Can Sprint Derail Windows Mobile App Development?
Posted Under: Mobile
Sprint is readying the “Titan” platform as a development platform for developers to quickly launch apps for Windows Mobile according to Information Week. The catch is that Sprint will use a Java-based SDK for its Titan platform and tout it as a platform for developing for Windows Mobile. That means that apps developed for Titan will need a Java virtual machine to run in Windows Mobile. Although many HTC Windows Mobile devices ship with a Java VM pre-installed, it would be nice to see applications built natively for Windows Mobile.
According to Information Week:
The platform, dubbed Sprint Titan, is an open, standards-based mobile Java ecosystem that Sprint said will make it easier for developers to bring rich desktop-like apps to smartphones. Titan supports existing MIDP Java ME applications and adds CDC/Foundation Java Virtual Machine and the OSGi framework for high-capability applications.
I don’t see this as being positive for Windows Mobile if developers don’t write native applications. The thing with Java applications that annoy me in virtual machines on Windows Mobile is that every time it accesses the internet, you have to authorize it. At least that’s how it goes on my Java VM. Imagine trying to navigate and browse websites on a Java VM then.
Also, with today’s advancing hardware, Java-based apps cannot take full advantage of specific resources, like GPS, accelerometers, light and motion sensors, scroll wheels, and other features.
