Developing Applications for Portable Devices

1
Developing Applications for Portable Devices

• Phil Denoncourt III
• Director of Technology
• Luna Systems Corporation

2
Outline

• Technology and Terminology
• Designing Applications
• Developing Applications

3
Technology Terminology

• History
• Operating Systems
• Windows CE 1.0 Gray scale, limited memory
• Windows CE 2.0 Full Color, more memory
  features
• Windows CE 3.0 Current version on devices today
• Windows CE.NET Devices are being developed for
  this OS, none seem to be released yet.
• Software
• Pocket PC Comes with most devices. Includes
  Pocket Word, Excel Outlook and a mini browser.

4
Technology Terminology

• Types of Devices
• Pocket PC (PPC) Fits in a pocket, longer than
  wider
• Hand held PC (HPC) ½ laptop
• Smartphone Windows CE on a portable phone
• Auto PC Car radio running Windows CE. Appears
  to be discontinued

5
Designing Applications

• Physical Limitations
• Screen size is small
• Usually no Hard drive
• Memory is limited
• usually between 16-32 megs for programs data
• Not always an Internet connection
• Difficult for user to key in text

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Designing Applications

• Design Factors
• Cant provide user with way to end app.
• Application will be closed when OS needs memory
• Must save user information immediately
• Must provide an undo feature
• Controls must be as small as possible
• Abbrevate captions use tooltips
• Must use Pocket Outlook for all contact functions

7
Developing Applications

• Windows CE 3.0
• eMbedded Visual Tools 3.0
• Visual Basic C
• Visual Basic is weak
• Doesnt support creating activex controls
• Doesnt support classes
• Test using emulator or actual device

8
Developing Applications

• ADOCE
• Allows you access to CE databases
• Object model similar to ADO
• No command object
• Not an easy way to create databases
• SQLCE
• If your client has a license for SQL Server, they
  can install it on their PDA
• Uses replication to talk to a full SQL Server