PreDevCamp brings new applications to the table
Our friend Marco went out to the preDevCamp at Palm HQ in Sunnyvale, California, and lucky us, he took a video camera and blogged it up (mad props to you, mate!). Aside from some delicious-looking pizza, we also got a look at a few applications that were developed/refined during the programming sessions.
First up is an app that pulls dream summaries posted online down to the device, refreshing with the accelerometer shake API. Next was a video poker app, followed by Word Ace, by Self-Aware Games, described as a combination of Texas Hold’em and Scrabble. Word Ace was demonstrated working on multiple platforms and playing together in peace and harmony on two Pres and an iPhone. Once released, Word Ace looks to be a very in-depth application, with profile support, awards, and more. Another attendee coded up a simple little accelerometer app that bounces a tiny Palm logo around the screen as you tilt the phone. The developer behind Twee was also in attendance and demonstrated the slick CSS3 animations used in his application.
Lastly there’s Marco, who showed off his amazingly slick scientific calculator, inspired by those classic 1980’s scientific calculators. The app supports haptic feedback (it vibrates with each virtual button press) and includes a very useful in-calculator unit converter. The latest version of Marco’s Scientific RPN Calculator app is available in the PreCentral.net Homebrew Apps center and will land in the App Catalog as soon as Palm opens it up.
Tony Peric of PreThinking was also at the preDevCamp at Palm HQ and provided a liveblog of the event. Interesting notes include an application development checklist and Palm’s preferred UI development tool (Adobe Fireworks). Palm even gave away a copy of Adobe CS4 to one lucky attendee.
Were you at preDevCamp? Sound off in the comments a let us know how it went where you were!
How To: Install Homebrew Apps from our Gallery
Now that our Homebrew App Gallery is live, we've been flooded with requests about how to get them installed. It's easier than you might think, but we still have to mention that this stuff is still in Beta and so it might not be for everybody. If that doesn't scare you off, here's your how-to!
These instructions will apply to using a Windows (PC) machine, this will also work on a Mac since the program you need will be using is a Java program (check the webOS Quick Install Thread for more info, Mac users). You will only need the computer for the first step; from there you will be using the Pre to get your applications onto the device.