Nokia Asha SDK 1.0 Download Available - Developers Take Attention.

Nokia has now released the Nokia Asha SDK 1.0 for developers who wish to create apps for the Asha family of phones from the company. This software development kit (SDK) will help you turn your ideas into Java apps for the Nokia Asha software platform. Use favorite IDE or take advantage of the Nokia IDE 2.0 for Java ME with its features designed to simplify development process. Once you create an app, you can go ahead and test it in an emulator based on the Nokia Asha 501. Recently, we have seen the launch of tailored version of its own Here Maps for the 501, as well as a LinkedIn app. There was a #-Link-Snipped-# app too.

With the Nokia Asha SDK release, the company is entering the race to win over the market of low-cost Android smartphones. So, what's in package for developers with the Asha SDK? For one, there's a New Notifications API that lets you create realtime notifications that are delivered to the user's lock screen or notifications panel. Then we have APIs for image processing as well as integration of HERE maps. By making use of the Tantalum library you are enabled with online/offline access to networked content. The Nokia Asha platform optimised implementation of the LWUIT is included as a plug-in so that you deliver richer UIs than ever before.

Developers will be able to simulate the orientation of a Nokia Asha platform phone in the emulator, enabling the testing of apps and games using the Mobile Sensor API (JSR-256). Then there's the pinch-to-zoom simulator that enables multipoint-touch gestures to be recorded and sent to the emulator. The emulator delivers updated location details from the integrated Route Editor to your Java apps, enabling richer testing of your location based apps. To help developers test their apps, the Asha 501 is now available in Nokia's Remote Device Access service, which lets developers access real phones online over an Internet connection for up to eight hours a day. The service allows developers to make sure applications work as expected.

To help developers get started, the company is organizing 18 webinars over the next six weeks covering topics such as user interface design, camera and imaging, and localization. Here's an example video -

Users of the SDK also have access to comprehensive documentation which is available for offline browsing at the what's new section which describes the full range of new APIs, features and Code examples, that can be opened into your IDE. Here's a short introduction video where Michael Samarin of Futurice provides a quick guide to the key new features in the Nokia Asha SDK 1.0 -

Let us know if you are going to work on an app for a Nokia Asha phone. We would love to read from you.

Source: #-Link-Snipped-#