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Palm Frees Up webOS Development
Per Wigren writes in with news that Palm has just announced a number of changes to its webOS development platform that should really be welcomed by developers — especially after the chilly reception that Palm seemed to be giving to open source in recent days. OSnews notes that "This moves the webOS much closer to Android territory." Quoting TechCrunch: "The first is that they're allowing developers to fully distribute their apps via the web. What this means is that developers can simply submit their apps to Palm, and Palm will return to them a URL that they can then blog, tweet, do whatever they want to share it. When a person then clicks on that URL they can easily install the app, bypassing any kind of store. And while Palm is providing the URL, it is not going to be reviewing the apps in any way — a clear dig at Apple's approval process. The next announcement is that Palm is waiving the $99 yearly fee it normally charges to developers to make webOS apps if those apps are going to be open source."
Comparing Palm's WebOS development environment (a "1") to the Windows Mobile SDK (a "5") or the iPhone SDK (a "9") is like comparing a kids tricycle to a top-of-the line motorcycle from Honda or BMW.
Well, almost a 360, before anyone could distribute a Palm app from any site, not a URL generated by Palm themselves.
I had a half dozen Palms from a IIIe to a 680 / TX. Exactly two apps were EVER distributed over the internet, and only after I'd already installed them locally.
If you have a USB cable and a modicum of search capability, you can instally whatever the hell you want on a WebOS phone.