Siu Lun

Just saw an article on TheRegister about mobile web 2.0.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04/24/china_mobile_vodafone_widgets/

Below is my thoughts.
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Depending on mobile companies to build mobile web 2.0 is a lost cause.

Simply working out a “compatibility” list takes about 1 month of research for any development agencies willing to plunge in.

Then you have to work out a way to make whatever you’re making to look good and well in the different screen sizes and shapes of each different mobile phones.

Now if nokia is giving more of the phone’s ability to the web dev – it just complicates things even more – yet another compatibility list is need for widgets.

And we’ll also have to cross check which phone has what ability using the widget system.

Waste of time at best – if mobile companies actually provide us web devs with a publicly accessible resource/SDK – then I might take a look. But as it is – developing for mobile web is simply unaffordable to most businesses that rakes in little/no return.

So I was having a daily update on events and happened to come across a article on BCS http://www.bcs.org/server.php?show=conWebDoc.18899. What struck me is not how the public is embracing open-source technology, but the last paragraph that mentions a research study showing the cost of open-source to the industry.

I for one seriously doubt their credentials on that report even before it comes out. I wonder wether they’ve actually considered that there simply isn’t that much money flowing around freely? Simply put – if there was no open-source there would be no cost claims – if there was no open-source people simply would not go and buy a piece of software.

I for one is an example of a person who have been aided by open-source software. I dare say if there was no open-source. I would not be doing what I’m doing today.

The fact is open-source software is encouraging the growth in IT – giving normal people a chance to “experience” software packages they have never heard of before. Additionally giving those who’re interseted in how they work in learning principles, development techniques and such important things that only years and years of experience would give you.

The fact is we owe our credit-crunching defying – zealous growth web and tech industry to open-source. And to a degree – pirates. But that’s talk for another day.

Awesome