HTML5 – Future Universal Client or Pure Marketing Hype?

I’ve heard some people dismiss HTML5 as pure marketing hype. For me this is just nonsense! Developers of business applications working to one or two year release cycles need to be thinking about HTML5 now! Of course it is going to take time to transition, but plan now.

Some people are also moaning about the standard not being fully ratified. So what’s new under the sun? When did that stop vendors pushing the envelope and creating exciting new products ahead of the game?

Remember the IEEE 802.11 ‘a through n’ Wi-Fi standards roll-out? Routers were always emerging before the standards. And it continues; take a look at Netgear’s R6300 router – it’s an 802.11 ac (1750 Mbps) router – available now, yet the standard is still under development. Don’t you want one now? Do you think Cisco is waiting? When the standard is finalised, they’ll upgrade the firmware.

It is a historical fact that most products emerge before their respective standards. Remember ADSL, ANSI 3.64, ESDI, Ethernet, ISDN, SCSI, Unix, X.11, X.25, etc… etc… OK, so now I am showing my age.

HTML5 is no different. Products will evolve as the standard evolves.

Market leaders will always be bold when it comes to standards, releasing products in advance. That’s progress. It’s a fundamental law of nature.

My view is, don’t listen to the naysayers. They will drive you into a brick wall before you know it.

But don’t take my word for it, listen to what the industry is saying. The BBC summarises things nicely. According to Ian Hardy, “HTML5 will be in everything online, offline, on the desktop and in our hands.” A Universal Client. It’ll take time, but not as long as you think.

For those that need convincing:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17931814

and this…

http://engadget.search.aol.com/search?q=HTML5&invocationType=wl-gadget