What is Maemo? | Maemo Apps | Nokia Maemo | Maemo Applications

Maemo is an Open source, Linux-based operating system that is designed to run on high-end mobiles. The latest N900 from Nokia runs on the Maemo 5 OS (Fremantle). There are also other Nokia Mobiles like N800 and N810 which are based on the older version of Maemo OS. Maemo is definitely an advanced Mobile platform that supports many enhanced applications. Maemo brings the power of computers to mobile devices. Designed with the internet at its core, Linux-based Maemo software takes us into a new era of mobile computing.

Maemo is a software platform developed by Nokia for smartphones and Internet Tablets. It is based on the Debian Linux distribution. The platform contains the Maemo operating system and the Maemo SDK.

Maemo is mostly based on open source code, and has been developed by Maemo Devices within Nokia in collaboration with many open source projects such as the Linux kernel, Debian, and GNOME. Maemo is based on Debian GNU/Linux and draws much of its GUI, frameworks, and libraries from the GNOME project. It uses the Matchbox window manager, and the GTK-based Hildon as its GUI and application framework.

The UI in Maemo is similar to many handheld interfaces, and features a "Home" screen, which acts as a central point from which all applications and settings are accessed. The Home Screen is divided into areas for launching applications, a menu bar, and a large customizable area that can display information such as an RSS reader, Internet radio player, and Google search box.

Maemo 5

Maemo 5 is also known as Fremantle, is the default operating system on the Nokia N900. The release features a much more finger-friendly and consistent UI, and an X-server based on Xorg rather than KDrive. Maemo 5 features several new technologies, including the Tracker search system, PulseAudio (replacing ESD), the OHM hardware management daemon, the gUPnP UPnP framework, enhanced location framework, and Upstart. Various existing technologies have also been updated, including BlueZ, Gecko, gstreamer (will include OpenMAX), GTK+, and Telepathy.

Maemo 5 comes with new hardware, the Nokia N900 featuring a Texas Instruments OMAP3 SoC, with an HSPA modem and HD camera, which provides significant improvements in the areas of speed, 3D acceleration, and media playback. It has not yet been determined whether Maemo 5 will run on current N800/N810 devices, but it has been decided by Nokia that the commercial Maemo 5 platform releases will not be available on N800/N810 hardware, for compatibility reasons. An open source Linux project called "Mer", a variant of Maemo, has been formed to provide an alternative, more open operating system for mobile devices including the Nokia N800 and N810.

Unlike most smartphones, the end-user is able to gain root access by issuing the command "sudo gainroot" in the terminal in Maemo 5. The device does not need to be unlocked or jailbroken in order to install an unsupported application.

The Maemo 5 operation system comes preloaded with a variety of applications such as:

• Web: Maemo Browser (Mozilla based web browser with Adobe Flash 9.4), RSS reader
• VoIP: Session initiation protocol, Skype
• Conversations (IM chat and SMS, no MMS)
• Media: Camera, Media player, Photos
• Production: Contacts, Calendar, Email, PDF reader
• Ovi Maps (Find position on a map using the GPS, Search an address or location, Plan routes)
• Phone application
• Utilities: Notes, Clock, Sketch, Calculator
• System Tools: Application manager for downloads, Widgets, File manager
• Games: Bounce, Blocks, Chess, Marbles and Mahjong

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