Palm's game-friendly PDK out in public beta
updated 09:40 am EST, Tue March 9, 2010
Palm PDK allows true native apps in webOS
Palm today acted on promises from its CES keynote and launched a public beta version of the Plug-in Development Kit, or PDK. The previously limited release lets developers write webOS apps that include C or C++ code embedded inside, giving them the hardware access and speed to create 3D games. Its design is simple enough that Palm touts it as a quick way to port games made for the iPhone or other rival platforms.
As proof, Palm cites the 32 games on the App Catalog made by those with early access to the PDK, most which come from iPhone veterans like EA, Gameloft and X-Plane creator Laminar Research.
Downloading the beta is free, though as with regular webOS apps it normally costs $99 per year (currently free) to publish a closed-source app; open-source apps are always free.
