Qt Everywhere is a new series we will run from time to time on this blog. It showcases examples of industry leaders using Qt and gets insights straight from the ‘industry floor’, as we examine some of our users and their experiences working with Qt.
Today we are looking at how Linux device leader Xandros employs Nokia’s Qt for consistent user experiences across multiple devices.
In adopting Qt as its main R&D framework, Xandros has been able to develop consistent user interfaces across multiple devices. The Qt framework enables Xandros to port its software investment to newly emerging convergent devices, yielding a significant reduction in development costs.
Xandros has used Qt since 1998 in a range of products, including the ASUS Eee PC which launched the netbook revolution in 2007. Other products include laptops, desktops, servers, its Presto instant-on utility for Windows laptops, and its custom OEM solutions for Intel Atom and ARM-based netbooks. The Xandros suite for netbooks and mobile devices includes integrated and customizable applications, an online application store, and cloud-based services.
With its user friendly API, GUI, and a good choice of classes, Qt enables Xandros to quickly adapt to changing mobile usage requirements. Xandros’ OEM and ISV clients want their products, devices and applications to have a strong brand identity and a consistent look and feel. Xandros employs Qt’s strength and flexibility to deliver friendly user experiences across various form factors with differing performance parameters.
“Xandros’ development team always considered Qt to be one of the best toolkits available for Linux. Initially, ease of use was very important. Later, when cross-platform versions of Qt became available, we also valued its ability to build Windows applications from the same source code base as Linux,” said Oleg Noskov, Xandros Director of Software Development. “We appreciate the ongoing efforts to make Qt faster, lighter and more powerful. We have always found Qt software to be elegant and easy to use.”
“Xandros has efficiently reused Qt code across operating systems. Qt enables them to focus their talent on creating great user experiences across a range of devices, instead of wasting time on basic coding,” said Daniel Kihlberg, Director, Global Sales, Marketing and Services at Nokia, Qt Development Frameworks.
Xandros finds that Qt meets its expectations for an efficient application framework. Xandros developers especially like that Qt 4 now lets them selectively include only the modules they need – such as QtCore, QtGui and QtDBus – for a given application and task.
Qt’s open source contribution model to product refinements and enhancements have enabled Xandros to lay a solid foundation upon which to build consistent, intuitive user interfaces across the full range of its products, some of which are yet to emerge from its own development labs.
