Apple devices, both mobile and desktop, still occupy a minority across the deployed userbase (just a disporportionately large mindshare, the Reality Distortion Effect hard at work as always). Android & MS still have lion's share of mobile devices worldwide and they're going to be locked in a battle for the next couple of years with new devices, with Apple's stuff receiving just incremental updates. (yes, I know Mobile Safari using the UIWebView class renders SVG)
As a 'regular user' I regard Jonathan as an SVG Zealot (in the best possible way!) While I'm all for standards, particularly open ones, implementing SVG would be a painful and problematic migration for the Beeb. And as any fule kno, sites as popular as bbc.co.uk need to conform to a lowest common denominator of accessibility. SVG is *not* a lowest common denominator format. If SVGs need explaining to average web users they're not ready for the big time just yet. IMHO SVG needs 4-5 more years before being accepted as a de facto format to the extent that Flash is. It's reached mass penetration when all mobile handsets' default browsers render SVG in realtime (save one stubborn hardware house, we're almost there now with Flash and that's taken a HECK of a lot of work by Adobe + mobile OS developers). I dislike SVG in this regard due to its bleeding edgeness, it presents a sharp learning curve for me and I'm not a newbie by any means. It's taken long enough to get true cross-browser PNG w/ alpha channel support without having to resort to ridiculous levels of code hackery. Keep on fighting the good fight Jonathan... :-) I think you're pushing at a bricked-up door in the meantime though for a BBC.co.uk rollout. - Sent via the backstage.bbc.co.uk discussion group. To unsubscribe, please visit http://backstage.bbc.co.uk/archives/2005/01/mailing_list.html. Unofficial list archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/backstage@lists.bbc.co.uk/
