Question

I was trying to compare the three above mentioned platforms and what considerations one needs to think about when programming in order to create some kind of code base that could run on all three.

This is what I have collected for the iPhone – it would be great if somebody else could write something similar for the other two.

1. Only one application can run at any
   given time. i.e. that is why the
   SQLLite database is loaded as a file
   into the app instead of as
   traditionally having some kind of
   server to connect to.
2. Only one fixed size window 480×320
   pixels
3. Runs in a sandbox, when the app is
   deployed a sandbox is created
   “around” the app, the app can only
   read/write files from within that
   area. Also low-level access to the
   phone is restricted.
4. Since a program can be stopped at
   any time (see point 1) this needs to
   be considered when designing the
   app, at any time must the app be
   able to write its current state to
   disk so that it can resume later. If
   this takes longer than five seconds
   the app will be aborted.
5. 128MB RAM, about half of that 64MB
   is available to the app. There is
   typicall 4GB storage (depends on
   model), no virtual memory, if memory
   is running out the app may be
   aborted.

Edit: just to be clear, I am not after which platform/os is best for the developer, I am just interested in spec. comparison to know what can be expected if one has three target platforms and using native language for each (not web apps), what the memory and other considerations are.

Edit: removed language as its assumed that native language for the platform will be used.

Answer 1

For Windows Mobile I want to add:

• Windows Mobile in comparison to iPhone allows multiple applications to run at same time.
• It comes with variable screen sizes and has different sdks (
  Windows Mobile Professional for ‘Windows Phones’ (smartphones) with touchscreens and
  Windows Mobile Standard for ‘Windows Phones’ with regular screens)
• The framework which is generally used is .Net Compact Framework besides some people also prefer open-net which is a open source framework.
• Unlike in iPhone, Windows Mobile has no private api’s which means it gives more power to developers.
• The memory size allowed for a program is 32 mb
• You do not need a developer license for developing and shipping applications on windows mobile although windows mobile itself prompts you to avoid installing apllications which are from unknown publishers.( which is more interesting unlike in iPhone you need to have a license while you only want to debug your applcation on your device(not for the jailbroken devices.))

And for some bad things about windows mobile, see this link.

Thanks,

Madhup