The Code4Lib 2010 presentation slides for "Mobile Web App Design: Getting Started" are available for download from http://code4lib.org/conference/2010/doran or http://code4lib.org/conference/2010/schedule.

I also wanted to take a stab at addressing some of the presentation-related questions raised on the IRC channel:

> [in regard to the use of images of the Simpson's characters in the presentation slides:]
> does the use of the simpsons like this = fair use?

I was not able to find an official set of Simpson's clip-art for sale by the copyright owner (e.g. on Fox's "The Simpson's Shop" at http://www.thesimpsonsshop.com/), or I would have tried that route.  I was undoubtedly pushing the envelope of fair use.

> [redacted] hasn't figured out how to get the emulator to work on windows

For some SDK's (e.g. Android) it takes some extra steps after the SDK is installed to create an emulator image.  If you contact me and provide some additional details of the problems you were encountering, I will try to help.  Note that if you using an older Android SDK (even downloaded a few months ago), the current version is much more user-friendly in regards to creating an emulator image.

> so, I need Windows, Mac, and Linux to test for mobile devices

While it is true that you need a Mac for the iPhone SDK (and iPhone emulator), many of the other SDKs (e.g. Android) can be installed on Windows, Mac, or Linux.  Another example is the Palm emulator, which runs on VirtualBox and "VirtualBox runs on Windows, Linux, Macintosh and OpenSolaris hosts".  

> why not do blackberry? curious thats a huge one

My recollection is that for Blackberry, there is a separate SDK for *every* Blackberry model, unlike for instance, Android, where there is a single SDK for multiple models.  I'm not a full-time (or even a quarter-time) developer, so have to use some discretion in how much time I spend setting up my testing environments.  I may however, add at least one Blackberry model emulator to my testing as you make a good point about Blackberry's market dominance.

> Are any of those emulators scriptable?

I wasn't sure what was being asked here (it might have been humor that went over my head) -- scriptable in what way?  If you can provide more information, I will try to answer.

> wait, does shelflister exist?

Yes it does!  Version 1.0, optimized for PalmPilots and PocketPCs was released in 2003. Version 2.0, optimized for current generation smartphones was released in 2009.  See http://rocky.uta.edu/doran/shelflister/ for more information.

> did Kate sign a release form for that ;)

Yes, that photo from Code4Lib 2009 was used by permission of both the photographer, Ray Schwartz, and the subject, Kate (thanks to both).

-- Michael

# Michael Doran, Systems Librarian
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