Developer interest in webOS ticking up, bit by bit 27
Wed, 06 Oct 2010 12:27 pm EDT 
If the question “What platform do you see yourself developing for in 12 months?” had been posed a few months ago, the responses for webOS would have plummeted through the floor. But with the power, scale, and enormous bags of cash of HP at Palm’s back, it turns out that developer interest has turned around. In fact, it’s a doubling of interest, though that’s not saying a lot when you were standing at 3% current interest (dead last).
The doubling to 6% ties webOS with Symbian for one-year-out developer intent, but it pales in comparison to Android (up 56% to 61-out-of-100) and of course iOS (still leading with a resounding 82%. Interestingly, it appears that developers are looking to expand their reach across multiple platforms, with interest in HTML5, Windows Phone, BlackBerry OS, and even Symbian up. The only platforms that are staring down the tunnel of declining developer intent are Java and Flash, which comes as little surprise to us. Now all we need is some kick-ass hardware from Palm and some gangbusters sales to get devices in hands and developer interest up.
Source: GigaOM; Thanks to Jimmy for the tip!
27 Comments
This report makes no sense. Android is programmed using Java, so heavy interest in Android equals heavy interest in Java. Blackberry has many OS's and can't decide which one they'll go with. And Programming in iOS is a lot like the participating in the Pain Olympics.
I thought of the Java thing too, but that wasn't what they are asking.
They're asking for interest in the Platform, not the Language. Java as a platform would be Windows/Mac/Linux apps or web browser applets, not Android apps. While the same language, totally different environments, so splitting them is a good idea.
Honestly, I'm surprised Java-proper is still so high. It's probably all CompSci college students saying they'll develop in Java since that's all they teach these days, for some sadistic reason.
On that list though, web, webOS, and Flash are arguably the easiest languages to pick up and learn, and they aren't the top demanded. Flash, obviously because of HTML5, but also because of -- wait for it -- mobile web and iOS.
However, the overall chart isn't that surprising to me. The doubling in interest for webOS is nice, but it's still too low. I'd love to see this repeated around March or April of 2011.
do you know something about March and April and how did you come across this info?
for the love of God stop groveling for information. He means IN THE FUTURE AFTER A NEW PALM COMES OUT. Just wait and stop begging, hp said something would come out early next year and March/April just so happens to be early next year.
heh, yeah, i know nothing more than you guys. I was guessing at March/April because Palm said "beginning of 2011"
I think these numbers will adjust significantly given 6 months following webOS software and hardware updates.
optimise webos, bring out a tonne of api's, create a huge buzz around it and devlopers will flok
And this is one of two big reasons (the other being the increased use of html5) that I've fallen off the "I want flash" bandwagon.
Also, keep in mind, this is out of 350 respondents. That is a terrible sample size. (source: http://gigaom.com/2010/09/29/what-platforms-will-have-mobile-app-devs-in...)
Take this chart with a grain of salt.
Correct. The confidence interval surrounding the new data must be pretty large, as well, and we probably can't come to the conclusion there's a signiificant difference ibetween the old and new results when it looks like 3%.
Bad news day :-( I agree the sample group is small, but stats always bring me down. Small dev interest and no projected new hardware till 2011. I guess I always figured that, but the confirmation is a bummer. I guess it's time to stop chasing the unicorn, and going back to walking the dog....sigh...
Doubling of interest for an OS that's basically 1 year old... what did you expect?
And by no means this is a "confirmation". There's nothing to confirm.
How's that iPhone doing?
I think these numbers are encouraging considering there has really been nothing substantialy new out of Palm besides rumors, leaks and the anticipation of what's to come. Once the details surface and the HP advertising starts to flood the market these numbers will go up sharply.
Guys, the sample size is not as important as how random the sample is. What if the sample was derived from a majority of Android and iOS developers?
This is why statistics are so misleading because it is the context that really matters and how it related to the results.
That said, increase in webOS development interest is always good news =)
Hi all,
I still have to laugh, when the owner of dateBK told me, that webOS was dead and Palm would be sold for chicken feed. $1.2 BILLION is some chicken feed. I also feel that these numbers will take off when webOS 2.0 is released and/or when the PalmPad is released.
Now that we know for fact and not my supposition that HP was going to sink it's own $ into apps, (again not a chicken feed amount), in the beginning many will be native apps, I expect to see the numbers increase much more rapidly in the next 12 months.
Take care,
Jay
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great looking new hardware will drive sales. which will in turn drive software development.
Wow! webos has the lowest on the entire list! This is a big issue in my opinion. And a "12 Months" that lags only behind flash. Just dire dire news. App wise the last year has sucked. 6% doesn't seem positive in comparison to the competition. It's behind the now of most of the items on that chart and it needs to up past android.
I think it's clear that it's gonna be a massive struggle to get companies intersted in making apps with more appeal then the stuff we currently get. And hardware or not i think it's gonna be a big negative for some people. i mean when the pre was launched i truly expected higher interest in in webos apps then Android level not worse. But i think they HP needs to pay the major web companies and such to make apps and quick.
What the really need to poll is ask regular companies if they intend to release a webos app. Now or in 6 months, 12 months, ever? Cause a "developer" could just be some guy in a bedroom writing code. That's fine but typically i'm not looking for the app from him. I'm looking for the app from ESPN. So i say poll the companies, like espn, skype, netflix, etc etc.
I say lets just go after the good apps from all stores and target just those developers. Screw anything subpar. This is what i would love to see.
1. Godfinger
2. Skype
3. Fring (hopefully new device has front facing camera)
4. Zumocast
5. Good solid vnc/rdp client like logmein or jaduu vnc
6. google voice or Whistle
7. textplus (for anyone not on unlimited text plans)
8. TIKL (awesome app only on android VOIP walkie talkies Yeah!!!)
9. Wase
10. Angry Birds 2 (get on it rovio!)
Sounds like your options are either begging developers to port their iPhone apps to WebOS (I hear petitions work well) or switching to iPhone.
Well a couple of those apps like tikl aren't even out for iphone. I want a mix of the top apps from android and iPhone. Somebody should start up the zumocast petition. that stuff is very very awesome. I know theres ampache and a slew of other streaming services but nothing is as simple and easy. Also i love tikl for the android. Really wish we had that one.
join sprint, you can't even get a pre without unlimited texting. And I'm sure its cheaper and better than whatever you have
i agree with "screw anything subpar." These just aren't exactly what i'm looking for but i like the sentiment.
here's the things i'm looking for
ESPN sportcenter
Yahoo fantasy
Etrade
Fidelity
Yahoo Finance
Time Warner (but pretty much all cable Companies)
Mint.com
Shazam
Any Barcode scanner
Amplitube
CNN,MSNBC,ABC,NBC,
Google Maps, Tom Tom
Ebay mobile
Adobe Photoshop
opinions may vary but that's the sort of thing i'm looking for.
if you wanna have developers write or port apps over to webOS, you got to sell a lot of phones for that OS. to do that, you need new hardware. people aren't gonna rush out to buy a palm phone designed 3 yrs ago.
Meh, call me when the good apps arrive.
I just decided these days to wait patiently. My contract with O2 ends July 2011. Until then I will enjoy my PRE and hope for a great improve with webOS2.0. If in July 2011 HP/Palm has new exciting hardware and more developers with interest in developing software for webOS I will stay on this platform as a user. If not I will leave for Android.
To be honest I am also little bit disappointed about the announcement that HP will unveil new hardware in 2011 (I suppose it will be the CES, this IS early 2011). When I compare with HTC they have a much better performance in unveiling new hardware. But might have to do with the take over and reorganisation of strategy between Palm/HP.
But I will give Palm definitely a third chance (or is it already the fourth? can't remember)