Join the apps revolution with Web Runtime (WRT) for Symbian devices from Nokia. Using your web development skills, you create WRT widgets using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript™ code. This web content is then packaged in a simple zip archive, along with an icon and configuration file, for installation on a Symbian device from Nokia. Content served through widgets establishes a focus and level of trust that you can build on by creating one-to-one relationships with your customers.
Compared to creating an optimised website, WRT widgets offer you additional features to access information and data on a device. Now you can extend your web based data with context and make it truly relevant to your customers: Use GPS data to create location based apps, add event details directly to the device calendar, and much more besides. In addition, you can use the Ovi Maps Rendering API to add maps to your applications. When a widget interacts with information on a user’s device, it helps to reinforce the trust the user has in your content because it's more relevant.
You can get even closer to your customers with home screen views: a snapshot of your latest content right where users look the most.
And when you have finished development, distributing widgets is easy as they are welcomed as free or paid content within Ovi Store.
Tools
Creating WRT widgets is easy with Nokia Web Tools. Using Web Developer Environment you create widgets from templates, get code assistance, validate, package, and deploy your widgets. With Web App Simulator you can preview and test your widgets on a desktop computer. You can even kick-start your design work with interactive prototypes created in Web App Designer. And you have the freedom to work under your favourite OS as Nokia Web Tools can be installed on computers running Microsoft Windows, Ubuntu Linux, or Apple Mac.
Nokia Web Tools replaces the plug-ins for Aptana Studio, Dreamweaver, and Visual Studio.
APIs for device integration and more
A widget can combine information from the internet with data stored or available on a device to create new, personalised service experiences. With access to location information from a device’s GPS hardware, for example, widgets can give users information that's relevant to their locations. When it comes to creating more-personal and context-aware widgets, there are several technologies you can take advantage of:
- Platform Services 1.0 JavaScript API — This API, available in most widget enabled devices, provides access to a wide range of device and user information, such as Calendar and Contacts application data.
View the API reference documentation » - Nokia Platform Services 2.0 JavaScript API — An improved and extended version of the 1.0 API that offers access to device information through one or two lines of JavaScript
code only. It also brings the addition of support for using camera features in widgets. The API is included in Symbian^3
devices, but can also be included in your widget for installation on other Symbian devices.
View the API reference documentation » - Ovi Maps Rendering API — This API enables WRT widgets to obtain rendered map tiles for any location worldwide. In conjunction with the Platform
Services APIs, you have access to all the features needed to create powerful location based applications.
Read more about Ovi Maps Rendering API »
- APIBridge — APIBridge complements the Platform Services APIs with features for file activities, image manipulation, and multimedia
capture. In addition, APIBridge can be extended with additional plug-ins to access other Symbian features or features offered
by third-party native-Symbian applications.
Read more about APIBridge »
View the API reference documentation »
Home-screen widgets
WRT widgets for all Symbian^3 devices as well as the Nokia N97 mobile computer and Nokia N97 mini can display widget content on the device home screen. These views enable you to provide a view-only version of a widget's content that is constantly updated and highly visible to the device user. You can add a home-screen view to a widget that has the MiniViewEnabledkey set in its info.plist file. The widget then determines the type of screen on which it's being displayed and provides either summary or detailed content accordingly.
For more information, see Developing home screen widgets in the Web Developer’s Library area of the Forum Nokia Library.
For testing of home-screen widgets, in addition to the widget tools, the Symbian^3 SDK for Nokia Devices and Nokia N97 SDK for Symbian OS provide emulation of the home screen.
Security
WRT’s emphasis is on providing access to internet services, so widgets don't need to be signed.
As the leading mobile-device manufacturer, Nokia takes mobile security seriously. Where widgets take advantage of the ability to connect to the core applications and capabilities of the Symbian platform, such as Contacts, Calendar, and GPS, security is maintained through a process of user authorisation: Widgets can access device information only if the device user authorises such access.
Support for multiple languages
Symbian devices support multiple languages, and the WRT environment provides localisation support as well. If you’re planning to provide widgets to audiences in several countries, you can get more information from the Supporting multiple languages section in the Web Developer’s Library.
