Netting apps for the future
Developers take note; Intel wants you to know it has just launched a beta version of its Atom Developer Programme Software Development Kit (SDK) for both Windows and Linux-based Moblin operating systems.
Intel first announced its plans to jump on the app store bandwagon back in September at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF), launching the Atom Developer programme as a first step.
The company hopes to use the hype surrounding both little lappies and apps to get independent software vendors (ISVs) and developers using its SDK to make a plethora of applications for netbooks, which are still seeing phenomenal growth. Some forecasts even predict 50 million netbooks will be sold by the end of 2009.
The newly announced SDK sports features like authorisation APIs, a crash reporting API, test and debugging capabilities, packaging instructions, sample code and even developer guidance.
An Intel press release boasted availability for C and C++ developers on Windows and C developers on Moblin, so that theoretically, an app should be able to run on several different devices.
Programmes created, submitted and validated should go on sale in Intel's new app stores - in collaboration with Intel partners - when they open next year. The app store will no doubt also come installed on Intel based netbooks.
Down the line, the app store could even cater to Intel's other new areas of interest, including MIDs and set top boxes, which Intel hopes will be using Atom soon too.
But to drag developers away from lucrative work on iPhone and Android apps, Intel is having to get creative, offering prize incentives including anything from holidays to smart cars.
If you're a developer and tempted by those offers, feel free to download the kit here: http://appdeveloper.intel.com
