| Introduction to Pocket PC/Smartphone
A Pocket PC (PPC) is a handheld-sized computer that runs a specific version of the Windows CE operating system. It has many of the capabilities of modern desktop PCs. Some of these devices also include mobile phone features. Pocket PCs can also be used with many other add-ons like GPS receivers, barcode readers, RFID readers, and cameras. PPC are enhanced to Smart phones using Windows Mobile v5.0 operating systems.
Things to be take care while developing Smart Device Applications
- Memory Management
- Screen resolution (Windows Mobile 5.0)
- Form Designing
- Web Sync (Syncing the SQL CE with the SQL server or other data sources)
- Component Development
- Compact Database integration
- Setup creation for the Smart device applications.
- Re-Usability
Memory Management
The memory management is to be considered as major thing in the Pocket PC application development because the Pocket PC has less memory storage. We have to compact the application to reduce the memory usage.
The memory consumption has to be reduced through the expertise coding in the smart device application development. The object should be disposed when it comes out of the scope and the garbage collector should be called to recollect the memory
Screen resolution (Windows Mobile 5.0)
In the Windows Mobile 5.0 devices we can set the screen resolutions like landscape and portrait. Windows based mobile devices are available with the different screen resolutions in the market. We have to develop the application with the compatibility for all types of the screen resolutions.
Settings for screen orientation
Portrait Screen
Landscape Screen
Form Designing
The Form Design is also a major thing in the Pocket PC Application development.
Normally the controls in the windows form access large memory. We have to design the forms in way that it accesses less memory. The controls can be reused instead of creating a new one.
Web Sync
In the pocket Pc’s data will be stored in the compact database. The data from the Pocket PC has to be transferred to the server to synchronize the data. The web Sync component has to be developed of the application if it uses the data store.
Component Development
Some of the components have to be developed by our selves to facilitate the Pocket PC application.
The .Net development environment provides the predefined objects and controls which has all of the functionalities and consumes high memory. This leads to the memory leak because all of the functionalities for the controls or objects are not use in most of the Pocket PC applications. So we have to develop our own component which meets our requirements and uses less memory.
The Components are crated with the help of graphic objects
Compact Database Creation
Pocket PC Application uses only the Compact database. The compact database is crated by using the SQL CE Engine. The sever database and the pocket PC database is to be integrated to keep both the databases synchronized, this can be done only through the compact database integration.
Re-Usability
The reusability of the components reduces the memory consumption in the smart device applications. The controls and the components have to be reused instead of creating and initializing new ones.
Setup creation for the Smart device applications
After completing the application development for the smart devices setup has to be created to deploy the application into the Pocket Pc. The compact framework, SQL CE and some of the components should be included in the setup to help the application to run.
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