"Imitation: The Best Form Of Flattery"
THE EMULATOR! Snazzy word, eh? But what exactly is an emulator, and why would you need it? Let’s find out!
Simply put, an emulator is something that imitates or copies something else. In the case of our wml files, we might use an emulator software program on our computer to "imitate" a cell phone. With that, we can test our wml files in a "real world scenario".
By now you’re probably thinking, "But why would I use an emulator to see my files, when my wml-building software has a "preview" window in it? I’ll tell you why...
Emulators are a good healthy dose of reality! Remember that the actual structure of a card is very different from that of a web page. When building your cards, you must always keep in mind that cell phones (and other wireless devices) are not all equipped with a keyboard (some don’t even have a full set of letter keys). What can take just over 100 keystrokes to make a simple purchase on the web, can take over 350 button-pushes on a cell phone! By the time you’re done with that, you’ll put away your phone, wrap padding around your fingers, and have a very clear understanding of how important it is to ensure your cards are as "straight to the point" as possible.
So, even though your work may "look" good in your preview window, you still need to know how is it going to "feel" when you get it on a cell phone. That’s where you need an emulator. Since they’re setup just like a cell phone (buttons and all), you can get your own "feel" of all the button-pushing your cards are actually going to take. Oh... and did we mention that you may also want to check how your files look on different phones... which contain different browsers? Yes, they can make a difference, just like in web. But, fortunately, there are a number of different type emulators to match phones as well. For more information and a great list of emulators, check out Openwave.com (formerly Phone.com).
"Picture This!"
Applications for WAP have come a long way in a very short time. And, as the industry continues to grow, we’ll see more and more functionality come to wireless devices. And of course, we’re already seeing the addition of graphics to our wml files.
Using WBMPs can really enhance your wml files when used properly. Here again, remembering the limited amount of viewing space on wireless devices, and a goal of minimal navigation requirements, you begin to realize that one small picture may very well be "worth a 1000 words" (well...almost anyway)! Where you might have three or four lines of text, you could, with a little imagination and help from a WBMP program, make an image or two in place of the text.
So, where do we get a WBMP program? Many development programs come integrated with WBMP converters and some even let you create them. There are even some web site which let you convert files right online! Again, which one you choose is a personal preference.
To get you started though, here’s a quick list of some very popular programs and what they do:
- WAPPictus - A jpg/bmp to wbmp converter, which even lets you optimize image size for different end devices. WAPPictus also has a converter you can use online, at their web site!
- WapTiger - Not as fancy of a program, but simple and gets conversions done quickly.
- WAPDraw - A program for actually drawing WBMPs and more.
"Only Time Will Tell"
Armed with the information we’ve covered today, you’re all set to get out there and start WAPPING on your own! And, if you find WAP is something you’re really getting into, you might think about learning more through the WAPForum. There, you can keep up on the latest news, and even take an active part in the community of building on WAP standards.
There is still a lot of room for growth and improvement in the wireless world. According to some, the market for actual devices has yet to reach the "critical mass", and hardware, software and standards in the industry are still waiting to be recognized. This may be reason enough not to jump on the wireless bandwagon. But, for those of you who like to grasp new opportunities, this may be the best time to get into the industry! Either way, there’s no doubt that WAP will touch all of us sooner or later. So, what does WAP have in store for us in the near future? We’ll find out in our next article! See you then, and...
Happy WAPPING!
-The KROW
Contributing Writer
club.coolmaps.com
List of Helpful Links for WAP:
WapHoleSun
Coffeecup.com
WAPTop
Wapsilon
Wappy
m-indya.com
WAPPictus
WapTiger
WAPDraw
WAPForum
Openwave.com
BlueDomino.com
Ericsson
Nuance
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