Ben Galbraith: webOS great for Enterprise, great for cross-platform developers [MobileBeat 2010] 29
We just finished watching a rare solo appearance by Palm Developer Relations' Ben Galbraith at MobileBeat 2010 in a "fireside chat" with VentureBeat's Matthäus Kryzkowski. The discussion was fairly general about where webOS has come in the past year with a few hints at where it might be going, including another mention of the cloud-syncin'est database technology known to mobility, DB8, which we reported on past April. It was a "fireside chat," and so not the venue for big announcements, but still illuminating to those looking to get a feel for where the thinking inside HP's newest subsidiary is right now.
One point we enjoyed was related to webOS in the Enterprise - a subject near to our own hearts. Galbraith made the case for the webOS-Enterprise fit by noting the ease of creating custom corporate apps for the platform:
I think webOS is a fantastic fit for the enterprise. [In Enterprise] you typically don't have a ton of the highest-end developers, C and C++, amazingly proficient software engineer. You tend to have more of what we call an 'app developer,' developers who are more focused on the final product [...] it's really easy for enterprises to take these devices and create a bunch of enterprise apps on them [...] it's a perfect fit for that market.
Since it's based on straightforward web technologies instead of more complicated C or even Java systems, it's more likely that large companies could find app developers to get those one-off corporate apps done.
Galbraith also briefly discussed some interesting ideas about how the 'web' part of webOS is becoming increasingly important as other platforms move to support more HTML5 "As other companies get behind HTML5 in a big way, we feel like it validates what we started." In fact, he suggested that developers who are looking to create cross-platform HTML apps might consider starting on webOS:
As more and more devices proliferate, a lot of developers talk to us about fragmentation and tell us 'We're really concerned about all these new platforms and how we'll support all these new platforms.' One of the observations we've made is that all of these platforms that are emerging have fantastic web runtimes on them, and so to the extent that you invest in creating web content for our platform [...] you can also reuse those assets really easily in these other environments.
Speaking of cross-platform development, Galbraith also noted that Palm's PDK has fewer restrictions than the competition: there no scripting locks and managed runtimes are A-OK, "any language you want to run that can compile to C or C++."
Our take: whether you're leaning towards web-based code or native code, Palm's doing quite a bit to ensure that developing on or porting to webOS is as easy as possible. In all, it was a nice chat about some of the lesser-appreciated qualities of webOS.
Finally, you, dear PreCentral reader, got a small shout-out as it was noted that we're all waiting for new hardware. While Galbraith was able to reference the "exciting, geeky technology" coming later this fall in the next big version of webOS, he (like us) exhorts you to remember that this HP deal is less than two weeks old and they're working "fast and furious."
29 Comments
Ben is king!
still waiting for new hardware. Ready to make the upgrade. The compcache kernel really eased the pain on Sprint Pre owners. HP/Palm you better not foresake the precentral community when you guys move ahead ;)
At least he hinted at Mojo. What is that? The only time since last April?
+1
I don't know man I like Webos but the progress has been extremely slow. It has been over a year and there is still no document editing and there are two IM apps that both suck really bad but cost money. I remember when I first got the Pre it said document editing will arrive soon. There are barely any decent apps since they focused on gaming first. Not that many kids buy smartphones and gaming on phones is imo niche. All I keep reading is Webos is good for this and that but with nothing to back it up.
Doc editting is not Palm's fault, it's Docs2Go.
Have you tried Scratch? It's a great utilitarian app. You don't need the full functionality of an MSWord
DocToGo was to be developed as a launch day partner and nobody else bothered since we were so loyal to DTG and trusting they'd deliver. Now Palm users have s-canned DTG and we'll pay anybody for a substitute so something is likely forthcoming, especially with HP's backing. At this point, if DTG showed up in the app catalog, I'd ignore it and stick with Classic/DTG. I needed them, but they dont need me, no looking back.
Basically, HP/Palm has made it pretty clear they intend to wait on any major announcements until this fall. That seemed to be the timeline even before the acquisition, and that likely slowed things down a bit. With that said, I don't really think Palm can deliver. WebOS is currently in a failed state in my opinion, but I have to keep reminding myself it has only been on market for a year. However, I have an Alarm clock with bugs, I mean, I understand complicated things having bugs, but alarm clocks? I get that they sync the time and it adjust and then it rechecks and goes off, here's a tip, just don't let the alarm go off for one alarm event within a minute... Multitasking is great but the apps are so terrible I rarely get a chance to actually use that feature, and when I do, it's typically checking email and browsing the web, something pretty much all smartphone OS's are quite capable of. Overclocking to 800mhz makes my phone downright snappy, but I think that illustrates the point that Palm released an operating system their hardware couldn't reasonably support, then proceeded to fragment the already small market they produced with the pixi and putting more memory in the pre+. It's just a huge mess, it gives me the vibe that some brilliant designer/architects worked at Palm but they were undone by inept management and bad planning.
Despite all of these complaints, I really have trouble grasping the lack of improvement in the platform. Palm seems focused on developer relations, but at the end of the day I'd rather have palm developed apps like facebook that work well and have decent features. Just hire a bunch of developers and have them make applications, how hard could that truly be? If you want to have any chance of making a tablet device then this needs to happen anyways.
Side rant, why is the browser on webOS actually worse than the iphone, and androids? I mean, I understand that it's all webkit, but I feel like if you bill your device on using web tech at it's core you should at least have the best browser, it isn't even 2nd place.
As far as the poster who wrote that not that many kids buy smartphones- I don't think you work on a college campus. Of course I haven't done any actual surveys but from my observation I cannot believe that smartphone ownership is not significantly higher among kids (college students, at least) than the general population in the US. Anyone by chance (maybe a reader who works for a carrier) know any actual relevant statistics?
As a college student in Canada, the average student here with a 'cellphone' will have a blackberry... Most people don't really care about "smartphones", they just want an iphone or blackberry.
well if I have to wait til fall for new hardware it better have 2ghz processor 1gb ram 4" screen that's full HD 10 mega pixel camera on back and 5 in front. (jus saying if I have to wait it better be a beast)
Not everybody is as impatient as some of you to get new hardware. I generally keep my cell phones for more than a year and at the speed HP / Palm is going right now, they will have what I want exactly when I am ready for my next phone.
I and my family have been very happy with the Palm Pre and WebOS in general. Yeah, we had to wait for some of the applications we wanted to become available, but most of them are available at this time. I imagine that many more will be coming out over the next few months with HP really pushing for developers and the ease of porting iPhone apps to the Pre.
So, lighten up, enjoy what you have and don't stress over the fact that your phone's specifications aren't as good as some other phone. If HP doesn't come out with what you want down the road you can always move on. I'm sure Steve is expecting you...
+1
TechW, you are so right...
I would like to see new Hardware soon, because of it as a sign for progress and proof of things to come, just for the market share. But my Pre is a thing I love, and it wouldn't be a problem to work with it for two more years, cause I am not a "gamesplayer", who needs highend-3D on a pre.
What I need, are apps that enable me to do things I was able to do at my Treo...open excel or word files...
+1 docs editing and a shazam app would round out my Pre nicely. My P**** is big enough, my hardware will do thanks to WebOS. I can wait for a well sorted device with double the battery life we know now.
I agree 100% - I plan on keeping my phone for a couple of years if not more - I had my treo 755P for 4 years.
Impossible. The phone hasn't been out that long. I got it when it came out and had it just over two years until the Pre came out.
Agree as well. I just got my Sprint Pre in February, and won't be due for an update until next February, so I'm in no hurry to upgrade my phone either. I switched from AT&T, so I'm used to keeping phones for the 2 years (or until they crap out) anyway. With Uberkernel, patches, and compcache, this bad boy runs like a dream for my purposes.
Anyway, all the people clamoring for new hardware who go out to buy it on launch day will be pissed when the inevitable bugs and hardware problems come to light with the first shipment (it happens with every phone and every OS). It's nice to have the best first, but it's great to wait and have a better built product with many of the bugs worked out. Patience is a virtue...
There is people in here that keep complaining about things they already know are going to change in the next iteration of webOS this fall.
There are real changes and improvements that will make the OS more ligthweigth and at the same time richer. Those announcements came even before we knew anythnig about HP being interested on palm. Now they got even more resources to work on them and on more.
So I dont really get how you keep acting as if no announcement happened and you dont know where webOS is heading.
While Docs2Go would be awesome, I don't see myself writing an essay on my Pre's keyboard. Maybe on a WebOS netbook.
-Kinda off topic, Adobe Flash went back to saying "first half of 2010"
But with a new Bluetooth keyboard profile, I COULD write an essay on it. I used to type up 10,000 word documents on my Visor with a fold up Stowaway keyboard. It was pleasant. The display is fine for basic editing. If I had a folding keyboard that connected with my Pre, it would be one less thing for which I need to bring along my laptop.
While Docs2Go would be awesome, I don't see myself writing an essay on my Pre's keyboard. Maybe on a WebOS netbook.
-Kinda off topic, Adobe Flash went back to saying "first half of 2010"
I think it's logical to wait to release new hardware until after the big fall update in the os. Debug that and then introduce the new hardware that will make it run even faster.
I don't have any burning need for an app type. Since I can hardly text without typos with my pre+ I don't see myself editting much. Epocrates needs to come out of beta and have autoupdate (updates the pharmacy database and important bulletins)- that's the only must need app for healthcare workers. Improvement of browser and system functions in speed would be helpful esp for those of us who don't overclock. I am content to wait until fall. If you had blackberry or nokia you would feel completely dead in the water. Yes, android is hot but I imagine many would be having device envy every 2 weeks when a new device is released. At least with HP, WebOs is viable.
YAAAWN....Everything is so boring over the last few days. The WebOS news is all about speculation, griping about what we don't have, and what we should have. Sports is boring as heck too. Nothing going on. Can't wait for this Fall when real WebOS news hits and football starts. Wake me up when August ends.
I understand that their talking about Enterprise affinity WRT app dev but to be considered for mass adoption by large organizations, webOS needs a couple of core enhancements. Namely, on-device data encryption to make sure all data on the device can't be hacked should the device be lost or stolen. Add to that better management capabilities. Better/more complete support for Exchange ActiveSync policies would be a great start and a management console that interfaces, manages, and reports on device wipes would go a long way towards equating webOS' corporate skillz with BlackBerry + BES.
And to echo the above folks, on-device doc editing compatible with MS Office is mandatory. A viewer lets me get by, but an editor lets me be productive. I have Scratch and it's fine for my personal use but it doesn't work as a Word replacement for business purposes.
For me, the WebOS can't be Enterprise ready until it has document editing*, can work with Lotus Notes email just as easily as it works with Exchange and can use Sametime.
*For those that say they don't see them selves writing a essay, report, or what not on the pre, I don't either (but the option would have come in handy once or twice). I just need the capability to get a MS Office doc, read it, and have the ability to edit a few lines or cells.
Is there any video or audio link for this "chat"?
"and so to the extent that you invest in creating web content for our platform [...] you can also reuse those assets really easily in these other environments."
I don't find this to be true. webOS provides the wonderful Mojo application and UI framework for web apps to be written, but without that framework available on other platforms, how are you supposed to re-use any of the code of your user interface from your Mojo webOS app? You can't.
I wish HP would produce and license a version of the Mojo JavaScript library that runs in webOS, iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry webkit browsers. I'd gladly pay a few hundred dollars for a license that lets me develop a single Mojo web app that can run on all of the major devices.
Of course, that would mean that I'd be able to produce native mobile apps too for these other platforms by embedding webkit in my app and running my Mojo app within with the embedded browser.
It probably doesn't fit in with HP's focus on hardware, but I'm telling you... if they released a cross-platform Mojo framework, they would own mobile HTML 5 web app development in the entire space.