With the iPad being joined by other major PC tablet devices (Xoom, Streak, Galaxy, Playbook, etc), one new task on a web programmer’s to-do list is upgrading existing websites to work in this new context. One likely coping mechanism on the technical end will be embracing HTML5.
HTML5 is backward-compatibile with HTML4, and there is already wide support available on most browser platforms. An upgrade on the markup currently in widespread use, it adds a bunch of new tags to the previous protocols, allowing for more interaction and standardization. Demos are readily available on the Web.
To help in this knowledge upgrade, there are a couple resources that are worth noting:
From the Asylum Run (by Paul Irish and Divya Manian) comes HTML5 Readiness, a nifty interactive visualization showing how prepared the major browsers are for HTML5. Mouse over the bands to reveal each feature, and follow the rings to track each browser. The compatibility also extends back to 2008, so it is easy to track progress in development of these browser applications. Divya posted a bit of background on the project and how it came to be.
Another useful tool is the HTML5 Test, a web page that generates a report based on the browser calling the page. The tool scores 10 elements and an additional 6 related specifications, arriving at a number to compare browser interpretation of these developer functions.
To learn more about HTML5, pick up Mark Pilgrim’s O’Reilly book, HTML5: Up & Running. The text is essentially up online for free under Creative Commons licensing.
