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An extensible mechanism to access device features in WRT, Flash Lite, and Java applications |
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APIBridge is a component for Nokia Symbian devices that enables WRT widgets, Adobe Flash Lite content, and Java applications to access device features through a plug-in architecture. The APIBridge package ships with a set of plug-ins and the components to enable the features of the plug-ins to be used. Developers can extend the APIBridge component with their own plug-ins.
What can I do with the APIBridge component?
You can use APIBridge in two ways. APIBridge can be used as it is shipped, to access features of Symbian using the plug-ins provided. However, because APIBridge is based on a plug-in architecture, you can also use it to offer new features by creating plug-ins that access functions of Symbian or your own native Symbian applications.
How does the APIBridge technology compare to platform services integration for WRT and Flash Lite?
While APIBridge offers some features not included in the platform services integration for WRT and Flash Lite, the primary difference between the two technologies is the extensibility of APIBridge. APIBridge is therefore suited to uses where you require access to features of Symbian not offered by other technologies or wish to access features of your own native Symbian applications in WRT widgets, Flash Lite content or Java applications.
What’s in the APIBridge package?
The API Bridge package includes a server component and set of plug-ins that are installed on a Nokia Symbian device. This device component is complemented by a JavaScript™ library, set of ActionScript classes, and a JAR file containing classes and resources that enable the use of the features of the shipped plug-ins.
The shipped plug-ins provide features for:
- Uploading files.
- Capturing video, image, and audio.
- Reading files.
- Resizing images.
- Creating image thumbnails.
- Using the logging service.
- Using the location service.
- Using the media management service.
- Sending DTMF tones in an active call.
In addition, an SDK plug-in is provided. This adds the APIBridge plug-in APIs to a Symbian SDK and enables APIBridge plug-ins to be tested in an SDK's emulator. The plug-in enables testing of WRT widgets and Java applications that use APIBridge, although some features requiring device hardware (such as a camera) are not supported.
How do I get started with the APIBridge component?
To use the features of APIBridge in your WRT widgets, Flash Lite content or Java applications, you’ll need the standard development tools for each of these development platforms. To each of these environments you’ll add the appropriate APIBridge client side component: JavaScript, ActionScript, or Java library. You can then use the APIs exposed by these libraries to add features of the APIBridge plug-ins to your applications or content.
Once coding is complete, it’s necessary to have access to a supported Nokia Symbian device to perform testing.
When the application or content is complete the best option is to package the WRT widget, Flash Lite content, or Java application in a Symbian Installation System (SIS) file along with the APIBridge device component. This mechanism ensures that users install all the necessary components in one step. It is possible, however, to deliver your application and the APIBridge component as separate files, but this is not recommended.
To create plug-ins for APIBridge it’s necessary to have an environment for the creation of native Symbian applications. In addition to the Symbian plug-ins, it is also necessary to create the appropriate JavaScript libraries, ActionScript classes, and Java classes and resources to access the features of the new plug-ins.
Where can I find the documentation for the APIBridge component?
The following wiki articles provide information on how to make use of the plug-ins included in the package and create SIS files that enable applications and APIBridge to be installed together in one step:
Information about creating custom plug-ins can be found in the wiki article Creating APIBridge JavaScript Binding Code. Additional information on the plug-in API is described in the article APIBridge Plug-in API.
With which Nokia platforms and devices is the APIBridge component compatible?
The APIBridge component is compatible with Nokia devices based on Symbian OS, S60 3.1 or later.
