With Firefox 4, Google Chrome, IE 9, Safari 5 and Opera all offering better, more robust support for HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript, we're already seeing glimpses of what is possible and what the web of the future may look like.
Let's look at some of the aspects of HTML5 that are already making their mark on web app development.
Better Typography and Custom Fonts
When Google launched its Chrome Web Store last December, it was one of the best showcases of what HTML5 web apps could offer users.
Over the last few months, more apps have been added to the store and more companies have started to optimize or rewrite their web apps specifically with HTML5.
TweetDeck is one of the most popular Twitter clients on the desktop and is revered by users. Chrome TweetDeck (or ChromeDeck) was one of the big standouts last winter, and it continues to set a high standard for what users can expect from a web application. It's also the most popular app in the Chrome Web Store.
Earlier this month, TweetDeck announced the limited beta for its TweetDeck Web product. Built using HTML5, TweetDeck Web takes the core of the TweetDeck Chrome app and applies it to other platforms and browsers. The goal is to make the TweetDeck experience browser- and device-agnostic, and it is part of TweetDeck's broader strategy approaching mobile and desktop apps.
Creative web app company Aviary introduced Feather, its HTML5 Photo Editor, last year. Feather isn't only a lightweight image editor with lots of cool effects. It can be seamlessly embedded into other web apps to give additional functionality to developers who don't have time or money to create their own solutions.
In April, Aviary announced its plans to open up its Effects API to web and mobile developers. This will allow developers to easily add effects and filters, auto-correct photos and create thumbnails or quick crops without needing user interaction.
The Future is Bright
I firmly believe that we will continue to see the worlds of web applications and desktop apps converge. It's already happened with email, chat and social communication -- the next step is to make it viable for data processing, multimedia and, ultimately, web development itself.
HTML5 is going to play a big role in enabling web developers do more with pure web apps, without needing to rely on third-party plugins or extensions. As browsers become better attuned and optimized for the evolving HTML standard, the opportunities will only increase.
Series Supported by Elsevier
The Future Web Series is supported by Elsevier's SciVerse Application Marketplace and Developer Network. In 2010, prominent science publisher Elsevier launched SciVerse to provide developers with access to ample research data so they can build apps on top of trusted scientific content. SciVerse also sponsors “Apps for Science,” a $35,000 developer challenge to accelerate science. Learn more.
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