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TrollTech's $10,000 Carrot For Zaurus PDA Apps
ILikeRed writes: "TrollTech is offering some big prizes, including $10,000 USD for coming up with a hot application for the new Sharp pda previously mentioned." The site says that "entries must function with the Sharp Zaurus SL-5000D and must be compiled with Qt/Embedded, version 2.3.2," but the rules make no demands one way or the other regarding licensing. How about making a GIMP-based ultra-mini photo studio tool?
Like the age old paradox of not being able to get a job with no experience and not being able to get experience without a job, so too has Sharp painted itself into a corner.
Instead of continuing with Windows CE where all the smart money has recently gone, they strike out on their own with a device that has no apps.
Without apps, users don't want a device. Without users, developers don't want to write apps. The vicious circle perpetuates itself!
Well if you compare this to SHARP's previous policies concerning PDAs, this is a hell of a lot more open. Their previous ZAURUS PDAs (mostly only released in Japan) were completely closed. Only SHARP could develop new apps for them.
At least now they've seen the light and realize that it might not be such a bad idea to allow other people to make apps for their hand helds.
Incidentially I almost bought one of these new SHARPs over the summer when I saw it in Japan -- it's a beautiful little handheld -- then I found out it wasn't running CE.
I don't think that you'll win this content with anything GIMP-based. GIMP is based on GTK (and GDK), which are essentially concurent products to QT (though not yet as strong in the embedded sector AFAIK). Additionally you'll have essentially rewrite the GIMP, 'cause GTK and QT are quite different (both from design and implementation, not to speak of two different languages). A nice port of Konqueror would be nice, but that has already been done.
Apps availiable
address book GPL
calculator GPL
calender GPL
city time GPL
clock GPL
media player GPL
text editor GPL
todo list GPL
+ a bunch of games + a few commercial apps
No, I wouldn't say no apps. And $10,000 is a lot of money.
Plus there are 1000+ free Qt applications around on Linux alone. Most of those are easily portable to Qt/Embedded (the API is the same).
Not every desktop app makes sense on a PDA, but some do.
I've already got the first versions of two of my apps ready to test on a Zaurus. Now I just need to get one :)
I have ported two "nifty" (but not "killer") apps, one being a system control utility called ALD; the other being a cycle training aid. I need to improve the graphics a bit, however.
Anybody else got there Zaurus yet?
-WS
An operating system should be like a light switch... simple, effective, easy to use, and designed for everyone.
I think this same thing hurt Windows CE early on. I always had a hard time finding useful Windows CE applications. It's more important that the device ships with "killer apps" that make the device worth buying. Any applications that come out later just add to the potential sales of the device.
I got mine, after a minor screwup on UPS's part. Very impressive indeed...WinCE palmtops never really got me excited, but this looks quite promising. Perhaps it's just the ability to open a terminal and see good old bash waiting for me.
Now if my CF modem and 802.11b cards would get here, I'd be in business...
I think many programmers, including me, are interested in creative ideas for the contest. So my question ( to nonprogrammers!) is this:
What do you want to do on your PDA that you can't do on the PC? what's your killer app?
To be consistent with the contest, the app has to be graphical ( to use QT) and to be in one of the given categories ( games, entertainment/education, comms, business and utilities)
From a developers standpoint, my killer app is a Business security system, where Guards can carry a Palm instead of having to sit at a desk for 10 hours a day. They could even take a piss while still watching the cameras, or lock any door in the building at any given time, all from the Palm.
python >>>
reduce(lambda x,y:x+y,map(lambda x:chr(ord(x)^42),tuple('zS^BED\nX_FOY\x0b')))
they want me to spend 399.00 dollars for a beta/unfinished unit? Then develop apps for free so they can get a larger cutomer base?
whats the work I'm looking for...hhmmmmm...NO!
Give me one, and a reasonable goal to develop towards, I'd do it in a heart beat. Maybe seeing a company using a shareware app I developed in 93 to automate a process and reap huge rewards, none sent to me, has made me bitter.
but I'm through developing for anybody who doesn't pay.
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