Nokia has announced a project release of MeeGo software. MeeGo is the open-source next-gen operating system for computing devices jointly developed by Nokia and Intel. New MeeGo 1.1 update will let users dual-boot Nokia N900 devices on a memory card that have latest 1.3 update running on it. 
MeeGo 1.1 update is a project release not meant to be used on a daily basis over a device. This is an unfinished product and meant only for developers. In this update, developers can find cellular and sensor technologies built into the core of the mobile operating system. Basic mobile phone functions like voice calling, texting SMS, web browsing, music and video playback, photo viewing and other connection management have been tightly integrated.
MeeGo 1.1, the latest version of the operating system that resulted from the merger of Nokia's Maemo and Intel's Moblin platforms, was released a few days ago, and we already had the chance to take a look at the installation process of this solution on the Maemo-based Nokia N900. Along with MeeGo 1.1, a MeeGo 1.1 Handset UX came, and now we should detail it a little more.
And since MeeGo 1.1 is only one step in MeeGo's evolution, a quick look into the future is also required, at MeeGo 1.2, the platform version set to land in about six months from now.
MeeGo 1.1 brought a series of other novelties too many of which are aimed both at handsets and at other devices that would run under the mobile operating system, but what interests us at the moment is the MeeGo Handset user experience development, which was brought to light now.
“The MeeGo 1.1 Handset UX release is a technology snapshot including key handset technologies, such as cellular, connectivity, sensors, and mobile browsing,” a recent post on MeeGo reads.
Moreover, the post notes that the release also includes “a basic development UX for voice calling, SMS messaging, web browsing, music and video playback, photo viewing, and connection management.” A detailed list with these components can be found below.
The MeeGo Handset image includes the MeeGo 1.1 Core OS. Moreover, it should be noted that it comes with support for the Nokia N900 ARM based platform, as well as for the Aava Mobile Intel Moorestown platform DV2.
Some of the software included in the new release was not tested, and those who will install it will do so at their own risk, as the device could behave unexpectedly. A list of known issues in MeeGo 1.1 is available here.
“After installation your warranty no longer covers the use of this device. Continued use could cause harm to you personally, your device and/or lead to unexpected costs,” the said blog post continues. Those who do not agree with these should not install the software.
Following the release of MeeGo 1.1, the development team has started the work on the next flavor of the platform, MeeGo 1.2, which should be released in April 2011.
According to them, the next version of MeeGo should come with a Handset UX release, which would include complete set of applications, as well as support for other device usage models.
The development tree of the new MeeGo version was opened, and the new components have already started to be included. A series of features that should come with MeeGo 1.2 were filed in MeeGo Featurezilla, and they can be seen here.
Take a look at the detailed list of MeeGo 1.1 components (coming from the guys over at MeeGo), and keep an eye on this space for more info on the MeeGo 1.2 roadmap, as all the necessary details are expected to become available soon.
The MeeGo Handset User Experience includes:
MeeGo Handset UX framework
MeeGo Handset UX framework is based on MeeGo Touch Framework and Qt technologies and provides capabilities for touch screen GUI application development, home, application Launcher, and application Switcher, to open and switch between applications.
MeeGo Handset Dialer
MeeGo Dialer application provides basic phone functions for making and receiving calls, with a simple call history and basic integration with Contacts for contact names and numbers.
MeeGo Handset SMS
MeeGo Short Message Service (SMS) application focuses on basic aspects of creating, sending, receiving, viewing, and deleting SMS messages.
MeeGo Handset Browser
MeeGo Handset Browser provides a basic browser application, with a mobile optimized browser engine powered by Mozilla technology. It supports bookmarks, cookies, plug-ins, add-ons, and the latest web protocols, as provided by the underlying Mozilla technology, such as: HTML, XHTML, XML, XSLT, XPath, DOM, CSS, RDF, MathML, and JavaScript. The browser also supports Flash plug-ins, once installed on the system.
MeeGo Handset Photos
MeeGo Handset Photos is a basic photo viewer application. You can open, delete, and view your photos. It supports image rotation to view in both portrait and landscape orientations. Other features include support for viewing photos in the form of thumbnails, photo lists, and photos in slide show mode. For management, we added features to support photo albums, search capabilities, and autogenerated album principles.
MeeGo Handset Video Player
MeeGo Handset Video Player is a basic video playback application. You will be able to play videos full screen and have on top, layered user controls and a timeline indicator as videos play. Additional features enable showing metadata, accompanied with some videos containing information, such as the names of Actor/Director and episode names.
MeeGo Handset Audio Player
MeeGo Handset Audio Player is a basic music playback application with play control features for previous, play/pause, next, shuffle, and repeat. It also shows the name of the current song and the play queue.
Home screen and in-vehicle management features have been added for automobile entertainment systems. Nokia N900 tablet users willing to try out this update can download it from here while others who wish to check out MeeGo 1.1 update on netbooks in general can get the build from here.
0 comments