As we head into 2013, the contest between native and HTML5 mobile apps continues…
The skinny: HTML5 apps run in mobile browsers and can also be repackaged as native apps on various mobile platforms. With a wide range of platforms to support, combined with the sheer power of mobile browsers, developers are turning to HTML5 as a "write one, run many" solution.
But is it really viable?
We can judge a mobile app into two ways: user experience of the app itself, and the way it connects with the device's ecosystem. For Android, this would be features like widgets and notifications.
In terms of app experience, native apps can still do things that web-based apps can’t. For example, native apps can use a mobile device’s search button and volume controls, as well as interface with the GPS, camera and address book (though this varies from platform to platform). In addition, native apps are able to execute non-native codecs (encoding and decoding) at the operating system level.
In fact, many native app features are simply beyond the reach of an HTML5 app at this point – especially if the platform’s SDK limits developers who are creating web-based apps.
The good news is that web standards are evolving rapidly, and modern mobile browsers are keeping pace. Vendors are constantly evolving their APIs and allowing access to more native functionality through the browser. For example, a wide use of features such as offline storage, multi-touch gesture controls, geolocation, Canvas graphics, video/audio playback, camera and WebSocket (API) for two-way streaming, as well as device orientation detection, can be executed in HTML5 on modern smartphones and tablets.
In the end: native apps are a fast-moving target, but web apps are closing the gap.
If you are looking to develop a mobile experience:
- Think about what functionality is really important to the end user
- Do your research, as new features are constantly becoming available via browsers
- And remember that web-based apps are platform-agnostic, giving you more long-term bang for your buck.
