An initial prototype will be developed for Android to prove out the approach prior to pursuing other platform implementations.

Approach

• A launchable is defined with an SX bookmark containing an application url, SX registration url, splash page (optional), and application icon (optional).
• SX launches an application by first performing the SX registration, and then launching the browser with the application url. A cookie will be passed along containing the client credentials returned from the registration process.
• SX will maintain a bookmark page that resembles the platform's device top, displaying a grid of application icons that can be launched.
• A build configuration will produce a version of SX that is branded for, and launches a single application.

iOS home screen functionality is very sophisticated, so it may make sense to make use of existing open source projects:

https://github.com/jarada/myLauncher

https://github.com/facebook/three20

Unfortunately, Apple is rejecting Apps that include similarity to the launch screen, in particular the "jiggly delete" feature:

http://forums.three20.info/discussion/301/ipad-app-rejected-for-jiggly-icon-when-launchpad-pressed-down./p1

Existing capabilities with native home screen bookmarks should be explored further (this allows the user to add their icons to the home screen and organize them within folders).
The current difficulty with this approach is that on iOS the return URL from ICEmobile-SX launches Safari rather than the bookmarked version.

Created SVN branch containing the native Launchpad prototype for Android. SVN 36606.

Branch is in ossrepo/icemobile/branches/icemobile-launchpad.

After further consideration, the preferred approach to achieving launchpad capabilities is to use a web interface for the launchpad. A branded single-launch point version of SX could then take you to a online devicetop. Login credentials could be used to secure and configure the devicetop content.