Maemo Operating System
Maemo is a Linux-based operating system developed by Nokia for use on mobile devices — especially Internet tablets and some early smartphones. It was designed to bring desktop-like functionality (such as multitasking, web browsing, and open-source software support) to small, portable devices.
Here’s a detailed overview 👇
🧠 Basic Overview
Developer: Nokia (with help from the open-source community)
Initial release: 2005
Based on: Debian GNU/Linux and GNOME
User interface: Hildon (a mobile-optimized desktop environment)
Programming languages: C, C++, Python, GTK+
License: Mostly open source
🕰️ History and Evolution
1. Origins (2005–2007)
Maemo began as the software platform for Nokia’s Internet Tablet line, starting with:
Nokia 770 Internet Tablet (2005)
Nokia N800 (2007)
Nokia N810 (2007)
These devices were not phones — they were small touchscreen computers designed mainly for web browsing, email, and multimedia.
Maemo was originally known as “Internet Tablet OS”, based on Debian Linux, with a GNOME-derived user interface called Hildon.
2. Maemo 5 and the N900 (2009)
The most famous device running Maemo was the Nokia N900, released in 2009.
It ran Maemo 5 (Fremantle), which brought:
True multitasking
A powerful Linux terminal
Access to root privileges (for developers and enthusiasts)
A desktop-style browser with full Flash support
The N900 became popular among developers and open-source fans for its flexibility and hackability.
3. Merge into MeeGo (2010–2011)
In 2010, Nokia partnered with Intel to merge Maemo with Intel’s Moblin (another Linux mobile OS) to form MeeGo.
MeeGo aimed to be a unified Linux platform for phones, tablets, netbooks, and cars.
The Nokia N9 (2011) ran MeeGo Harmattan, which was technically a continuation of Maemo with a new user interface.
4. Legacy and Successors
After Nokia abandoned MeeGo:
The community took over Maemo’s development through projects like:
Maemo Leste – a modern Debian-based continuation of Maemo 5
postmarketOS – supports old Maemo/MeeGo devices
Sailfish OS by Jolla (founded by ex-Nokia engineers) is considered the spiritual successor to Maemo/MeeGo.
💡 Key Features
Full Linux root access
Multitasking window management
Real desktop-style browser
Open-source software repositories
SSH, Python, and package management (via apt)
📱 Notable Devices Running Maemo
Device—>Release Year—>OS Version
Nokia 770—>2005—>Internet Tablet OS 2005
Nokia N800—>2007—>Internet Tablet OS 2007
Nokia N810—>2007—>Maemo 4 (Chinook/Diablo)
Nokia N900—>2009—>Maemo 5 (Fremantle)
🔹 1. Origins and Conception (2003–2005)
Background:
In the early 2000s, Nokia began exploring alternatives to Symbian, which it was using for its smartphones. Symbian was optimized for phones but not for full-featured Internet use or open-source software.
Goal:
Nokia wanted to build a Linux-based platform suitable for mobile Internet devices, offering a real web experience, not the limited WAP browsers of the time.
Development Start:
Around 2003, Nokia started developing a new Linux-based software stack internally. It was designed around:
Debian GNU/Linux
GNOME technologies
A new mobile UI framework called Hildon, originally developed for touchscreens and stylus interfaces.
First product:
The Nokia 770 Internet Tablet — released in November 2005 — became the first device running Maemo 1.0 (initially branded Internet Tablet OS 2005).
🔹 2. Early Maemo Generations (2005–2008)
Maemo 1 (Internet Tablet OS 2005 – “Bora”)
Device: Nokia 770
Released: November 2005
Base: Debian and GNOME 2.x
UI: Hildon Desktop
Features: A simple desktop, Mozilla-based web browser, email client, media player, and package management.
Limitation: No phone functions, Wi-Fi only.
Maemo 2 (Internet Tablet OS 2006 – “Gregale”)
Device: Nokia 770 (updated)
Released: 2006
Improved performance and stability.
Brought in an official SDK for developers.
Introduced apt-based software repositories for community apps.
Maemo 3 (Internet Tablet OS 2007 – “Bora”)
Devices: Nokia N800 (2007)
Added video calling support via integrated webcam.
Better multitasking and Flash support.
GTK-based application framework matured.
Maemo 4 (Internet Tablet OS 2008 – “Chinook/Diablo”)
Devices: Nokia N810 (2007), N810 WiMAX Edition (2008)
Major changes:
Introduced a more refined desktop interface.
Added GPS navigation (on N810).
Improved hardware support (WiMAX, Bluetooth keyboards).
Brought an App Manager, akin to modern app stores.
Diablo update introduced Seamless Software Updates (SSU) for over-the-air system upgrades.
🔹 3. Maemo 5 and the Smartphone Leap (2009–2010)
Maemo 5 (Fremantle)
Device: Nokia N900
Released: November 2009
Base: Debian GNU/Linux with a Linux 2.6 kernel
UI: New, finger-friendly Hildon interface
Key innovations:
True multitasking (live windows on the desktop)
Full desktop-class browser (Mozilla engine, Flash 9.4)
Integrated phone support – the N900 was the first Maemo device that could make and receive calls.
Open development platform: Terminal access, root privileges, SSH, and a strong developer SDK.
Reception:
The N900 gained a cult following among Linux enthusiasts and power users for its openness and flexibility.
However, Nokia was already shifting its attention to merging Maemo with another Linux effort — Intel’s Moblin.
🔹 4. Merger into MeeGo (2010–2011)
Announcement:
In February 2010, at Mobile World Congress, Nokia and Intel announced the merger of Maemo and Moblin to form MeeGo.
MeeGo’s Vision:
A unified Linux platform for smartphones, tablets, netbooks, and in-car systems.
Transition Device:
Nokia N900 received developer previews of MeeGo 1.2, but Nokia decided not to upgrade it officially.
Nokia N9 (2011):
Released with MeeGo 1.2 Harmattan, which was technically a hybrid — largely based on Maemo 6 (never officially released), but aligned with MeeGo APIs.
Introduced the Swipe UI (gesture navigation).
Became one of the most beloved Nokia phones ever made.
🔹 5. Discontinuation and Aftermath (2011–2014)
2011: Nokia shifted its smartphone strategy to Windows Phone, under CEO Stephen Elop.
MeeGo was abandoned, and with it, Maemo officially ended.
The community refused to let it die — they formed:
Maemo Community Council
Maemo Leste project
Maemo Reconstructed (CSSU – Community Seamless Software Update) for N900 users.
🔹 6. Community Revival (2014–Present)
Maemo Leste (2017–Present)
Goal: Revive Maemo 5 on modern Linux foundations.
Base: Debian Devuan (systemd-free), Linux kernel 5.x+
UI: Rebuilt Hildon desktop.
Status: Actively developed by open-source contributors.
Runs on: Modern devices (PinePhone, x86 laptops, older Nokia devices).
Related Successors:
MeeGo → Mer → Sailfish OS
Developed by Jolla, founded by ex-Nokia engineers.
Shares Maemo’s DNA, design philosophy, and open-source foundation.
🧩 Maemo OS Version Summary
Version—>Code Name—>Year—>Device(s)—>Notable Features
1.0—>Bora (2005)—>2005—>Nokia 770—>First Internet Tablet OS
2.0—>Gregale—>2006—>Nokia 770—>Developer SDK, apt support
3.0—>Bora—>2007—>Nokia N800—>Improved UI, Flash, webcam
4.0—>Chinook / Diablo—>2008—>N810—>GPS, App Manager, SSU
5.0–>Fremantle—>2009—>N900—>Phone support, multitasking
6.0—>Harmattan (transitional)—>2011—>N9—>Swipe UI, MeeGo hybrid
⚙️ Technical Stack
Base: Debian GNU/Linux
Desktop: Hildon
Toolkit: GTK+
Package Management: APT / dpkg
Kernel: Linux
Languages: C, C++, Python
🌍 Legacy and Influence
Maemo’s legacy continues to shape mobile Linux:
Inspired: Ubuntu Touch, postmarketOS, PureOS Mobile, and Sailfish OS.
Pioneered: Mobile multitasking, gesture UIs, and open mobile computing years before Android or iOS caught up.
Maemo can be divided into distinct phases, from its ambitious beginnings to its merger and eventual demise.
Phase 1: The Genesis and Internet Tablets (2005 - 2007)
The Problem: In the early 2000s, Nokia dominated the mobile phone market with Symbian. However, a small team within Nokia foresaw the rise of internet-centric devices that were more than just phones. They envisioned a “pocketable computer” for web browsing, media, and applications.
The Foundation: Instead of building from scratch, Nokia leveraged the robust and open Debian GNU/Linux distribution. They created a custom UI layer (using the GTK+ toolkit, familiar from the GNOME desktop) and a “Hildon” application framework. This gave Maemo a familiar feel for desktop Linux developers.
Maemo 1: The Debut (2005)
Device: Nokia 770 Internet Tablet.
Key Features: This wasn’t a phone. It was a Wi-Fi-only device focused on web browsing (with a capable Opera-based browser), email, media playback, and reading PDFs. It introduced the iconic home screen with four “panes” that could be swiped horizontally.
Maemo 2 & 3: Refining the Vision (2006-2007)
Devices: Nokia N800 (Maemo 2007) and Nokia N810 (Maemo 2008).
Key Features: These iterations brought hardware improvements (better screens, slide-out keyboards on the N810) and software refinements like integrated Skype, a more polished UI, and better performance. The community of hobbyists and developers began to grow, porting desktop Linux applications to the platform.
Phase 2: The Convergence with Phones (2008 - 2009)
This was a critical turning point. Nokia realized its internet tablet needed cellular connectivity to be truly mobile.
Maemo 4 (OS2008): The final iteration for the classic Internet Tablets, featured in the N810. It was a mature and stable release but still lacked phone functionality.
Maemo 5: The Masterpiece (2009)
Device: Nokia N900.
This was Maemo’s pinnacle. The N900 was a revolutionary device.
Key Features:
A True Smartphone: It was the first Maemo device with a cellular modem, making calls and mobile data a reality.
Powerful Hardware: A Texas Instruments OMAP3 CPU (ARM Cortex-A8), making it one of the most powerful smartphones of its era.
Advanced UI: A new, slicker interface with “Multitasking” as a core philosophy. The home screen was replaced with a desktop where windows of running applications could be freely moved and resized.
Desktop-Like Linux: It ran a fully open, debian-based rootfs. Users could gain root access (with a simple warning) and use the “Advanced Packaging Tool” (apt-get) to install a vast array of software from Maemo and Debian repositories. It was a hacker’s and developer’s dream.
Mozilla-based browser: Ditching Opera for a Gecko-based browser (precursor to Firefox) that rendered desktop websites flawlessly.
Despite its technical brilliance, the N900 and Maemo 5 were niche products. The UI was complex for the average consumer, the app ecosystem was small compared to the rising iOS App Store and Android Market, and its physical keyboard made it bulky.
Phase 3: The MeeGo Merger and the N9 (2010 - 2011)
The Strategic Shift: In early 2010, Nokia was at a crossroads. Symbian was aging, and Maemo, while powerful, was resource-intensive to develop. At the same time, Intel was struggling with its own Linux-based mobile OS, Moblin.
The Merger (February 2010): Nokia and Intel announced they would merge Maemo and Moblin to create MeeGo, a single, unified Linux-based OS that would run on everything from smartphones and tablets to netbooks, in-vehicle infotainment, and smart TVs. This was overseen by the Linux Foundation.
The Swan Song: Nokia N9 (2011)
While MeeGo was being developed, a team inside Nokia continued working on the next Maemo-based phone. This device, the Nokia N9, ran MeeGo Harmattan.
Technically, MeeGo Harmattan was the direct evolution of Maemo 5, but it represented the transition towards the MeeGo vision.
The N9 is legendary for its groundbreaking design and UI:
Swipe-Based Interface: A button-less, all-screen design where a swipe from any edge would navigate you home, to the multitasking view, or to notifications.
Beautiful Hardware: A unibody polycarbonate design that was incredibly influential.
Critical Acclaim: The N9 was universally praised by critics for its hardware and software design. Many consider it one of the best smartphones ever made.
Phase 4: The Demise and Legacy (2011 - Present)
The “Burning Platform” Memo: In February 2011, just as the N9 was nearing launch, Nokia’s new CEO, Stephen Elop, famously declared the company was standing on a “burning platform.” He argued that Nokia’s own platforms (Symbian and MeeGo) could not compete with iOS and Android.
The Fateful Decision: Instead of betting on MeeGo, Elop announced a partnership with Microsoft to make Windows Phone its primary smartphone OS. This decision effectively killed MeeGo (and thus Maemo) inside Nokia just as it was bearing its most beautiful fruit.
The N9’s Legacy: The N9 was released but received almost no marketing support from Nokia and was discontinued shortly after, becoming an instant cult classic.
The Legacy of Maemo
Maemo’s influence is far greater than its commercial success would suggest.
Spiritual Predecessor to Sailfish OS: After Nokia abandoned MeeGo, key members of the Maemo/MeeGo team left and founded Jolla. They created Sailfish OS, a direct descendant of MeeGo, which continues to be developed today.
Pioneer of Mobile Linux: Maemo proved that a full-fledged Linux desktop could run effectively on a pocketable device, inspiring countless other projects.
UI Innovations: The swipe-based navigation of the N9 was later adopted by both iOS (with the swipe-up to go home) and Android (gesture navigation). Its true multitasking was years ahead of its competitors.
The Community Lives On: The Maemo community remains active to this day. Enthusiasts still maintain and develop for the N900 and N9, porting modern software and keeping the devices functional. Websites like and the ** forum are still hubs of activity.
Foundation for Other Projects: The technologies and lessons from Maemo influenced Nokia’s later projects, including the Asha platform, and even some aspects of the short-lived Nokia X (Android-based) phones.
In conclusion, Maemo was a visionary but tragically timed project. It was a powerful, open platform that arrived just as the industry was standardizing around the more controlled, consumer-friendly models of iOS and Android. While it ultimately failed as a commercial product, its DNA lives on in modern mobile OS design and in the passionate community that continues to champion the ideals of an open, user-controllable mobile computer.
