HTML5 is the new Web markup language being developed at the Worldwide Web Consortium. The transformation of HTML, according to more than one news report, is creating excitement among Web developers.
Even before its finalization, HTML5 has earned support from major Web publishing companies. Apple (News - Alert), Google, the Mozilla Foundation, Vimeo, and YouTube have already begun tinkering with the new standard, indicating that “the road ahead for HTML5 remains a rocky one.”
Another company, Volantis Systems, which delivers digital content to unique devices, now joins the pro-HTML league.
The company announced significant expansion of its core mobile content delivery platform, allowing developers to build superior Web sites and applications using HTML5 and CSS3, without needing to rely on more complicated Java programming.
“HTML5 offers great potential for developers to produce Web-based applications which offer a rich media experience,” Mark Watson, CEO of Volantis (News - Alert), said.
However, Watson added, as browser vendors implement different features for HTML5, end-users might not be able to take full advantage of their device's capabilities. This would mean developers will have to design applications that have to be tweaked to overcome the bugs unique to each manufacturer's version of HTML5 and CSS3 employed.
“With Framework 6.0, developers can produce browser-based and native applications with highly customizable, out-of-the-box user interface components, which fulfill the potential of the latest handsets as well as rendering across legacy devices,” Watson said.
The new Framework 6.0 simplifies application development, distribution and maintenance. The content delivery platform is enhanced with a new app creator, an enriched HTML5 and CSS3 toolkit, better device portability and improved page rendering.
With the new app creator, developers can launch applications that can run across native and Web clients and get them packaged up for both Apple and Android (News - Alert) app stores. With this they are able to create an application once, distribute everywhere in one go and maintain it over time, removing the need to distribute individual updates.
The improved feature toolkit will allow HTML5 developers to produce a more compelling user experience, allowing all applications and websites to utilize, gradient, 3D transforms, cover flow, reflections and opacity amongst other properties. This helps developers to produce sites and applications far more simply and quickly, without having to build individual versions for different browsers and handsets, according to company officials.
More importantly, the new content delivery platform addresses some of the portability challenges that developers face as a result of the differences in new HTML5 browser standards.
Framework 6.0 is able to implement workarounds and fixes to all of these difficulties, while also ensuring the application or site is compatible with the 7,000+ devices in Volantis' database.
The platform will be available immediately within commercial releases.
Rajani Baburajan is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Rajani's articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by Marisa Torrieri