Lee Graham's Digital Home

I've only had two critiques of Android so far: 1) OS Fragmentation & 2) some tweaks to the UI/UX would be nice.

As Google has a solid history of doing, they are stepping up their game with the next release of Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). Google is said to be "laser-focused" on improving the UI so carriers don't need custom skins such as: Motoblur, Ninjablur, SenseUI, etc...

Two possible, positive benefits if this pans out: 1) the end of these custom UI's from carriers that slow down the devices and cause so much pain while waiting patiently for them to upgrade, and 2) a better user experience is really welcomed!

The best part, it is rumored that Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) will be coming Q4 of this year, and then after that it will move over to a year;y iteration/release process.

Interesting overall fact about Android I didn't know,

"If this news is true, it means that Google Android has had five variants that has a code name taken from the cake, such as Android 5.1 as 'Cupcake', Android 1.6 'Donut', Android 1.2 'Enclair', Android 2.2 'Froyo' (Fozen Yogurt) and Android 3.2 'Gingerbread '. If the note all the names that have the prefix letter alphabet C, D, E, F and G. An intelligent approach than Google, while the use of a snack/cakes makes this platform so impressed more "sweet" and sound friendly for the user." - via Oki Rosgani

I noticed a link to Apple's HTML5 Showcase and I thought it would be interesting to see what they are demoing, so I took a look... Nice page and initially looks like a good variety of demos...

I quick learned that I couldn't access demos within Google Chrome, Internet Explorer or even Firefox. I had to use Safari... WTF!?!?!?!?

Déjà vu! For a second there I had flashbacks to a few years back, using a Firefox browser and trying to access a site that requires ActiveX and would only run in Internet Explorer. Scary! Don't get me wrong, I completely understand HTML5 is still in development and browser companies are still building HTML5 features as they are established and change, BUT ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME... I have to use frickin' Safari?

Sean Michael Kerner of InternetNews.com said, "...if HTML5 is truly about creating an open web standard for all, shouldn't an HTML5 demo page highlight standard features that work across all HTML5 compliant browsers?"

Correct if I am wrong, but I thought HTML5 was about any content, any device, any where! 

I did try it on Safari just to see the demos. Overall, sure it was pretty cool. Overall there is still a bit of lag with the processing of the JavaScript from time to time. Everything was nice until I got to the HTML5 VR Demo. It said this demo not only requires Safari, but it also requires me to be on an Apple machine!!! Apple has clearly gone past Adobe's requirement for a 3rd party plugin, this is requiring the users to have a certain type of hardware. APPLE THIS DOESN'T BELONG IN AN "OPEN HTML5 DEMO" 

It's like Jason Calacanis put it when talking about Steve Jobs at Wall Street Journal's D8, "Jobs fired away at Adobe over the Flash issue. He discussed how his closed platform is actually open because they support HTML5. He discussed why Google is toast (no one searches anymore, if they want a restaurant they just open the Yelp application)."

Again, correct if I am wrong, but I thought HTML5 was about any content, any device, any where! 

Apple's HTML5 Showcase on the Google Nexus One... I went ahead and tried it on my Nexus One, just for fun.

• HTML5 Video Demo - Got this message, "This demo contains H.264 video. Windows users can download QuickTime to enable support fro this industry-standard format." - This is a frickin' riot here! Apple bashes Adobe for needing a proprietary plugin to view content and Apple requires the same thing here. Its a freaking double standard here!
• HTML5 Typography Demo - This demo actually worked, BUT definitely not optimized for mobile consumption on the Nexus One. Tried it on my iPhone and it worked well.
• HTML5 Gallery Demo - This actually worked very nice, with the exception that I was not able to select the drop down to change Gallery demo styles.
• HTML5 Transitions Demo - Worked very nicely.
• HTML5 Audio Demo - Worked well.
• HTML5 360 Degree Demo - Kind of worked. Really, really choppy.
• HTML5 VR Demo - Same response as attempting to view in Safari on my PC... I need a Mac product to view.

Apple's HTML5 Showcase = FAIL