Introduction to Qt Web Runtime on Maemo 5

Devesh Kothari explains some of the purpose and usage of the newly launched "Web Runtime". Qt and WRT are the two strategic development platforms for Nokia; with the latter giving an easier way in for more simple applications, or designer types who may feel more at home with HTML/CSS and JavaScript: Some might have already noticed the "launch" of the Qt Web Runtime. What is Qt Web Runtime? Simply put Qt Web Runtime provides a runtime environment for web applications, applications written using HTML/CSS/Javascript. The Qt-based platform is available in Extras-devel now, with samples included and more information available from W3C (handily, the scripts used by WRT are standardised - and supposedly cross platform).

Qt Messaging Framework (QMF) is going into MeeGo

Maemo 5's email client, Modest, is built on libtinymail (a project kicked off by Philip Van Hoof). MeeGo's may well be based on the new Qt Messaging Framework (QMF) according to one of its developers, Moises Martinez, Qt Messaging FW (aka QMF) is a modern LGPL e-mail framework for mobile with very cool stuff such as support for protocol plugins (a plugin can be for Activesync for example), threading support, integration with Tracker, IMAP IDLE (Push IMAP), Server-side search, support for combined inboxes and many cool features more which makes it the most powerful e-mail framework in the market. Hands down! :) No matter how good the engine is, the UI on top of it needs to meet the needs of the Gmail generation - something which Modest never did.

Ginge is a GP2X compatibility layer for ARM Linux devices

A new compatibilty layer (think WINE) for GP2X could be on its way to Maemo. Ginge is an application that can run many GP2X F100/F200 games on other ARM Linux platforms. Since ginge is more a compatibility layer like wine than an emulator, theres a lot more resources to run games as efficiently as possible. It was written for the Wiz and Canoo, but has since been ported to the Openpandora. Since the Openpandora is quite similar hardware this is a ripe candidate for a port to the N900 and would open up an amazing huge library of existing games and emulators!

KISStester lists apps you have installed which still need voting

One of the common grumbles about the Extras Testing process is that it's too easy to install software from the Testing repo without remembering to vote, no matter your good intentions. Attila Csipa has started on a project (written in PyQt) which lists applications installed from Extras Testing which have versions yet to be promoted to Extras. Called KISStester (as in "keep it simple, stupid"), it shows you a list of packages you have installed. After reviewing the application against the QA criteria you can pass or fail it, adding a comment explaining the failure.

Your editor has tried it (and even submitted a patch), and although it's very early days (the voting isn't yet joined up with maemo.org), the concept is a good one and should be recommended to everyone using Extras Testing when it reaches a more mature level.

Indeed, you could even imagine it making it to Extras as a "Testing Repo Enabler" which, when installed, enables Extras Testing (with suitable warnings) and/or offers regular reminders about applications you've installed which you haven't yet voted on.