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Same Standards. New Media.
by Josh Sullivan in Development on Jan 20, 2010
It used to be that standards-based web development was, as the name implies, only useful on the web. You’d build a website using code that validates and looks and works the same across all major browsers. But as web technologies mature, we’re seeing more and more opportunities to apply standards-based web development to areas outside of the traditional desktop browser. Apple in particular has done much to adopt these standards for use in other products and platforms.
OSX Widgets
One of the earliest examples of standards-based development occurring outside of the desktop browser was OS X Dashboard Widgets introduced with Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger. A Dashboard Widget in it’s simplest form is nothing more than a bundle of HTML, CSS, JS and image files. These simple applications opened up a new outlet for web developers to apply their skill set. Building a Dashboard Widget is a perfect starting point for those new to designing and developing outside of the browser.
Here are some examples of OSX Widgets:
Here are some resources for creating OSX Widgets:
The iPhone (Webkit-Based Mobile Browsers)
The popularity of the iPhone OS has allowed Apple to dominate the mobile browser space with Webkit-based browsers. In addition, Google, Palm and others have Webkit-based mobile browsers further cementing standards-based web development in the mobile space. Early on Apple introduced a web SDK for creating websites and web applications using Mobile Safari. With a total install base somewhere north of 60 million, the iPhone OS offers a huge market for mobile web application development. The iPhone and iPod Touch’s web SDK may not have been best for iPhone developers, but as web developers this is a perfect opportunity to create something new with the same web standards.
Here are some examples of web applications for the iPhone:
Here are some resources for creating web application on the iPhone using web standards:
iTunes LP & Extras
As Apple continued to dominate the MP3 and downloadable movie markets, their product offering has expanded to include premium downloads. The iTunes LP and movie Extras are their answer to what you don’t get with the normal digital downloads. Providing the user with all of what they expect to get with the traditional CD or DVD purchases. Simply, they are creating an experience within iTunes using nothing more than web standard HTML and CSS. At the same time creating two more media outside of the browser for web designers and developers.
Here are some examples of iTunes LP & Extras:
Here are some resources for creating iTunes LP & Extras using web standards:
What’s Next?
We know the Apple Tablet is real and will probably launch in the first half of 2010. The question many people are asking is, “What will we use it for?” I think, as creative professionals, we need to ask how can we design and develop for it. Many have said it might be the e-reader for magazines. With Apple’s track record we can bet that it will be built on the same web standards. This device could marry the print and web worlds in a way blogs and news sites never have before. Fully rich experiences where the user interacts with the content in a new way.
Are You Ready?
It’s easy to see how all of this is widening the horizon for a multitude of interactive producers. Will the introduction of new and shiny gadgets continue to create more work for us as web designers, or will it create a new category of designers and developers all together?
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I believe there will always be jacks of all trades, people who design for a multitude of platforms and can pull off anything. Perhaps larger companies will break their design teams into divisions or divvy out the work accordingly allowing everyone to get their hands dirty and dabble from time to time. So is this shiny new gadget anything other than a larger, glorified iTouch? Is the browser still Safari? Will it run Flash? Can I write on it with varying degrees of pressure, does it have a streaming web cam? Those are the questions I would have as a designer… as a consumer I would wonder… Why would I want to have another, larger device to carry around? What does this do that my iPhone already doesn’t? I guess it would look slick in my fancy house with the glass pool table and reduce the clutter from my iMac.
The more work the more job security right? Since the advent of mySpace I have been wondering how much longer people will be pursuing client-side web design as careers when I am sure ultra-talented designers will be coming out of the eighth grade looking to work for $2 more than the minimum wage and have read and applied every design tutorial under the sun and have never had to balance work, a life, and school, and simply indulge in their hobby. You really don’t need much more than $10 an hour when you’re in high school and all you need are the Jordan 5’s, some money for that movie, and their combo deal. $40 a week is ample. Actually, I am thinking about living out of my car and showering at the gym, all I really need are a pair of Jordan 5’s and money for the movies too… somehow in the pursuit of success and growing up and out of the vices in my life and getting away from people who caused me strife I forgot about that and lost touch with what really worked for me.
What if social networking was the answer for the lack of medical and engineering professionals? Perhaps we will stop growing up to do what they could have done in middle school had we had access to computers, the internet, and Smashing Magazine. Just a joke, okay, not really.