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My name is Jason and I'm a webOS addict....oh, and a developer.
I originally started programming for the PalmOS during High School because I had a Palm Zire 71 and wanted some custom stuff. I only made a few memorable programs during my time in high school (BlackBorder, Stressed!, PowerBtn).
Now I'm a student at the University of Manitoba going for a major in Computer Science. I was actually planning on leaving the PalmOS for the iPhone, but I figured I'd wait til after CES to see what the Palm was gonna offer. I'm glad I did. Everything about the Pre and webOS I liked.
In February I joined the PreCentral writing team and I even I got into the Early Access Program. When I heard the Pre was coming to Bell exclusively, I was crushed, as Bell doesn't sell to my province.
Palm told me over and over unlocked developer devices were in the works, which would be the only way I'd be able to get one that I could use. After several months of them teasing me, I had grown extremely frustrated; the emulator simply isn't enough.
In October, I was informed developer devices wouldn't be coming anytime soon. I was ready to leave the webOS for Android, but then several PreCentral members convinced me to ask the forums for help getting a device. The community pulled through, and that's why I love you all. 2sslow donated a Sprint-brand device and others helped with donations. It wasn't a device that'd work on any local carrier, but it was enough for developer testing until a device became available. This is while PreCentral has a special place in my heart and always will.
In my time with the webOS I've developed WebOS Quick Install, WebOS Repair Utility, WebOS Theme Builder, Unified Diff Creator, SysToolsMgr, FileMgr, Internalz, LED Torch, Preset Reset and 35+ patches.
I develop under the Canuck Software name (plan on registering a sole-proprietorship business soon) and I have about 12 projects -- updates and new apps -- in the works. I plan on expanding into paid apps much more heavily, as I find I'm spending a disproportionate amount of time developing, for the amount of income gained.
Some have asked what motivates me to develop for the webOS in the areas I have.
I have 0 apps on the App Catalog currently, so I don't get any benefits Palm provides them; I don't qualify for the developing contest, I didn't get the amazon certificate App Catalog devs got, and hell I didn't even get an invite from Palm to CES when all App Catalog devs did.
The reason I develop is simply this: I love the platform and want it to succeed. I patch features in that I think I would personally like, and it appears a lot of people agree with my choices.
I truly think Palm can, and should, succeed. I'm just helping fill in whatever holes I can. Be it 3rd party app installation, file management, or an improved feature-set.
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