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All posts tagged "html5"


Wednesday, March 28, 2012

HTML5 and Scout for Your iOS Navigation Needs

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 07:00 AM

http://macdailynews.com/2012/03/27/...+(MacDailyNews)

"'HTML5 might be the future of web apps, but the new mobile standard hasn't gotten much play in the car,' Damon Lavrinc reports for Wired. 'TeleNav's Scout division aims to change that with a new navigation system that offers voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions through your mobile browser. And even better, it's free.'"

The app is called Scout, and is available now as free download from iTunes. Give it a try, you might be pleasantly surprised like I was.


Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Grooveshark is Back Via HTML5

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 06:00 AM

http://blogote.com/apple/access-htm...artphone/18233/

"Grooveshark, one of the popular free music service, seems to have made its way back to Apple devices, Android smartphones, BlackBerry's PlayBook and HP's Touchpad tablet through its HTML5 web app."

All you have to do is put the URL of http://html5.grooveshark.com in your mobile browser and you check it out. Of course, this doesn't work on all phones, such as Windows 7 but pretty much any other phone. There was mention of a monthly fee for this, but I don't see anything like that mentioned. Have any of you tried this "free" streaming music service yet? If so, what are your thoughts?


Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Adobe To Refocus On HTML5

Posted by Brad Wasson in "Windows Phone Talk" @ 03:00 AM

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/perlow/ex...5-updated/19226

"Our future work with Flash on mobile devices will be focused on enabling Flash developers to package native apps with Adobe AIR for all the major app stores. We will no longer adapt Flash Player for mobile devices to new browser, OS version or device configurations. Some of our source code licensees may opt to continue working on and releasing their own implementations. We will continue to support the current Android and PlayBook configurations with critical bug fixes and security updates."

As was reported by ZDNet last week, what seemed unthinkable not that long ago has happened: Adobe is embracing HTML5 on mobile platforms. The word is that Adobe is stopping development of the venerable Flash player for browsers on mobile. At the same time, they will be increasing their efforts on HTML5 innovations. On an official Adobe blog, the following detail was published:

"However, HTML5 is now universally supported on major mobile devices, in some cases exclusively. This makes HTML5 the best solution for creating and deploying content in the browser across mobile platforms. We are excited about this, and will continue our work with key players in the HTML community, including Google, Apple, Microsoft and RIM, to drive HTML5 innovation they can use to advance their mobile browsers."

One of the more interesting aspects of this situation is that Apple seems to have been quite prophetic in seeing this development play out. Their iOS mobile platform has not supported Flash since its inception, and they have been quite emphatic that they were not going to support it. Without question HTML5 is gaining momentum, and with Adobe's backing we'll see even more acceleration in the months ahead.


Friday, September 9, 2011

Google Music Service Via HTML 5 iOS Optimized Web App

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 01:00 PM

http://www.tipb.com/2011/09/09/goog...ne,+iPad,+iPod)

"Google has announced via twitter that it now has an HTML 5 iOS optimized web app for its Google Music service."

This is by invite only so far, but you can access it via http://music.google.com. Works great on all the iOS devices.


Thursday, September 8, 2011

Google Unveils Blogger App, HTML5 Style

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 04:25 PM

http://www.tipb.com/2011/09/08/goog...ne,+iPad,+iPod)

"Google has released an official iPhone app for their blogging platform, Blogger. It supports multiple accounts and location information."

It's available now in the iTunes store, but it isn't a universal, so while it will work on an iPad, you have to do that 2X thing that makes it look funny. Seems like they would want one for the iPad, that seems to be a better platform for blogging but perhaps that is on the future updates list.


Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Swiffy from Google Labs Converts Simple Flash to HTML5

Posted by Michael Knutson in "Apple Talk" @ 10:00 PM

http://9to5mac.com/2011/06/28/googl...e+Intelligence)

"Well, this is interesting… Google is advertising on its Google Labs page an experimental tool which aims to liberate web developers from the confines of Adobe’s Flash platform. They are calling it Swiffy (sweet) and its sole purpose is to convert Flash SWF files to HTML5. But make no mistake about it – this is about Apple’s iOS gadgets. Google itself says Swiffy lets you “reuse Flash content on devices without a Flash player (such as iPhones and iPads)”. Interesting Apple’s frenemy all of a sudden took it upon themselves to help port Flash content to Apple’s devices."

Interesting the twists and turns that coopetition uncovers! Swiffy converts simple Flash animations to HTML5 minus custom fonts. Not expected to ever replace complex Flash in games or interactive applications, this appears to be a step forward for HTML5. Good on ya, Google Labs!


Thursday, June 16, 2011

Facebook to Bypass Apps Store with HTML5 and "Project Spartan"

Posted by Michael Knutson in "Apple Talk" @ 11:00 PM

http://toucharcade.com/2011/06/16/f...roject-spartan/

"Last night, TechCrunch leaked some details of a new initiative taking place over at Facebook called "Project Spartan." This project aims to utilize HTML5 to free Facebook (and Facebook games) from App Store dependence, essentially putting the ball back in Facebook's hands for control over their platform."

Facebook's "Project Spartan" is, in part, an attempt to minimize Apple's control of distribution of apps and games, by migrating things (when possible) to HTML5, thereby eliminating the 30% fee paid to Apple, and to allow developers to manage their own update cycles and payment process directly. Currently the week needed to get an update through the apps review process (following Apple's guidelines) and into production is too long for many developers, who seem to make changes and enhancements on a daily basis. ( Change Management, anyone? ) But, alas, HTML5 doesn't contain the rich functionality (yet) of native apps (often Flash), so this process may be slow, but with 700 million users and growing, Facebook has the clout to make this happen eventually.


Monday, April 4, 2011

The Onion Unveils Their iPad App

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 04:00 AM

http://gizmodo.com/#!5788205/the-on...ng-else-is-fake

"In a tremendously fitting move, The Onion has released its native iPad app on April Fool's Day."

A free app available now, this app written in HTML 5 gives you all the news, videos and pictures from the web and the related TV show...right there on your iPad. The New York Times has a piece about this app also, and what strikes me as pretty darn funny is they announced it on April Fool's Day. Go figure coming from them right?


Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Adobe's Wallaby Converts Flash to HTML5

Posted by Michael Knutson in "Apple News" @ 11:30 AM

http://www.infoworld.com/d/applicat...5?source=footer

"Adobe Systems is making available this evening a preview of its Wallaby technology, which enables developers to leverage Flash development skills to build HTML files that can run on systems without the need for the Flash Player, including Apple iOS devices."

Adobe Labs has finally started talking about (and doing something about) the inevitable - converting Flash to HTML5 - mainly in support of the millions and millions of iOS devices around the world. This appears today to be a one-by-one conversion process, so I wouldn't hold my breathe waiting for larger sites to be converted, but this appears to be a good start. A preview (beta/experimental) version is available today from Adobe Labs, and is currently free.


Thursday, January 27, 2011

Apple Updates Website Using HTML5

Posted by Joe Johaneman in "Apple News" @ 07:00 AM

http://www.appleinsider.com/article...sing_html5.html

"Apple has relaunched its entire website with a new design using HTML5, adding a darker, glossy navigation bar and speedy new animated page layouts for Mac and iPod pages."

It's not a huge change, but the animated effects on the Mac and iPod pages are pretty cool, and they're very fast. I tested them in Chrome and Safari and the pages ran equally fast in both. I also tested it in Camino which doesn't have full HTML5 support, and the pages worked just fine, though there were no animations. All in all, it's a nice upgrade.

Tags: html5

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

HTML5 Get's a New Logo

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (OS X)" @ 12:09 PM

http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/18/...rave-new-world/

"The lynchpin for all discussions of open web standards, HTML5, has been spruced up with a dedicated logo from its parent organization, the W3C."

I really don't like this logo at all. But I like the buzz it is generating as it's intent was to get the word out about HTML5 and to promote it's use among developers. What are your thoughts on the new logo?


Thursday, November 4, 2010

Skyfire is Out, Out of Capacity That Is...

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 06:17 PM

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/...t+Hardware+2.0)

"Yesterday Skyfire, the browser that bought Flash video to the iPhone, made an early appearance in the Apple iTunes App Store. I paid my $2.99 and downloaded the app which promised to take Flash video and transcodes it into HTML5-compatible H.264 format, but due to overwhelming demand, I never got it to work."

Perhaps all those that are "fine without Flash" had a change of heart, or perhaps they were just curious how it would work on the iPhone. Or it could be some other reason, but bottom line the demand exceeded the capacity thus causing Skyfire to be put into "sold out" mode. They plan on upping capacity and offering it again in the near future. You can read the Skyfire blog here.


Saturday, October 23, 2010

Adobe to Offer HTML5 Creation Tools

Posted by Michael Knutson in "Apple Talk" @ 09:00 AM

http://techcrunch.com/2010/10/21/ad...t=Google+Reader

"I wouldn't say we're reacting to HTML5. We see whatever people are using to express themselves. ... We're going to make great tooling for HTML5. We're going to make the best tools in the world for HTML5."

- Adobe CTO Kevin Lynch, at the Web 2.0 Summit this May.

"Adobe, which has been at the focal point of what seems like the never ending Apple induced saga surrounding Flash plugins vs. HTML5 <video> tags, announces its entry into the HTML5 space today, just in time for the new initially Flash-less MacBook Air."

In the ongoing saga of Flash vs. Apple, Adobe has announced that it will be making tools to create HTML5 media. Using the Kaltura HTML5 Media Library, Adobe will offer a widget enabling HTML5 video that will fall back to Flash for browsers not yet HTML5 aware (that don't understand the new syntax). The widget will be available via Dreamweaver, or through the Adobe Air widget browser (obviously requiring Adobe Air). Seems like Adobe is making concessions, how about if some shrewd software vendor makes a tool that will take Flash and transparently convert it (migrate it / emulate it ) to HTML5? Don't today's mobile iDevices have processor power enough to do this Rosetta-like translation behind the scenes? Come on guys, innovate yourselves out of this impasse!


Thursday, October 7, 2010

Yet Another Chapter: Apple vs. Flash

Posted by Michael Knutson in "Apple Talk" @ 11:30 PM

http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2010...nes-with-flash/

"Earlier this year, the tech world was amused and aghast to watch the emergence of a public spat between Adobe and Apple. The subject: Flash. Flash is a plug-in for your Web browser that’s required to view certain Web animations (including those infuriating blinky ads), Web games and, above all, Web videos. If you want to watch TV shows on Hulu.com or the graphically rich home pages of thousands of other sites, you need Flash."

More in the ongoing battle between Apple and Adobe, over, you guessed it, Flash. David Pogue is a respected technology columnist for the New York Times, yet he starts out by stating that "Flash is already built in to the web browser on your computer." Oops. The usual chapter and verse are re-hashed, and then come some interesting tidbits from the "Flash is Everywhere" camp. Many web sites have migrated to HTML5, but most (good, desirable) web content is still Flash. Almost all of today's generation of SmartPhones run Flash, except of course the iPhone, and most of them suffer from it. Reduced battery life, crashes, apps and games in Flash that were written really for keyboard and mouse, annoying web site content, ad nauseam. Steve Jobs is right, in this case, mostly. But, until HTML5 becomes ubiquitous (come on W3C!), there will still be a clamoring for Flash, no matter how badly it performs on mobile devices. Is a compromise possible?


Wednesday, October 6, 2010

HTML5 Not-Ready-for-Primetime Says W3C

Posted by Michael Knutson in "Apple Talk" @ 11:00 PM

http://www.tipb.com/2010/10/06/wc3-...t=Google+Reader

"In an effort to slow the already glacial pace of the iOS-friendly HTML5 standard, the W3C is telling developers to hold off on deploying the technology in their web sites due to lack of interoperability in certain areas."

The whole topic of browser standard compatibility and interoperability is a hot topic these days. Correct video playback on various disparate devices is the holy grail, and Safari, Firefox and Chrome all currently have their own requirements, and IE 9 is expected to bring its own set of challenges. Remember IE 6? Still running (badly) on millions of computers. As for iOS and other mobile devices, HTML5 is alive and well. The funny thing about standards is that they usually trail 'real life' by a considerable distance. By the time HTML5 gets its standard, the industry will be on to the next great thing in video. C'est la vie!

Tags: software, html5, w3c

Friday, September 3, 2010

Get Your Showtimes from Apple

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (OS X)" @ 11:18 AM

http://www.appleinsider.com/article..._locations.html

"Apple has revamped its Movie Trailers page with movie showtimes and the ability to automatically find the nearest theater, all within HTML5, and compatible with iOS devices."

The site actually works pretty well, and you can buy tickets via Fandango from within site. Another good example of using HTML5 to allow access from an iOS device without Flash.


Thursday, August 19, 2010

So Steve Jobs Was Right on Flash?

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "The Competition" @ 08:30 AM

http://blog.laptopmag.com/mobile-fl...oves-jobs-right

"I'm the last person on earth who wanted to believe Steve Jobs when he told Walt Mossberg at D8 that 'Flash has had its day.' I took it as nothing more than showmanship when Jobs shared his thoughts on Flash and wrote that 'Flash is closed and proprietary, has major technical drawbacks, and doesn't support touch based devices.'"

But it turns out that he has to agree with Jobs on Flash, after spending some time using, or rather trying to use, mobile Flash Player 10.1 on the Android 2.2. The author tried several sites, and came to the conclusion that it isn't ready, and really what is the point of making websites compatible? If they have to recode them for Flash, why not just do it so it is compatible with HTLM5?


Yahoo Mail Supports HTML5

Posted by Joe Johaneman in "Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad" @ 06:30 AM

http://appadvice.com/appnn/2010/08/...s-html5-club-2/

"Great news for iDevice-owning Yahoo! Mail users: the popular email service has now added support for HTML5. This means users can now fully interact with the site on their iPhones and iPads."

It's great to see HTML5 being supported more and more. The future looks bright for those of us using any variant of mobile safari or any other browser that works with HTML5. I still have a Yahoo Mail account, though I use it almost entirely as an IM account. Still, it's nice to know that if I have to check my Yahoo mail, I can do it with ease on my iPad or iPhone.

Tags: iphone, safari, ipad, html5

Thursday, July 22, 2010

HTML5 Demand Increases Over 400%

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (OS X)" @ 08:00 AM

http://www.salon.com/technology/the...ise_report_says

"Demand for HTML5 skills among developers is soaring, according to a new report released today by DoNanza, a search engine that aggregates project postings from online freelance jobs markets like Elance and oDesk."

Just how big of a demand is there? Well, according to the report done by DoNanza.com, in Q2 2010 there was a 474% increase in the demand for HTML5 developers. How was Flash faring in the same report? Down 24%. But to put it in perspective, there were 11 times as many Flash projects posted as there were HTML5 projects. It's an interesting report nonetheless.


Thursday, July 8, 2010

New HTML5 YouTube, Better Than the Old YouTube

Posted by Michael Knutson in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 05:39 AM

http://techcrunch.com/2010/07/07/yo...ch+(TechCrunch)

"If you've got a phone with an HTML5 compliant browser, you'll probably want to check out YouTube's new mobile site, which is rolling out over the next few hours at m.youtube.com."

The premise that HTML5 will provide better (and faster) video viewing is now ready to be put to the test. The new mobile YouTube site ( link ) supports nearly all HTML5-compliant browsers on both the iPhone and Android platforms. Rather than relying on a native app, the new version is web-based, in line with Google's movements away from native apps and into the cloud. In addition, the new system uses a video streaming format developed for 3G, so content is delivered faster, and looks better. Read more...


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