Qt Software has announced that Qtopia, a platform for creating user interfaces and applications for Linux-based consumer electronics based, has been renamed and launched as Qt Extended 4.4.
Qt lets developers build services and applications once, then extend to the desktop, mobile, and embedded platforms without rewriting the code. Qt Extended extends the Qt application development framework, bringing increased functionality to embedded Linux. Qt Extended inherits the Qt WebKit Integration, which helps device manufacturers enrich applications with live web content such as online maps, music stores, and instant messaging.
"Qt Extended is designed to accelerate software development for a wide range of consumer devices, such as video IP phones, media players and other advanced devices," said Qt Software's Sebastian Nystrom. "With the new release of Qt Extended, we are making it easier to differentiate the user experience and the feature set."
Features of the Qt Extended 4.4 release are:
- Modular architecture for feature selection
- Advanced touch-based user interface
- IP communications framework based on Telepathy -- Instant Messaging (XMPP) and presence
- Unified inbox for email, SMS, MMS, IM, etc. plus push IMAP email and other messaging enhancements
- New Qt UI Test, a tool for automated system tests of the target device
Qt Extended 4.4 includes a new Video IP Desk phone reference design which demonstrates an Internet-connected video desk phone UI for finger touch interaction for 3.5-inch screens. The objective of the reference design is to illustrate the versatility of Qt Extended.
Qt, originally developed by Trolltech, is a development framework for multiple operating systems. In June 2008, Nokia completed the acquisition of Trolltech and it is now a fully integrated entity within the Nokia Devices unit, called Qt Software.
