Nokia Nseries tablets to get Ubuntu, Qt apps

Nokia today revealed to Ars Technica that it will soon add support for new apps and also a new version of Linux to its Nseries tablets, such as the N810. Following the company's acquisition earlier this year of Trolltech, the Finnish device maker now says the Linux-based Maemo operating system on the Nseries will support apps written for the Qt framework; this will permit not just apps written for Qt on other versions of Linux but also cross-platform apps. Eventually, a single program should work with both Symbian phones (such as Nokia's N95) and Maemo devices, the company explains.

The company is also actively supporting the development of Ubuntu for Nseries tablets, enabling the successful Linux distribution to run both using the tablets' ARM processors but also take advantage of the built-in control system. Nokia is still in the midst of testing the software, nicknamed Handheld Mojo, and doesn't have a fixed release date in mind. However, the firm says users can try the software right away either through an emulator or directly from an SD card loaded into any existing device.

Nokia has no immediate plans to scrap Maemo in favor of another distribution.

Filed under: industry, gadgets, software
Other story tags: Linux, Nokia, Symbian, Ubuntu, Trolltech, Maemo, Qt