Editing UIQ

{{Short description|Software platform}}
[[File:Sony Ericsson P800 with web browser.jpg|thumb|200px|Sony Ericsson P800, the first device running UIQ to ship. In this device, UIQ runs on top of Symbian.]]
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'''UIQ''' (formerly known as User Interface Quartz) is a discontinued [[software platform]] based upon [[Symbian|Symbian OS]], created by [[UIQ Technology]] AB. It is a [[graphical user interface]] layer that provides additional components to the core operating system, to enable the development of [[feature-rich]] mobile phones that are open to expanded capabilities through third-party applications.

==History==
UIQ was the result of 'Quartz', a user interface for pen [[Personal digital assistant|PDA]]s that was one of the three provisional interfaces that were designed by [[Symbian Ltd.]] The first three Quartz phones never made it to market, including [[Psion (company)|Psion]]'s "Odin" in a joint venture with [[Motorola]], which was cancelled in January 2001, causing Psion's shares to deteriorate.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1196220.stm|title = Psion fails to live up to promise|date = March 2001}}</ref> Engineers thereafter created a lighter version of the software which was presented in 2002,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.geek.com/blurb/check-out-symbians-new-uiq-548300/ |title=Check out Symbian's new UIQ - Geek.com |access-date=2018-08-11 |archive-date=2018-08-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812022424/https://www.geek.com/blurb/check-out-symbians-new-uiq-548300/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and first shipped that year with [[Sony Ericsson P800]].<ref name="UIQHistory">{{cite web |title=UIQ History |url=http://www.uiq.com/uiqhistory.html |website=UIQ Technology |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070523072447/http://www.uiq.com/uiqhistory.html |archive-date=23 May 2007 |url-status=dead |access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Orlowski |first=Andrew |title=The GUI that almost conquered the pocket |url= https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/21/uiq_mobile_interfaces/ |website=The Register |date=21 Nov 2008 |access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref>

Sony Ericsson was the main [[OEM]] using the UIQ platform in its products. Motorola also developed some products using UIQ, but abandoned the platform in 2004 in favour of [[Linux]], along with its stake in Symbian Ltd. In 2007, Motorola returned to UIQ with the launch of [[Motorola RIZR Z8]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/15/motorola_uiq_investment/|title = Moto buys into UIQ|website = [[The Register]]}}</ref> [[Nokia]], which was using the competing [[Series 60]] (later S60) platform, created one UIQ device called Nokia 6708, which is a rebadged [[BenQ]] P31,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180812022327/https://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1000858/nokia-apparently-ashamed-of-uiq-phone theinquirer.net]</ref> and was only released in the Asia-Pacific region.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/news/item/Nokia_China_announce_N6708_UIQ_Phone.php|title=Nokia China announce N6708 UIQ Phone|date=20 October 2005 }}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180812022327/https://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1000858/nokia-apparently-ashamed-of-uiq-phone theinquirer.net]</ref>

Sony Ericsson bought UIQ Technology in November 2006,<ref name="UIQHistory" /> and the next year, Motorola bought half of it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.itpro.co.uk/130145/motorola-to-buy-half-of-uiq-from-sony-ericsson|title = Motorola to buy half of UIQ from Sony Ericsson| date=15 October 2007 }}</ref>

After the creation of the [[Symbian Foundation]] and its favouring of S60 as their user interface of choice, UIQ's future was uncertain, as it could no longer develop the software for the Symbian operating system.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Symbian Foundation continues to draw strong industry support |publisher=Sony Ericsson |date=2008-09-09 |url=http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/companyandpress/pressreleases/pressrelease/pressreleaseoverview/key.PressResource.Foundation_second_update_release_FINAL-20080909 |access-date=2008-10-24 |archive-date=2008-12-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223032138/http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/companyandpress/pressreleases/pressrelease/pressreleaseoverview/key.PressResource.Foundation_second_update_release_FINAL-20080909 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Many Motorola UIQ devices planned for 2009 were cancelled, including [[Motorola Razr3]], codenamed "Ruby".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.slashgear.com/motorola-razr3-aka-ruby-axed-in-uiq-to-android-transition-2824486/|title = Motorola RAZR3 aka Ruby axed in UIQ to Android transition?|date = 28 November 2008}}</ref>

UIQ Technology filed for bankruptcy in January 2009, which effectively ended the UIQ platform.<ref>[http://www.esato.com/news/article.php/id=1811 The end of UIQ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525110646/http://www.esato.com/news/article.php/id=1811 |date=2009-05-25 }}. Esato. Retrieved on 2013-12-08.</ref> Sony Ericsson moved on to [[Windows Mobile]] and the open source Symbian from the Symbian Foundation, whilst Motorola adopted Google's [[Android OS|Android]] software.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.brighthand.com/news/uiq-technology-files-for-bankruptcy/|title = UIQ Technology Files for Bankruptcy| date=27 January 2022 }}</ref>

UIQ 3.3 was the last version of the platform, based upon Symbian OS v9.3. Developers that developed on the UIQ 3.x platform had a much better story than with previous releases, since all UIQ 3.x phones were served by a single, core [[Software development kit|SDK]].

== UIQ programming languages ==
[[Native mode|Native]] applications can be written in [[C++]] using the Symbian/UIQ [[software development kit|SDK]]. All UIQ-based phones (2.x and 3.x) also support [[Java (programming language)|Java]] applications.

UIQ phones employ touch screens with a resolution of 208×320 pixels (UIQ 1.x & 2.x) and 240×320 (UIQ 3.x). Depending on the phone, the [[color depth]] is 12-bit (4096 colors), 16-bit (65536 colors), 18-bit (262144 colors), and 24-bit (16,777,216 colors) on some newer phones.

For developers, the significant items are:
* Single SDK model - developers targeting core UIQ features can use the UIQ SDK to target any UIQ 3 device. Extensions targeting specific device features (such as WiFi, etc.) are available from phone manufacturers' websites.
* Increased tools support - developers can use whichever tools they are familiar with ([[DevStudio]], [[Eclipse (software)|Eclipse]], [[Carbide.c++|Carbide]], [[CodeWarrior]], [[NetBeans]]). Many of these tools are beginning to support extensive [[Rapid Application Development|RAD]] features for both C++ and Java developers. Visual Basic programmers can use [[NS Basic|NS Basic/Symbian OS]].
* High volume, mid-range devices are now possible,{{when|date=September 2020}} to significantly increase the potential customer base.

==List of UIQ 2.x phones==

*[[Sony Ericsson]] 
**[[Sony Ericsson P800]] (UIQ 2.0, UIQ 2.1)
**[[Sony Ericsson P900]] (UIQ 2.1)
**[[Sony Ericsson P910]] (UIQ 2.1)
*[[Motorola]]
**[[Motorola A920]] (UIQ 2.0)
**[[Motorola A925]] (UIQ 2.0)
**Motorola A1000 (UIQ 2.1)
**[[Motorola M1000]] (UIQ 2.1)
*[[Benq]]
**[[BenQ P30]] (UIQ 2.0)
**[[BenQ P31]] (UIQ 2.1)
*[[Nokia]]
**[[Nokia 6708]] (UIQ 2.1)
*Arima
**[[Arima U300]] (UIQ 2.0)
**[[Arima U308]] (UIQ 2.1)

==List of UIQ 3.x phones==
The following is a list of [[smartphone]]s that have been announced/confirmed as running the newer UIQ 3.x platform.

PDA-style design (similar to a handheld computer)
*[[Sony Ericsson M600|Sony Ericsson M600/M600i/M608c]] (UIQ 3.0)
*[[Sony Ericsson P990|Sony Ericsson P990/P990i/P990c]] (UIQ 3.0)
*[[Sony Ericsson P1|Sony Ericsson P1/P1i/P1c]] (UIQ 3.0)
*[[Sony Ericsson W950|Sony Ericsson W950/W950i/W958c]] (UIQ 3.0)
*[[Sony Ericsson W960|Sony Ericsson W960/W960i/W960c]] (UIQ 3.0)
 
Hybrid PDA/Phone design (Candy-bar phone with Touchscreen Display)

*[[Sony Ericsson G700]] (UIQ 3.0)
*[[Sony Ericsson G900]] (UIQ 3.0)

Slider design
*[[Motorola RIZR Z8]] (UIQ 3.1)
*[[Motorola RIZR Z10]] (UIQ 3.2)

== First phones to use platform versions ==
*The first UIQ v2.0-based phone was [[Sony Ericsson P800]].
*The first phone to use UIQ 3 was [[Sony Ericsson P990]].
*The first phone with UIQ 3.1 was [[Motorola RIZR Z8]].
*The first phone with UIQ 3.2 was [[Motorola RIZR Z10]].

==See also==
*[[S60 (software platform)|S60]], another Symbian-based platform.
*[[MOAP]], a Symbian-based platform used in [[NTT DoCoMo]]'s [[3G]] mobile phones.

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
<!-- Do NOT add any unrelated spam links. I think there is no need for another link beside the two to uiq.com --~~~~ -->
* [http://www.uiq.com/ UIQ Technology]
* [http://www.symbianone.com Symbian OS and UIQ Developer Portal]

{{Symbian platform}}
{{Mobile operating systems}}
{{Psion–Symbian}}

[[Category:Smartphones]]
[[Category:Symbian OS]]