Palm's webOS 2.0 SDK Heading To Some Developers Today
When it comes to webOS, there's many who believe that the mobile Operating System developed by Palm is far from over and done with. Despite being available on only two devices, people expect good things to come out of HP's acquisition of the company. A good sign that things are still coming down the pipe broke cover today, as Palm has officially announced that the latest version of their SDK, for webOS 2.0, has now begun to find its way to some developers out there.
While there's only a select amount of developers being given the new SDK, Palm suggests that it's actually a larger amount of developers than we might normally imagine. Palm also confirms that there's going to be plenty of new features in webOS 2.0, but there's no word on what type of devices that it's going to launch with, or if it's going to be brought to market on a new device at all. But, with the upgrades to the software and the new features outlined below, we can't help but think that a new device would be a great way to show off the new abilities of webOS and it's integrated Synergy.
New features include: Stacks, which is a new and improved way to utilize webOS' "true multitasking" capabilities. Instead of just opening an endless amount of cards in the stream, and then having to find where you left off with, whether it be for personal reasons or work related, the new Stacks feature will let cards that are relevant to one another, or that are opened in the same work flow, stack on top of one another. The image above shows it quite nicely. If you open a URL, or several, within an email, then the Browser's card will not just open a new card, but it will stack that card on that current workflow, so you don't lose anything you're working on.
There's also Just Type, which is the new name for webOS' Universal Search feature. Palm is opening up the API to developers, too, which means that applications will be able to use it naturally. They will be able to use what's called "Quick Actions," which allows applications to be strung together utilizing only one command. Exhibition is another new feature, which takes advantage of the Touchstone charger. Instead of just allowing for conductive charging, developers will now be able to launch an application when the Pre or Pixi are placed against the Touchstone charger. So, like a clock, weather card, or something to that effect. And finally, there's going to be plenty of improvements to Synergy itself, mainly as Palm is letting developers tap into the feature directly.
There are also going to be enahncements for HTML5, JavaScript services, as well as PDK plug-ins. There's no word on when the webOS 2.0 SDK will be available for every webOS developer out there, but we can't say that we're not excited by this at all. With HP backing the whole endeavor now, there's plenty of avenues that these new features can be implemented. And we mean in new devices, not just what we've already got in our hands.
[via Engadget]