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Today's browsers are capable of doing tasks that were impossible only a few years ago. Development of HTML5 created the revolution, empowering current web browsers in desktops, tablets, and smartphones to become equally capable of handling websites and business-critical applications.
Indeed, employees can do most office work using web apps instead of standalone software.
Developers like Microsoft, Google, and Salesforce.com hope to transition clients to web-based features such as email management, document- and file-sharing, task and calendar management, and videoconferencing, through their rich HTML features like drag and drop, and advanced web GUI dashboards that make the user experience easier and more productive.
For example, Google+ Hangouts allows up to 10 people to simultaneously communicate in a videoconference. This can reduce travel costs, and participants can even simultaneously edit a document in real time using a web browser from any device, further underscoring the power of modern web apps.
Some projects, such as Apache’s Open Office, will become one of the web app-based solutions that may one day compete with products like Microsoft Office 365 in the software-as-a-service (SaaS) arena. Cloud-based solutions typically have web-based, end-user interfaces that enable service anywhere by using the web browser on any device, at any time. As a result, it's the platform-independent solution of today -- and the future.
Working on the Web
The Samsung Chromebook uses web-based apps to ensure apps -- and security -- remain current, and ends the need for time- and storage-consuming software downloads.
Already, web-based services are improving communication and collaboration between corporate departments, customers, suppliers, and partners. Since the end-user's platform is no longer a concern, the barrier to sharing has disappeared. Some tools I like include:
- For iOS 6 devices, Google developed the Google Maps web app, which people can access through Apple's Safari browser. This web app can even display the Street View of Google maps. Users can pin this web app to their apps list in their iPhone.
- When users take images in photsphere mode on an Android 4.2 device, they can see the photos using Google Street View, like the photo viewer on Google Plus. This is a revolution in photography for both enterprise users and consumers.
- With Google Chromebook, we complete day-to-day activities just using web apps. As Google says, this web-based OS is always up-to-date. We simply click the refresh button to update an app so the security -- and any new software features -- update in seconds. This is a major example of the future of web app based computing. No doubt there will be many more this year.
Which web apps are important to your business today? What would you like developers to create in order to make your business even more productive and profitable, and your IT department even more efficient?
— Raj Kumar is an independent industry analyst and IT professional in the Coimbatore area of India.
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Thinkernetter
Wednesday January 16, 2013 8:49:16 AM
You are creating a bottleneck. Everything is predicating on internet access and that your pipe leading to the internet is working correctly. I'm finding clients are not comfortable with that at all, once they take a hard look at how many people would be sitting twiddling their thumbs if when that happened.
Thinkernetter
Wednesday January 16, 2013 9:28:25 AM
@Michael you make a good point. is there a viable alternative model?
IQ Crew
Thursday January 17, 2013 5:38:48 AM
it's not just about the internet access. Not all browsers supports HTML5 equally and not all web apps run perfectly on each browser. A few days back Google maps stopped working on Windowsphone 8 browser.
Thinkernetter
Friday January 18, 2013 9:39:58 AM
I know it's faced criticism because it's difficult to write code with and has debugging inadequacies, as well as inconsistent support for audio file formats. But because it's an open standard and has a lot of backers like Microsoft, Facebook, Apple, Intel, and Amazon, isn't it going to be the de facto standard? Developers are working to make it run on multicore processors, which will make web apps run faster. I think, then, that despite its imperfection and challenges today, HTML5 will eventually rule the market. But it won't happen overnight... these things never do!
IQ Crew
Wednesday January 23, 2013 5:16:58 PM
The problem with HTML 5 is it's not been standardised which makes it difficult to optimise for all the browsers and compatibility with older systems. Otherwise it's great especially for smartphones.
Thinkernetter
Wednesday January 23, 2013 5:28:53 PM
It appears to be the de facto standard, though, until developers get another alternative to coding for each separate platform. You're right though, Usman, it's not perfect.
The ThinkerNet does not reflect the views of TechWeb. The ThinkerNet is an informal means of communication to members and visitors of the Internet Evolution site. Individual authors are chosen by Internet Evolution to blog. Neither Internet Evolution nor TechWeb assume responsibility for comments, claims, or opinions made by authors and ThinkerNet bloggers. They are no substitute for your own research and should not be relied upon for trading or any other purpose. |
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