BunsenTech

Notes

What’s In A Platform?

Friday, January 30th, 2009

One of the most frequent questions the BunsenTech team receives is “Can I use Dynolicious on my [fill in handset here]?”, as well as other questions related to porting Dynolicious to various platforms. Many of our astute readers realize that the core technology behind Dynolicious can theoretically function on virtually any device with a screen and an accelerometer, including handsets from RIM, HTC, Motorola, and Samsung, to name a few. We’ve even fielded requests for more unusual devices, such as the new iPod Nano, various laptop computers, and even the Wii-mote. Based on the wide variety of interest, I thought it would be pertinent to discuss how we select which platforms to develop for. Before the iPhone SDK was even released, BunsenTech developed several applications for Android, as submissions to the Google Android Challenge in the first part of 2008. These applications were received well (although none were prize-winners) and we developed a good deal of experience with the Android platform. Why then, one might ask, did we drop Android like a radioactive potato when the iPhone SDK became available? I can sum it up in two words: App Store. I will admit that after the learning curve, iPhone is a true joy to develop for, and there are many other reasons why I personally prefer it to Android and other platforms. However, it is the App Store that made the iPhone the obvious choice. The business case behind the iPhone is a direct result of the iTunes App Store and the system Apple has put together for small developers. Prior to the App Store, a small shop like ours would have to find a publisher who would dig deep into our profits, or try to publish independently which can become a nightmare. The App Store allows us to focus on what we love, creating innovative applications, while providing us with a means to get paid for our hard effort. So what about other platforms? Currently, the only Android handset in the market is the G1, and the Google Marketplace currently only handles free apps. We will be re-examining Android as the market grows and the Marketplace matures, but for the time being there’s simply no business case. Windows mobile devices provide a variety of 3rd-party solutions for software distribution, but because of the fragmentation in this space (both in handsets and publishers) there is not a single compelling distribution channel, and the market is not as appealing. We love the new iPod nano, but unfortunately Apple has yet to release a public SDK for it. Finally, there is the new BlackBerry Storm. RIM, the makers of the BlackBerry, have announced an Application Storefront supporting paid applications will be opening it’s doors in March of this year. This seems like the most promising candidate for a secondary platform, which is why we’re currently working full-steam on porting Dynolicious to the Storm. What platforms will BunsenTech develop for in the future? The answer will be very much dictated by the market. But if you want to see Dynolicious or any of our other products on your handset, feel free to drop us a note or post in our forums to let us know about it. - Justin Morgenthau