Microsoft launched APIs for application developers who want to work on Windows Mobile 6.5 last night. The Windows Mobile 6.5 Developer Tool Kit seems mostly aimed at making sure that developers can make best use of the Operating Systems graphics, user-interface and touch gestures.
The tool kit is available for free, in multiple languages, here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=20686a1d-97a8-4f80-bc6a-ae010e085a6e
From the Windows blog:
“A new set of APIs is being introduced that will enable application developers to take advantage of the new Windows Mobile 6.5 touch gesture framework. The gesture APIs allow an application to handle touch gesture input and provide a visually consistent experience with the rest of the device UI.”
What we think?
This was a very quiet release from Windows. A common complaint about Windows mobiles so far has been about the graphical user-interface, so it makes sense that Microsoft wants to put that issue to bed ahead of time. It’s also good to see so many different platforms releasing SDKs and APIs for developers. That’s the kind of behaviour that will actually encourage healthy growth in the app market instead of just inflation.
