UIQ (formerly known as User Interface Quartz) by UIQ Technology is a software platform based upon Symbian OS. Essentially this is a graphical user interface layer that provides additional components to the core OS, to enable the development of feature-rich mobile phones that are open to expanded capabilities through third-party applications.
Native applications can be written in C++ using the Symbian/UIQ SDK. All UIQ-based phones (2.x and 3.x) also support Java applications.
Version 2.x and 3.x are pen-based and used in the following 2.5G and 3G smartphones: Sony Ericsson P800/P900/P910/P990/M600/W950/P1/W960/G700/G900, BenQ P30/P31 and Arima U300/U308, Nokia 6708, Motorola A920/A925/A1000/M1000/Z8/Z10.
UIQ phones employ touch screens with a resolution of 208×320 pixels (UIQ 1.x & 2.x) and 240×320 (UIQ 3.x). Depending on the phone, the color depth is 12-bit (4096 colors), 16-bit (65536 colors), 18-bit (262144 colors), and 24-bit (16,777,216 colors) on some newer phones.
For developers the significant items are:
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UIQ 3.0 was the first Symbian v9.1 Operating System. One of the main tweaks that has been done with the UIQ version was the GUI which now supports both Touchscreen and Non-Touchscreen Navigation. User Interface is enhanced with SVG Tiny support which is responsible for some interface transitions on the Menus, Submenus etc.
UIQ 3.1 is the first revision from the UIQ 3 series which supports both Touchscreen and Non-Touchscreen navigation. It also supports one handed operation and a number of significant enhancements. This version is based on Symbian v9.2
UIQ 3.2 is an update of the v3.1 and which enhances Java API including the MSA profile being mandated as well as a richer messaging suite with MMS Postcard, IM Client OMA IMPS 1.2, push E-mail and support for sharing media for Web Browser. The new version still uses the v3.1 SDK, same goes for the OS version which is also based on Symbian v9.2
UIQ 3.3 comes as a major update from the UIQ 3.2 and is built on top of the Symbian v9.3. the new iteration integrates the Opera Mobile v9.5 alongside with widgets support handled by the Dash Board application. The new application is accessible with the widget button that will be incorporated on the following UIQ 3.3 phones. furthermore the new version had supported JSR 248 (MSA or 'M'obile 'S'ervices 'A'rchitecture) Fullset API from Java and at the same time broughts Unified Messaging Platform at the forefront. Menu UIs are furtherly refurbished and Transitions were longer than the past versions.
A new UIQ optimized for Touchscreen interface was under development, several screenshots were shown at the Smartphone show on October and is reported to make use for Touch Screen more efficient than the earlier versions. UIQ Fan base from different Mobile Phone Fan Sites refer this as the UIQ 4.
Arima
The following is a list of the smartphones that have been announced/confirmed as running the newer UIQ 3.x platform.
PDA-style design (similar to a handheld computer)
Hybrid PDA/Phone design (Candy-bar phone with Touchscreen Display)
Slider design
In February 2007, Sony Ericsson had completed the acquisition of the UIQ platform.
In October 2007, Motorola bought 50% of UIQ from Sony Ericsson.
With the establishment of Symbian Foundation, UIQ will cease to exist. S60 is the UI choice of Symbian Foundation; UIQ will contribute its assets to the foundation.[1] Patrick Olsson of Sony Ericsson announced on October 21, 2008 at the Smartphone Show 2008 in London that UIQ didn't make it,[2] it didn't attract the operator, manufacturer or consumer interest needed to stop it failing.[3] At the start of January, 2009 the UIQ company filed for bankruptcy.[4]
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