Previously I questioned whether development managers could justify writing
mobile platform-specific apps for iPhones, and other mobile devices with
umpteen additional OS and version possibilities. I suggested that virtual
desktops (VDI) could simplify the playing field for user experience
developers.
Sure enough, Citrix Receiver now delivers Windows apps to multiple versions
of iPhones, Android phones, and their tablet counterparts. However, whether
or not availability of Windows apps on these devices came about fast enough,
enterprise solution players did not hesitate to build device-specific
solutions. Examples include Oracle Business Applications for Apple iPhone,
and IBM's Cognos apps which deliver location-based business intelligence
exploiting a device's GPS.
The form factor, touch screens, and other unique capabilities of smartphones
and tablets have top... (more)
It's an old headache that seemed to be going away, when most everyone in the
enterprise was running Internet Explorer 6 on Wintel XP. The good thing
about the Microsoft desktop monopoly was that UI developers could count on a
predictable "easel", or foundation on which to deploy fat clients or web
apps. Back when I was at Oracle and we had one monolithic suite of web
e-business applications, we could get away with testing solely on IE, at
least until a growing set of customers insisted we support those rogue Mac
users.
But if you're building rich UI apps and trying to leverag... (more)