How Dead is WebOS? • Hacker News Board

Re: How Dead is WebOS?

#11

Post by mikecane » Sun, May 08, 2011, 6:04 PM UTC

jchrisa wrote: post #7

HP will be shipping WebOS on all its laptops and desktops. They are the #1 computer maker. You do the math.

I know his comment sounds smug at face value, but he is correct. If you do the math in terms of sales outlets, they have an impressive footprint globally and I'd expect that to translate into impressive sales down the line. Don't forget they expect to integrate webOS into their printers and other things too.

Re: How Dead is WebOS?

#12

Post by piranha » Sun, May 08, 2011, 6:14 PM UTC

eekfuh wrote: post #5

I've developed a fairly well known (to the webos community) application. I had a top 10 app in Palm's million dollar contest. I've been on their print and web promotional tools and featured several times in their app catalog... yet I feel and felt that HP and Palm both have dropped the ball when it has come to developing for WebOS. They have terrible, poorly documented API's. I think its all fine and dandy that they…

So if writing a browser extension in C++ is hard, then what about writing whole application in Objective C instead of writing in JS? I'm genuinely interested what do you consider easier platform to develop, since I've just tried out Enyo and I really like it.

Re: How Dead is WebOS?

#13

Post by tolmasky » Sun, May 08, 2011, 6:49 PM UTC

"That fragmentation is driving developers to embrace frameworks such as PhoneGap, which WebOS has wholeheartedly adopted. "

Honest question: really? Is anyone actually using this stuff in a serious way? I ask because I use only iOS basically so I may genuinely be missing this revolution that is taking place, but at least on iOS I have never downloaded an app that was phonegap, nor do I think any significant charting apps use it. Is it widely used for custom built apps or something? Or used a lot in android? Or is it actually not being used a lot?

Re: How Dead is WebOS?

#14

Post by strmpnk » Sun, May 08, 2011, 6:53 PM UTC

tolmasky wrote: post #13

"That fragmentation is driving developers to embrace frameworks such as PhoneGap, which WebOS has wholeheartedly adopted. " Honest question: really? Is anyone actually using this stuff in a serious way? I ask because I use only iOS basically so I may genuinely be missing this revolution that is taking place, but at least on iOS I have never downloaded an app that was phonegap, nor do I think any significant charting…

I've seen quite a few apps written in phone gap work really well on iOS devices. I think many people are surprised how well an apps experience can be with this tech... granted, lots of people don't know that large numbers of apps are really just a web view wired to a minimal obj-c shell so I think the approach is pretty successful if not the framework itself.

Re: How Dead is WebOS?

#15

Post by unwiredben » Sun, May 08, 2011, 7:29 PM UTC

I'm working with a team doing amazing things to ready the the HP TouchPad launch and webOS 3.0 for launch. We wouldn't be working so hard if we thought this platform was dead on arrival. HP has big plans and I'm glad we're a part of it.

Re: How Dead is WebOS?

#16

Post by viraptor » Sun, May 08, 2011, 7:42 PM UTC

One announcement that I really look forward to, is a system with multi-user support. Since webos is kind of new (or at least will get a proper re-release at this point with the first tablet device), I hope this option will be included. The first tablet device which allows separate accounts for each user at home gets my money as soon as it's released.

Re: How Dead is WebOS?

#17

Post by whatusername » Sun, May 08, 2011, 8:34 PM UTC

mikecane wrote: post #11

jchrisa wrote: post #7

HP will be shipping WebOS on all its laptops and desktops. They are the #1 computer maker. You do the math.

I know his comment sounds smug at face value, but he is correct. If you do the math in terms of sales outlets, they have an impressive footprint globally and I'd expect that to translate into impressive sales down the line. Don't forget they expect to integrate webOS into their printers and other things too.

But doesn't the same "Math" apply to Nokia/Microsoft?

Re: How Dead is WebOS?

#18

Post by palish » Sun, May 08, 2011, 8:39 PM UTC

modernerd wrote: post #10

I was given a free Pre2 by Palm's Developer Relations Team as a development device. After a week with the thing, I fully expected to be clawing at my iPhone, performing 40 Hail Steves, and vowing never to stray again. Instead, I haven't touched the iPhone for eight weeks. WebOS is a delight, and I wish I'd had the guts to try it sooner; not only is the OS better thought out in many ways (multi tasking, global app men…

How did you get a free Pre 2?

I've been chomping at the bit to develop for anything besides my iPhone. I just can't afford any new phone right now.

Re: How Dead is WebOS?

#19

Post by Xuzz » Sun, May 08, 2011, 8:40 PM UTC

palish wrote: post #18

modernerd wrote: post #10

I was given a free Pre2 by Palm's Developer Relations Team as a development device. After a week with the thing, I fully expected to be clawing at my iPhone, performing 40 Hail Steves, and vowing never to stray again. Instead, I haven't touched the iPhone for eight weeks. WebOS is a delight, and I wish I'd had the guts to try it sooner; not only is the OS better thought out in many ways (multi tasking, global app men…

How did you get a free Pre 2? I've been chomping at the bit to develop for anything besides my iPhone. I just can't afford any new phone right now.

I got one from this offer too. They announced it on their blog [1] a few months back, I'm not sure if it's still open, but there's definitely no harm in trying.

[1]: http://pdnblog.palm.com/2011/02/mojo-and-enyo-two-great-oppo...

Re: How Dead is WebOS?

#20

Post by cpenner461 » Sun, May 08, 2011, 8:45 PM UTC

fuzionmonkey wrote: post #3

Some things about WebOS are absolutely fantastic. My first smartphone was a Pre Plus when it came out on Verizon for like $40. The software was pretty great. The multitasking was perfect, Synergy was awesome. It wasn't quite as polished in some areas as iOS, but some things were also drastically superior. Also the inductive charging was awesome as well. I got an iPhone on Verizon when it came out, and I really miss t…

My wife has the original palm pre from sprint, and I love the software and system in general. The hardware has been what has kept me away from it (it's the lack of a software keyboard for me personally). Compared to my android experience, the pre seems much more polished.