Screen shots of Palm's Mojo SDK already in the wild?

We don't have a failsafe way to confirm that these are real, but what we're seeing certainly jibes with what Palm's been saying about webOS and its Mojo SDK: all web, all the time. Apps, which rely heavily on HTML and Javascript, are actually debugged right from the comfort of your desktop web browser, so it seems like there isn't even a native emulator to worry about. Boy Genius Report has a few screenshots posted, and while there isn't anything too terribly interesting going on, it's good to have some semi-confirmation that devs are already hard at work bringing stuff to the webOS table in time for the Pre launch. Oh, and Palm: feel free to hook us up, because we have this awesome idea for an Engadget app. Seriously.

[Joe H @ Jan 12th 2009 2:01PM]

Yeah, uh, me too. Give me an SDK, I have an awesome app idea .

I promise, I don't just want it to use the in-browser emulator to get a better feel for the interface and to take videos for general consumption of how the interface works using my Dell XT's capacitive touchscreen, its all for application work, I swear!

[Verythrax @ Jan 12th 2009 2:06PM]

+1 for engadget app

;)

[Ellianth @ Jan 12th 2009 6:06PM]

What's this awesome engadget app? An app that let's you see all of engadgets iphone coverage on your pre?

(sorry i couldn't help myself :P. please don't rank me low... PLEASE!!)








[ I saw you pushing that minus button :'( ]

[Verythrax @ Jan 12th 2009 6:33PM]

No, that would be the Gizmodo app :D

[Yoav @ Jan 12th 2009 2:07PM]

God I hope they put an emulator for older palm apps...

And what about awesome 3d games that take advantage of the powerful chip?

MAKE IT HAPPEN PALM!

[webon @ Jan 12th 2009 5:05PM]

2nd that!

[Chuck @ Jan 13th 2009 3:52AM]

I'd look to styletap for that native emulator

[superhobo @ Jan 12th 2009 2:15PM]

Go Palm Go!

With this, pretty much anyone can develop apps, unlike needing a mac for iphone apps.

(bad grammar/sentence, i know)

[CraigJ @ Jan 12th 2009 2:22PM]

Not completely true.

Anyone can develop Web apps for the iPhone. It's easy. I think the difference is that with the iPhone they have to be hosted and these are loaded locally, which, admittedly, is a big difference. You only need a Mac to develop native apps in Objective C.

The games on the iPhone may not be the best in the world, but you're not getting SMB on the Pre using CSS and Javascript libraries...

[superhobo @ Jan 12th 2009 2:24PM]

I didn't say web apps, did I?

[CraigJ @ Jan 12th 2009 2:27PM]

uh, what do you think this means? "Apps, which rely heavily on HTML and Javascript, are actually debugged right from the comfort of your desktop web browser"

Key words. HTML, Javascript, web browser.

[7on @ Jan 12th 2009 2:31PM]

You can easily do SMB in javascript. Well ok, maybe not easily, but it's not not doable.

And we still haven't seen what customized libraries palm is using. I doubt they're using onClick for anything...

[superhobo @ Jan 12th 2009 2:35PM]

Ah, but the OS here IS a Web OS.

[CraigJ @ Jan 12th 2009 2:39PM]

I'm not being negative here, I think for business apps, etc, that web apps are the way to go, and it makes it easy to have the same basic app on your desktop, and syncing with restful web services (which I am assuming they will use) just makes the whole thing elegant, simple and reliable. Having said that, being realistic, JavaScript as an interpreted scripting language is not really good for graphics intensive action games. As you say, it can be done, but hopefully Palm will offer up a way to get compiled executable on the thing.

[dan @ Jan 12th 2009 3:07PM]

Regardless, Objective-C is certainly not the way to go. Eugh.

[CraigJ @ Jan 12th 2009 3:48PM]

Is there something wrong with C? Objective C is basically C with extensions for Cocoa. Objective C programs that don't use Cocoa are basically just C programs. Anyway, since I'm pretty sure the Pre doesn't have the Cocoa framework they will need some sort of api graphic UI if they decide to support any type of development at a lower level.

[dan @ Jan 12th 2009 4:55PM]

Objective-C isn't C for Cocoa, it existed a long time before Cocoa did. It is C with extensions that turn it into a strange and clumsy approximation of a modern object oriented language, with an awkward syntax that seems overly dependent on - (brackets) and: (hundreds of them).

I am sure it is wonderful if you are a long-time Objective-C developer. As somebody more familiar with modern forms of OO, I found it pretty unpleasant to use.

[LloydChiro @ Jan 12th 2009 5:05PM]

This thread. I do not follow it.

[bondsbw @ Jan 12th 2009 6:20PM]

Objective-C is a "modern form of OO." Objective-C 2.0 was just recently released. It's just a little unfamiliar to those who use C++ style languages. It's no more unfamiliar than BASIC or LISP or variants of those.

C++ took C and tried to add everything and the kitchen sink to it. Just look at the C++0x. It has great, cool new features, but it's become a mess in many ways.

Objective-C has changed very little over the years, and is based on the original OO language Smalltalk. It has added things from other languages, but the purity of Objective-C makes it attractive to those who have never used C++ because it is easier to learn. That is at the expense of some features found in C++, Java, C#, etc.

If you want to program for Apple products like the iPhone, the transition to Objective-C shouldn't be so difficult to keep you away.

[dan @ Jan 12th 2009 7:13PM]

It may be easier to learn than C++, but I wouldn't say it is easier than C# or Java. The whole 'messages' thing isn't terribly intuitive to say the least.

But yeah, it isn't as much of an obstacle to doing some iPhone development as the fact that you need to buy a mac!

[loosely_coupled @ Jan 13th 2009 11:29PM]

I'm hopeful that Palm has done a ton of work building an object model for the Pre that connects browser standard javascript to functions on the phones, but lets not be ridiculous here.... I would hardly a glorified web browser engine a true mobile platform, and I hesitate to use the term SDK instead of just API.

@Dan

"It is C with extensions that turn it into a strange and clumsy approximation of a modern object oriented language, with an awkward syntax that seems overly dependent on"

You need to recognize the difference between "clumsy and awkward" and "different than what I know". Objective-C is not my cup of tea either, but it's based on the fairly standard concept of message passing.. while a different OOP paradigm than C++/Java/etc, it is certainly not a "clumsy approximation of a modern OO language", just different than what you are used to.

[iofthestorm @ Jan 12th 2009 2:23PM]

Uh, it can't just be your web browser because there are more APIs exposed on the WebOS that aren't going to be on your web browser. If it's a web browser at all it has to be custom designed to emulate the extra API that the WebOS provides.

[googlesmith @ Jan 12th 2009 2:32PM]

Agreed. Or maybe a plug-in for firefox :D

[CraigJ @ Jan 12th 2009 2:33PM]

"The SDK operates as a local server that serves up the web pages (applications), and you can hook into it from your local browser"

[Verythrax @ Jan 12th 2009 2:33PM]

I think it's a web server/browser combo - by web browser read that small, clickable screen.

[7on @ Jan 12th 2009 2:34PM]

Maybe not for everything. I could easily see Pandora making an app in javascript that runs in a webbrowser. The thing you'll have to wait for a real SDK for would be anything that calls the hardware. Like 3d rendering could be given a javascript command.

[dozx @ Jan 12th 2009 7:28PM]

Pre Web OS uses WebKit which is the same thing that Safari is based on which is the same thing the iPhone runs. Browsers using WebKit include: Safari, iPhones Web Browser, Omni Web, Palm Web OS, and few other smaller browsers. Internet Explorer, FireFox are not based on WebKit so unless you are going to be writing web apps strictly to the strictest of web standards without using any of the special features that are exclusive to WebKit then you will not be using Explorer or FireFox as they do not support the special features of WebKit. There are a few WebKit browsers for PC, and there is even talk of IE going WebKit based but that is to be seen. And if Pre is just offering up browser based Apps then they will be equal to the types of Web Apps that are available to iPhone, as Apple extended the iphone browser to support custom calls to add the ability to use iphone specific functions as well. This was the model apple was pushing in the beginning as well till people demanded more powerful Apps that web based apps just couldn't provide> So iPhone has native Apps now and I can only see Pre owners demanding the same if it is possible.

[q0014id @ Jan 12th 2009 2:52PM]

Want it ASAP.

[shugg @ Jan 12th 2009 3:43PM]

WOW A STATE OF THE ART PHONE THAT PROMISES TO NOT HAVE 3D GAMES.,SOUNDS LIKE A LOSER TO ME.no iphonekiller here.,phone not even made by palm,cheesy clone!!!!!!!

[dcoaster @ Jan 12th 2009 5:17PM]

It's too bad your future has already been determined by your ill-informed post.

[Matt G @ Jan 12th 2009 3:47PM]

Because 3D games are the make-it or break-it goal for a PHONE.

Get a life troll.

[Matt G @ Jan 12th 2009 3:48PM]

And NEWS FLASH:

Apple manufactures NOTHING but SOFTWARE and Intellectual Property.

They don't own factories.

Thanks for playing.

[webon @ Jan 12th 2009 5:09PM]

MOJO from my Webos!

[John @ Jan 12th 2009 7:14PM]

the apps as local webpages idea is idiotic. If all you write is the client side stuff (HTML/JS) then how are you going to store data without some sort of custom API? And if you're then using a custom API, what's the point of going through the hoopla of having it done like a web page in the first place since you might as well just use a real language.

[Yoav Erez @ Jan 13th 2009 2:30AM]

Whats that? a Web kit OS ?

What happens when I'm in the subway? can I still use all the apps?

[Templarian @ Mar 10th 2009 10:35PM]

I'm a little late, but yes, look up the HTML5 standard it was a huge reason for the new version number.

[Carlos @ Jan 22nd 2009 12:59PM]

Yo yo yo WAIT hold on!
Are they calling that dang Mojo ?
Are they nuts!?
They can get my Mojo cum right on their face!

My Mojos were first you $*#th§&+!

Carlos
from the one and only fullscreen widgets www.mojocafe.net