Today at the Web 2.0 Expo Keynote, Palm’s Michael Abbott has taken the stage to walk the audience through some of the principles driving Palm’s webOS platform, which will drive its upcoming Pre phone, which CrunchGear first revealed back in January.
Abbott notes that on the webOS Platform, developers can run applications using HTML, JavaScript, and can access data from hardware on devices, including location and the accelerometer. He says that webOS spans the device and the cloud, and that web applications can run natively on the platform even without internet connectivity. “So why is Palm here”?
Abbott says Palm wants to expose the web environment to developers. Today they’re launching developer.palm.com, giving developers early access to the SDK. The program will only be available to a limited number of developers to begin with, and Palm has not announced when it will be generally available to developers.
There was some speculation that Palm might announce the release date for the Pre, which it has previously said would be some time in the first half of 2009. Unfortunately, the actual release date and pricing point for the phone remain a mystery.
From the Palm blog:
We are happy to announce our new early access program for developers interested in creating applications for the Palm webOSTM. The early access program is an opportunity for developers to test-drive and provide feedback on the Palm MojoTM SDK prior to its public release.
Admission to the program is by application – we’ll admit a small group of developers to start and gradually increase the size of the program as the tools mature. We’d like to let everyone in, but we want to make sure that we can provide a solid development experience and attentive developer support before we scale up. We are eager to get the SDK into developers’ hands and will expand the program as quickly as we can.
The program will continue until the SDK is officially released to the public, at which point any developer will be free to download the SDK. No, we’re not announcing the date that will happen yet.
If you wish to to apply to the early access program, complete and submit this application form.
If you’re admitted into the program, you’ll be able to download the Mojo SDK, which includes the tools you need to develop and test apps for the webOS platform. You’ll also have access to the early access program portal, where you’ll find documentation, sample code, and community forums where you can share experiences, tips and tricks with fellow early access developers. Because this is early access, all program participants will be required to accept an SDK Agreement which will require you to maintain confidentiality until the end of the early access program.
We are very excited about the expansion of access to the SDK, and can’t wait to see what you are going to build.
For more, see this post on the Palm blog.
Since… Palm is late into the game; how about incorporating “stuff” what ever it might be that allows poor developers to monetize their app?
They seriously need key differentiators to attract developers!!!
Palm had better hurry up with thepre. Once iPhone hardware 3.0 with video & 32gb comes out. After that it’s game over. They will have lost any chance at marketshare to keep them afloat. Listening to palm, you get the idea that this is a OS with no depth to it and consists solely of widgets. They’ve done nothing but go downhill since CES.
judging by numerous replies folks cant wait
Palm in order to catch up might be more “open” than Apple is. For example, if Palm opens up their system to Flash (right there you have a ton of developer that can create almost a pretty good Mobile App Store overnight).
That is the beauty of competition….Apple has a huge lead over everyone and “remixed” the mobile platform (like Puff Daddy) into a new hit. Everyone else playing catch up can’t afford to have draconian locked phones, NDAs on their devs, App Store regulations etc
I was expecting more replies or excitement, I applied and hope my application is approved.
I agree with most of the comments reference iPhone’s market share, but I believe there is still opportunity for Palm, especially with regard to how they handle the developers who come to them after feeling that they’ve had enough of the rough end of the stick from Apple.
Applied for early SDK access, hope they’ll accept my application.
I teach mobile application programming University course at the moment, and Palm WebOS seems to be the most progressive smartphone platform out there.
How so? With an HTML/CSS/Javascript application programming model, you can’t write multi-threaded applications. And, object-oriented programming has to be done using the “prototype” property or some other clever hack. Personally, I feel that AJAX-style development, while a clever hack to get around programming limitations in the browser, is a terrible programming model for general application development.
I didn’t say this platform development model is conceptually beautiful. Actually, it is rather ugly as any sort of heavy AJAX-development. Personally, I prefer Android’s Java and clear component-based approach; or iPhone OS X objective C and MVC; but in programming the most accessible technology usually wins. Today, lots of programmers are already familiar with HTML/CSS/Javascript, while learning a specific smartphone OS SDK is quite a task. If Palm manages to transfer most of webdev techniques to it’s mobile platform, it will guarantee Palm Web OS’s success as a development platform.
That’s great.
I would like to try it.
How small is this thing?
Right now, the phone’s a bit on the small side (screenwise)I will probably wait until a larger version comes out with more memory and faster graphics like some of the HTC models slated for release (Superstar).
Also, I’d like to see if it seamlessly works with outlook exchange.