How much do you play with new programming tools?

Worth adding a link to Pragprog's new book Seven Languages in Seven Weeks: http://bit.ly/9BdkVS - should be a real eye-opener for most programmers, and hopefully will take a few out of their comfort zones and learn a different (better?) way of working!

I've been exploring HTML5 and its support on smartphones the last few days in an effort to decide whether it's possible to build useful and attractive, engaging apps without writing anything that even looks like C. Or at least that looks more like C than Javascript. I'm pretty impressed so far. I found a pretty interesting throwback pixelated game framework called Akihabara that runs quite well on my iPhone and my iPad.

I think the issue with most programmers isn't lack of interest but lack of time. I'm very fortunate in that my company's clients pay us to keep them abreast of the latest technology, so I not only can afford to do this exploration, it's my actual job. How great is that? But most coders are already way behind schedule on their current project, and they just can't take the time to learn a whole new programming language or even a new IDE without falling farther behind.

Smart software companies will give their engineers blocks of time in which to broaden their horizons and learn new technologies.