Users of HTC Sense powered Android smartphones may soon be able to purchase and download applications optimised specifically for their handsets. The Taiwanese handset manufacturer on Thursday announced that it was in the final stages of launching the HTC OpenSense SDK, which will allow developers to create applications specifically designed to run on handsets powered by HTC Sense software.amsphone.com
Differentiation the game
While Google Android is the core mobile OS HTC Android smartphones are built on, the company overlays its own user interface ? known as Sense ? to differentiate it from competitors like Samsung and Sony Ericsson. Incidentally, both Samsung and Sony Ericsson employ a similar strategy with user interfaces of their own.amsphone.com
Speaking of Samsung, the company already has a whole app store of its own for selling applications optimised for Sammy devices, ranging from their smart TVs to Samsung smartphones. So, in this respect, HTC?s move would not set a precedent, but it does reinforce the notion that the different handset manufacturers want to chart out a path of their own, even if it must be within the Google Android framework.
What the HTC OpenSense SDK offers
The most obvious benefit of HTC OpenSense for HTC Sense-enabled smartphones is better intergration with the Taiwanese handset manufacturer?s unique user interface. While HTC has been smart to not stray too far from Android core shell, it would be nice if apps looked better integrated with phones.amsphone.com
The second advantage, hopefully, is better resource management through the use of the applications. CPU usage and battery consumption is a problem many applications present on Android handsets, and if devs are given the tools to better manage this problem, the HTC Sense platform will only benefit.
The problem?
However, with all of these benefits comes a serious problem ? platform fragmentation. It is not beneficial for Android users in general if devs go on to make applications specifically for a certain brand of phone,amsphone.com just like it may not be economical for these very developers to take this approach. As such it?s hard to say if the HTC OpenSense SDK will take off in the community, or if it will be a decent side project that will span one or two noteworthy applications. Given our liking of HTC smartphones, we have our eye on this one.
Differentiation the game
While Google Android is the core mobile OS HTC Android smartphones are built on, the company overlays its own user interface ? known as Sense ? to differentiate it from competitors like Samsung and Sony Ericsson. Incidentally, both Samsung and Sony Ericsson employ a similar strategy with user interfaces of their own.amsphone.com
Speaking of Samsung, the company already has a whole app store of its own for selling applications optimised for Sammy devices, ranging from their smart TVs to Samsung smartphones. So, in this respect, HTC?s move would not set a precedent, but it does reinforce the notion that the different handset manufacturers want to chart out a path of their own, even if it must be within the Google Android framework.
What the HTC OpenSense SDK offers
The most obvious benefit of HTC OpenSense for HTC Sense-enabled smartphones is better intergration with the Taiwanese handset manufacturer?s unique user interface. While HTC has been smart to not stray too far from Android core shell, it would be nice if apps looked better integrated with phones.amsphone.com
The second advantage, hopefully, is better resource management through the use of the applications. CPU usage and battery consumption is a problem many applications present on Android handsets, and if devs are given the tools to better manage this problem, the HTC Sense platform will only benefit.
The problem?
However, with all of these benefits comes a serious problem ? platform fragmentation. It is not beneficial for Android users in general if devs go on to make applications specifically for a certain brand of phone,amsphone.com just like it may not be economical for these very developers to take this approach. As such it?s hard to say if the HTC OpenSense SDK will take off in the community, or if it will be a decent side project that will span one or two noteworthy applications. Given our liking of HTC smartphones, we have our eye on this one.
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