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Look, No Wires

September 01, 2011

Adobe Edges in on HTML5

This article originally appeared in the Sept. 2011 issue of Next Gen Mobility

The move to HTML5 is one of the most exciting developments I have seen in tech as it ties together cloud, mobile and the concept that programmers should be able to write once and have their programs run anywhere. Moreover, the hundreds of millions of Apple (News - Alert) iOS devices that do not support Adobe Flash do/will support HTML5. As websites slowly begin the transition to this new web standard, every tablet should for the first time be able to view most every webpage.

It’s no wonder HTML5 is being credited with allowing a 15-year post Internet boom mega-cycle.

A few potential casualties of the HTML5 revolution are app stores, which have a lock on the real innovation taking place on their platforms.

In response, Adobe (News - Alert) has embraced the latest HTML variation with its new Edge solution designed to allow more efficient programming to this new standard as well as JavaScript and CSS (News - Alert). As you may expect, the specific target of this announcement is to allow the creation of more interactive web pages, which have traditionally been delivered through Flash. Simply stated, Edge allows interactive designers to create motion and interactivity in HTML5. To learn more I had an in-depth interview with Paul Gubbay, vice president of design web and interactive at Adobe Systems (News - Alert).

Gubbay explained that his company can’t dictate to customers which programming tools they will use. So instead, what Adobe is doing is optimizing its tools and technologies to help developers create across platforms. One interesting point he made is that Flash has always been the blueprint of where HTML should be going.

As Heidi Voltmer, Adobe’s group product marketing manager for web solutions, recently told NGM’s Paula Bernier, Adobe Edge is similar in look and feel to other Adobe products, and enables easy and intuitive content creation. It can be used to create content from the ground up, and can animate existing imagery. Voltmer says the solution is likely to appeal mostly to interactive Flash Professional users as well as web designers who don’t want to write tons of Java script.

Adobe Edge will be available without charge on the Adobe Labs website until some point in 2012, Voltmer says, adding that the company will add features to Adobe Edge over time. As part of the Adobe Edge effort, she notes, the company will be looking to implement best practices around HTML5. (She adds that HTML5 is also supported in the Creative Suite 5.5 that shipped in May and was added to Adobe’s Dreamweaver tool. Adobe also has been doing a lot of work related to its WebKit, a rendering engine for lots of browsers. New on this front is CSS Regions, a spec that allows for richer page layouts by using HTML in the browser.)

In the future we can expect Flash and Air to allow development of very complex user interfaces like those used in gaming. HTML5, he says, isn’t quite there yet – and as a result we can expect Webkit improvements and jQuery mobile frameworks advances.

One of the greatest inconsistencies on the web is how video is played, and we will continue to see Adobe concentrate on making premium video better. Think about applications provided by companies like Netflix and HBO. Moreover, we can expect Edge to support video in the future – sorry, it doesn’t right now.

The bottom line is Adobe hopes to be a major player in the HTML5 tool world, and if the market is even a fraction as large as the analysts believe, the company has a great opportunity ahead of it.

Rich Tehrani is CEO of TMC. In addition, he is the Chairman of the world’s best-attended communications conference, INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference & EXPO (ITEXPO (News - Alert)). He is also the author of his own communications and technology blog.

Edited by Stefania Viscusi

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Meet the Editorial Team

Rich Tehrani,
CEO, TMC
Since 1982 Rich has led TMC© in many capacities. Rich Tehrani is an IP Communications industry expert, visionary, author and columnist. He founded INTERNET TELEPHONY® magazine...Read More >>>
Carl Ford,
Partner and Community Developer, Crossfire Media
Today as a partner at Crossfire Media, Carl is developing programs that bring to light an understanding of the issues required for delivering broadband wireless Internet...Read More >>>
Erik Linask,
Group Editorial Director, TMC
Erik oversees the editorial content and direction for all of TMC. Erik has contributed literally thousands of features during his 5-year tenure, with a focus...Read More >>>
Paula Bernier,
Executive Editor, IP Communications Group
Paula oversees editorial content and operations of INTERNET TELEPHONY and Next Gen Mobility Magazines. Bernier is...Read More >>>
Paula Bernier,
CTO & Executive Technology Editor
om is executive technology editor for TMC® Labs, the industry’s most-well known and respected testing lab, and ...Read More >>>