The webOS developer community leaps ahead

Today, Palm expanded the Mojo SDK program for webOS, announcing that a broad group of developers will be provided with the software development kit to create applications for the Palm Pre phone (as well as other future devices running webOS).

Speaking at the Web 2.0 Expo, Palm’s senior vice president of Applications Software and Services Michael Abbott also highlighted some of the most exciting aspects of webOS -- including a new branded service that lets developers create apps that push live content across the Internet -- and invited the audience to apply for the early access program at the Palm Developer Network website.

The power of webOS lets developers rethink how they develop for mobile devices -- and creates opportunities for new kinds of apps. Abbott highlighted several key features of webOS that open up new avenues for the creative ingenuity of the developer community:

• a cards metaphor that simplifies multi-tasking
• Palm Synergy to unify information from sources like Google, Facebook, and Exchange
• a user-friendly approach to notifications that ensures the user is up to date without distracting them from the task at hand. 

An often-overlooked aspect of webOS is that Web applications run natively on the phone. They don’t depend on access to a server, and can run even when there is no access to the Internet. But the full power of webOS is unleashed when the device works together with “the cloud” – the combination of all of the Web sites and services that a user interacts with.

Abbott noted that webOS encompasses software that runs both on the device and in the cloud. He also announced that Palm is creating its own cloud service -- the Mojo messaging service -- that will enable developers to have live interactions between users and applications both on and off the cloud.

You can get a taste of several upcoming apps for the Pre -- including Pandora and Fandango -- in a new video on Palm’s website. As the first mobile OS based on standard Web technologies (like HTML, JavaScript, and CSS), webOS is also accessible to developers comfortable with Web development, even if they’ve never created mobile apps before.

Here are a few first impressions from some of the first webOS developers working on apps for the Pre:

Jon Zilber

Comments

[Brian M]

wha???!! No release date still?!!
Wwwwwwaaaaahhhh

[Stefan Constantinescu]

Can you please talk about your "Integrated Cloud Services" announced in the press release that went out today?

The "Mojo Messaging Service" sounds like Apple's push notification system, which isn't a bad thing since from a technical stand point I see why you would want all the push to go over one protocol that is controlled via the device versus having each and every single app polling every 10 minutes or running their own XMPP server.

[Julie]

WHAT ABOUT A DATE!!!!!!!!!!!

[tialoc]

ah c'mon Palm, this is on the verge of being BS! I could care less about legacy apps.. supporting apps that have been underpowered and crippled by the old OS.. who is going to be running those?!? Not on my Pre..

We want a DATE.........

[Alex H. at Edelman for Palm]

Tialoc -- the commenters on the Palm blog have been asking for legacy app support for months. This is in response to those loyal users.

[RobAnd]

I am one of those loyal palm users that were claiming for this Palm OS emulator.

Thanks a lot palm!!!!

[Sad Panda]

Oh, that is the big announcement? That's it?

Sigh...

[Jon Z at Palm]

Sad Panda -- A peek at several cool apps, an early access program for the SDK (so developers can develop more cool apps), an emulator for Palm OS apps, lots of new hands-on videos on Palm community sites...well, whatever it takes, we're committed to making you a happy panda some time in the first half of the year...

[JayCanuck]

I personally am completely floored by the PalmOS emulator announcement, as are many of my friends. There are so many old, out-of-development applications that I use on a daily basis that this emulator is perfect.

One thing I was curious about, however, is it possible to open multiple instances of an application, or is that one of those "you'll find out in the first half of 2009" kind of things?

Regardless, I LOVE the emulator announcement, the cloud services announcement, and the SDK early sign-up announcement (I've signed up :D).

[Zach]

Jon Z,

If you are committed to making us happy pandas sometime in the first half of this year, then you already have a release date.

I know some MBA is sitting at the conference table telling you all that if you just lead us on, the excitement will build and we will all be clamoring for the Pre and they will be flying off the shelf on release day.

Unfortunately, your MBAs are wrong. As I grow more and more tired of being led on, I am now looking at the iPhone and a couple of Blackberries. If I feel like I am being played, then I will simply not consider the Pre at all.

The excitement isn't building. The frustration is.

[Scotland]

Great news today, Palm! Bravo! The new apps look fantastic, good to see the SDK is moving forward closer to general release, and the news about support for legacy PalmOS apps is very welcome to long-time faithful Palm users and developers. WebOS looks amazing but, on day 1, WebOS apps can't possibly fill all the niches filled by thousands of existing PalmOS apps.

Please keep up the good work!

Still got a few items on my wish list and hopefully you have plans for these in the future:
1. More local storage. 8GB is great but some folks want more. Since the Pre is so great with multimedia, it is just dying for more. Hopefully, versions with more than 8GB are available at launch or soon after.
2. Expandable storage - SD Cards were a hallmark of Palm devices for ages. Please, please, please bring them back!!!
3. More developer APIs. Yes, Mojo is great for a wide variety of apps (and Flash will bring many more) but complex apps and 3D games are going to need a C based API. Know this probably isn't possible for WebOS v1.0, but hoping you have this in your sights for the next version.

Can't wait for the Pre to ship! Thanks again!

[one.m.davis]

haha, um... Jon Z, you are assuming that Sad Panda lives in the Mainland of the USA and is willing/able to use Sprint... I fear that if Sad Panda does not tick all those boxes, that Palm has not intention of changing their panda mood status... do you??

[Sad Panda]

Much of what is said in this blog I already knew about, or assumed to be something that would happen.

You shouldn't make pre-announcements (pardon the pun) unless there's something gigantic that will make the gadget loving community go crazy with excitement. That is my opinion, anyway.

Can you give us a release date or price range so as to make my panda frown turn upside down?

[Al]

Pandora is not available is Australia and neither is Amazon music store.

What is Palm offering Australia users as their alternative?

[coloneljames]

release the phone, please.

[Julie]

I just want a release date...but I can't switch to Sprint until August anyway so I'll just have to wait...sigh! Seriously bummed about that! Glad to know that there are people working on cool apps for when I can join you :)

[PJ Baltimore]

I would like to know specifically if the messaging and email will be "real time" pushed to the device? I am not sure if I understand the cloud theory. I know on palm OS it "alerted" me to log in and check email, message etc..but I switched to RIMM because of the push tech. I will be shocked if in this day and time I will not be able to instant message or recieve email to my device in real time.PLEASE SAY IT AINT SO?

[Alex H. at Edelman for Palm]

Hi Folks -- for developer focused questions and concerns, don't forget to hop on over to the Palm Developer Network Blog. Lots of cool stuff at http://pdnblog.palm.com/.

[Saul Velasquez]

I have had every Treo made to date I want to be first in line to get a Pre. Give me a date I think we have waited long enough.

[Jim Alden]

Ok we need a date. Just a Month, not a season, not a year, a month will do. I'm ready to toss my Sprint acct and get an iPhone on (cringe) ATT. I know you know when you plan on letting it out. You're bordering on suicide if you wait till iPhone releases 3.0 AND possibly a new and better phone. I'll probably wait another month max for a release date. ***taps feet***

[Stoopered]

Please give me a release date, I have to ask off work over a month in advance. I need this.

[Kathy]

Just put one in EVERY Sprint Store so we can at least play with the thing.I need a new phone SOON. I will wait if I like it.If I can't even hold it I will go with another phone.

[Melinda R. Houston, TX]

OMG! I just want to know when its coming out! Am considering another brand if not available soon or least a date of release!!!

Inpatientlly waiting,
Melinda

[GoofyGirl]

I used to have a Treo 750 and several phones later I had the iPhone. I got tired of not being able to do what everyone else could so I switched back to Palm and got the Pro. I absolutely love it - but after the iPhone the smaller screen is a bit difficult to adjust to. Imagine my dismay when two months after I got the Pro the Pre was announced!! The Pre is the iPhone plus!! Too bad I already dropped $550 for the Pro!

[Jonny]

Think about this guys they said the first half of the year its already april so how much longer do you think we let me see just a little longer than two months you will have to wait. Im barely hanging in with my old phone at the moment and i am willing to wait to make sure when it comes out it is perfect. 2 months is not that bad to wait for it.