All Articles in Web Apps

Ars Technica has sources that indicate that Apple is prepping Mobile Safari to run applications and web pages offline. You know, widgets. These widgets will use the same technologies as the AJAX web apps that are out there now — HTML, CSS, asynchronous Javascript and XML, cookies, etc., but with the added bonus of a little extra local storage. Maybe some javascript functions that allow you to access the actual API of the phone for contact / calendar integration and the like will make it as well.

figure 1: the Widget manager from OSX 10.4. The iPhone has been destined for widgets. Note the similarity of this on the iPhone (figure 2)

figure 2: The bottom bar on the iPhone. Note the similarity. I do not think the similarity is accidental. Why would the iPod Touch have a different bottom bar?

Apple is working on a Google Gears-like system to cache online applications for use in mode, or other situations where the network is not available. Their expected timeline for announcing or delivering this is January. In case you’re new to the Apple world, January is code for Macworld Expo, the same Expo in which Jobs announced the iPhone.

Lastly, their source indicated that Apple is not currently working on a native SDK for release to the general public, and that AJAX Web apps are going to be the way to go. Ars Technica’s Apple source has expressed some frustration in that:

“You can’t write [bleep]ing [bleep] in that…. Jobs is a control freak and doesn’t want people messing with perfection.”

He’s not alone in his frustration. You can practically read the spittle over at gizmodo. Jesus Diaz is so pissed he’s replaced every outbound link in his article with another link that links back to Gizmodo. Macworld.co.uk meanwhile is confusing Javascript with Java. There won’t be Java on the iPhone. Jobs confirmed that maybe a day after he announced the iPhone in January.

Speaking personally, I know that it’s not the same as having native applications. But, I am glad that there will finally be some mechanism for apps beyond the data URL trick and bookmarklets. I’ve long said that I expect some sort of 3rd party app, whether it be widgets or native. Frankly, I’d much prefer native, and that’s part of the reason that I’ll likely never update my hacked 4GB iPhone (I need it for screenshots and the like), but widgets can do a lot of what many, if not most, people want, and I eagerly look forward to that on the 8GB iPhone.

Apple has posted their Human Interface Guidelines (HIG, PDF link) for programming for the iPhone. What this means is that they’ve completed the rules and guidelines for how they expect you, the iPhone user, to interact with applications on the device. It also means that now that they have interface guidelines, they can begin focusing on building the software they need for native third party applications and not web applications. Yes, I said it; worst of all, I believe it. Even worse, I think this is the big news of the weekend, even more than bricked iPhones. You’ll have to brave the cut for why.

My day revolves around web-based RSS readers. Google Reader, Bloglines Beta, NewsGator…you name it, I’ve tried it. Unfortunately those services aren’t conveniently rendered on iPhone’s 3.5″ display, and require lots of pinching, jiggering, and side-scrolling to view content. Adding to that frustration, Safari tends to choke on AJAX code which these online readers employ heavily - crashing the browser and dumping you back to the home screen.

Enter Newsgator Online for mobile users; a service designed for small screens with low overhead.

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Are you out of shape? Are you so flabby that even the tightest pants can’t control your bouncing badonkadonk butt? Haven’t seen your genitals in years? Well put down that jelly donut and grab your iPhone, because a few minutes of daily workout and a site called Gyminee can help whip you into shape in no time.

Check this out. Point your iPhone to gyminee.com/iphone, sign up for a free account. And from there you can download how-to videos and view them right on your iPhone. Watch as instructors show you various proper exercise routines. Once you get off on the demos, you can track your workout right from Safari. Pretty cool.

Openings are limited however, as the program is only available to beta testers. So sign up today. I haven’t tried this service out myself because at 5.9′ and 145lbs, weight loss isn’t exactly on my ToDo list. Friends tell me if I get any thinner I can be used as a coat hanger. Har.

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Transmedia corp. announced that Microsoft Word documents now editable with their Glide service on the iPhone. The same service is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux desktops, and a bevy of handhelds. The PR bit claims that spreadsheet editing is coming in September but make no mention of Excel compatibility, and they have a presentation app but no mention of PowerPoint compatibility. Free and paid versions of their service are available.

From their PR bit:

“Glide provides the convenience and security of access to all of your most important documents and other digital files on your iPhone,” said TransMedia Chairman and CEO, Donald Leka. “So now you can work in Glide on your iPhone in one hand while you enjoy a cup of Starbucks coffee in the other hand.”

Look at me, making with the stupid Beach Boys references. Couldn’t you just slap me over the head with an iPhone (not your own of course)? Back to topic…

Netvibes, the bastard poster child of Web 2.0, is offering an iPhone optimized frontend to its mobile service for busy users on the go. Just point your browser to m.netvibes.com, which I conveniently prelinked for your clicking pleasure, login to your account and immerse yourself in the good vibrations of Netvibes.

User tip #53: For best results, create a new tab in your Netvibes profile, from your desktop, called “Mobile” and make it a simple one column page with only the bare necessities of info and widgets. Then use that page as your Mobile Netvibes experience on iPhone. You’re welcome.

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Got a TypePad account? Using MovableType? How about an iPhone? If you answer yes to all three, SixApart has just made your mobile blogging experience a whole lot easier. While the iPhone is pants at rendering any standard webpage, having a web frontend optimized for iPhone’s native resolution is like licking cake batter off a spoon - yummy.

SixApart has announced full iPhone support for all TypePad bloggers. No downloading any scripts or hacking involved; it’s there waiting for you. Now when you login to your admin account you’ll be greeted with a pretty but minimalist interface that gets you where you want to go in the blink of an, or tap of the finger anyway.

But TypePad users aren’t the only bloggers getting some iPhone love. Just so you MT users out there won’t feel left out, SixApart has offering a free plugin for customers using their MovableType publishing system as well. The plugin is available as free download here and here.

So, um…hey, WordPress? Are you guys busy right now? Cause I was thinking, if you’re not doing anything important, you might want to offer a similar solution. Just a thought.

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Struggling to find that YouTube video of cats battling territorial turtles on your iPhone? Fret not.

Veveo has announced the launch of its new service designed for mobile users, called VTap. What this solution does is enable anyone, iPhone users in particular, to search for and view videos right from their mobile device. Just type in a search, hit the the search button, and VTap will aggregate a list of results, allowing you to bookmark or view the selected media on any supported device.

This isn’t the first such service to come along. Another popular mobile video search engine called TinyTube has been around for some time and gained a following among YouTube junkies. But VTap works pretty well, so let’s give these guys a try, shall we?

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Syd from Alien Camel sends word that his company is offering free full IMAP email service to a select group of hardcore users that spend all day in their inbox, to test out their new service and provide feedback.

You must meet a specified list of requirements in order to join.

• You must be willing to participate in providing us with feedback about our service. The feedback maybe requested via email, Instant Messaging, telephone call or by completing a web form.
• You will need to be a registered and activated iPhone user. We will require your mobile phone number if you are selected as we will be sending out your confirmation code via SMS. If you don’t want to provide us with your mobie phone number please do not apply.
• We will remind you to cancel your “free account” before the year is up or signup for a standard plan.
• Your account must be active and used at least once a month, if not, we may close the account.

Many are called, few are chosen. Sign up now.

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The code monkeys at AlwaysBeta are introducing a new online service, called pxPipe, that enables iPhone users to upload photos from their iPhoto to FaceBook via email.

pxPipe works exactly as claimed. Just go to their website - create an account - email photos to your unique address which are then automagically queued up in your FaceBook profile once you’ve logged in.

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