{"id":6329,"date":"2012-08-22T08:30:50","date_gmt":"2012-08-22T07:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.itwriting.com\/blog\/?p=6329"},"modified":"2012-08-22T08:30:50","modified_gmt":"2012-08-22T07:30:50","slug":"embarcardero-previews-metropolis-in-rad-studio-xe3-fake-metro-apps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.itwriting.com\/blog\/6329-embarcardero-previews-metropolis-in-rad-studio-xe3-fake-metro-apps.html","title":{"rendered":"Embarcadero previews Metropolis in RAD Studio XE3: fake Metro apps?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Embarcadero has released a video (embedded at the foot of this post) previewing RAD Studio XE3, the next version of the application development suite which includes Delphi and C++ Builder.<\/p>\n

Two big new features are Metropolis applications and an new HTML5 Builder tool which looks like a next-generation PHP Builder.<\/p>\n

Metropolis \u2013 a neat name until Microsoft back-pedalled on the Metro designation for Windows Runtime apps \u2013 appears to be a framework for apps that look like Windows Runtime apps but in reality are not. At least, that is my presumption for \u201cVCL Metropolis applications\u201d. The VCL (Visual Component Library) is a Delphi framework (usable also in C++ Builder) which is tied to Windows and GDI, the old-style Windows graphics API, along with many other Win32 APIs. GDI does not work in the Windows Runtime. <\/p>\n

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No matter, all we need is full-screen apps, touch input, and a don\u2019t-call-it-Metro look and feel, and presto, Windows Runtime apps in all but name. They might even run on Windows 7.<\/p>\n

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A glimpse at the controls.<\/p>\n

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Except that there will be significant differences between Metropolis and Windows Runtime. No support for Contracts, for example, the Windows Runtime mechanism for inter-app communication; no delivery from the Windows Store; no support for Windows RT.<\/p>\n

The big issue though is this: why would you want a desktop app to look like a Windows Runtime app? And will not users be mightily confused?<\/p>\n

The video then goes on to talk about converting existing apps with a \u201cConvert to Metropolis UI\u201d menu option. It turns out though that you can also create FireMonkey Metropolis apps, and the Convert to Metropolis UI option is shown with a FireMonkey app, not a VCL app. Since the FireMonkey framework is designed for cross-platform and uses custom drawing for all its controls, potentially a FireMonkey app could be a real Windows Runtime app, though I get the impression it probably is not.<\/p>\n

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I do think Embarcadero needs absolute clarity here, which is notably lacking in this preview. There is no point in pretending that a Win32 app is a Windows Runtime app when it is not. I have asked for further information.<\/p>\n

HTML5 Builder<\/h3>\n

There is also a quick look at HTML5 Builder.<\/p>\n

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This tool targets server-side development with PHP, as well as apps for web,iOS,Android, Blackberry and Windows Phone. My guess is that there is PhoneGap\/Cordova under the covers. I also saw some jQuery in the demo.<\/p>\n

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Here is a look at the CSS3 colour picker.<\/p>\n

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Update<\/strong>: looks like Embarcadero found a way to fake Live Tiles<\/a> as well:<\/p>\n

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Metropolis applications are really traditional "desktop" applications styled to look like the Metro UI.
The TLiveTemplate component spawns a new process in the WinRT space which is is an actual WinRT LiveTile application. The LiveTile communicates with the Metropolis "desktop" backend via HTTP\/REST to start\/stop the application or update the LiveTile.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The screenshots are drawn from this video, or you can watch it on the Embarcadero site here<\/a>.<\/p>\n