And should developers build websites or applications?
Is HTML5 the Holy Grail for building next-generation Web applications?
And should developers ditch the browser for client applications that run on specific devices, like the iPhone and Android?
Those are the questions an all-star lineup of Web and application designers from Microsoft, Google, Twitter and other companies debated Thursday during a panel discussion at the annual USENIX technical conference in Portland, Ore.
HTML5 in action: First look at Internet Explorer 9
Moderator Michael Maximilien, a software researcher, architect and engineer at IBM Research, asked panel members whether HTML5 is the answer for building browser-based applications that act like native applications and can be "written once and run everywhere."
"We have always tried to come up with this universal GUI thing and I don't think it has ever worked," said Erik Meijer, a programming language designer who runs the cloud programmability team at Microsoft. "HTML5 in a sense is another attempt."
But while HTML5 - which is prominent in the Google Chrome and Internet Explorer browsers - is allowing new kinds of interactive Web applications, even ones with offline storage, Meijer said. "It's not really native. You still see rough edges. There is no silver bullet."
Google's Patrick Chanezon, developer relations manager for cloud and tools, argued that whether to use the HTML5 language comes down to how widely you want your application to be deployed. "If you're doing iOS only, sure, just do everything native," he said. But if you want something that works across Android and desktop browsers, HTML5 is the way to go, he said.
"So, build a sucky version in HTML5 but it works everywhere?" Maximilien asked with a smile.
Chanezon countered that HTML5 allowed Google to build some pretty good Gmail clients.
Google's browser: First look at Chrome 10
But Raffi Krikorian, infrastructure engineer at Twitter, also called out the limitations of HTML5, saying it's "really nice to look at," but can't do things such as send notifications to users.
"A mobile app to me is more than just a UI," Krikorian said.
The other member of the panel was Charles Ying, an engineer at Flipboard, which builds a personalized magazine for the iPad that gathers in a user's Facebook and Twitter streams and customized views of media sites.
Ying said HTML5 applications running at 60 frames a second, which Google has demonstrated in Chrome on desktops with WebGL-generated 3D graphics, are fast enough. But that speed is harder to achieve on mobile devices.
"HTML5 is successful because it's the new moniker for the modern Web browser, the modern Web platform. But it's still got a ways to go," Ying said. "We try to build great experiences with it but we find that frame rates just aren't cutting it when we try to do new animation."
Most panelists seemed to agree that HTML5 is a big step forward for desktop Web browsers, but is still lacking on the mobile side.
That leads to the question of whether mobile developers should build Web applications or applications downloaded from an app store.
Read the views of online Certification Experts, which provide the real questions and correct answer and explanation for the students / professionals who are seeking or enhancing their level of expertise. more at certkingdom.com
June 17, 2011
Microsoft spins two new embedded operating systems
Microsoft has started its week by announcing two new embedded operating systems. Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 is being released to device manufacturers, while a CTP (community technology preview) of Windows Embedded POSReady 7 is now downloadable by retailers and other interested testers.
We commented on Friday that, while Microsoft's embedded operating systems didn't get much attention at last week's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Redmond would be spotlighting them at this week's National Retail Federation (NRF) show in New York.
As it turns out, we didn't know the half of it: Two new Windows Embedded operating systems have been announced in conjunction with the event.The first offering -- Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 -- was expected and in fact is appearing just slightly later than originally promised. The second, Windows Embedded POSReady 7, is a logical successor to Microsoft's POSReady 2009 but had not been leaked before today as far as we're aware.
Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5
Microsoft's Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 was first announced last June at a Microsoft/Motorola event held at the New York Stock Exchange. Appearing via video (below), Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said, "In the next six months we will release a new embedded OS called Windows Embedded Handheld ... based on Windows Mobile 6.5 technologies ... [and] in the second half of 2011, we will release a version of Windows Embedded Handheld based on Windows 7 technology."
Steve Ballmer introduces the Windows Embedded Handheld OS
(click to play)
Windows Embedded Senior Product Manager David Wurster then clarified the remarks in an interview with our sister publication eWEEK, saying, "The first release under the [Windows Embedded Handheld] brand is scheduled to come this calendar year and build on the Windows Mobile 6.5 platform with trusted management and security features, as well as enhanced protection for existing enterprise investments in line-of-business applications on devices."
A future version known as Windows Embedded Handheld 7 will be available during the second half of 2011, Wurster was quoted as saying. That version will be based on Windows Embedded Compact 7 and will feature a "different set of developer tools and experiences," he is said to have added.
In a blog posting earlier today, Wurster wrote, "I'm pleased to announced the availability of Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5." The operating system is aimed at enterprise handheld devices and is built on Windows Mobile 6.5, he added.
Wurster stated, "Mobile device makers using Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 will find a familiar, consistent development platform that helps speed time-to-market. These device makers can take advantage of Windows Mobile 6.5s large community of hardware and software vendors, which supply a wide variety of off-the-shelf and custom solutions."
While Windows Embedded Handheld 7 is still on track for release, Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 will be provided with "mainstream support" through December 2014, and extended support through December 2019, Wurster added.
Meanwhile, 6.5's availability should lessen the minor confusion that has reigned in the enterprise handheld space, whereby vendors of otherwise-identical devices -- Motorola's MC3100, to name one example -- had to offer a choice of Windows CE or Windows Mobile, depending on whether voice telephony was included.
At the June 2009 announcement of Windows Embedded Handheld, Motorola talked about the new operating system as it unveiled its ES400 Enterprise Digital Assistant (right). That device, however, initially offered Windows Mobile 6.5.3, skinned with an interface known as the MEUI (Motorola Enterprise User Interface).
Related to Windows Phone 7 only by its fundamental Windows CE operating system core, Windows Embedded Standard 6.5 is backward-compatible with applications written for Windows Mobile and, in many cases, Windows CE. It is also attractive to enterprise customers because it works with their existing management frameworks.
Hence, while Google's Android OS is increasingly gaining the limelight when it comes to consumer smartphones, it hasn't made much headway in the world of enterprise handhelds, where Microsoft's partners include Intermec, Honeywell, Motorola, and many others. And, as we've reported recently, Motorola is now two companies: the Android-focused Motorola Mobility, and the Windows handheld manufacturer Motorola Solutions.
According to VDC Research findings cited by Microsoft, WindowsCE and Windows Mobile accounted for 87 percent of the approximately 2.3 million ruggedized handheld devices shipped in 2009.
Windows Embedded POSReady 7
Microsoft's other new embedded operating system hadn't been previously named by the company (at least as far as we're aware), but is an entirely logical development. Windows Embedded POSReady 7 (below) is an OS and software stack for retailers that will eventually replace the currently offered Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 -- announced at the 2009 NRF Show -- and the previous Windows Embedded for Point of Service (WEPOS).
Microsoft's Windows Embedded POSReady 7
(Click to enlarge)
According to a quick start guide provided with the downloadable public CTP of Windows Embedded POSReady 7, the new OS is "based on Windows 7 and benefits from many of the new features available in Windows 7 that are sure to enhance point of service deployments." These include better power management and manageability enhancements, the document adds.
Microsoft further highlights "embedded specific enhancements tohelp lock down public facing devices." These are said to include:
* write filters forcreating stateless or semi-stateless environments
* suppression of unwanted dialog message boxes
* a keyboard filter for suppressing unwanted keystrokes such as CTRL+ALT+DEL,ALT+F4, Windows+L, and custom-defined keystrokecombinations
We haven't seen a timetable for the rollout of Windows Embedded POSReady 7, but a Microsoft announcement in this regard is likely to appear during the course of the NRF show.
Meanwhile, well-connected Microsoft watcher Mary-Jo Foley quotes officials as saying a final version will appear before the end of this calendar year. Today's downloadable preview release will expire on Oct. 31, according to Microsoft.
We commented on Friday that, while Microsoft's embedded operating systems didn't get much attention at last week's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Redmond would be spotlighting them at this week's National Retail Federation (NRF) show in New York.
As it turns out, we didn't know the half of it: Two new Windows Embedded operating systems have been announced in conjunction with the event.The first offering -- Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 -- was expected and in fact is appearing just slightly later than originally promised. The second, Windows Embedded POSReady 7, is a logical successor to Microsoft's POSReady 2009 but had not been leaked before today as far as we're aware.
Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5
Microsoft's Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 was first announced last June at a Microsoft/Motorola event held at the New York Stock Exchange. Appearing via video (below), Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said, "In the next six months we will release a new embedded OS called Windows Embedded Handheld ... based on Windows Mobile 6.5 technologies ... [and] in the second half of 2011, we will release a version of Windows Embedded Handheld based on Windows 7 technology."
Steve Ballmer introduces the Windows Embedded Handheld OS
(click to play)
Windows Embedded Senior Product Manager David Wurster then clarified the remarks in an interview with our sister publication eWEEK, saying, "The first release under the [Windows Embedded Handheld] brand is scheduled to come this calendar year and build on the Windows Mobile 6.5 platform with trusted management and security features, as well as enhanced protection for existing enterprise investments in line-of-business applications on devices."
A future version known as Windows Embedded Handheld 7 will be available during the second half of 2011, Wurster was quoted as saying. That version will be based on Windows Embedded Compact 7 and will feature a "different set of developer tools and experiences," he is said to have added.
In a blog posting earlier today, Wurster wrote, "I'm pleased to announced the availability of Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5." The operating system is aimed at enterprise handheld devices and is built on Windows Mobile 6.5, he added.
Wurster stated, "Mobile device makers using Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 will find a familiar, consistent development platform that helps speed time-to-market. These device makers can take advantage of Windows Mobile 6.5s large community of hardware and software vendors, which supply a wide variety of off-the-shelf and custom solutions."
While Windows Embedded Handheld 7 is still on track for release, Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 will be provided with "mainstream support" through December 2014, and extended support through December 2019, Wurster added.
Meanwhile, 6.5's availability should lessen the minor confusion that has reigned in the enterprise handheld space, whereby vendors of otherwise-identical devices -- Motorola's MC3100, to name one example -- had to offer a choice of Windows CE or Windows Mobile, depending on whether voice telephony was included.
At the June 2009 announcement of Windows Embedded Handheld, Motorola talked about the new operating system as it unveiled its ES400 Enterprise Digital Assistant (right). That device, however, initially offered Windows Mobile 6.5.3, skinned with an interface known as the MEUI (Motorola Enterprise User Interface).
Related to Windows Phone 7 only by its fundamental Windows CE operating system core, Windows Embedded Standard 6.5 is backward-compatible with applications written for Windows Mobile and, in many cases, Windows CE. It is also attractive to enterprise customers because it works with their existing management frameworks.
Hence, while Google's Android OS is increasingly gaining the limelight when it comes to consumer smartphones, it hasn't made much headway in the world of enterprise handhelds, where Microsoft's partners include Intermec, Honeywell, Motorola, and many others. And, as we've reported recently, Motorola is now two companies: the Android-focused Motorola Mobility, and the Windows handheld manufacturer Motorola Solutions.
According to VDC Research findings cited by Microsoft, WindowsCE and Windows Mobile accounted for 87 percent of the approximately 2.3 million ruggedized handheld devices shipped in 2009.
Windows Embedded POSReady 7
Microsoft's other new embedded operating system hadn't been previously named by the company (at least as far as we're aware), but is an entirely logical development. Windows Embedded POSReady 7 (below) is an OS and software stack for retailers that will eventually replace the currently offered Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 -- announced at the 2009 NRF Show -- and the previous Windows Embedded for Point of Service (WEPOS).
Microsoft's Windows Embedded POSReady 7
(Click to enlarge)
According to a quick start guide provided with the downloadable public CTP of Windows Embedded POSReady 7, the new OS is "based on Windows 7 and benefits from many of the new features available in Windows 7 that are sure to enhance point of service deployments." These include better power management and manageability enhancements, the document adds.
Microsoft further highlights "embedded specific enhancements tohelp lock down public facing devices." These are said to include:
* write filters forcreating stateless or semi-stateless environments
* suppression of unwanted dialog message boxes
* a keyboard filter for suppressing unwanted keystrokes such as CTRL+ALT+DEL,ALT+F4, Windows+L, and custom-defined keystrokecombinations
We haven't seen a timetable for the rollout of Windows Embedded POSReady 7, but a Microsoft announcement in this regard is likely to appear during the course of the NRF show.
Meanwhile, well-connected Microsoft watcher Mary-Jo Foley quotes officials as saying a final version will appear before the end of this calendar year. Today's downloadable preview release will expire on Oct. 31, according to Microsoft.
June 16, 2011
How to Delete an Account from Any Website
Deleting accounts you've created on Facebook, Google, and elsewhere on the Web isn't always easy. Here are detailed instructions for leaving 30 of the most popular online services.
The words "I wish I could quit you" take on a whole new meaning when you want out of a relationship with an online service. Sure, you once thought you would be together forever, but eventually terms of service change, end-user license agreements mature, and, well, you're just not in the same place anymore.
Sadly, not all websites and social networks are created equal when it comes to breaking up. With some, it takes only a couple of clicks to say good-bye, and for a few sites, if you stop paying for service, the site cut ties fairly quickly. Others make you jump through more hoops than a tiger at the circus. Even after you follow all of the required steps, some of these sites never quite separate from you, but keep vestiges of your relationship around forever.
No matter what you call it—deleting, canceling, removing, whatever—when you want to be rid of an online account, you'll find most sites don't feel obliged to make it too easy for you. After all, you don't want to rush into a break up. But if you're ready, we've cut to the chase as much as possible to give you the links, tips, and, in the most extreme cases, the phone numbers you need to sever ties.
This list includes the big-name sites we think most people use. If you're looking for a site that's not on our list, check out AccountKiller.com.
Did we miss a service you want out of? Let us know. And if you've managed to quit a service not in this story, be kind and share your tips.
The words "I wish I could quit you" take on a whole new meaning when you want out of a relationship with an online service. Sure, you once thought you would be together forever, but eventually terms of service change, end-user license agreements mature, and, well, you're just not in the same place anymore.
Sadly, not all websites and social networks are created equal when it comes to breaking up. With some, it takes only a couple of clicks to say good-bye, and for a few sites, if you stop paying for service, the site cut ties fairly quickly. Others make you jump through more hoops than a tiger at the circus. Even after you follow all of the required steps, some of these sites never quite separate from you, but keep vestiges of your relationship around forever.
No matter what you call it—deleting, canceling, removing, whatever—when you want to be rid of an online account, you'll find most sites don't feel obliged to make it too easy for you. After all, you don't want to rush into a break up. But if you're ready, we've cut to the chase as much as possible to give you the links, tips, and, in the most extreme cases, the phone numbers you need to sever ties.
This list includes the big-name sites we think most people use. If you're looking for a site that's not on our list, check out AccountKiller.com.
Did we miss a service you want out of? Let us know. And if you've managed to quit a service not in this story, be kind and share your tips.
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