Apple this week posted a new section on its website, showing off the abilities of HTML5 in a standards based browser such as Safari, including interactive videos and photos.
Using the Safari browser, users can pan around a 360-degree view of the entrance to Apple's iconic Fifth Avenue store in New York City, watch an embedded trailer for the forthcoming film "Tron" and manipulate scale and perspective, or flip through a gallery of photos. The material is all available at the new apple.com/html5/ site.
"Every new Apple mobile device and every new Mac — along with the latest version of Apple’s Safari web browser — supports web standards including HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript," the website reads. "These web standards are open, reliable, highly secure, and efficient. They allow web designers and developers to create advanced graphics, typography, animations, and transitions. Standards aren’t add-ons to the web. They are the web. And you can start using them today."
Seven different sections of content highlight the capabilities of HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript. Apple acknowledges that not all browser offer the support found in Apple's devices, but notes that "soon other modern browsers will take advantage of these same web standards -- and the amazing things they enable web designers to do."
The demonstrations also show off the different typography and design flexibility available with HTML5, the ability to embed audio into a website, and manipulate a 360-degree photo of three iPod touches. The site also features a link to the Safari Dev Center, offering more information about HTML5 for developers.
The promotional website also features a link to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' public letter on Adobe Flash, in which he slammed the Web format as unfit for the modern era. Jobs believes that Flash "falls short" in the world of mobile computing, which is why it is not available on devices powered by the iPhone OS, including the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.
Jobs and Apple have argued that Flash is a closed system and "100% proprietary." They have instead pushed open standards, including HTML5, CSS and JavaScript. Apple's crusade has helped to influence a number of major sites transitioning to HTML5.
In April, days before the iPad was released, Apple also unveiled a list of sites it declared iPad ready. The sites listed rely on Web standards without Adobe Flash, making them ideal for viewing iPad content. Sites on the list include CNN, Reuters, The New York Times, Major League Baseball, Vimeo, The White House, Virgin America, Flickr, and Sports Illustrated.