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Who am I?
Nokia Qt Certified Developer and Trainer for linux based embedded systems, Nokia Symbian and Maemo phone devices, and Qt Desktop GUI applications. I work closely with system integrators, Symbian phone application developers, Meego application developers, and companies launching new GUI based embedded device products..
I am also Forum Nokia Champion for North America.
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- Getting Started on WIndows Phone 7 Silverlight
- Why Should You Care About Windows Phone 7?
- Completing the Casual Game Move from QML to XNA
- Developing the Kolobok Game Piece
- Re-engineering the QML Bounce Game for Windows Phone 7
- Getting Started on WIndows Phone 7
- Mango Gets the Basics
- MIXing it up
- Got 4.7 Working Using NokiaQtSDK and Qt for Symbian
- Qt for Symbian Hands on Training for the N8
Why Should You Care About Windows Phone 7?
glebovitz | 06 September, 2011 21:58
In response to my technical posting on moving an application from QML to Windows Phone 7 XNA, I got a private message from a developer who was asking the question, "Why Should ICare About Windows Phone 7?" If I am going to switch platforms from QML, why would I choose Windows Phone 7?
For application developers, a more relevant question is, can you afford not to care? The phone is visually appealing, feature-rich, easy to use, and offers such Microsoft exclusives as Office, Xbox and the Zune music store. The tile interface is truly innovative; it focuses your attention on, and tells you at a glance, what is happening now — like pending messages, game and friend status, and appointments — all refreshed wirelessly via the web. Email sync is also very reliable.
Here’s what AllThingsD says: “The operating system is a mix of elegance and whimsy that’s a treat to use … sprinkled with delightful animations on nearly every screen. These include icons that swing out like tiny doors when selected, and little dots that race across the top of the screen when something is loading onto the phone. The result is a playful yet functional interface.”
Then there’s the development environment. The Windows Phone 7 Application Platform is built on existing Microsoft tools and technologies such as Visual Studio, Expression Blend, Silverlight, and the XNA Framework. Developers familiar with those technologies have a head start when writing new applications for Windows Phone 7.
Another great advantage is Microsoft’s position in on-line mobile gaming, the fastest growing applications market in mobile phones. Games generate more revenue than any other application genre. With their support of XNA and XBOX Live in Windows Phone 7, Microsoft is well poised to lead this lucrative market and attract customers in the highly prized 14-to-25 year old demographic. More young owners will lead to more ad revenue from both games and traditional data driven applications.
Business users can benefit from Windows Phone 7’s support of Microsoft’s .NET framework for integrated business applications. Support of .NET simplifies the task of integrating mobile phones with core business services. Much of the client side business logic can be reused in Windows Phone 7 mobile applications.
But perhaps the biggest feature is Microsoft itself. Over the years, the company has shown enormous staying power in markets in which it wants to win — like games. Windows Phone 7 may only be Microsoft’s latest foray in the mobile phone space but that’s just more evidence of Microsoft’s commitment to what most industry watchers see as the future beyond PCs.
So — given Microsoft’s huge resources, commitment to the market and a well-executed product — it’s safe to assume that Microsoft will become at least number two in the market, after Android (which, like Windows Phone 7, comes on many phones) and ahead of iOS (which only comes on one).
A Serious Land Grab
Right now, the biggest thing slowing Windows Phone 7 adoption is a relative lack of third-party apps. On the one hand, while WP7 may not have as many as Apple, Google or even the Ovi store, it does have all the mainstream apps you would expect. On the other hand, if you are an app developer yourself, that is probably the best reason to care about Windows Phone 7. Who wants to be the third or fourth developer to market with a particular kind of application? In today’s environment, numbers 1 and 2 tend to win big and quickly while everyone else gets overlooked. Given the advantages in gaming and business applications, now is the time to invest in Windows Phone 7.
Early arrivals can also expect more help from Microsoft. As it populates its catalog, Microsoft will look to fill in the gaps first and worry less about having multiple offerings for each type of app. Developers looking for help may wish to consider partnering with their own experts in porting applications across mobile platforms. What we’re seeing now with Windows Phone 7 may be the last of the great mobile “land grabs.” Anyone who’s serious about getting their share should start moving.
In a few days, I will start a series on moving a Twitter application from QML to Silverlight on Windows Phone 7. I plan to show how the transition can be straight forward.
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ramuel mijares
firebane05 | 08/09/2011, 16:20
Right now, the biggest thing slowing Windows Phone 7 adoption is a relative lack of third-party apps. On the one hand, while WP7 may not have as many as Apple.