Archive for category Uncategorized

Is HTML5 Ready Yet?

Posted by olivier in Uncategorized on 2010-03-10

Just attended Mark Pilgrim’s talk this morning at confoo.ca about HTML5.

I’ll spare you the list of novelties and changes… HTML5 actually does two things:

  • solves a lot of the current problems with HTML and AJAX apps that required ugly Javascript hacks work around (like initial focus, empty text, typed form fields, etc.)
  • brings new functionalities much required for new generation RIA apps (geolocation, storage, offline, video/audio support, etc.)

Apparently it does that very well, allowing compatibility with older markup when possible, complying with standards… and HTML5 is already there in the latest versions of Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Opera.

Google is obviously pushing hard for HTML5, and the not-so-hidden goal is to get rid of the Flash plugin. Mark said several times during his presentation “look, no Flash!”… With Google and Apple openly trying to push Flash out of the picture, Adobe has a lot to do :)

BTW check those links:

PS: liveblog of Mark’s session

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This might be my next phone

Posted by olivier in Uncategorized on 2009-12-14

android_logoI’ve been pondering a replacement for my (still reliable but aging) Treo 680. Since I have decided not to get an iPhone as long as the App Store has such insane policies, I’ve narrowed my search down to:

The Pre has a groundbreaking OS called webOS which is almost entirely built on JavaScript and web technologies. It’s the phone that was designed for “always on” operation; it integrates seamlessly with online services such as mail and calendar from several providers (including Google of course). On the down side, it’s only available in a handful of countries in Europe, Luxembourg NOT being one of them. I called all three mobile network operators and none of them had even heard the name “Palm Pre”, so I don’t suppose I should wait for it to arrive here anytime soon. I could get a German one, but apparently you need to activate it on a German network, plus it comes with a QWERTZ keyboard.

Android phones are not that much easier to get, but they exist. There was an offer for an HTC Hero not long ago, but most reviewers found the hardware a bit lagging, so I decided to wait.

But now it seems that Google might be selling soon its own Android 2.1 device, unlocked GSM, with no carrier messing with the software… How great is that ? My own Christmas might be a little late this year :)

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