let's get it started...

I'm gonna start this blog, that is focused on mobile development, talking about Samsung Widgets. BADA coming later!

The main idea is to do something simple here, just to help you to start developing for mobile technologies. I will present some code solutions also.
Feel free to contact if you need any help :)

Why Widgets?
- I've worked with for 6 months (C.E.S.A.R / Samsung Internship)
- I got involved in the development of 111 widgets for Samsung More Widgets;
- We got more than 120.000 downloads in 8 months (with these widgets);
- Easier than Bada (to start);
- Front-end technology (HTML + CSS + JS);
- Wide acceptance in the market;
- Widgets are displayed on the home screen of the device and are usually the quickest way to update users with important news.
- Can be developed for mobile cellphones, tablets, digital TVs, desktops (windows 7 gadgets are similar...);

What is a widget?

According to Samsung, Widgets are small client-side applications installed on handsets. Samsung Mobile Widgets use web technologies based on TouchWiz UI to access various handset functions

Usually they´re designed to handle simple tasks such as providing an interface to web search sites, performing basic calculations, displaying news headlines, weather forecasts, stock tickers and suchlike, but they can also act as complex apps providing multiple functions, as shown in Figure 1. Samsung Mobile Widgets are quick and easy to develop and simple to install on handsets.

Figure 1. Widgets examples (simple applications, running on device browser).

In my opinion, Widgets are simple but they are interesting for starting the development of mobile apps (great learning). You will learn how to work with SDK, emulation, screen size limits (device specs), front-end engineering design, ...

Widgets examples: Samsung Wave (BADA OS)


How do i configure my development environment?

I've worked with:

- Java Virtual Machine (JDK 1.6)
- Eclipse Galileo (3.5.1)
- Plug-ins:
- If you are already an Eclipse user, you can install Eclipse Samsung Mobile Widget SDK and Aptana as a plug-in directly into your current Eclipse configuration;
- You can try these urls: - Eclipse Samsung Mobile Widget SDK (1.0.X) and Aptana Studio .

Installing Plugins on Eclipse 3.5

1. Go to Help -> Install New Software...
2. In the "Work with:" text box, specify your desired update site.
3. Click Add...
4. Specify the Name of the Update site (i.e. Aptana Studio Plugin)
5. Click OK
6. Select the "Aptana Studio" checkbox
7. Click the Next button
8. Confirm the items you are installing
9. Click the Next button once more
10. Accept the terms and conditions
11. Click the Finish button



Widgets, how to start

Lets understand a little more.

SDK or Software Development Kit is typically a set of development tools that allows for the creation of applications for a certain software package, software framework, hardware platform, computer system, video game console, operating system, or similar platform. Widgets has a particular SDK. BADA has a particular SDK. Motorola has a particular SDK. Android has a particular SDK. Apple has a particular SDK, ...

The idea is simple: If you are intending to start developing for a mobile device, you must find the proper SDK.
With a SDK you can emulate your applications :) You will see the mobile skins, access device specs, access particular APIs, ...

Ok, and why Aptana?
Aptana Studio is an open source integrated development environment (IDE) for building Ajax web applications. It includes support for JavaScript, HTML, DOM, and CSS with code-completion, outlining, JavaScript debugging, error and warning notification and integrated documentation.

Browsers (to test apps - optional):
- Firefox 3.6;
- Opera 10.10;
- Safari 4.0.4.

CPU Processor: Intel Dual Core or higher.
At least 1Ghz Memory;
Windows XP or higher.

Motivation: Quick and Easy to Develop
Widget development process is very straightforward and does not require sophisticated skills or tools.
Go to Samsung Innovator Mobile and get more information.

Thanks for your visit! :)

Next post: Creating our first Widget!

Feel free to ask/suggest/comment.
Twitter: @oliveiraeduardo