On April 11th 2011, Adobe Systems Incorporated announced the release of Adobe Flash Builder 4.5 and Flex 4.5. Today Adobe has released the updates to the Flash Builder and Flex 4.5 framework including all new tooling and framework support that will enable developers to reuse most or all of their code across applications that target multiple platforms, including Web, desktop, Android, and as of today’s update BlackBerry Tablet OS and iOS.

Building a native application for each of these devices would not have been financially feasible but now moving an application across different mobile platforms often can be as simple as a recompile.

Developing applications on the Adobe Flash Platform enables developers to deliver consistent application experiences across multiple browsers and operating systems. Adobe Flash Platform (Flex & Flash Builder) also provides a common path to creating applications for both desktop and multiple mobile platforms, therefore significantly reducing the time and cost associated with development and testing.

With the greatly increasing use of smartphones and tablets in our daily lives, enterprises now need to ensure that their applications will work seamlessly across many different types of computers and handheld devices. With these latest releases and efforts, Adobe has delivered somewhat of a breakthrough development platform for creating mobile, web and desktop applications.

Benefits of Adobe Flex applications:

Some benefits to developers using Flex:

• It accelerates development as developers can reuse code.
• It assists flexible development and provides visual development environment for applications on multiple platforms.
• Developers can easily build highly interactive web applications.
• Adobe AIR uses the same proven, cost-effective technologies used to build web applications, so development and deployment are rapid and low risk.

Now let’s take a look at how Adobe Flex applications are good for Business point of view:

• Adobe AIR offers an exciting new way to engage customers with innovative, branded applications, without requiring changes to existing technology or processes.
• With the Adobe AIR runtime, businesses can deliver branded rich Internet applications (RIAs) outside the browser that give them a closer connection to their customer.
• By using Adobe AIR as part of RIA strategy, businesses can boost productivity, extend their market reach, enhance customer satisfaction, improve customer retention, lower costs, and increase profits.

It seems as long as they get it running stable and work with the developers, this could be just what’s needed to help create more quality apps, in a market flooded with useless ones. Not to mention the effect it should have in speeding up the time for apps and games to be released across platforms.

Do you think this is a wise move on Adobe’s part?
How do you feel this will help or hurt the mobile application industry?
Will we see an increase in quality apps on all platforms?
Will this reduce the amount of poorly attempted ported apps we see across platforms nowadays?

source: blogs.adobe.com

Microsoft seems to be right on task with this Mango thing. It seems that they are getting ready to hand out Mango flavored devices for app Dev’s next week! The article cites anonymously “sources familiar with the company’s plans” so take it with a very very fine grain of salt. Still, this is just a matter of when, not if, for Microsoft, so next week sounds as good as any other week.

Now one would think that with Windows Phone Developers most have a Windows Phone 7 right? Well you are probably correct, and would suspect that Microsoft would just send out a test ROM, and allow the Dev’s to side-load them right? Well that is where you would be completely wrong. It seems that with the issue of putting the device back to a “normal” state for the official Mango release would prove to be a huge task, one Microsoft is not wanting to attempt – so their solution Developer devices to the Dev’s to use! Now these devices are loaned out to them – think of a “try before you buy” type of idea…Sounds good to me; can I beta test it for you Microsoft?

So the bigger question is who gets the device first? Well that is currently unknown, or even how to register to get the device. Tell me Windows Phone 7 Geeks, would you like one of these devices? I suspect that we would all say YES! but what would you want to use it for? Tell me below, or even if you think Mango is worth it…The words are not in your court Geeks!

Source: WPCentral

Barnes & Noble recently informed a few folks that they are now welcoming developers to develop Nook-specific applications for their tablet. They are currently introducing new sets of tools and services that will help developers accelerate the delivery and distribution of their apps on the NOOK Color. The company is also opening application submission for qualified third-party developers and content providers which can be submitted at NookDeveloper.com.

To learn more about how to become a developer and how you would make your money, click here.

Below is what developers are being offered:

• Access to “Developer Mode” services, which enables adb (Android Debugging Bridge) access on NOOK Color to facilitate application development and debugging
• Public and private interaction with other developers and technical experts
• Early access to development tools, APIs, resources and services
• An app review/acceptance process that follows the company’s content acceptance policies as with books to ensure the content is appropriate for the customer

In addition to the recent announcement, Barnes & Noble has also announced plans for a major update to the NOOK Color firmware this Spring. This is an update that’s said to add many more apps, email and other requested features. Check out our forums to join the discussions going on in there.

Sources have quoted Claudia Romanini, Director of Developer Relations at Barnes & Noble.com saying “We are thrilled with the strong response to NOOK Developer thus far. We’re excited to see our eReading ecosystem grow with new engaging content and applications that our millions of customers can discover through unmatched merchandising opportunities on the NOOK Color Reader’s Tablet, on Barnes & Noble.com one of the world’s leading eCommerce Web sites, and through our large footprint of more than 1,300 retail and college bookstores, beginning this Spring.”

NOOK owners and app developers, does this information broaden the horizon for you and your tablet? Does access to more apps and additional features excite you? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

Source: AndroidCentral

Thanks Gadget!

Brandon Watson, Director of Developer Experience at Microsoft posted on manyniches.com on June 8th that:

“Developer devices are also on everyone’s lips. During the Windows Phone session yesterday, Terry Myerson (he runs engineering for Windows Phone 7) stated that we will start putting phones into select developers’ hands next month. That’s exciting stuff. Obviously we’re starting with the developers who have invested in the Silverlight and .NET platforms, registered at Windows Phone Marketplace and have begun building apps with the Windows Phones Developer Tools. Specifics of the programs are TBD, but we are going to want to get phones into large ISV hands, small team hands…you name it. We’re definitely not going to carpet bomb phones; we want to get maximum leverage for our phone distribution to developers.”

Then just 2 days ago on social.msdn.microsoft.com he again posted an update that:

“we are putting devices in hands starting next month.  We will be doing so for a broad range of developers…not just big ISVs.  Individual developers with great ideas are just as important. “ And he also mentions that of course not everyone who wants a device is going to get one. “We can’t give a phone to everyone who asks in the immediate time frame.  We can’t make 100K developer phones by next month.   I wish we could.  We will do our best, but invariably someone is going to be disappointed. “

And of course he states that this will not be a final build for obvious reasons:

“The developer phones going out next month, and through the summer, won’t be final build quality – they are meant for testing and readiness for the marketplace opening later this year.  Developer purchasable phones (ones you can buy, which are unlocked) probably won’t be available until after launch.  The OEMs and mobile operators don’t want final phone designs hitting the market ahead of launch.”

So who are going to be the lucky (or unlucky if you’ve read some of the threads on WP7 lately) ones to get these early devices?  If you’re a ‘geeker like me you’re of course wondering if we can get some ROMs dumped, taken apart, and somehow someway made flashable to another device. A lot you already know about Da_G’s efforts to port the Mondrian ROM to the HD2. Maybe this will help the effort some.

I know this is exciting news for the WP7 gang who have staved off a bombardment of iPhone 4 and Android news amongst a dry spell in the WP7 world.

What do you think? Are you a believer that WP7 is something worth checking out? Will you try to get an early phone? Or do you think WP7 is just an iPhone and Android rip-off, combining the worst of the two in a too little too late effort by Microsoft to stay afloat in mobile OS world?