Database Info

[Q] Programming language for Windows mobile devices

We are a small company looking to do some inhouse programming using tablets. Initially we were going to move forward on an Android Honeycomb platform because we have only Java developers here. But it looks like we can't get rugged tablets for that platform. There seem to be a lot more rugged tablets that are Windows based.
Initially I thought that we would have to use C# /.Net to code for native applications for the Windows tablets (and Windows specific API). But a colleague of mine thought we could use Java to build native applications on the Windows tablets also. Is this true? Can I use Java to build applications that can be deployed both to the Windows tablets and the Honeycombs? Our applications will also use GPS location based services. Any feedback/pointers would be sincerely appreciated. Thanks.

What devices are you talking about? Phones (running Windows Mobile 6 or Windows Phone 7) or tablets (like the iPad, currently running Windows 7 and in the future Windows 8)?

Most of Windows-based tablets are based in just normal Windows computers on x86 processor. Only very few are Windows CE-based.
On Windows XP/7 tablet PCs you can write in Java without any problem. I am not sure about GPS usage, but it can be read using JNI or just serial port. You can have some common classes/class libraries for Windows and Android, but the device logic and UI needs to be specific (and the JVM is different - Sun JVM vs. Dalvik).
On Windows 8 with "Metro", however, there is no sign yet you can develop WinRT apps using Java.

I am talking about Windows 7 tablets (and Windows 8 in future)

If you want create an app you need C# and silverlight

stre67 said:
I am talking about Windows 7 tablets (and Windows 8 in future)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well for Windows 7 you can develop using more or less whatever you prefer since there are no differences between the OS on the desktop and a tablet.
So yes, you can use Java for Windows 7.
There is some API for Location services in Windows 7 however I don't know the details about this.
I also don't know much about Android, but if you can develop for Android in Java you can at least share some code between the Windows 7 and Android version of your software.
Windows 8 will introduce a new kind of app (metro-style app) and those apps can only be written in HTML5 and Javascript or C#/VB.Net/C++/C and XAML.
However, users will still be able to use your Java Apps on Windows 8.

so it looks like Windows 7 is like a windows 7 PC. I can't find any specific books on amazon, so I do apologize if my questions are stupid.
1) Can I develop a Java application similar to that of a desktop and deploy the EAR/WAR file to the windows 7 tablet? if so, does the tablet have an inbuilt web server type application (websphere, tomcat) to serve pages? if not, will the app be loaded on a remote server and be accessed via a browser? In this case the tablet will need an internet connection all the time, correct?
Thanks again.

A Windows 7 Tablet is basically just running the desktop version of Windows 7 so you can do anything with the tablet that you could do with a Windows 7 desktop machine.
Note that Windows Phone 7 is an entirely different operating system that's barely connected.

Hey people, windows 7 or Linux???

I know this has nothing to do with phones but I want to know what minds on this forum think. Thanks!
Sent from my MB870 using XDA App

Linux, of course.
Sent from HTC G2

I use Linux, Win7 and OSX depending on what I'm doing...but Linux is certainly my favorite, especially for development, and for phones!!! = : ]
By the way this should probably have gone into the off topic section (although I did just tie it back into phones!!!)

MrBultitude said:
I use Linux, Win7 and OSX depending on what I'm doing...but Linux is certainly my favorite, especially for development, and for phones!!! = : ]
By the way this should probably have gone into the off topic section (although I did just tie it back into phones!!!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly what he said. I have a macbook pro,and through Vmware Fusion I use win7, Ubuntu and CentOS when I need them. I find CentOS to be the lightest and fastest Linux I've used although I haven't really tried alot of the other Linux images.
MoPhoACTV Initiative

I have installed both Linux (openSUSE) and Windows 7. I only need Windows if i need to run a Windows program which I can't run in Linux using wine, so I use Windows very, very seldom.

I also have both installed. it's a matter of what do you need. I only use Linux for software developing but, W7 is more "friendly" to the user..

windows 7 ....

Ihave windows 7 installed, and use a few different Linux live distro's for work and play.
Knoppix
Kubuntu
Ubuntu
UBCD
Gparted
Android X86

Ohschit said:
I know this has nothing to do with phones but I want to know what minds on this forum think. Thanks!
Sent from my MB870 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have both. I am primarily using Windows 7 until I can freaking get adb set up on Linux. The only thing I don't like about Linux is how almost everything is done through terminal.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk

Waddle said:
I have both. I am primarily using Windows 7 until I can freaking get adb set up on Linux. The only thing I don't like about Linux is how almost everything is done through terminal.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're scared of the terminal, then start off with beginner's Linux, Ubuntu. I'm not poking fun at you or anything, but my 14 year old sister uses Ubuntu. She prefers it over Windows. Linux isn't the ugly monster it once was. Personally, I use Windows 7 Pro x64 for work, and Mint Linux for personal use. I'm following the development on Haiku very closely, though.

I'm using linuxmint. I think it's easier to use linux with my android, especially to connect to it using adb and running root shell, because the terminal is the same.
Sent from my SK17i using XDA App

wow - all people so calm here
Where are the ****ing nerds - freaking out when the word windows even comes up? *lol*
Well I loved those question ever since - as u can't tell this in general at all.
- user friendlyness and hardware support:
still win7 since any hardware developer focuses on win drivers
even linux is a lot better now compared to former times (I still have some pieces of hardware wich are not or just half working)
-stability:
never had a bluescreen with win7 again, even some crappy hardware drivers still can affect it
linux stable anyway as long as u dont play around with the kernel
-networking
u got other win7 pc's at home or even use homegroups,... -> win7
(since ms changed something in the smb encryption in win7)
But the most important question is:
What are u doing with your computer?
e.g.
- Games:
defnitly Win7
- Programming:
in general -> Win7 or linux
.Net, VB, C#, Win Phone,... -> Win7 (as u won't find software for linux)
- surfing and all other stuff u want to do:
doesn't matter at all - beside some flash and silverlight functionality
- and what is most important!:
Do u need some programs like: Ableton Live, any Adobe, most CAD,...
Cause those will force you to win7
From my stand atm:
I tried linux again and again over the past 12 years now and each time I came back to win due to some missing applications or some malfunctioning hardware.
Anyway there are just a few things u can do with linux that u can't do with win7.
But there are several limitations on linux due to missing professional programs.
Even there is wine,... and dualboot and VM's
But as I hate to reboot I use Win7 as main operating system and linux in a VM (wich i barely use).
Actualy there are just 2 things I miss on my win7: fancy accelerated desktop, pulseaudio (for sound over ip)
Anyway:
From starting point. If somebody doesn't own a system yet and just want's to do basic stuff (office, surfing,..) or even some programing -> use linux as its free
If u then need some other fucntionality u need windows for -> go buy it

Well I'd say Linux, Ubuntu is a very good one to use and now you can use Gnome 3 with it which is just...so so good
What applications do you use on Windows? If you struggle after saying browser and Itunes, it's a no brainer. Also Antivirus doesn't count
If you use Office applications such as Word, Libre office is a great replacement and there are many add-ons you can install to improve the usability.
I Dual boot Ubuntu and Windows 7 and have OpenSuse, Mint, Backtrack and Fedora on live USB's and plan on having them on a separate laptop once I can afford it. If it wasn't for my study I wouldn't even use Windows 7
Oh and you can save some cash!

Hey guys,
just wondering if I installed Linux can I switch back to Windows 7 easily or not? Also will programs such as Adobe software, iTunes, uTorrent and Microsoft Office work fine?
Thanks

Windows 7...Direct X.

CurtisAndroid5 said:
Hey guys,
just wondering if I installed Linux can I switch back to Windows 7 easily or not? Also will programs such as Adobe software, iTunes, uTorrent and Microsoft Office work fine?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you can it's quite simple. You may want to Dual boot though, which is very simple and Ubuntu is one of the best for this (By this I mean the guide it gives you while doing it, mainly yes, and no questions)
Although the software will pose a problem, you will need to find alternatives for Itunes you have banshee inbuilt into Ubuntu, as well as Libre office and there is a download for torrent on Linux and there are multiple alternatives. As for Adobe software which do you mean? GIMP is a good alternative to Photoshop and you can download a flash plugin to view flash.

For me, its LinuxMint Debian Edition (With Gnome3) on my main laptop. I have been Windows Free for 5 years and loving it

Amosela said:
Yes you can it's quite simple. You may want to Dual boot though, which is very simple and Ubuntu is one of the best for this (By this I mean the guide it gives you while doing it, mainly yes, and no questions)
Although the software will pose a problem, you will need to find alternatives for Itunes you have banshee inbuilt into Ubuntu, as well as Libre office and there is a download for torrent on Linux and there are multiple alternatives. As for Adobe software which do you mean? GIMP is a good alternative to Photoshop and you can download a flash plugin to view flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the informative reply.
I meant as in Adobe Master Collection (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premier Pro etc). I'm familiar with GIMP, it's how I first got into graphic-design! I'll definitely do some reading up on Ubuntu and Linux in general.
Thanks a bunch.

CurtisAndroid5 said:
Thanks for the informative reply.
I meant as in Adobe Master Collection (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premier Pro etc). I'm familiar with GIMP, it's how I first got into graphic-design! I'll definitely do some reading up on Ubuntu and Linux in general.
Thanks a bunch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad I can help.
Unsure about alternatives on the others, some research into it should have some promising alternatives. Glad your familiar with GIMP!
Good luck I hope everything goes well.
Once again glad I can help.

surfer2.3 said:
Windows 7...Direct X.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Direct X is one of the worst things about Windows.
Sent from HTC G2

[Q] Win XP on Transformer prime

Hi
I've seen a few threads about running win 95 and even win 98 on certain android devices.
What l was wondering was is it possible to run win xp on a high powered device such as the transformer prime?
I've heard that some people have done it on HTC Evo, but haven't heard or sen any transformer / tegra based tablets doing the same thing...
Now I'm no programmer / coder of any sorts so my understanding in this field is somewhat basic.
In short l was wondering has anyone attempted / succeeded?
I truly apologise if there is a thread about this somewhere already. I've been browsing the web, but not much luck in finding user friendly info.
don't hate me for beeing a noob...
Kind regards
DeboX

There are different facets to this:
1) Native (installing beside/over android) - this isn't possible as Windows XP or Vista or 7 have not been released for the ARM architecture (which is what most android devices, including tegra are). However, windows has said that they are releasing Windows 8 for ARM, so it might be possible to install that natively on the Transformer.
2) Virtualized - this could be possible, you'd just need something like Virtualbox, but for android that would allow you to create/host virtual machines. I currently don't know of anything that will allow you to do this with XP, and the ones that let you run 95/98 are painfully slow, even on the transformer / prime
3) splashtop - this might be your best bet, get Virtualbox on one of your desktop/laptops and install XP on that, then install Splashtop on the virtual machine. You can then either use ASUS MyCloud of Splashtop Remote HD to access it, and it will even reroute audio from the VM to the tablet. This is what i do for Win 7
hope this helps

Well, l have seen a few projects using boch and QEMU to setup a vm centred around win 98 and heard of one that is trying to setup xp, but performance is a question.
The splashtop idea is good, but it requires internet access , which is an issue....

DeBoX said:
The splashtop idea is good, but it requires internet access , which is an issue....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, forgot to mention that
Splashtop is what i use though... I use it to watch blurays on my TF101, works like a charm, even from the other side of the world though

Evo 3D owners most likely lucked out in terms of the proprietary graphics tech behind the screen matching up with the XP spec. Windows bears no direct relation to Android or Linux, as such there's more that needs to be rendered independent of the CPU. XORG, the main window rendering component of most linux UIs, is able to piggyback off the usual Terminal Emulator in Android. While the Evo 3D/Milestone 2 Global Windows exploit is pretty great in the eyes of this DOS nerd, it's not the only way. I routinely run Backtrack5 (Ubuntu based :angel and I've made some progress getting WINE terminal up and running therein, so EXEs and MSIs shouldn't be far behind.

[Q] what is ARM based and Intel Based Tablets

to whom is knowledgable and also like to explain like Ted mozbi in How I met Your Mother show.... please what is the defernce between ARM based tablet and Intel based tablet???? what concerns me the most is it like I can install exe. file on the intel while I can't in the ARM !?

The major difference between the two is that they typically refer to the the architecture of the cpu. This means how it was designed and how machine instructions are interpreted by cpu.
The answer is yes and no for whether you can install exe's. Yes, they will both be able to install different programs and applications. However, the application or program in question will have to be compiled for that architecture. I haven't done any windows mobile development but my guess is that most if not all apps you can download from the market place will be available for both architectures.
Hopefully that can clear things up a bit.

Wow fastest replay ever seen thanks a milion,,, it did clear out the picture clearer then before ...

To add a little more to the above, Windows on ARM (WoA) will only be able to run Metro style apps, specifically written for Windows 8. I also think that it will only be able to get these apps through the Windows Marketplace. I'm sure there'll be a jailbreak before it's even released, but I think this will still only allow metro style apps written for Windows 8, it'll just allow for them to be installed from other sources. Jailbreaking may also allow non-metro desktop style apps, it's too early to tell, but these will still have to be specially written for WoA.
Windows 8 on Intel chips will be able to run all legacy apps (which will now be called desktop mode apps to differentiate them from Metro apps), from any and all sources, just like your normal Windows PC can now. It will also be able to run Metro apps from the marketplace, and presumably from any other source as well.

See also http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1466400
for the Definitive guide to Windows on ARM

stevenmu said:
To add a little more to the above, Windows on ARM (WoA) will only be able to run Metro style apps, specifically written for Windows 8. I also think that it will only be able to get these apps through the Windows Marketplace.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To add on, Windows on ARM is called Windows RT. Metro Style Apps is able to cross-platform on the x86, x64 and also ARM while Desktop Apps are able to run on x86 and x64. However, preinstalled Desktop Apps such as Office 15 (Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, OneNote, etc.) will be able to run on the ARM version.

start menu

Is there a way i can add the start menu on my rt, I installed pokki my desktop running windows 8,but cant seem to install on my rt.

ha, nope sorry buddy! windows RT is completely different to windows 8, RT is using a ARM processor 'tegra 3' this means the software will have to be made for an arm CPU, that's why it won't work on your rt device. this is also why there is a marketplace for downloading all of your apps....
sorry.

ssfirme said:
Is there a way i can add the start menu on my rt, I installed pokki my desktop running windows 8,but cant seem to install on my rt.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can jailbreak your device using this and then run classic start menu from here. works perfectly on my surface rt

Dane, you're actually incorrect... there's a hack available (on this very site, even), commonly referred to as a "jailbreak", that allows running apps which aren't from the store, sideloaded, or from Microsoft on Windows RT. They still need to be compatible with ARM, as you say, but recent .NET apps work fine with no changes, and many C/C++ open-source apps have been recompiled.
Classic Start has been available on RT for a couple weeks now, using this method. Download the jailbreak hack, unzip it and run it, then follow the instructions. Download and install Classic Start following the instructions in the post linked from my thread, List of desktop apps for hacked RT devices, then restart Windows Explorer (or just log off and log on again) and you'll have a Start menu if you want it so badly (I don't get the fuss; on a tablet, the Start screen really is a better option IMO, but it's available).
Also, there is actually a work-in-progress hack to allow running unmodified x86 programs on RT as well, using dynamic recompilation from x86 to ARM code.

Why would you need a start menu on Rt?

You actually can... I've got 7-Zip, PuTTY, Gvim, MirandaIM, IKVM (and through it, Burp Suite and some other Java programs), Fiddler 4, Python 2.7, and some other "legacy" programs installed on my RT. I'm working on porting Chrome (it's a chrome-plated ***** of a project, if you'll excuse the terrible joke). I also temporarily install additional apps to test them out as people port them to RT. Finally, I've installed the Win86emu beta, which isn't a legacy program but is a desktop program; it's written especially for Windows RT and allows running (some) x86 legacy apps on RT directly and unmodified.

deeman said:
Why would you need a start menu on Rt?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
more of a want than need but it's a familarity thing, i'm sure.

Can I get GOM player or any good player working on RT which can support most extensions ??

mohitgalaxy3 said:
Can I get GOM player or any good player working on RT which can support most extensions ??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unrelated to this thread