Webtech 17.11.2009

The future of web technologies
WEB STANDARDS, CROSS-DEVICE DEVELOPMENT AND THE WEB AS UBIQUITOUS PLATFORM

Patrick H. Lauke / Webtech / Karlsruhe / 17 November 2009

Opera – one browser on many devices

"Our goal is to take the one true Web and
make it available to people on their terms."
Jon S. von Tetzchner, Opera Co-founder & CEO

1. new web standards
2. adaptive content
3. browser as platform

new technologies you can start using today

HTML5 does not replace HTML 4.01

“...extending the language to better support Web
applications, since that is one of the directions the Web is
going in and is one of the areas least well served by HTML
so far. This puts HTML in direct competition with other
technologies intended for applications deployed over the
Web, in particular Flash and Silverlight.”

Ian Hickson, Editor of HTML5
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2009Jan/0215.html

HTML5 is umbrella term:
markup elements and JavaScript APIs

Webforms – more powerful form elements

standardise commonly-used
rich form elements – without JavaScript

built-in validation
(of course you should still validate on the server)

Demonstration of webforms

canvas = “scriptable images”

canvas has standard API methods for drawing
ctx = canvas.getContext("2d");
ctx.fillRect(x, y, width, height);
ctx.beginPath();
ctx.moveTo(x, y);
ctx.lineTo(x, y);
ctx.bezierCurveTo(x1, y1, x2, y2, c1, c2);

canvas mixing things up with external graphics
ctx = canvas.drawImage(…)

Demonstration of canvas

<video src="video.ogv"
controls
autoplay
poster="poster.jpg"
width="320" height="240">
<a href="video.ogv">Download movie</a>
</video>

video as native object...why is it important?

● “play nice” with rest of the page
● keyboard accessibility built-in

● API for controls

Demonstration of video in Presto 2.4

video format debates – MP4 vs OGG Theora
<video controls autoplay poster="…" width="…" height="…">
<source src="movie.ogv" type="video/ogg" />
<source src="movie.mp4" type="video/mp4" />

</video>

still include fallback for old browsers
http://camendesign.com/code/video_for_everybody

video and canvas on any device
without plugins
(Java / Flash / Silverlight not ubiquitous)

Mobile web and why it matters
www.opera.com/smw

Opera Mini: +150% users, +224% traffic
15 Billion pages served / month
September 2008 - 2009

“One Web” is an uneven landscape:

● constrained browsers (WAP, …)
● mobile “Full Web” (Android, Opera Mobile, …)

● proxy-based (Opera Mini, …)

● laptop, Netbook, Tablet PC, Desktop

● games consoles, set-top boxes, TVs

Device capabilities also vary:

● screen size and resolution
● input mechanism – touch, keypad, other?

● memory and processing power

● colour palettes

● connection speed / quality

“One Web means making, as far as is reasonable, the
same information and services available to users
irrespective of the device they are using. However, it does
not mean that exactly the same information is available in
exactly the same representation across all devices.”
W3C Mobile Web Best Practices http://www.w3.org/TR/mobile-bp/#OneWeb

Approaches to cross-device development:

● do nothing – use standards, defensive design
● separate site (m.mysite.com, mysite.mobi)

● single site, but optimised for cross-device

Server-side detection of devices:

● “browser sniffing” the User Agent string
Opera/9.80 (J2ME/MIDP; Opera Mini/5.0.2056/866; U; en) Presto/2.2

● offer users a way back (example of Orkut)

Client-side detection of devices:

● “browser sniffing” the User Agent string again
● “capability sniffing” reliant on JavaScript

● CSS 2.1 Media Types

● CSS 3 Media Queries

CSS 2.1 Media Types:

● print, screen, handheld, projection, tv, …
● partially supported

● lump all devices into single categories

http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS21/media.html

CSS 2.1 Media Types:

<link rel="stylesheet" ...
media="print" href="...">

@import url("...") print;

@media print {
// insert CSS rules here
}

CSS 3 Media Queries:

● build and extend CSS 2.1 Media Types
● more granular control of capabilities

● width, height, orientation, color, resolution, …

http://www.w3.org/TR/css3-mediaqueries/

CSS 3 Media Queries:

@media screen and
(max-device-width: 480px) {

// insert CSS rules here

}

Demonstration of Media Queries

SVG in OBJECT, CSS and IMG element*
native inclusion in HTML5?
*only in Opera at the moment

CSS 3 Media Queries and SVG:

● SVG already resolution independent
● ideal for device interfaces, maps, graphs, …

● combination with CSS 3 Media Queries

Demonstration of Media Queries + SVG

Full Web is not always practical or desirable

Widgets are nothing new
Yahoo! Widgets (aka Konfabulator), OS X Dashboard, Windows Sidebar,
Adobe Air, iPhone Apps, Android Apps, …

“…the browser run-time is
perfect…you’re out of writing for
Windows Mobile, Android, S60,
each of which require testing...we
want to abstract that.

All the cool innovation is
happening inside the browser –
you don’t need to write to the
native operating system
anymore.”

Mobile Entertainment Market , June, 2009

W3C Widgets – application development filled
with web standards goodness,
using browser engine as platform

Widgets on desktop, mobile, TV … fridge?

Opera had widget capability for a long time …
latest Labs release widgets as standalone apps
http://labs.opera.com/news/2009/10/15/

Anatomy of a widget
index.html + config.xml

Configuration file
<widget>
<widgetname>MyFirstWidget</widgetname>
<description>A demo widget</description>
<icon>images/widget.png</icon>
<width>320</width>
<height>240</height>
</widget>

Demonstration of basic widget

Standardised JavaScript APIs
to access device-specific capabilities
(JIL / BONDI)

Opera Unite applications related
to widget … but turbo-charged!

Media Player Messenger
Access your complete home Communicate with your friends
music library from wherever you in My Opera in a one-to-one,
are. live session.

File Sharing The Lounge
Share files directly from your Invite your friends to a chat in
computer easily and safely. The Lounge hosted on your
computer.

File Inbox Web Server
Allow files to be uploaded to
Host your Web sites running from
your computer, by you or
your own computer.
your friends, from
anywhere.

Photo Sharing Fridge
Share your personal photos with Enjoy fun notes left on your
friends around the world without the computer by friends.
need to upload them.

Opera Unite applications use web standards
+ specific JavaScript APIs

Opera Unite applications = “P2P widgets”
using Opera browser as app environment
(but any other browser can connect)

www.opera.com/developer
patrick.lauke@opera.com

Webtech 17.11.2009

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