You may or may not be aware that HTML5 is on the horizon, but what does this mean if you are a web designer, website owner or business? Well let’s start at the beginning
What is HTML5?
HTML5 is a new version of HTML 4.01 and XHTML 1.0 focusing on the needs of Web application developers as well as evolving HTML and addressing issues found in the current specifications.
OK, so what can it do?
Well the 5 main features are as follows:
1) Web Workers: Think of it as Hyper-Threading for web browsers. Separate background threads are used to do processing without effecting the performance of a webpage. This can be very useful for web applications which relies on heavy scripts to perform functions (among other things).
2) Video Element: Probably the most significant HTML5 features yet. You can embed video without having to rely on third-party proprietary plug-ins or codec. You can embed video code with the same amount of ease as you now embed an image with the ability to manipulate videos and built-in video controls among other things.
3) Canvas: Canvas element lets you render graphics and images on the fly. All done without having to rely on plug-in, the possibilities are endless.
4) Application caches: The ability to store web apps like email locally and access it without having to connect to the internet or install an external client like Outlook or Thunderbird. Google gears, which helps you access Gmail offline, is an implementation of HTML5 specifications for Applications Cache (and much more). If you use Google Gears than you are using already using this feature.
5) Geolocation: This API defines location information with high-level interface (GPS) associated with the device hosting the API. Sources of location information includes Global Positioning System (GPS) and network signals such as IP address, RFID, WiFi and Bluetooth MAC addresses, and GSM/CDMA cell IDs. Yes, a big brother feature, but it can only be used if the user gives the application permission to use the information.
So we are running a lot more with the browser, does my browser support HTML5?
Well Chrome and Safari are taking the lead on this at the moment but don’t expect Firefox or Opera to be far behind. As for IE, well you would expect their upcoming release of IE9 to support HTML5 but we will wait and see. With all the different versions of browsers available, you can find out how well your existing browser(s) support HTML5 by using html5test.com.
Let me see HTML5 in action
Use Google Chrome or if on a Mac Safari to view the following websites to see what all the fuss is about:
Arcade Fire Interactive Music Video
Remember these are not built using anything but HTML5, not an inch of Flash in sight. Have a search online and see what other designers and developers are creating. You can find more examples of HTML5 here
