The Dev Dilemna

Things are hotting up in consumer IT.  Converging, diverging; it is all happening with tablets, HTPC's & smartphones driving the market.

Dev's have a wide plethora of software building to choose from:

APPLE IOS
ANDROID
VB.NET, SILVERLIGHT
HP PALM WEB OS
ADOBE FLASH, ADOBE AIR
HTML 5, CSS, JAVASCRIPT,PHP, PERL
JAVA
C++

Which platform should an upcoming Dev write for?

Recently I have worked for software development companies, one using ADOBE AIR and the other VB.NET. Both companies have been caught out with the Apple iPad and subsequently both companies have been unable to use their programs on that device.

Microsoft is rushing out to support the rapid growth of ARM based microprocessors as found in all iphones & ipads; with the up-coming Windows 8. Microsoft is also releasing IE 10 as fast as they can adding new web standards to compete with IOS and Google's Android/Chrome platform.

http://blogs.computerworld.com/18121/ie10_preview_download_now_beta_release_date_september

Will Microsoft provide the all in one solution??

Adobe Flash & Steve Jobs don't get along.  Their heated dispute (over the fact that Apple IOS doesn't support it) has been well known throughout the media over the past year or so.  Will Adobe be able to unify the web with Adobe Air?

There are many streams and pathways that an upcoming Dev can choose, but a Dev wants the ability to write software once, that will appear on a multitude of devices, with it being tailor-made for the device.

Josh Topolsky wrote on the 26th May 2010 for Engadget about the continuous client model.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/26/a-modest-proposal-the-continuous-client/

A continuous client experience will also be important for consumers.  Apple Airplay is heading to this direction. But HP WEB OS is the only company making strides here, so that if for example you are watching a video on a device, you can move to another device and continue from there in a seamless way.

There are many streams a Dev can choose.  At the minute Apple is leading the way with IOS but has the "walled garden" approach.  Microsoft is lagging behind with its poor sales & adoption of Windows Mobile Phone 7 & Google Android is too fragmented. Adobe is also in an interesting position.

Web Development has been caught out with IOS, as the App store from Apple has taken away time from visiting Web sites, but will it make a return with HTML 5 and upcoming Web standards?

A Dev's Dilemna...