Re: Mobile Web

I have been reading the same things about Microsoft (with raised eyebrows).
They are losing, and fast.

My current plan for mobile development is to "try out" each of the various
spaces (i.e. Droid SDK, iPad/iPhone SDK, Webkit, HTML5, HTML pre 5, etc) to
see what works best and learn what people are wanting. We (Krengel Tech)
just completed our first paid application for Droids which accomplished
price look ups while in the field for sales reps (used SenchaTouch). It was
a very small application, but was done as a proof of concept to see what was
possible and what the effort was. I was impressed at how easy it was
(compared to learning doing the equivalent with CGIDEV2 10 years ago when I
first started). I will be documenting some of the approaches in an article
coming out this week (IBMSystemsMag.com - or watch my blog for
notification).

I normally wouldn't pursue new technology so potently (been doing a lot of 3
or 4am mornings lately), but frankly I am having a boatload of fun. I am
working on developing my second "silly" app that my friends and family will
be able to use. Remember when we first started programming and everybody
wanted to write video games? I feel like I am getting a taste of that with
mobile development.

I think the key will be to use whatever comes out of the W3C for HTML5 vs.
going the route of Adobe or Microsoft client side and proprietary
technologies. Note that most modern browsers don't (yet) support the
majority of HTML5 - you can check yours here: www.html5test.com

Aaron Bartell
http://mowyourlawn.com
http://mowyourlawn.com/blog/


On Wed, Nov 3, 2010 at 12:49 PM, Nathan Andelin <nandelin@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Last night, my wife and I hung out until past midnight at a downtown hotel
where
one of our state's political parties had rented a large ballroom and other
gathering areas to talk and mingle with candidates, media, and various
movers &
shakers in the political scene. One couldn't help but notice the number of
attendees polling & monitoring incoming voting results on personal
hand-held
devices; most seemed to have touch screens. Our city mayor was even
posting to
a community forum from her hand-held. It was another reminder of the
growing
ubiquity of these devices, social networking, and related applications.

I read several unfavorable reviews last week about Microsoft's mobile
platforms
and shrinking market share, generally. I wish I had more time to explore
mobile
application development. I know we've discussed mobile technology recently
but
thought it might be worth asking again what developers are finding that
works or
doesn't work? Targeting specific platforms? Taking advantage of HTML5 or
Webkit
animations, transitions, and visual effects? Running into browser
compatibility
issues? Finding work-a-rounds?

-Nathan