HTML 5 is due for release within the next few years and slowly but surely new features are creeping into our browsers. This post will give you an insight into 5 of these features and provide you with an example for each to provide you with an idea of how they are going to work.
1. Web Workers
Web Workers allow multiple background threads to run at once, useful for script heavy web applications. Having multiple threads running at once will increase processing time without decreasing the performance of the web page.
So far Firefox 3.5 has the best support for this feature while Opera 9 and Safari 4 also have some minor support.
You can see an example of Web Workers here.
2. Video
The new video element in HTML5 allows you to place videos within your web page the same way you would place an image. As well as embedding the video you can add custom controls and extra functionality at your own will.
Firefox 3.5 is the only browser that supports this example so far.
3. Canvas
Canvas is my personal favourite of the new HTML 5 features. It allows real time graphics rendering in your browser. A great example of what Canvas is capable of can be seen in a new Mozilla product called Bespin. A simplified example of Canvas being used can be found here.
4. Application Caches
This feature has been available for some time now in the form of Google Gears. Saving web application data such as email to a local copy will allow you to access them whilst not connected to the internet. For an online demo you can use the Sticky Note example.
5. Geo Location
The Geo Location element will allow you to place a Map onto your web page that will show the user roughly where they are situated. The user will have to give permission to this feature however, preventing unauthorised access to a certain users location. Look at the example to see how this element works. A word of warning, it’s still a bit flaky so don’t expect pin point precision.
These five features are just the very tip of the iceberg, we expect more features to be rolled out soon. The full release, expected around 2011, will contain a wealth on new features which we can’t wait to get our teeth into!
