Palm to ramp up webOS developer access
updated 03:45 pm EDT, Fri June 19, 2009
Palm Ramps Up webOS Access
Palm on Friday said it hoped to address a dearth of apps for the Pre and webOS by stepping up the pace of its early access program for developers. The smartphone designer now plans to let in developers "as quickly as resources allow" and expects the pool of active developers to swell from "hundreds to thousands" in the near future. Palm also plans to publish more of the content from the program and will let developers talk more freely about what they can do with the webOS SDK.
When the SDK will be readily available hasn't been specified, but Palm doesn't expect its program to be finished in the near term as the resources aren't in place to support full-scale availability. Its current target is the end of summer.
Expanding the program comes as most early adopters are centering their complaints on the small selection of third-party apps available. As Apple was introducing the iPhone 3G S last week, Palm was listing just 18 programs in its App Catalog compared to BlackBerry App World's 1,100, Android Market's 4,900 and the App Store's 50,000. Without a fully public SDK, key companies have been unable to develop as freely as they have for Android and iPhones.
The operating system is believed to be relatively easy to develop for as it's based chiefly on universal web programming standards with only certain OS-specific features.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2005
BETTER DO IT FAST!
Well I went and got the Pre as an upgrade from my 4 year old Treo700P I didn't think that it was going to take several months to see more then the current 30 apps for the Pre. It feels like a large step back when looking at my old Treo700 as I hate to say this but I'm still having to use my Treo still for many applications which is quite sad to say after making the move to the Pre.
I must say that the Pre's Address Book really STINKS, and not being able to group contacts into groups is a big downer for me. The Calander also has no color coding either unless you try the MissingSync app to pull this off but then if you by accident turn back on the Palm Synergy backup, it messes the whole phone.