Fall 2015

Professor: Miguel V. Martin, PhD, PEng

Mobile Web Programming

Chapter 3: Browsers and Web Platforms
Notes extracted from Programming the Mobile Web by M.
Firtman, OReilly, 2013.

Chapter 3. Browsers and Web Platforms

Web Platforms that Are Not Browsers

Mobile Browsers

Web Platforms that Are Not Browsers

Browser-based websites or web apps

HTML5 apps
Web views
Native web apps
Ebooks

Web Platforms that Are Not Browsers: HTML5 Web Apps

iOS web apps. From a mobile website

to a full-screen HTML5 app

Source: Firtman, 2013

Web Platforms that Are Not Browsers: HTML5 Web Apps

Chrome apps (a.k.a. packaged apps)

Supported for desktop and notebook
Available on Windows, Mac, Linux, and
Chrome OS through the Chrome Web
Store
Android TBA

Web Platforms that Are Not Browsers: HTML5 Web Apps

Firefox open web apps

Supported on all Firefox platforms
(desktops, tablets, and smartphones)
Available through the Mozilla Marketplace

Web Platforms that Are Not Browsers: HTML5 Web Apps

Symbian standalone web apps

Similar to iOS web apps!

Web Platforms that Are Not Browsers: HTML5 Web Apps

S40 web apps

For mid-range device series, Series 40
Cloud-based apps distributed through the
Nokia Store

Web Platforms that Are Not Browsers: HTML5 Web Apps

Samsung web API

SDK to create apps for smartphones and
smart TVs using web technologies and a
JavaScript API

Supports mobile web apps, TV web

apps, and convergence web apps
which interwork between a Samsung
smartphone and a TV

Web Platforms that Are Not Browsers: Web Views

A web view is a component inside a

native app which allows for the
embedding of web content
E.g., Twitter app

Source: Firtman, 2013

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Web Platforms that Are Not Browsers: Pseudo-Browsers

A pseudo-browser is a web view from

the operating system

Source: Firtman, 2013

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Web Platforms that Are Not Browsers: Native Web Apps, Packaged Apps, and Hybrids

One approach is to develop them

using web technologies (HTML, CSS,
JavaScript) but package them as
native applications so they can be
distributed through the stores
Another approach is to combine native
UI components with only some parts
in a web view, with JavaScript logic
OSs that support the creation of
packages that can be distributed as
native apps while being developed
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Web Platforms that Are Not Browsers: Native Web Apps, Packaged Apps, and Hybrids

OSs that support the creation of packages that can be

distributed as native apps while being developed using
HTML5:
Blackberry WebWorks, Windows 8 HTML5 apps, Tizen apps,
Symbian WRT, QtWebKit, Ubuntu for mobile apps

Apache Cordova and Adobe PhoneGap

PhoneGap was the first to offer a multiplatform solution for native
web development. It was acquired by Apache and donated to the
Apache Foundation under the name Apache Cordova

Sencha Touch
Includes a native packager for iOS and Android for Windows and
Mac developers

Appcelerator Titanium
Allows the creation of iOS, BB, and Android native web apps. It
converts JavaScript to native code

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Web Platforms that Are Not Browsers: Ebooks

New ebook readers support HTML5

and web content based on different
formats such as EPUB3 or Kindle
Format 8
So, we can create interactive ebook
experiences with HTML, CSS, and
JavaScript

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Mobile Browsers: Preinstalled Browsers

Safari on iOS. WebKit-based, bundled

with iOS. It doesnt follow the same
versioning as Safari desktop
Android browser. Android OS used to
include AB (up to 4.0, Ice Cream
Sandwich). AB is WebKit-based too.
Google Chrome for Android is
replacing the AB
Google Chrome. Since Android OS 4.1
(Jelly Bean) it is the bundled browser.
One of the best HTML5 browsers in
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Mobile Browsers: Preinstalled Browsers (Contd.)

Amazon Silk. Kindle Fire family. Based on the Android
browser. Proxy browser which does parsing in some
Amazon servers delivering compressed results to the
browser
Internet Explorer. One of the first mobile browsers in
the market. Uses their own proprietary engine called
Trident
Nokia Browser for Series 40. Designed for feature
phones. Focus navigation. Based on Nokias own
rendering engine
Nokia Browser for Symbian. Supports HTML5. Designed
for S60s
Nokia Browser for MeeGo. Not many devices support it
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Mobile Browsers: Preinstalled Browsers (Contd.)

webOS Browser. Bundled with the HP OS. WebKit-based
BlackBerry Browser. WebKit-based
UC Browser. #1 browser in the Chinese market (#2 in India).
Cloud-based browser supporting full HTML and JavaScript.
Works in some 3,000 different mobile device models including
Android, Symbian, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and the iPhone
Samsung Dolfin & Jasmine. WebKit-based bundled with the
Bada OS. Installed on social devices and supports HTML5.
Jasmine is meant for low-end devices, based on proprietary
engine
NetFront. For low-end and mid-range devices including phones,
digital TVs, printers, and game consoles. Preinstalled on Sony
Ericsson, Lg, Samsung, and ZTE devices as well as in Amazon
Kindle, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo 3D. Supports HTML5

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Mobile Browsers: Preinstalled Browsers (Contd.)

Tilt mode feature of NetFront

Source: Firtman, 2013

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Mobile Browsers: Preinstalled Browsers (Contd.)

Others:
LG Phantom. WebKit-based
Myriad Browser. Formerly Openware
Obigo Browser. Used to have 14% of the
market before the smartphone revolution
in 2007
Legacy mobile browsers: MicroB for
Maemo, Sony Mobile
Motorola Mobile. It renders documents up
to 10 KB
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Mobile Browsers: User-Installable Browsers

Opera Mobile
Opera Mini (proxy browser). 194
million users in October 2012

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Source: Firtman, 2013

Mobile Browsers: User-Installable Browsers

Firefox. Updated in sync with the

desktop version. Uses same Gecko
engine as the desktop version.
Preinstalled in the Firefox OS
Dolphin. Not to be confused with
Samsungs Dolfin. WebKit-based. One
of the top HTML5 scores
Baidu Browser. Most used browser in
China. WebKit-based
SkyFire. For Android and iOS.
Transcodes nonmobile documents to
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Source: Firtman, 2013

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Further Reading
M. Firtman, Programming the Mobile
Web, OReilly, 2013. Ch. 3.

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