MeeGo: Rediscovering a Forgotten Mobile Operating System
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Chapter 1: The Rise and Fall of Symbian
For over a decade, Symbian was the leading mobile operating system. However, the landscape shifted dramatically following the launch of Apple's first iPhone in 2007. Despite Nokia's attempts to enhance Symbian's capabilities on touch devices like the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, N97, and N8, they struggled to keep pace with the innovations presented by Apple's offerings. Recognizing the limitations of Symbian, Nokia made a strategic pivot towards MeeGo for their devices before ultimately settling on Windows Phone.
History
MeeGo emerged as the successor to both Intel's Moblin and Nokia's Maemo. Announced at the Mobile World Congress in 2010, MeeGo was intended for a variety of devices, including smartphones, netbooks, tablets, and more, positioning itself for the Internet of Things (IoT) era. Developers had the opportunity to distribute their applications through the Ovi Store and Intel's AppUpSM Center.
In June 2011, Nokia unveiled its first MeeGo smartphone, the Nokia N9, which hit the market in September of the same year. This device was notable for being Nokia's first smartphone without physical buttons, featuring a polycarbonate design that influenced future Lumia models. The N9's software was considered innovative for its time, and despite receiving acclaim, it would ultimately be the last of its kind, as Nokia transitioned to Windows Phone as their main operating system.
Interfaces
MeeGo showcased a variety of user interfaces, including its Netbook UX and Handset UX from version 1.1. Below are some notable aspects:
Derivatives
Although MeeGo 1.3 was its final version, the operating system's legacy continued through derivatives like Tizen and Sailfish OS.
Tizen
After MeeGo's decline, the Linux Foundation adopted Tizen as its successor, backed by Intel and Samsung. Tizen, like MeeGo, was designed to power a range of devices, including tablets, smartphones, smart TVs, and in-vehicle entertainment systems. Samsung utilized Tizen in their smartphones, wearables, and smart TVs, but there have been no new Tizen smartphones released since the Samsung Z4.
Sailfish OS
Post-MeeGo, some former Nokia employees established Jolla and began developing Sailfish OS as a continuation of the MeeGo vision. Jolla produced several devices running Sailfish OS, including the Jolla smartphone and the Jolla Tablet. However, they have shifted their focus to creating Sailfish OS versions for existing smartphones, such as the Sony Xperia X and XA2.
Chapter 2: The Legacy of MeeGo
Despite its discontinuation, MeeGo's influence lingers on. Various leaks have surfaced regarding canceled projects that were based on MeeGo’s framework.
The first video, "MeeGo OS | Blast From The Past," revisits the history and features of MeeGo, offering insights into what made this OS special.
The second video, "How Can MeeGo Survive in an Android's World? | The Linux Action Show!" explores the challenges MeeGo faced in a rapidly evolving mobile landscape.