Nokia and Intel has announced today the MeeGo Project, a new open source, Linux project for both Maemo and Moblin. The new Qt development environment will feature easy to use and flexible UI for a better app development experience. The Linux Foundation in turn will handle the open source project organization. MeeGo aims to target netbooks/entry-level desktops, handheld computing and communications devices, in-vehicle infotainment devices, connected TVs, and media phones.

Below are several videos about the announcement:

Discuss this at talk.maemo.org.

Thinking of creating an app or widget for the Nokia N900? The official Maemo 5 User Interface docs are now at forum.nokia.com detailing usability principles, device orientation, controls, icons, dialogs, etc. There is also a GUI design interface template in PSD format, so User Interface / Experience designers out there can start mocking up apps.

The docs are in three parts:

• Hildon 2.2 UI Style Guide
• Hildon 2.2 Widget UI Specification
• Fremantle Master Layout Guide

Additional documentation is also at the maemo.org wiki.

Discuss this at talk.maemo.org.

If you are into hacking and modding, here’s the chance for you to start thinking on how you can connect the Nokia N900 to any device that you love, and possibly get your project funded by Nokia.

On the onedotzero_adventures in motion event in London, Nokia launched a PUSH project called Nokia PUSH N900 (@PUSHN900):

The brief is simple: tell us how you would hack and mod the N900 & Maemo to connect the N900 to something you love.  An expert judging panel will be selecting winning submissions and the groups behind them will receive N900 devices, funding and support to develop their PUSH idea. And once they’re complete, we’ll share them with the rest of the world with a series of installations in Nokia Flagship Stores across the globe.

During the London event, sample projects were on display, connecting the Nokia N900 to the Arduino, Speak and Spell, Rolodex, Last.fm, and a View-Master. Checkout PSFK’s coverage.

Nokia is now accepting PUSH N900 submissions until October 5. An expert panel will judge the submissions, and the winners will be announced on October 25. Submit your idea now.

EDIT:  Download the Hacker’s Guide.

Discuss this at talk.maemo.org.

*Photo courtesy of PSFK

Quim Gil, Nokia Maemo Devices Open Source Advocate, has started a thread at talk.maemo.org to define the ways to contact, as well as influence the Nokia Maemo Devices Team.

He mentions several ways of doing it like actively reporting bugs (Bugzilla), proposing new ideas and solutions (Brainstorm),  rate news and blog items (News and Planet), rate and provide feedback on apps (Downloads), contact developers directly (maemo-developers mailing list and Development forum), join the discussions (Community forum and Sprints), and nominate and vote for your  Maemo Community Council candidates as they will have a direct line to Nokia.

Notice that all these channels point to maemo.org, the home of the open source Maemo community. If you are not yet a member, join now (here and here), and let your voice and ideas be heard.

Thomas Thurman has posted short but excellent tutorials on how to develop apps for the Nokia N900.

On Part 1 of Thomas’ tutorial, he shows how to create a client for the social bookmarking site reddit. He provides the links to references and downloads, which are quite handy for first-time developers.

On Part 2, Thomas talks about packaging. He also adds an icon to his Raeddit app, and then shows a screencast on how it looks so far.

I hope he keeps creating tutorials as it looks like more and more newer developers would look at developing for the N900 and Maemo 5 soon.

Check out his tutorial page.

EDIT: added Part 2.