Tools

QUICKLINKS: Google predicts Android will outsell iPhone; YouTube publishes APIs and Tools;

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 07:59:55 -0400

> Google predicts Android will outsell iPhone. FierceWireless

> YouTube publishes APIs and Tools. Article

> Motorola replaces two more executives. FierceWireless

> Qualcomm acquires Xiam for $32 million. FierceMobileContent

Syware updates Visual CE

Tue, 29 May 2007 06:59:58 -0400

Syware has released Visual CE that adds support for Windows Mobile Smartphone devices like the Motorola Q and Samsung Blackjack. (The rise of software targeting Windows Mobile Smartphone was one of my mobile development predictions for 2007.)

MoMEUnit: A new Java test framework

Tue, 29 May 2007 06:59:56 -0400

MoMEUnit is a new unit testing framework for mobile Java applications. Author Serge Morozov explains his motivation on Javalobby, but it basically boils down to a desire to create a jUnit-like framework that is conscious of the limitations of J2ME (the lack of introspection, for example).

Previously on FierceDeveloper: JavaME Unit Testing frameworks compared

SavaJe lives on in JavaFX Mobile

Tue, 15 May 2007 06:59:59 -0400

SavaJe lives on in JavaFX Mobile
Sun is still making headlines with its announcement last week of JavaFX, a new family of Java-based products aimed at content creators complete with a slick, iPhone-like demo. Sun is pushing the new technology as an alternative to cross-platform scripting languages like Flash, Apollo, Silverlight and, to some degree, AJAX.

The initial launch is comprised of two products: The JavaFX Script, which is the core language for JavaFX, and JavaFX Mobile, the mobile runtime environment.

JavaFX Script has actually been discussed in public for several months now under the codename F3. Sun's Chris Oliver has F3 examples of 2D graphics and "Flash-like" effects as well as further technical details on his blog.

JavaFX Mobile is more than just a scripting language--thanks to technology acquired form SavaJe it is essentially an entire Java- and Linux-based open-source operating system. The CDC Java runtime targets high-end phones, though Sun plans to eventually release a version of JavaFX for CLDC phones as well. JavaFX Mobile runs J2ME apps and adds many standard Java APIs as well.

GUI development tools are still under construction, but JavaFX's simple, declarative language structure should make it pretty easy. The JavaFX scripting language also has some other nice features for developers, like the ability to directly embed HTML in a string and the dynamic execution of code (see Getting Started for more).

Learn More:

OpenJFX - the JavaFX scripting language
JavaFX FAQ
Commentary: JavaFX in perspective, JavaFX: the missed opportunity, Is JavaFX the end of AJAX?, The JavaFX disaster,

- Eli

AppForge closes its doors on developers

Tue, 01 May 2007 06:59:59 -0400

AppForge closes doors, locks out developers
On the heels of SavaJe's untimely demise, another small mobile company catering to developers has gone belly up. AppForge, best known for the Crossfire cross-platform mobile development framework, closed its doors on March 13. The company owes a reported $1.8 million in loans and its assets were assigned to a financial consulting firm specializing in insolvency. AppForge reportedly employed 50 people at the time of its demise.

It's a shame; I've tried the Crossfire Visual Studio plug-in before and it was a neat piece of software. It allowed developers to create applications that could be cross-compiled to BlackBerry, Palm, Symbian and Windows with the click of a button.

Now for the bad news

Developers who based their work on Crossfire aren't just out of luck for new versions and product support; Crossfire licensing typically works by validating a serial number against AppForge's server before installation on any new device. Since AppForge went dark, end users have been unable to provision new devices with software that they thought they owned.

Larger clients (AppForge's customer list once included the Ford Motor Company and Sherman-Williams) likely have ISV licenses that don't require individual authentication, but they too will be stuck once the year-long ISV license runs out.

Oracle steps in

On April 18, Oracle confirmed its acquisition of some of AppForge's assets, providing some glimmer of hope for developers. But the database giant only took what it wanted. According to the announcement, "Oracle does not plan to sell or provide support for former AppForge products going forward."

Resources for developers

The comments on this blog entry were an early meeting place for former AppForge customers.
This user-run forum has developers discussing on activation work-arounds and AppForge alternatives.
Some AppForge competitors are making special offers to former customers. See: CASL and SatelliteForms.
The acquisition is also being discussed in Oracle's forums. Oracle also has a contact address listed in its acquisition announcement.
The AppForge Wikipedia page is being updated with new information as it comes in.

If you have any inside information into what happened at Appforge (on the record or off), I would like to hear it. -Eli

Tira Jump 2007

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 20:01:38 -0400

Tira Wireless this morning announced the latest version of its Jump platform for content development. Jump 2007's aims to make developers lives easier by focusing on code re-use and collaboration. Jump 2007 lets developers package common fixes for device incompatibilities and other patterns into Jumplets, tiny components that can be resused again and again.

Jump 2007 will ship by mid-May and is available as a yearly subscription service or with a transaction fee. Jump has traditionally been popular with large media companies, but Tira is trying to draw in smaller content creators with hosted options and more flexible licensing.

Flyer extends Flash Lite on S60

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 20:01:38 -0400

Flyer is an open-source project that extends the reach of Flash Lite 2.1 apps on S60 devices. Flyer, written with S60 Python interpreter, gives Flash Lite apps the ability to send files over BlueTooth, access the contact list, and take photos. A release slated for next month adds GPS and file upload support, among other features.

I guess Python for S60 isn't just a gimmick.

New mobile tools in Adobe CS3

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 20:01:38 -0400

Adobe announced Creative Suite 3 (CS3), the latest version of its bundle of graphics and development tools. CS3 includes several mobile-specific enhancements, the most interesting of which is a new tool called Device Central. Device Central is a sort of emulator that can simulate a Flash Lite program running on a variety of handsets and in a variety of conditions (no signal, low battery or even high outdoor glare). Device Central isn't perfect and it certainly won't replace testing on a real phone, but it does promise to shorten the development cycle. CS3 also includes templates for Photoshop that make it easy to create quick mock-ups of Flash Lite applications. Not the sort of feature that will turn heads, but it does show that Adobe is committed to the mobile developer. Adobe has a list of features and an FAQ for CS3 on its website.

Hands-On announces mobile development platform

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 20:01:36 -0400

Hands-On Mobile has announced HOMBRE, the Hands-On Mobile Runtime Environment. HOMBRE consists of a thin-client that makes it easy to create custom client and access XML-based services. Hands-On is also offering a $50,000 prize for the most creative use of the product. Article

WURFL 2.0.4 released

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 19:01:36 -0500

A new version of the Wireless Universal Resource File (better known as WURFL) is available for download. WURFL is an XML database containing the capabilities of nearly 2,000 different devices.