScummVM allows you to run certain classic graphical point-and-click adventure games
  • Skype - a peer-to-peer VoIP program
  • Wayfinder Navigation Software using a bluetooth GPS allows the tablet to be a fully-featured satellite navigation tool.
  • The Battle for Wesnoth - a turn based strategy game
  • VNC client and server

Version history

OS2005

OS2005 Desktop

Shipped with the 770 in November 2005, this is the original Internet Tablet OS. It came bundled with the Opera web browser, Flash 6, basic Email and RSS clients, audio and video players, PDF and image viewers, a graphical APT front-end (dubbed simply "Application manager"), and a variety of simple games and utilities.[7]

OS2006

OS2006 showing Pimlico Dates

OS2006 was released as a beta version for the 770 on June 9th, 2006 and as a final on June 20th[8]. The update featured improved performance and stability, a Google Talk client, a refreshed look, and a new full-screen finger keyboard. Because of significant API and architecture changes, existing applications required recompiling. It is the last officially supported Internet Tablet OS release for the 770.

OS2007

OS2007 Desktop showing OMWeather

OS2007 was released and bundled with the N800 on January 8th, 2007 after its announcement at the Las Vega CES 2007 summit. It featured significant bug fixes and performance improvements in almost all areas of the OS, bringing updated versions of Opera 8 and Flash 7.

OS2008

OS2008 Desktop

OS2008 was released with the N810 in November 2007, featuring MicroB, a new Mozilla-based web browser that replaces Opera, integrated Samba file sharing and additional support for Windows Media Player Formats and H.264, improved support for USB devices,[9][10] among other incremental UI improvements (particularly in the direction of finger-friendliness).[citation needed] CPU frequency scaling (between 165MHz and 400MHz) was also implemented, which gave the N800 a 70MHz speed increase.[citation needed]

Hacker Edition

Nokia's release of the N800 in January 2007 included OS2007, an improved version of OS2006. OS2007 ran only on the N800 and Nokia initially had no plans to release it for the 770; however feedback from disgruntled 770 owners[11] led Nokia to release an unsupported hybrid of OS2006 and OS2007, dubbed Internet Tablet OS 2007 Hacker Edition, in February 2007.[12]

Nokia followed the release of the N810 and OS2008 in November 2007 with the OS2008 Hacker Edition for the 770 on February 14th, 2008. Although, due to the 770's hardware limitations and the increased CPU requirements of OS2008, performance is inferior to that of OS2007 HE in most areas.[13]

Alternative desktops

In addition to the officially supported Hildon environment that comes standard on the tablets, several alternate desktop systems are available. Penguinbait, a member of the Internet Tablet Talk community, has successfully ported KDE 3[14], Openbox[15], and XFCE[16] to the N800 and N810 (the 770 is able to run an early version of the KDE port). KDE 4 is being ported at the present time.[17]

Future

Template:Future software

Diablo

Diablo is the current codename for the 3rd release of OS2008 (corresponding to maemo 4.1).[18] This release is tentatively scheduled for the second quarter of 2008. Major features include incremental operating system upgrades without reflashing (SSU), Modest as the default mail client, a new version of the MicroB browser based on a more recent Gecko beta release, and additional support for more instant messaging providers with the built-in instant messaging framework.[19][20]

Elephanta

Elephanta is the current codename for what is expected to become the base for OS2009 (corresponding to maemo 5.0).[18] At this point no major information is known about this software or the hardware upon which it will run. Current community speculation is that this new release will run on a Texas Instruments OMAP3 SoC and provide significant enhancements in areas of speed, 3D acceleration, and media playback.[21]

Qt

In January 2008, Nokia began the process of acquiring Trolltech, the developer of the Qt GUI toolkit. Nokia has since announced plans for the Qt libraries to be bundled with maemo by the Q4 2008, though without a platform-specific "hildonized" UI as is offered with GTK (meaning Qt applications will look different from hildonized GTK ones).[22][23] This will make porting of Qt applications to the platform easier for developers and make new applications available to users. Qt support on S60 devices will likely lead to cross-platform application sharing between the two platforms.[24][25] The announcement has met with mixed reaction in the developer community.[26][27]

See also

References

  1. ^ maemo 4.x: Getting started with multimedia
  2. ^ How To Flash Latest Nokia Image with Linux
  3. ^ It's Official N810 WiMAX Announced
  4. ^ "Nokia and maemo in the new GNOME mobile context". Quim Gil. June 1, 2007. pp. p. 22. {{cite web}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  5. ^ "Internet Tablet OS 2008 edition User Guide" (PDF). Nokia. 2007. pp. p. 14. {{cite web}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  6. ^ Nokia N810 Specifications List of bundled applications
  7. ^ 770 Device Profile List of bundled applications for OS2005
  8. ^ Nokia 770 Tablet "OS 2006" arrives News article on OS2006 release
  9. ^ USB in OS2008 Article on OS2008 USB support
  10. ^ USB On-The-Go Kate Alhola's Forum Nokia Blog USB On-The-Go
  11. ^ We're getting some feedback .. and we've got a plan now Ari Jaaksi's blog post on OS2007 for 770
  12. ^ First release of OS 2007 / 770 hacker edition out Announcement of first OS2007 HE release on Carlos Guirreiro's blog
  13. ^ Internet Tablet Hacker Edition pushed at Chinook level Announcement of the first OS2008 HE release
  14. ^ KDE/Koffice Install made easy for everyone
  15. ^ OPENBOX-ROX Now Available
  16. ^ http://www.internettablettalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9678 XFCE Available
  17. ^ Why Not Skip Ahead? (KDE4 for ITs)
  18. ^ a b Maemo Codenames
  19. ^ What do we know about Diablo (Maemo 4.1)
  20. ^ A not so modest update to email is coming
  21. ^ What would you realistically like to see in the N900?
  22. ^ Qt to be Supported in Addition to GTK
  23. ^ CTIA and Qt
  24. ^ Gil, Quim (2008-01-29). "Gnomes, trolls and the maemo lands". flors. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessdaymonth= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ Paul, Ryan (2008-04-23). "Nokia Internet Tablets get Ubuntu and Qt". Ars Technica. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessdaymonth= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ van den Oever, Jos (2008-01-28). "digesting the Trolltech acquisition". oever's blog. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessdaymonth= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ Wilcox, Mark (2008-02-03). "Trolltech, Linux, Open Source, the future?". Mark Wilcox's Forum Nokia Blog. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessdaymonth= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
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