Developers get kit for Samsung's TouchWiz widgets
Published: 18 August, 2009
Samsung has announced availability of the SDK for its TouchWiz user interface. Release of the Samsung Mobile Widget SDK1, means developers now have the ability to create widgets for different Samsung phones across multiple platforms, including Samsung's propriety operating system. This further validates the mobile widget strategy which several OEMs and mobile operators are now aggressively pursuing although, as is the case with TouchWiz, this may set them up on a collision course with Microsoft, which is developing its own widget solution for the Windows Mobile platform.
The phenomenal success of the iPhone has set the gold standard for user interfaces on mobile devices. The panel-like UI is similar to the navigation and customisation features of a widget environment, and this has driven demand for widget technology. More importantly, the enviable milestones which Apple's app store has achieved in its short lifespan have caught the Teir-1 OEMs and mobile operators off guard, forcing them to play catch-up: much of this year has been characterized by vendors and operators rushing to define their application, storefront and developer ecosystem strategy. However, while Apple was able to bring its decades of application and developer ecosystem experience from its PC pedigree, mobile players are still finding their feet and widgets represent a quick and easy solution to gain market traction.
In a recently published report, ARCchart valued the market for mobile widget platforms at $72 million in 2008 and expects the market to grow at a CAGR of 80%, reaching $1.3 billion by 2013.
Back in March, Samsung announced its 'TouchWiz Connected Mobile Applications' platform for rich connected applications or widgets that will run on TouchWiz touch-screens. This creates an ecosystem around the TouchWiz interface providing another platform for developers to sell applications. Samsung has recruited third party vendors to support important aspects of its mobile widget strategy surrounding TouchWiz. For example, Samsung has partnered with UIEvolution to provide tools and developer support for connected mobile applications, and has enlisted Streamezzo to power its Internet portal.
The Samsung widget SDK is built on the open-source Eclipse platform and according to the company it will provide "developers [with] the tools and the support that they need to develop and market widgets for Samsung's lineup of TouchWiz-based devices and applications for different Samsung phones."
A range of Samsung devices on the market have TouchWiz, like the Behold, Memoir, Omnia and Verizon Wireless' upcoming Omnia II. The Omnia II features Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional and the world's largest 3.7-inch AMOLED display with WVGA resolution.
Widows Mobile is an important operating system for Samsung and Microsoft has traditionally frowned on OEMs providing any other interface than Windows. Microsoft has announced that the next version of Windows Mobile will have integrated widget support and Microsoft is launching its own app store. Resulting tensions could have adverse effects on both Samsung and Microsoft as the two companies compete for developers' and users' attention.
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