Some of the new things available in Mobile Web Server 1.3 beta is a set of RESTful APIs. These APIs provide a direct access to some of the device resources, for example to be used from other web services.

Our first APIs have the following features:
- get Presence information from the device such as calendar availability, time and current profile
- send "free text messages" into the phone inbox

The APIs are documented in our wiki. Go start playing, and of course don't forget to submit your results in MWS Challenge there is still time!

-Jukka

A new version of the Personal AMP - Apache, MySQL and PHP - stack for S60 is now available!

As the last time, it can be downloaded from SourceForge and installation instructions are provided in our wiki.

This version can fully replace the web-server of MWS 1.3, so that you can use all Python based web applications of MWS, and at the same time play with PHP and MySQL. Note though, that as PAMP has fewer capabilities than MWS, the functionality of some web-applications of MWS will be restricted. But please read those installation instructions, as you can't just simply install the PAMP sis on top of MWS.

So, if you want to move closer to the bleading-edge, install PAMP, but be prepared that there are still rough edges. For technical discussions and support, please use the Forum Nokia discussion board.

Have lots of Fun!

Johan

Here is a message from Karri Kalpio, which I promised to put up in the blog:

We'll be presenting a very cool Java based content management system based on eSWT powered user interface. The link between that and Mobile Web Server is that because our demo concentrates on the new widget set soon available in S60 based smartphones we utilize MWS to handle all the actual content delivery. I think this is conceptually pretty cool: whichever application could behave in a similar fashion and simply make the content generated in phone to be distributed by MWS. Especially now that the new sensor framework is becoming available the amount of data that may be generated and processed in the device I cannot even start to imagine all the new possibilities this might open!

If you - or somebody else playing with MWS - happens to be participating JavaOne, please come to see us in Nokia booth #818!

--karri

I haven't seen the demo yet myself, but it was nice to hear Karri & eSWT folks could use MWS to enable their demo. Drop your comments here!

-Jukka

The next evolutionary release of Mobile Web Server is now out in the wild. This release's mission is simple: it's a technology update. We have been "under the hood" and brought in latest code from the open source branch, changing and fixing things. This will secure further development with the platform. Having said that, there are some feats for the end user as well (pictured below). Some related development will emerge later, once this release is deployed. As always you will be the first to know about all new stuff!

In Finland it's time to go and celebrate Vappu (Labor day), so please excuse me for now. Go do the update, and share any comments!

Download Mobile Web Server software for your phone

-Jukka

Oops Tommi was faster than me :)

Mobile Web Server Extensions: My Mobile Site widgets updated

I would like to highlight the Free/Busy option under Calendar widget. It's a real-time group calendar: once you set it up you can instantly see available time slots for your family, friends or colleagues. Nice stuff?

Get the widgets here.

-Jukka

Web 2.0 Expo in San Fransisco is now underway. We don't have a physical presence, but our friend Oren is there in S60 area. He will be happy to show you a demo and talk more about MWS and Python. If you have a comment or question, you can also post here of course.

Some hot news: we are about to release a new beta version, and there will be some REST-ful APIs to use together with "web 2.0" services. More about that once it's out of the oven.

Don't forget our developer competition, there is still time to Rise to the Challenge!

-Jukka

Here is a guest blog entry by Dennis Knothe, hope you find it useful!

Hello MWS fans,

I work as software architect in Nokia's Services and Software organization. The other day, I sent an email to Jukka describing how the Nokia Podcasting Application (http://www.nokia.com/podcasting) can subscribe to a RSS feed that is hosted by the Mobile Web Server (MWS) on the same device. I'm sure you think "why would I do that?". Well, this way it is possible to load episodes in the Nokia Podcasting Application without the need for a network connection in the phone. You can download episodes using the PCs Internet connection and copy them into the Nokia Podcasting Application. Furthermore, this example shows nicely that any S60 Internet application can be extended by accessing the MWS through a local URL. And because the MWS can be easily customized through Python scripts, this could be used to implement all sorts of exciting features.

If you have been toying with an idea to do something with Mobile Web Server, check this out:

Mobile Web Server Challenge is open!

It's a lengthy read but worth it. If you have any specific questions about the challenge just comment here!

On other news:
- Our WidSet widget just got updated, it is now able to open up the mobile site via browser (like the Yahoo! widget). Kudos to WidSets guys for helping us out with this one!
- Mobile Web Server known issues document is published. More about that later..

-Jukka

Running a web server on a mobile device still seems to be quite, let's say, exotic for many people. And it is understandable, as the technology itself doesn't translate directly into things such as user value. For generating value we need some use cases for the server such as 'read and respond to SMS messages via your browser', or 'publish your presence information on the Facebook automatically'. (Those being simplistic examples on what you can do today, you are free to come up with better ones. And implement them if you have the skills.)

The latest mobile platform to get a web server is Android, as announced here:

The Jetty servlet on Android allows users to serve data stored on the phone such as contact details, system settings and call log within a browser window. It also adds functionality that will let users modify and save changes, view and listen to multimedia files and make phone calls. The goal of these features is to let users access the information on their phones from more familiar web browsers running on their usual computers over wifi, Bluetooth and 3G networks.

Looking on the evidence, porting a HTTP server into a new mobile platform is not that hard, one might even say trivial. However to be able to actually serve clients from the server might prove difficult in a mobile device. Today devices with cellular connectivity don't usually have public, permanent Internet addresses and even if they had any incoming traffic is likely blocked by multiple firewalls. This is why we have developed a gateway-based system that by-passes the nasty real-life obstacles, giving the mobile device a permanent URL and universal access from any network. I haven't seen comparable functionality being implemented and available anywhere else, have you?

Bonus links:
Nokia Research paper describing the original HTTP connectivity solution
Web server for Android
Web server for Windows Mobile
Web server in iPhone

-Jukka

Marton has now posted his comments on desktop widgets experience so far. Check it out at Beta Labs blog.

-Jukka