Click here to learn
about this Sponsor:
Home  |  News  |  Articles  |  Polls  |  Forum  |  Directory

Keywords: Match:
Yahoo! offers XForms tools
Sep. 14, 2008

[Updated, Sep. 14] -- Yahoo! announced a development platform aimed at helping developers create standalone XForms applications for Windows Mobile, Java, iPhone, and Symbian devices. The cross-platform "Blueprint 1.0" kit can also be used to create websites targeting mobile browsers, the company says.

Yahoo! describes the Blueprint language as a "versatile, standard XML syntax based on xForms [link]." It is said to offer "cutting-edge mobile features like location based services and mapping, along with powerful UI controls to design beautiful mobile experiences."


Developed using Blueprint, Yahoo! Go has a "carousel" interface (left) that allows access to widgets (middle, and right)
(Click any to enlarge)

Today's announcement is not Yahoo!'s first foray into the realm of browser-based application development. It previously released Yahoo! Go, a cross-platform application suite primarily intended to connect mobile devices to Yahoo! services. Pictured above, Yahoo! Go uses an extensible, widget-based architecture based on web standards such as XHTML and CSS, and is "easily extended" by third parties, says Yahoo!. For further details, see our earlier coverage here and here.

Now, Yahoo! has released a Blueprint 1.0 SDK that it says can be used to create mobile applications that do not necessarily require connectivity. A downloadable SDK (software development kit) includes XML schema definitions, templates, PHP helper classes, and sample code, Yahoo! says.


Yahoo!'s Blueprint architecture

Blueprint apps are touted as "standalone," and are said to appear as separate applications independent of the Yahoo! Go carousel. As the above architectural diagram suggests, some platforms -- Java, for example -- require a runtime to be installed on a device. For Windows Mobile, however, Internet Explorer, provides all the components needed, and no runtime is required, according to a Yahoo! spokeperson.

A "Yahoo! Blueprint Runtime for Mobile Apps" provides support for "many Java-enabled phones," primarily Symbian devices. Meanwhile, says Yahoo!, it "is using Blueprint internally to develop iPhone applications, and is in discussion with Apple on how to make Blueprint for the iPhone available to other developers."

Meanwhile, the company also offers a related "Yahoo! Blueprint Runtime for Mobile Sites," a PHP-based extension for Apache HTTP servers. Touted as providing web developers with "the right HTML or xHTML that looks best on your users' phones," the runtime creates a proxy layer that redirects HTTP requests from a third-party's server to Yahoo!'s. This allows sites to employ Yahoo!'s back end to interpret and render Blueprint markup, the company says.

Marco Boerries, executive vice president, Yahoo! Connected Life, said, "Developing applications for the fragmented mobile ecosystem is a Herculean effort that often results in developers creating an application that serves the least common denominator." He added that Yahoo! Blueprint allows developers to "write once and have mobile services run across a critical mass of devices and operating systems."

Further information

The initial Yahoo! Blueprint Runtime for Mobile Apps and Yahoo! Blueprint Runtime for Mobile Sites may be downloaded for free from the Yahoo! website, here.



Related stories:


(Click here for further information)


Windows XP for Embedded Applications
This white paper describes the benefits of using Windows XP when developing embedded applications.

A Manager's Guide to Selecting a Mobile Device Operating System
This white paper offers a comparative review of Microsoft Windows CE and Windows Mobile.

Visual Basic 6.0 to .NET Migration
This paper focuses on the methodology and techniques which Infosys (Microsoft Technology Center) has developed for migrating VB 6.0 Applications to .NET. Our approach ensures a smooth, cost effective, and efficient migration.

Mobile Device Security: Securing the Handheld, Securing the Enterprise
This whitepaper identifies security threats to corporate data on mobile devices and details how mobile devices can become a "backdoor" to the enterprise.

Mobile Device Security: The Eight Areas of Risk
It's common knowledge that adding mobile devices to your network increases security risks. There are multiple facets to mobile security, all of which should be paid close attention to. This E-Guide presents a more in depth look into the eight key areas of securing wireless devices.

Quality Assurance and .NET
This paper discusses best practices for functional, regression and load testing of .NET applications.

SCADA Security in Integrated Networks
As businesses leverage their SCADA systems by integrating them into the business networks, they must also assure the security of the SCADA system.

The Advantages of Small Form Factor HMI
HMIs have mutated and changed with new requirements, and they have become more flexible and capable. And while they've been doing that, they've become smaller and more useful.

9 Critical Requirements for Web Application Security
Learn why your Web applications expose dangerous security breaches and what’s required to effectively protect your Web applications and the sensitive information behind them.

 


Got a HOT tip?   please tell us!
Free weekly newsletter
Enter your email...
Click here for a profile of each sponsor:
PLATINUM SPONSORS
(Become a sponsor)

ADVERTISEMENT
(Advertise here)


Updated! The latest Windows-powered...

mobile phones!

other cool
gadgets

HOT TOPICS
Microsoft targets PNDs with new embedded OS
Microsoft tips .NET MF 3.0 highlights
Microsoft previews Windows Embedded Standard
Microsoft offers free Windows CE 6.0 textbook
Microsoft renames embedded operating systems
Microsoft unveils Windows Mobile 6.1
New Atom models target low-cost PCs
REFERENCE GUIDES
Windows Device Showcase
Intro to Windows Embedded
Intro to Shared Source
Real-time Windows Embedded
Windows Embedded books
Join our Windows Embedded discussion forums:
Windows XP Embedded
Windows CE
Windows Mobile


Windows Embedded developer newsgroups
Windows CE
XP Embedded
PocketPC
Smartphone

Microsoft's Windows Embedded resources
Embedded dev center
Mobile dev center
Windows CE tutorials
XP Embedded tutorials
Windows Embedded seminars
Windows Embedded application categories
3rd-party partners


BREAKING NEWS

• Internet Explorer Mobile 6 to debut in China
• Software syncs Macs and Windows Mobile
• Windows handheld collects in-flight payments
• PDA dev kit runs Windows CE
• Tri-fold phone can be worn on wrist
• Asus netbook boasts discrete graphics
• SoC runs Windows XP with less than two Watts
• Phone combines touchscreen and QWERTY
• i.MX27 module gets carrier board
• Via panel PC resists shock, liquids
• LG releases first U.S. smartphone
• Netbook-like phone "companion" gets video input
• Mini-ITX board has HDMI port
• Windows Mobile smartphone is "world's fastest"
• Windows Mobile to get "desktop" Flash player?


MOST POPULAR (last 90 days)
• "Netbook" uses Intel's Atom N270
• Windows CE takes on Linux in low-end netbooks
• Windows Mobile 6.1 phone has GPS
• T-Mobile's Touch Diamond clone does HSUPA
• iPhone-like Windows Mobile device has 16GB of storage
• HTC phone has slide-out keyboard and TV output
• Windows Mobile trouncing the iPhone?
• HTC releases Touch Diamond ROM upgrade
• Sprint upgrades HTC Touch, Mogul
• Intel's Atom powers mini-ITX board
MOST POPULAR (Classics from the vault)
Windows XP Embedded USB boot
Troubleshooting Windows XPe's blue screen "Stop 0x0000007B" error
Asus reveals $190 mini notebook
Windows Mobile 6 SDKs available for download
Windows Mobile VPN client plays with Cisco
HTC adds GPS to Windows Mobile Touch line
Microsoft unveils Windows Mobile 6.1
Guide to HTC's Windows Mobile smartphone platforms
Customizing Windows XP Embedded thin clients
Visual Studio 2008 adds mobile application features

Also visit our sister sites:


Sign up for WindowsForDevices.com's...

news feed

Home  |  News  |  Articles  |  Polls  |  Forum  |  Directory  |  About  |  Contact
 

Ziff Davis Enterprise Home | Contact Us | Advertise | Link to Us | Reprints | Magazine Subscriptions | Newsletters
Tech RSS Feeds | White Papers | ROI Calculators | Tech Podcasts | Tech Video | VARs | Channel News

Baseline | Careers | Channel Insider | CIO Insight | DesktopLinux | DeviceForge | DevSource | eSeminars |
eWEEK | Enterprise Network Security | LinuxDevices | Linux Watch | Microsoft Watch | Mid-market | Networking | PDF Zone |
Publish | Security IT Hub | Strategic Partner | Web Buyer's Guide | Windows for Devices

Developer Shed | Dev Shed | ASP Free | Dev Articles | Dev Hardware | SEO Chat | Tutorialized | Scripts |
Code Walkers | Web Hosters | Dev Mechanic | Dev Archives | igrep

Use of this site is governed by our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Except where otherwise specified, the contents of this site are copyright © 1999-2008 Ziff Davis Enterprise Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff Davis Enterprise is prohibited. Windows is a trademark or registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries and is used by WindowsForDevices under license from owner. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. WindowsForDevices is an independent publication not affiliated with Microsoft Corporation.