Nokia Releases Push API for Qt Environment

| December 9, 2010 | 17 Replies
vi

via http://www.sidekickstudios.com

Juha Turunen emailed us to share info on the new Push Notifications API released by Nokia which is supported by the Qt Environment (For Symbian AND MeeGo).

https://projects.forum.nokia.com/notificationsapi

This means that from now on apps can receive notifications from the network eventhough they’re not running. This above other things saves on system resources and battery life, since the app isn’t in the background and it isn’t trying to pull data (something somewhat Nokia Messaging does).

Notifications can also be shown on the device homescreen and will be useful for tons of applications not just for email. e.g. real time twitter/facebook notifications without background apps like gravity or the trill having to reload.

Notifications API

Create sticky mobile services and apps with push notifications

Easily add notifications to your apps

The Notifications API is supported by the Nokia Qt development environment, enabling developers to create engaging, sticky applications in a matter of hours, not days. Design once and run on any supported Symbian device across any network.

Unlimited design possibilities

Use the prebuilt Notifications UI application and screens to quickly and easily add notifications to apps, or create a completely customized notification experience. You have the flexibility to decide how to design and deliver notifications whether the app is in the foreground, in the background, or not running.

Up-to-the-moment push delivery

With the Notifications API, applications access the Notification Server, via a shared persistent connection that’s optimized to assure lightweight bandwidth use. Devices don’t have to constantly poll or maintain multiple connections across the network, saving on both data use and battery life. Notifications are pushed the moment they’re available, with custom payloads up to 1.5 kB in any format, including text, xml, images, and binary.

https://projects.forum.nokia.com/notificationsapi

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Category: Nokia

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Comments (17)

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  1. Rant says:

    Nice development, this will definitly change the way I perceive widgets personally. Currently they just eat battery life and bandwith. But if they are push based in the future, NICE!

  2. Rock says:

    that’s nice. so perhaps in the future I don’t have to have my Whatsapp running in the background and making my device always stay connected to the data network.

    • gordonH says:

      Whatsapp doesn’t understand the symbian user mentality…. most symbian users understand exiting, hiding and opening apps. It’s a nice way to stay connected but the badly designed method data connecting all the time, lets it down. I had whatsapp uninstalled.

  3. Rock says:

    and it’s also good to see that this API supports s60v3 FP2 and s60 50th.
    https://projects.forum.nokia.com/notificationsapi/wiki/supporteddevices

  4. FlexOink says:

    Finally! Now give is push mail Nokia.

  5. Jim says:

    another thing that nokia needs to do is update notifications for ovi store applications.

  6. Cod3rror says:

    Next thing we know Nokia will adapt a “new” amazing method of multitasking but saving application state and providing 7 APIs………. I kid, I kid.

    Seriously though, adding new method of connectivity is great, I just hope they don’t limit and take out the old ones and leaving with the developer if they want to use push notifications or real background multitasking for connection.

    • Don says:

      You keep spreading these kinds of uninformed questions on multiple forums, like little FUD bombs really. You could actually check this out yourself, so I won’t go into details but:

      - Push notifications have nothing to do with notification popups
      - Push notifications have nothing to do with multitasking capabilities
      - Push notifications do not take away from existing connectivity options

      In fact, PN are an extremely cool battery saving technology that allows instant updates without polling. It’s friggin awesome that it is available to use for everyone.

      • Cod3rror says:

        Push notifications have a lot to do with multitasking, in fact that’s how Apple compensated for the lack of it for a long time.

        • Don says:

          It’s a valid use case. Some apps which only multitask in order to do background polling can now go to sleep instead, saving battery, memory and CPU.

          But that doesn’t mean real multitasking is going away. It is simply another best tool for the job. With a nice Qt API and free for all to use to boot.

          If Apple would have announced this do you think it would have been met with as much negative spin? I don’t get it, this is a really cool announcement.

          • Cod3rror says:

            Don, this is indeed a great news, the more options there are the better, this will save the battery life.

            I just hope they don’t take away anything else, like real multitasking that Symbian has and move to a save-state multitasking like Apple.

            In fact I think Nokia should add save state multitasking too but keep the real aswell and give the devs a choice instead of forcing them what to use like Apple.

            That way Nokia will have:

            Push notifications
            Save state multitasking
            Real multitasking

            Developers will implement and choose how and what do they want to use with their applications.

  7. kannuchi says:

    Just curious, is this feature already implemented on iOS? and even on Android?

  8. Ingenjör says:

    Using Notifications also doesn’t require to put the big package with your app, since it works with smart installer, which automatically detects if it’s there in the device, if not, then it will download the package.

  9. Wow, fantastic blog format! How long have you been blogging for? you made running a blog look easy. The full look of your web site is fantastic, as neatly as the content material!

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