On 8 July 2015 at 17:46, Peter Merchant <madsmad...@netscape.net> wrote:
> The idea was that application developers of the future would just have to > be web developers. Telxon had a DOS OS +Browser being introduced at that > time as well as a Java based tablet (that went nowhere). > > I am not sure that it has completely happened, but I would be interested > to hear. Of course Android Apps are the other direction from that. The main difference between native apps (Android, iOS, but also desktop apps) is that they are designed to work offline and utilise the hardware on the device (eg device online/offline, available memory to implement different animation strategy, screen size and density, connected bluetooth devices etc). They also can query services linked to the user on the device (eg calendar, contacts). Until the browser has those capabilities built in, native apps offer a superior user experience. Having said that, I think the web is going towards that direction, eg Service Worker ( http://www.html5rocks.com/en/tutorials/service-worker/introduction/ ), but it's got a long way to go, because it is far easier for Google/Apple to develop new capabilities/APIs for their native platforms (Android/iOS) than it is to get new capabilities to be supported by all browsers. > > > Peter > > > > > > On 08/07/15 13:40, Natalie Hooper wrote: > >> I've just remembered, we also discussed where computing in general, and >> smartphones in particular, was heading to in the next 5 years, and I >> explained my vision for a truly portable system (nothing like trying to >> carry a laptop while pregnant to realise they're not that portable!): >> >> 1. A small headless computer that fits in a pocket. Attempts have been >> made >> already eg http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-33008346 Of course, it >> should have bluetooth, so you can connect a bluetooth keyboard for >> example. >> >> 2. A foldable touch screen. My take is that as you can fold paper only 7 >> times, perhaps folding 3 times is achievable for a screen, so you could >> fold a 10" screen (doesn't fit in pocket) into a 4" or 5" (fits in >> pocket). >> Again, I believe all manufacturers are working on foldable or rollable >> screens - nothing ready to be commercialized but my guess is first ones >> should appear in a couple of years, and by 5 years, they will be >> ubiquitous. Yes, I'm aware that battery will be an issue (how will it fit >> into the foldable design?). >> >> 3. Locations with screens available for users to connect to, perhaps via a >> subscription fee. Eg coffee shops, libraries, bookshops, train stations >> etc >> Once the technology is there, I think this will follow, in the same manner >> that wifi hotspots are now fairly easy to find. >> >> >> I may be totally wrong but this is my take anyway ;-) >> >> >> > > -- > Next meeting: Bournemouth, Tuesday, 2015-08-04 20:00 > Meets, Mailing list, IRC, LinkedIn, ... http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ > New thread: mailto:dorset@mailman.lug.org.uk / CHECK IF YOU'RE REPLYING > Reporting bugs well: http://goo.gl/4Xue / TO THE LIST OR THE AUTHOR > -- Next meeting: Bournemouth, Tuesday, 2015-08-04 20:00 Meets, Mailing list, IRC, LinkedIn, ... http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ New thread: mailto:dorset@mailman.lug.org.uk / CHECK IF YOU'RE REPLYING Reporting bugs well: http://goo.gl/4Xue / TO THE LIST OR THE AUTHOR
