Slash LaneA new report suggests that the trio of applications — Pages, Keynote, and Numbers — will be reintroduced as web applications, similar to the company's .Mac Web Gallery application that was built using SproutCore.
SproutCore is an open source, platform-independent, Cocoa-inspired JavaScript framework for creating web applications that look and feel like Desktop applications. When combined with HTML5's standard offline data storage technologies, the framework is capable of delivering a first-class user experience with exceptional performance.
During a private session at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference titled "Building Native Look-and-Feel Web Applications Using SproutCore," Apple revealed that the framework played a critical role in the development of each of the apps that comprise its online suite of Web-based MobileMe applications.
In its report on the matter, AppleInsider noted that: "Using SproutCore enabled Apple to deliver a new suite of online apps in MobileMe for a cross platform audience. The natural next step will be to expand those offerings to include others, for example, iWork productivity apps."
Because SproutCore is offered under the open source MIT license, anyone can use it to develop their own highly responsive web apps. It's also believed that Apple will at some point invite third parties to deliver their own MobileMe applications, either included as part of the subscription service, or with their own nominal fee.
Such a move would mirror the company's efforts in creating a mobile software market for the iPhone Apps Store.
Malcolm Owen
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75 Comments
Please describe Apple's "success in delivering web-based applications."
MobileMe has had its fair share of problems, and while Apple has continued to iron out the issues, I would hardly call their delivery a success.
Not liking this idea.
This would be bad.
Maybe if they make it so the files can be easily viewed on the web.
That would be good.
Not liking this idea.
I love the idea. I think one of MobileMe's downfalls is that it doesn't have iWork built in. My interest in the idea assumes that Apple will ALSO keep the local versions of iWork up-to-date, but AI's use of "reintroduce" does shy away from that.
I'd like to be able to put documents in my iDisk folder that I can access at any time. Or more specifically, go to Get Info on any iWork viewable file and click the box to sync with MobileMe without having to specifically have to place in a specific folder the way iDisk currently works.
It would be a neat additional service, but iWork can get a bit clunky enough as it is, even when pre-scaling images and such so they're close 300 dpi for print. As a web app? No thanks! solipsism's suggestion does sound interesting, then it's more network storage than a network app.