html5
Latest
Apple revamps Safari with new UI, power-saving features
Apple's not forgetting about Safari with all the changes to OS X Yosemite. The browser has been completely overhauled with power-saving tweaks, new tabs and a privacy mode, among other new features. By far the biggest change, though, is in the UI -- it's got a new flat look that matches the new OS. On top of eliminating the favorites bar (which now pops up when you type in the address field), you get a bird's-eye view of tabs, and can scroll from side to side to select them. There's also a new Spotlight search that gives additional suggestions, as well as those from search engines like Google. Apple also says its latest Safari is standards-compliant and no longer requires video plugins for premium services like Netflix's HTML5 player -- which could net you up to two more hours of battery life when playing video.
Samsung lets you make apps for Tizen-based TVs that don't exist yet
The open source Tizen platform may only just be making its way on to wristwear, but Samsung has much bigger plans... in a very literal sense. The company is releasing a developer kit that will let you create apps for Tizen-based smart TVs, including software that supports hand gestures, mobile device pairing and voice commands. And unlike some TV development tools, you won't need a real set to try things out; you can replicate many core features from the comfort of your PC.
Epic's Unreal Engine 4 'Flappy Bird' homage 'Tappy Chicken' now available for free (update: video!)
Epic Games can crow all it wants about how easy its next-gen development toolset is to use, but until we actually see results, those words are pretty hollow. That changes today with the release of Tappy Chicken, the first Unreal Engine 4 game released for Android, HTML5 browsers and iOS. Yeah, it's a far cry from the fiery demon we've come to associate with anything UE4-related (and it looks more than a little bit like another flying fowl), but the key here is that Epic says it's the work of exactly one person using a sort of simplified scripting system called Blueprints. What's more, the developer isn't even a coder -- he's an artist by the name of Shane Caudle. Caudle designed the game-play loop for the procedurally-generated game in an evening and spent around a week on the menus and squashing bugs. Epic says that it could even be ported to consoles pretty easily. The reason for the free game? To show how easy it is to mod and add-on with UE4 even by someone who doesn't know a lick of typical programming languages like C++. If you want to give it a go for yourself, all it takes to start is $19.
Google's new Chrome experiment lets you remix the Rubik's Cube
Sure, you could spend a while trying to solve the Rubik's Cube in Google's new Doodle, but that may get a little dry. Google was clearly prepared for that eventuality, though: it has just launched the Cube Lab, a Chrome experiment that lets you build your own internet-based puzzle. So long as you're good with modern web code, you can produce a unique Rubik's Cube with its own artwork, effects and even logic. The 808 Cube is all about music-making, for instance. Even if you're not a programmer, it's worth checking out the ready-made Lab examples to have some fun. We just wish we'd had this when we were kids -- it would have kept us playing with Rubik's Cubes long after the original got buried in the closet.
Mozilla bends on 'built-in' Firefox DRM so it can keep streaming Netflix
While Netflix and others work on new ways to stream movies to your browser through HTML5 that don't use Flash or Silverlight plugins, Hollywood's requirements for DRM to prevent copying have put Mozilla in a bind. The DRM proposed means user's don't know exactly what's going on their machines or if it's violating their privacy, but without it Firefox will eventually be locked out of streaming most movies and TV shows. As a result, Mozilla announced plans to roll it out in the next few months on Windows, Mac and Linux versions of the browser, so one upside could be official Netflix support on Linux.
Chrome beta for Android makes it easy to send web video to Chromecast
You no longer have to engage in some hidden setting gymnastics just to send web videos from Chrome for Android to your Chromecast. Google has rolled out a Chrome 35 beta that lets you deliver "some" clips from the browser to a Chromecast-equipped TV. The company hasn't said just which videos are compatible, but it notes that YouTube support is rough around the edges. Even if your favorite media site is broken, you can check out a few other notable upgrades: Chrome now does full-screen videos with both HTML5 controls and subtitles, and it boasts improved support for multi-window devices. Head over to Google Play to grab the update if you're a regular web movie watcher.
More games for Xbox One: XBOXIE collects HTML5 controller games
Xbox One supports a controller, Internet Explorer and HTML5 games, but not all HTML5 games support a controller – and that's where XBOXIE comes in. Run by Reddit user CitadelSaint, XBOXIE lists HTML5 games you can play with a controller in IE on the Xbox One. So far the list includes Pac-Man, Bejeweled, Super Breakout, Pong, Contre Jour, Sketch Out and Solitaire, among others. "Even though the Xbox One can play HTML5 games, it doesn't mean developers are supporting the controller," XBOXIE's About page reads. "Most game are aimed at keyboard and mouse. So we at XBOXIE search and test each game to make sure it runs smooth and plays well on a controller. So to sum up, if it's on XBOXIE then you can play it on your Xbox One." That's right: Pong has entered the next generation. Take that, Tetris.
Vimeo redesigns its HTML5 player for speed and on-the-spot rentals (video)
While Vimeo was one of the first to adopt HTML5 for streaming web video, its player hasn't kept up with the times; it hasn't been very fast or powerful. That's changing with a redesigned player launching today. The new version starts playback much more quickly, resizes elegantly and will even sync preferences across multiple players in a single browser. And if you're enamored with Vimeo On Demand, you'll be glad to know that you can now buy or rent videos in-player, no matter where the clip is playing. The improvements are big enough that Vimeo is now making HTML5 the default across all platforms -- you'll only have to use Flash if you're using an outdated browser. You can try the player for yourself by watching the promo video below.
Panasonic will bring Firefox OS to your smart TV this year
Firefox OS won't be confined to small devices for much longer. Panasonic has announced a partnership with Mozilla that will see it launch Firefox OS-powered smart TVs and other "smart screens." The deal potentially opens up the frequently proprietary world of TV software -- since the program guide and other interface elements will be web pages, they won't be limited to any one company's hardware. It should also be easier to write remote control apps, personalize the interface and integrate TVs with home automation systems. Panasonic isn't going into more detail about the hardware at this stage, but it tells us that the first Firefox OS TVs should arrive in the "latter part" of this year.
Samsung's latest developer kit lets you control appliances from your TV
Ever wish you could turn on the air conditioning without leaving the couch? Samsung's new Smart TV SDK 5.0 will give you the luxury of being that lazy. The programming kit gives the TV control over home appliances, including network-savvy lighting and refrigerators. Developers should also have an easier time building apps thanks to a new web framework that both supports HTML5 and uses Native Client to run software across a wide range of TVs. Apps can run on mobile devices, too. Samsung has already posted a beta SDK, but aspiring big-screen app builders will have to wait until January 6th to get the finished tool.
New York Times' Today's Paper web app brings print-like design, offline reading to browsers
Today marks the death of the New York Times' "experimental" HTML5 app designed for the iPad. But, from its ashes comes Today's Paper, another touch-friendly app built on the latest web technologies. Like the print edition of the broadsheet, Today's Paper is delivered (electronically) on a regular daily schedule. What's more, its structured similarly to tree-pulp version, for those that are a little uncomfortable with the heavily segmented apps and digital offerings. Since it's web-based, users will get the same experience on both the desktop and on tablets. Though, interaction on the mobile front it geared more towards swiping and gestures than clicking and scrolling. All of the sections of the paper are faithfully recreated in the browser, and the last seven days worth of Times dispatches can be downloaded for offline reading. Obviously, you'll still have to remember to download them before you walk away from your WiFi. Oh, and you'll also need to be a paying subscriber -- either digital or home delivery are acceptable. If you fit (and pay) the bill, you can access the Today's Paper web app at app.nytimes.com/todayspaper.
NORAD and Microsoft team on a touch-friendly Santa Claus web tracker
NORAD's Santa Claus tracking has officially entered the tablet era. The defense agency has teamed up with Microsoft on an updated web-based tracker that's designed for touch-friendly browsers, including Internet Explorer 11. The new site lets you follow St. Nick by spinning a WebGL-powered globe with your finger, and you can even call NORAD through Skype to get the sleigh's latest position. You won't have to wait until Christmas Eve to have fun, either, as Microsoft promises a daily dose of games, movies and music. Those who want to surveil Santa can visit NORAD's page today, while Windows 8 and Windows Phone users can also grab native tracking apps through their respective stores.
Adobe has a new Edge in its HTML5 tools
Adobe has come a long way in more than three decades as a company, and while a lot of attention lately has been given to security breaches and its subscription model, there is a lot of innovation going on behind the scenes. Last month, I had the chance to sit down with Sarah Hunt, who works on Adobe Edge tools and services, one of Adobe's newest parts of its multimedia-oriented software. Edge is a collection of HTML5-based tools that help designers and developers work with the web. Competing software that fall into this category includes Tumult's Hype and Sencha Animator. I have a subscription to Adobe's Creative Cloud, so I also took the chance to take a look at the software myself. Design If you're familiar with the current design of Adobe Photoshop, then you will be right at home with the tools in Edge. Everything is laid out in palettes on a dark background. The bulk of your work takes place in Edge Animate, and at first it's a bit overwhelming to have all this information in front of you at once. Coming from Hype, it was a bit jarring to go from a sparse environment to sudden clutter. But, as I explain below, having all this information works for the program. Adobe Edge Animate also has a template gallery and you can save templates as well. Use One of the things I love about Adobe Edge Animate are the tutorials. Upon first launch, you're given the chance to go through a series of step-by-step lessons to help you get comfortable with the software. Even if you're familiar with a competitor's software, it's a fantastic resource. For those new to this sort of work in general, it can be a godsend. There's plenty of books out there covering the same material, but this is all baked into the software. I would love to see similar tutorials come to Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator - especially Illustrator. The tutorials are very easy and cover creating objects, basic animation, resizing, extending, reuse and motion paths. Once you're done with a design in Edge Animate, you can take it out to Edge Inspect to test on mobile devices in realtime. You can also bring it to Edge Reflow, which is a responsive design tool or tinker with the code in Edge Code, a commercial version of my favorite open-source code editor, Brackets. My test project was done through one of the tutorials. Following the steps, I completed a basic keyframe animation of bouncing letters, using the little toggles in the properties panel to control the keyframes. I enjoyed not having to puzzle over a record button or with the timeline for these, which was the steepest part of my learning curve with Hype. I also liked not having to flip through an inspector for other data. I caught on with Edge Animate a lot faster than I did with Hype, even though my learning curve with it was fairly quick as well. The software titles share enough similarities in basic tasks that if you go into Edge Animate with any knowledge of its competitors or Flash, it won't be hard to use. To change touch and swipe events, you need to right click on the object and select the action. I really wish there was an additional panel for this. One of Hype's features that I loved was the ability to see what browsers and devices your project was compatible with while you're working on it, something I would love to see here. Hunt acknowledged that the Edge tools does encourage people to do some coding. But, if you're familiar with timelines, there's a lot you can do with Edge. As a former print designer, Edge is built in such as way that I didn't feel intimated by using those skills to create a web product. While there is some coding involved, features such as motion paths are nearly impossible to hand-code and are best served by products such as this. Hunt said that the developers wanted to make people be as creative as possible, with as much UI help as possible. "Do you have three hours?" Hunt asked when I asked what was in the works. "There's so many things that we want to do." One of the active projects is introducing audio storytelling to Adobe Edge Animate. Other planned features include integration with InDesign and expanding it to chart-building, article linking, ePub3 support and other features such as drawing, tweening and video. Conclusion The Adobe Edge tools and services are part of an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, and if you have this subscription, then take advantage of it. The Edge tools are extremely easy-to-use, and there is a lot of positive creative energy and excitement coming from its development team. As working with interactive and responsive design becomes more prevalent, these HTML5-based tools are going to become far more important than my beloved InDesign. If you want to try the Adobe Edge tools, there's a trial available on Adobe's wesbite. A monthly subscription is $49.99 and has access to all of Adobe's software. You can subscribe to just Adobe Edge Animate for $19.99 a month.
Cisco plans to open-source H.264 code, widen support for web-based video chat
WebRTC promises plugin-free video chat in our browsers, but it has been stuck in limbo due to format squabbles -- some companies want royalty-free standards like VP8, while others insist on the wider support of H.264. Today, Cisco is proposing a truce between the two camps. It's planning to open-source its H.264 codec without passing on the royalties it pays to MPEG-LA, effectively making the standard free when used in web conversations. Mozilla is endorsing the strategy; although it still prefers open video technologies like VP8 and Daala, it believes that Cisco's move would let both Firefox clients and Firefox OS use H.264 for more tasks. Nothing is set in stone at this point, however. Industry members will pick WebRTC's video standard on November 7th, and there's no guarantee that their choice will dovetail with Cisco's plans. If all goes well, though, we won't have to fret much over the apps and devices we use for our video discussions.
ZTE Open review: Firefox OS gets off to a modest but promising start
As the first Firefox OS smartphone, the ZTE Open is an ambassador for its platform: it's built to prove that web apps can do the hard work of their native equivalents. It's also geared toward first-time smartphone owners with its simple interface and an $80 unlocked price. This combination of open, standards-based software and affordable hardware sounds like a dream for both developers and newcomers alike. But is that how it works in practice? Read our review and you'll find out.
ZTE planning bigger, better Firefox OS phone for US release next year
ZTE is one of the few companies making a sly side-bet on Firefox OS, and next year it's planning to double-down on that initial wager with the launch of a second handset running Mozilla's smartphone platform. Speaking with IDG's Michael Kan at Expo Comm China 2013, ZTE's Executive VP He Shiyou expects the device to land first half 2014, with a larger display than its predecessor, a dual-core processor, a "revamped user experience" and, of course, a low price. The exec also said that, with approximately 100,000 units sold, demand for the ZTE Open "has exceeded supply," and he anticipates double that figure in total sales. ZTE deliberately manufactured the Open on a small scale, but is optimistic about future adoption of Firefox OS. Shiyou believes HTML5-based apps will become more relevant as speedy network technology like LTE reduces reliance on native software, stating: "In the future, the app store business model will be no more."
iPhone 5s slaps down competitors in early benchmarks
Zach Epstein at BGR gives us a good, yet short summary of a rather lengthy (13 pages) review of the iPhone 5s posted on Anandtech by Anand Lal Shimpi. In his article, iPhone 5s slaughters its quad-core rivals in performance tests despite having "just" a dual-core CPU and 1 GB of RAM. Zach notes that this is the "most thorough [technical] review" to date. Shimpi's article quickly grew to 40 pages with the addition of user comments. Falling into the speeds and feeds trap when discussing mobile devices can be tricky, especially when the specs that smartphone vendors share most frequently only paint a small piece of the picture. It's easy to look at things like CPU cores and clockspeeds and make assumptions, but dozens of factors contribute to a smartphone's performance. --Zach Epstein Shimpi compared the new iPhone with devices from Samsung, LG, HTC and Motorola. Even though the iPhone 5s is powered by a 1.3 GHz dual-core 64-bit A7 processor, Apple bested the other devices in every performance test. Shimpi used JavaScript and HTML5 browser tests for CPU performance. His A7 GPU tests resulted in his comment, "The A7's GPU performance is also insanely good." His 13-part review is extremely technical in places, so good luck with the technical details -- I admit it lost me in places. To Shimpi's credit, almost every fact is accompanied by a graphical chart showing his results. The iPhone 5s is the first Apple device (and consumer device in the world) to ship with a PowerVR Series 6 GPU. The G6430 inside the A7 is a 4-cluster configuration, with each cluster featuring a 16-wide array of SIMD pipelines. -- Anand Lal Shimpi The only negative bit I read that I think is worth noting for a general user is how much wear his Apple case showed after only one week of use. That photo appears on page one of Anand Lal Shimpi's review. Many companies make cases, so you might be best off not purchasing the Apple leather iPhone 5s case. [via BGR] Related Articles The iPhone 5c Review (AnandTech) iPhone 5s review (Engadget) iPhone 5s Review: Apple's Latest Smartphone Goes For (And Gets) The Gold (TechCrunch)
Jaws: The Text Adventure eats yachts in your browser
Over the years, we've found that sharks are pretty awesome, and that text adventure games are equally great. A new browser-based game called Jaws: The Text Adventure seeks to combine the two. Created by indie developer Matt Round for UsVsTh3m, the HTML5 game has players controlling the infamous shark on a quest to fill its stomach with whatever it can find. It's a funny little excursion that offers multiple endings and a few hidden references to the 1975 Steven Spielberg-directed film.
Mozilla's 'Phone for Apps' initiative hits phase two, lures devs into porting HTML5 apps to Firefox OS
Firefox has certainly taken some pretty huge steps since Mozilla initially announced its "Phone for Apps" program back in May. Still, the browser maker knows there's a lot to be done before the mobile OS becomes more of a household entity. To help it achieve that, Mozilla's launching phase two of the "Phone for Apps" initiative, offering developers a Firefox OS device -- in this case the Geeksphone Keon -- in exchange for porting their HTML5 apps to the young platform. More specifically, this qualifies devs who have "already built and shipped an HTML5 web app and have the time now to port that app to the new Firefox OS." Is this you? Then here's what's left to do: click the source below to peruse the rest of the guidelines, fill out the application and, if you're amongst the chosen group, expect a confirmation to reach your inbox sometime thereafter.
TiVo adds Opera SDK support to Roamio platform, wants more HTML5 apps
The TiVo Roamio platform is still extremely young, what with it only having been launched earlier this month and all. Still, the DVR maker isn't wasting any time and is now finding ways to bring as many features as possible to its new set-top boxes. With this in mind, TiVo let it be known today that it's adding support for Opera's Devices SDK and TV Store to its lineup of Roamio DVRs, providing developers an opportunity to create a variety of HTML5-based applications. TiVo's hoping the partnership with Opera can introduce a slew of apps in different categories to the platform, including entertainment, fashion, sports, business, gaming news and more. As for Opera, we can imagine it's rather pleased to get its app-creating tools used by yet another company.
