Introducing Android Injection with Qt Enterprise Embedded 5.3.1

We released Qt 5.3.1 a week ago and now we've updated the Qt Enterprise Embedded offering as well. In addition to the Qt framework upgrade, we have developed a few new interesting features and also updated the tooling and some of the enterprise add-on features. We are especially proud about our new Android injection solution that lets you take the Boot to Qt software stack into a large variety of Android devices with little effort.

With this update we are also introducing the first Qt supported CoM, Computer-on-Module, for embedded Linux as we announce official support and pre-built binaries for Apalis i.MX6 CoM module from our Qt Technology Partner Toradex. Using the Apalis i.MX6 module from Toradex with our pre-built Qt stack, you can reduce the needed HW and SW effort enabling fast and cost-efficient creation of various embedded systems directly leveraging the state-of-the-art features of this powerful combination.

Qt 5.3.1, Qt Creator 3.1.2, Qt Quick Compiler 1.0 and an updated Qt WebEngine

Qt Enterprise Embedded comes with the pre-built Boot to Qt software stack, now built using Qt 5.3.1, which allows you to immediately start prototyping and developing your product. And if you happen to need some changes to the stack as well, don’t worry; you can easily modify the stack with the provided tooling.

Today’s update includes a fully supported Qt Quick Compiler 1.0. The Qt Quick Compiler takes the declarative QML files and compiles them into native code, thus improving application load times significantly. With Qt Quick Compiler the typical Qt Quick application load times are reduced by 30%-40%, with maximum gain being up to 90% with highly JavaScript intense applications.

The Qt Creator IDE has also received bunch of enhancements through an update to Qt Creator 3.1.2.

Qt’s all-new Chromium-based web engine was first introduced as part of Qt Enterprise Embedded in the previous release. With the received feedback, we are bringing in some enhancements and bug fixes to Qt WebEngine as well. With this release we enabled multi-process support for eAndroid as well, and added support for the new generation Nexus 7 (2013) as a new device. Besides that QtWebEngine received a lot of stability and other bug fixes having an effect on both the eAndroid and eLinux configurations.

Take “Boot to Qt” Anywhere with New Android Injection

So far we’ve distributed pre-built images of the Boot to Qt software stack for a set of reference boards and separate tooling to customize the contents and target hardware. For embedded Linux, we’re providing the recipes for Yocto project tooling to do the customization.

Now, we are introducing a whole new Build-Your-Own-Device tooling for embedded Android that works through an injection model. This means that instead of flashing a device with a complete stack, the Boot to Qt contents are injected into an existing Android image on a device.

The effect is that almost any recent, programmable Android device can be turned into an embedded Qt-powered device with little effort. This makes your set of potential prototyping devices huge and lets you conveniently do small batch production devices with low-cost bulk Android hardware.

To read more about how this works in practice, check the separate blog post.

First Qt Reference CoM with Toradex Apalis i.MX6

We are proud to introduce our first CoM, Computer-on-Module, reference platform for embedded Linux. CoM is a complete embedded computer on a single circuit board, which can easily be integrated into a custom embedded hardware design.

Usage of CoM in your embedded hardware makes maintainability and upgradability a lot easier when compared to more traditional fully-integrated embedded hardware solutions.  It also reduces hardware development time significantly, allowing you to focus on things that really matter to you on hardware design, leaving the processing unit design complexities out of the picture. When combining this with the Qt Enterprise Embedded offering, you will have your devices ready for market in no time.

Toradex Apalis i.MX6 is a leading-edge embedded CoM, based on quad core Freescale i.MX6 SoC, System-on-Chip. Apalis i.MX6 supports a wide variety of industry standard interfaces, high speed connectivity and advanced multimedia features making it an ideal choice for even most demanding embedded system designs.

Updated Value-Add Components

Virtual Keyboard 1.1

The Qt Virtual Keyboard has received a minor update that brings in more keyboard layouts, Chinese input, sound feedback and 5-way navigation that allows you to use the virtual keyboard with a hardware input device (such as a joystick/scroll-wheel). Read more about the 1.1 version in the separate blog post.

Data Visualization 1.1 and Charts 1.4

Both Data Visualization 1.1 and Charts 1.4 contain a lot of improvements and new features requested by our customers.

The most important improvements in Data Visualization for embedded customers are the performance optimizations. Data caching is now optimized when only a part of the data changes. In addition there are also some experimental optimizations. Also Charts 1.4 includes a bunch of improvements and new features. For example, QML API has been improved to make it easier to use Charts in Qt Quick applications.

More details about these releases is available in blog post.

Further information

Further information can be found in the product page, from the change log and in the Qt Enterprise Embedded documentation.

Getting Started

You can update your product using the package maintainer, download a new version from Qt Account or request a Free 30-day trial via the Try Now page to get started with Qt Enterprise Embedded.

To help you get started you can take a look at our recent webinar recording that introduces Qt Enterprise Embedded in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD5ZiWpNzsg