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But your're ok with the child in Africa having to buy an expensive Mac?

Terretta 16y ago
They don't have to, that's my point. An HTML5 app is a set of text files with a manifest (also text). It installs on the iPhone from a web site, then runs on the iPhone offline, complete with local data storage. Apps that install on the iPhone (including PacMan) can be made on the OLPC laptop, no Mac or Windows needed. http://mrgan.tumblr.com/post/257187093/pie-guy http://mrgan.tumblr.com/post/257187093/pie-guy
- pavlov 16y ago
  It installs on the iPhone from a web site, then runs on the iPhone offline, complete with local data storage. Have I missed something: does this capability currently exist on the iPhone? Or this just wishful thinking?
  - aaronsw 16y ago
    Currently exists. Has for quite a while now.
  - Terretta 16y ago
    Check out that link. Extract: ... There’s no easier way to get an app than by installing it right from its website - that’s right, easier than the App Store. One tap and you’re set. Because it’s a web app, see. Not one of those where you need to be online either - once you add Pie Guy to your home screen, it’ll run even when you’re not connected to the Internet. And of course, your game will be saved to a local database. Read on... Here's an example tutorial targeting web developers: http://sixrevisions.com/web-development/html5-iphone-app/ http://sixrevisions.com/web-development/html5-iphone-app/
    - pavlov 16y ago
      Thanks, that looks very nice. I feel a bit stupid now. But I'm also wondering how I've managed to remain completely ignorant of this alternative for deploying apps to the iPhone, when I try to follow this stuff pretty closely... I think the extended soap opera about App Store riches, unfair refusals, Section 3.3.1, etc. has managed to eclipse this deployment possibility. It's a shame, really. Everyone (incl. Apple) might be better off if the issue were less polarised.
  - iclelland 16y ago
    Yes, the iPhone supports client-side SQLite databases, accessible from JavaScript, and it has the ability to cache web resources, so that they can be used without network access (again, from JavaScript, you can tell whether you have a network available, and change application behaviour accordingly). Those are both from open standards. Web sites can also declare themselves to be "web apps", in which case the user can link them to the phone's home screen, and they can look just like native apps, with splash screens on startup; even hiding the usual safari navigation if you want.

They don't have to, that's my point. An HTML5 app is a set of text files with a manifest (also text). It installs on the iPhone from a web site, then runs on the iPhone offline, complete with local data storage. Apps that install on the iPhone (including PacMan) can be made on the OLPC laptop, no Mac or Windows needed. http://mrgan.tumblr.com/post/257187093/pie-guy http://mrgan.tumblr.com/post/257187093/pie-guy

pavlov 16y ago
It installs on the iPhone from a web site, then runs on the iPhone offline, complete with local data storage. Have I missed something: does this capability currently exist on the iPhone? Or this just wishful thinking?
- aaronsw 16y ago
  Currently exists. Has for quite a while now.
- Terretta 16y ago
  Check out that link. Extract: ... There’s no easier way to get an app than by installing it right from its website - that’s right, easier than the App Store. One tap and you’re set. Because it’s a web app, see. Not one of those where you need to be online either - once you add Pie Guy to your home screen, it’ll run even when you’re not connected to the Internet. And of course, your game will be saved to a local database. Read on... Here's an example tutorial targeting web developers: http://sixrevisions.com/web-development/html5-iphone-app/ http://sixrevisions.com/web-development/html5-iphone-app/
  - pavlov 16y ago
    Thanks, that looks very nice. I feel a bit stupid now. But I'm also wondering how I've managed to remain completely ignorant of this alternative for deploying apps to the iPhone, when I try to follow this stuff pretty closely... I think the extended soap opera about App Store riches, unfair refusals, Section 3.3.1, etc. has managed to eclipse this deployment possibility. It's a shame, really. Everyone (incl. Apple) might be better off if the issue were less polarised.
- iclelland 16y ago
  Yes, the iPhone supports client-side SQLite databases, accessible from JavaScript, and it has the ability to cache web resources, so that they can be used without network access (again, from JavaScript, you can tell whether you have a network available, and change application behaviour accordingly). Those are both from open standards. Web sites can also declare themselves to be "web apps", in which case the user can link them to the phone's home screen, and they can look just like native apps, with splash screens on startup; even hiding the usual safari navigation if you want.