Chapter 19: Programming the Smartphone - Programming Microsoft Windows Ce Net 3Rd [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Chapter 19: Programming the Smartphone

Overview

Given the inevitability of Moore's Law, Windows CE–powered devices become both smaller and more powerful each year. One result is convergence, the merging of two or more separate smart devices into one. The Smartphone is one result of the trend toward convergence.

The Smartphone is a Windows CE–based cellular phone. Like the Pocket PC, all Smartphones regardless of manufacturer share the same configuration of Windows CE. Also, Smartphones come bundled with a set of applications such as an address book, calendar, and e-mail program. Microsoft produces a standard Smartphone build that individual manufacturers and cellular providers can then enhance with branding and additional applications.

Smartphones are one of the more unique implementations of Windows CE devices. First, they are quite small, with screen resolutions of 176 by 220. They don't have touch screens and have a limited set of hardware buttons. Because Smartphones need to be on to receive calls, but also require long battery life, the CPUs used by these devices are slower than is standard in Pocket PCs. Finally, because cellular phones are used by people while they are doing other tasks such as working, walking, or even driving, the user interface of the application has to be much simpler than is normal on a PC or a Pocket PC. All of these things radically change the requirements of a Smartphone application.

Another challenge of developing software for the Smartphone is Chapter 10. Because of this restriction, a locked cell phone might either restrict unsigned applications or not run them at all. Depending on the provider, applications might need to be signed with an encryption key supplied by the provider or a trusted third party. Unfortunately, some cellular providers see this restriction as a possible revenue stream to extract money from either the user or the application developer or both.

Fortunately, this chapter isn't completely in vain even if developers are limited in writing Smartphone applications because the sections on communication features such as Telephony API (TAPI), Short Message Service (SMS), and the Software Installation Manager (SIM) apply not only to the Smartphone but also to the Pocket PC Phone edition. Pocket PCs don't have the restrictions on third-party applications, so applications will run on those devices.