But if what I am saying is right, then why hasn’t this all come true yet? The reasons are many, some minor and easily overcome, and some not so much. Let’s start with an explanation of what HTML5 and JavaScript advancements are already doing in the mobile world.

HTML5 is the new HTML standard.

Major enhancements such as the <“video”> tag, CSS3 animations and better JavaScript support are what have made HTML5 such a hot topic. With the power of HTML5, web developers and programmers can write software in a cross-platform language and save significant time and effort.

HTML 5 Development Platforms

Some companies, such as Sencha who developed Sencha Touch, and Prism Technologies who developed PhoneGap, have created mobile development platforms that reach from Android and iOS all the way back to Blackberry and Windows Phone 7. The reason these platforms are so flexible is because they utilizes HTML5, advanced JavaScript and CSS3 to replicate a native app using a web browser.

I’ve had experience using Sencha Touch and PhoneGap (PhoneGap makes it easy for users to load HTML5 libraries into a native app “wrapper”, which can access hardware-specific functions such as the camera and accelerometer, for distribution on an app market) and have found that while it is very useful while building information and text driven applications, it is not very effective in creating graphically intense applications such as ones with photo galleries, interactive menus, or games. This leads me to why HTML5 has its limits in the mobile world today.

Mobile Browsers

Each mobile OS has a browser that is used to generate the HTML5 application. The problem is that not every browser was created equal, especially when it comes to HTML5 support. When looking at HTML5 on an iOS devices such as an iPhone 4s, HTML5 is very responsive and smooth.

This is not so true with Android and Blackberry. Although Android has good support for most of HTML5, it has many “artifacts” or poorly handled graphical renderings that make it slower, less attractive, and overall less responsive than its iOS counterpart. This is the main reason development of HTML5 has not surpassed development of native applications to date. There are a few other limitations to HTML5 such as hardware support when accessing components like the camera or file systems, but HTML5 hopes to circumvent that soon with future standards.

The conclusion is that HTML5, while being very powerful and flexible when used with JavaScript and CSS3, is not yet a suitable replacement for native development and therefore one must first consider the goal of the said application before deciding to proceed with development in HTML5 or native environments.

But don’t forget, according to Strategy Analytics, more than 1 billion HTML5 supported phones will be sold worldwide by 2013. Read more here.

You can read more about mobile HTML5 support here.

The post HTML5 and the Future of Mobile Apps and Gaming first appeared on Techerator.

HTML5/JS frameworks are beginning to pop up as viable development environments for the entire range of web-based applications, from desktop to mobile. Here are four HTML5/JS tools that will turbocharge your apps and keep you savvy with this new trend in development.

1. Yahoo! Cocktails

Yahoo recently announced its newest mix of HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript tools, and believe it or not, Yahoo still knows how to bring decent services to the table. Cocktails brings existing Yahoo! services like YQL and YUI together with HTML5/JavaScript tools for rapid multi-device and multi-platform development. The most impressive aspect of Cocktails is its integration with Yahoo!’s Mojito, which allows JavaScript functionality for your apps even if the device has JavaScript disabled by running scripts on the server side. Yahoo! isn’t dead yet!

2.  SproutCore

SproutCore is an open-source set of tools built using MVC (model-view-controller) architecture for creating universally accessible, scalable, and speeding applications. The team that created SproutCore offers many easy-to-follow guides for beginners, and the well-established community of developers make troubleshooting relatively pain-free. Of the frameworks I’ve encountered, SproutCore is the most polished…and it doesn’t hurt that it’s free.

3. LimeJS

If your forte is creating web-based games, LimeJS is a framework for rapid development of native-experience touchscreen apps for mobile devices or desktop browsers. This simple but flexible tool set is free to download and takes the headaches out of creating rich cross-platform user experiences with standardized code and solid community support.

4. Sencha

The only non-free framework on this list, Sencha is meant for industrial strength app development. Sencha offers an array of tools like a visual designer, rich spreadsheet support, CSS3 animator, and skinning to put a unique look and feel to your application. The Sencha API allows for rapid development for touchscreens or standard desktops, and while it isn’t free to download, Sencha provides professional support and training for its customers. User interface, app functionality, and data connectivity — Sencha does it all.

Conclusion

Will HTML5/JavaScript bring about the downfall .NET/WPF app development? Not anytime soon. But if you’re looking to bring your application to as many users and devices as possible, HTML5/JS is your ticket to fame. These frameworks will get your started, and if you have a favorite not listed here (there are many), please leave it in the comments.

The post Four HTML5 and JavaScript Frameworks To Jump-start Your App Development first appeared on Techerator.

Mike Chambers, Principal Product Manager for developer relations for the Flash Platform at Adobe, says that there were multiple reasons why Flash for mobile wasn’t going to work out and why they decided to quit while they were behind:

•  “One of the leading mobile platforms (Apple’s iOS) was not going to allow the Flash Player in the browser,” which meant that Flash “was not on track to reach anywhere near the ubiquity of the Flash Player on desktops.”
• HTML5 is taking over. “On mobile devices HTML5 provides a similar level of ubiquity that the Flash Player provides on the desktop. It is the best technology for creating and deploying rich content to the browser across mobile platforms.”
• Flash was simply less relevant on mobile devices since users used apps more often than the browser. “Users do not look to the web on mobile devices for finding and consuming rich content.”
• Developing Flash for mobile use is much more challenging than for desktop use. “Developing the Flash Player for mobile browsers has proven to require much more resources than we anticipated.”
• “Halting development on the Flash Player for mobile devices frees up resources for HTML5 development (tooling, frameworks, browsers).”

The post Adobe kills Flash for mobile in favor of HTML5 first appeared on Techerator.

Google says the process works by first converting the SWF file into a JSON file, then rendering it using HTML, SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics), and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). The result is a complete HTML5 file with a size that’s just slightly larger than the original SWF file that was converted.

Of course, we’re all probably thinking that Swiffy would make a great tool for developers to use to develop and port content for iOS and other devices without Flash capabilities. Obviously, Swiffy is still in its early stages, so it can’t convert every SWF file under the sun just yet and Google doesn’t know if it’s going to turn Swiffy into an open-source project. Either way, Swiffy is waiting and ready for you to begin your Flash-converting monstrosity right now.

The post Google’s Swiffy Converts SWF Files to HTML5 first appeared on Techerator.