Maemo doesn't have to switch. It could work just like the Linux desktop does and allows both types of applications. It's actually very good for the N8XX since there are a lot of great Qt/KDE applications that could be run on the N8XX's.
Fundamentally, S60 (nee Series 60) is just a UI. It doesn't matter if the OS behind it is Symbian or Linux. Nokia's ability to swap our Symbian in favor of Linux is a trump card it's had up its sleeve for quite a while now. The Nokia 770, N800 and N810 are really research projects that invite public participation while Nokia fleshes out the plumbing of Maemo. At some point in the not too distant future, you can expect an N-Series device to boot up and look just like S60 3.x - perhaps even be called S60 4.x - but there won't be Symbian inside.
Nokia's insistence on owning their own UI throughout their participation in Symbian development was a smart move.
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QT = KDE, GTK = Gnome (N810/800/700) who sees a conflict here ?
Maybe Maemo will be switching from GTK to KDE?
Maemo doesn't have to switch. It could work just like the Linux desktop does and allows both types of applications. It's actually very good for the N8XX since there are a lot of great Qt/KDE applications that could be run on the N8XX's.
Fundamentally, S60 (nee Series 60) is just a UI. It doesn't matter if the OS behind it is Symbian or Linux. Nokia's ability to swap our Symbian in favor of Linux is a trump card it's had up its sleeve for quite a while now. The Nokia 770, N800 and N810 are really research projects that invite public participation while Nokia fleshes out the plumbing of Maemo. At some point in the not too distant future, you can expect an N-Series device to boot up and look just like S60 3.x - perhaps even be called S60 4.x - but there won't be Symbian inside.
Nokia's insistence on owning their own UI throughout their participation in Symbian development was a smart move.