Will iOS ever fully support HTML5?

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Level 1

4 points

Will iOS ever fully support HTML5?

Specifically in terms of audio and video support.

Autoplay, Looping, Preload...

I've heard rumors that Apple is purposely crippling HTML5 in iOS so that purchased apps will always have an advantage. I know that the official line is that they don't want to overload users' data usage, but as more and more devices (ie. iPads) are connected exclusively via WiFi, the data usage argument gets weaker and weaker. How hard would it be for Apple to simply add a preference to Mobile Safari that allows the user to specify whether or not they want AutoPlay (and other media features) enabled?

The ability of HTML5 to deliver "Flash-like" content on an iPad will only be attainable if Apple actually builds a browser that doesn't pick and choose which media features are supported. Apple is supposed to be one of the great champions of HTML5, but their ongoing denial of key features in HTML5 is beginning to look suspicious.

A standard is supposed to be a standard.

There's a wonderful program for creating HTML5 compliant content call "Hype". It is a fantastic tool, and I can't wait to see how it evolves. But I'm primarily interested in using Hype to develop content for iOS devices, and it's frustrating to see the usefulness of Hype significantly diminished simply because of a stubborn and artificial limit imposed by Apple.

End of rant. Thanks for listening.

Posted on Sep 26, 2011 3:10 PM

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Answer 1

K T

Level 7

23,889 points

Sep 26, 2011 4:18 PM in response to kobb

Know that HTML5 is, like iOS, a work in progress. As well, know that iOS sits on WebKit for that particular support, so you may be looking in the wrong corner for gremlins.

And finally, know that iOS 5 brings an entirely new WebKit version to the table, meaning that HTML5 is more supported than ever, to the point that Apple may have lessened the need for native apps in the store outright.

Building an up-do-date HTML5 equipped web site means having content ready for iOS and Android, without ever going neer a complicated IDE at all.

Isn't Apple great 🙂

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Answer 2

kobb Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 26, 2011 8:02 PM in response to K T

Thanks for the response, KT. I am a fan of Apple in general, but on this point I'm frustrated. I'm able to build HTML5 presentations that work beautifully on OS X Safari and Chrome, but won't function at all on iOS devices because Apple only supports a subset of the available media related HTML5 tags within iOS. I just think that it's time for Apple to embrace the entire (in progress) toolset available to web developers who want to display rich media content on the iPad.

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