Palm Woo Developers to create Apps for Pre Mobile Phone
Palm Invites Developers to Create Apps for Pre Mobile Phone :
Personal digital assistant (PDA) manufacturer Palm is pitching its new software development kit (SDK) for its next-gen operating system, WebOS.
The company announced the launch of the new Mojo SDK at the Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco.
Palm could start distributing the WebOS SDK to developers as early as today, according to reports. Developers can apply to receive the Mojo SDK at the Palm Developer Network website.
Key features included in WebOS include simplified multi-tasking; the Mojo Messaging Service, a push notification system; and user-friendly device alerts that Palm says won’t distract you from any task your phone is currently performing. WebOS will also feature Synergy, a database that pulls a variety of information streams into one place including Facebook updates, Google services and Microsoft Exchange data. Synergy’s functions sound similar to Instant Messaging clients like Digsby, which in addition to IM also pulls social networking updates and web-based email alerts onto your desktop.
This is the second release for the Mojo SDK after a smaller “private release” in January. Some applications have already been developed for the Pre including programs from Fandango, Pandora and a flight tracking application.
The Mojo SDK used open-source technologies to build applications. The tools necessary to write for WebOS – HTML, CSS and Java – are the same as web developers use. Palm believes this makes WebOS an attractive choice for developers.
Palm is pinning its hopes on the Pre and WebOS as it tries to bounce back from lagging sales. A phased SDK release seems to be a very Apple-like move and a way to build anticipation for the launch of the actual device. Taking another page from Apple, Palm is being very opaque about when exactly the Pre will launch. For now, the date still stands as the first half of 2009.
