My first article for 2011, meet the jQuery Mobile framework.
This article provides an introduction to the jQuery Mobile framework. Learn the basics of the framework and how to write a functional mobile web application user interface with minimal or no JavaScript code at all.
See the article Introduction to jQuery Mobile (IBM developerWorks) which introduces the jQuery Mobile framework.
ceo
The Skyfire mobile browser is now available in public beta. If you haven’t tried it yet, you should; the browser is pretty neat, is fast, and works great. Currently, the Skyfire browser is only supported in the US on Windows Mobile (5 or 6) and Symbian platforms (Nokia N or E series 3rd edition).
See the Skyfire Open Beta registration page.
ceo
(Disclaimer: I help Skyfire with their product development)
If you work on mobile web technologies and/or applications, or are just interested on learning about them, you should consider attending Mobile Web Strategies 2008 event (September 9th 2008, San Francisco).
The are lots of interesting topics being discussed, including Who is using the Mobile Web and why, the strengths and weaknesses of the mobile web, to who and what will drive the next generation of mobile web applications and business models.
The event, organized by my good friend Ajit Jaokar (Futuretext), looks solid with expert speakers from all the mobile industry… (I was originally scheduled to attend and speak on the topic of mobility and analytics, but unfortunately I can’t make it).
Who Should Attend?
Carriers – Software Developers – Online Retailers – Media Outlets – Search Engines – Web Developers – Content Providers – Service Providers – Internet Marketers – Information Providers – Entertainment Companies – Investment & Commercial Banking – Venture Capitalist – Educational – Game Developers – Advertising Agencies – Consultants – Government Agencies – Brand Managers – Directories – Location Based Services – Billing and Payment Companies – Internet Security Providers – Analysts
A very interesting event that you should consider attending…
ceo
The MobileWidget Camp Austin planning is under way.
It is going to be a very cool event. We are having unstructured and structured sessions, labs, and a contest at the end of the day for the best Widget. We are having food and drinks all day. We are having speakers come in and present on the topic, and unstructured sessions are for anyone to present per BarCamp style. This event is kind of a (free) mini-conference and will be great for anyone interested in this topic. Stop by Austin on your way to CTIA.
So what is next?
First, mark your calendar — September 7th.
Second, we continue looking for sponsors and speakers; the sponsors are signing up, with W3C, the OMTP, and others already sponsoring.
If you would like to present or sponsor, please shoot me an email to enrique [dot] ortiz [at] gmail com.
See the MobileWidget Camp Austin web site for more information. The event is free, but only planned for 150 people;and please register at the MobileWidgetBarCampAustin event’s page.
ceo
Aug 5 ’08 Update: Name changed from BarCamp to Camp, as the event has structured sessions.
Mowser lives; pretty awesome.
Just read that dotMobi has acquired Mowser, and that Mike and Russ will join dotMobi… From dotMobi Loves Mowser (dotMobi):
At long last we can announce some great news! dotMobi is acquiring the well-known Mowser service that provides content adaptation services for mobile.
We’re very excited about this. Russell Beattie and Mike Rowehl are both very talented mobile gurus and they’ll be joining the dotMobi team to help us do cool things with their technology. We did this deal because Mowser fits really well into lots of our current projects.
Good to see this, good move by James… A win-win situation.
Congratulations to all…
Related to this see:
ceo
Thomas Landspurg (CTO of Webwag) wrote in his blog about a tutorial they published on developing mobile widgets for the Webwag platform using XML and JavaScript:
The tutorial describes how to create a translator widget, using a web service and some Ajax techniques. And we’ve just opened the Developers corner on the forum, so support will be given to all our developers.
See Mobile Widgets: a comprehensible tutorial.
ceo
That’s too bad. Russell Beattie and Mike Rowehl, the two guys behind Mowser, truly understand mobility and mobile web, had the right idea on content adaptation, executed well on the technical side, but failed to execute on the business side. Actually I don’t think they failed on the business side; they just weren’t able to give Mowser sufficient time to succeed.
And in the process, Russ claims that the Mobile Web is dead. And with it goes a similar debacle when Michael Mace wrote Mobile Applications RIP.
And both are wrong. Both contradict themselves. Or should I say, it is all relative; so both are right, and wrong. Which means who cares because we are all right and wrong at the same time. It all depends how you slice the pie.
But Mobile Apps are not RIP, and Mobile Web is not dying. On the contrary, we have more mobile platforms, more advanced browsers, standardization is taking place, overall usage is growing, and the mobile web is growing.
But things move slow in the mobility industry, and not fast enough for Mowser unfortunately.
And good content adaption is needed, even for high-end handsets. Mobile web will never be the same as browsing on the PC/desktop — not because it is a different kind of web, but because it is a different delivery platform, and a different usage pattern.
Yes, mobile web on lower-end phones isn’t great, which is why I keep talking about local applications are better than mobile web when it comes to user experience. And yes, the number of folks with data plans (U.S.) is low today, but again, it is growing.
Running a startup is not an easy thing to do. It is not only about technology, but also about the business model. I understand their frustrations, and it takes a lot of patience to be in the mobile space; it is a shame to see them quit at this point. I wish the Mowser folks would just adapt their business model, and find the right person to run the business side, and press on.
In the meantime, the folks at Mowser are taking bids for their product.
Related to this see:
ceo