Web Standards, Accessibility & More

Steve Jobs recently published an open letter about Apple’s position on Flash which addressed the reasons behind not implementing Flash on the iPhone, iPod, and iPad. It’s very well written and has some great points, but contains many flaws as well. Apple is a great design company, and I understand they are indeed a company and must look out for their own interest; but that doesn’t excuse the act of misinforming and misleading people.

One of the first responses to the letter was by Remy Sharp (@rem) who pointed out that:

1. HTML5 apps won’t just work with touch devices, the code to handle touch events must still be written.
2. The H.264 video format is currently supported only by Safari and Chrome, but H.264 is not supported by the two biggest browsers, IE and Firefox.

Remy’s tweet also points us to this video of a presentation from Jonathan Stark, App Store is For Suckers. Stark points out some not-so-good points about the Apple Store including the fact that they subjectively turn down many apps which applied to be in the store. For example, there are many games which including war and killing of animals, but a seal-clubbing app from PETA was rejected. (In response, PETA Sends Steve Jobs Vegan Chocolate Seals!)

Web accessibility veteran and friend John Foliot of Stanford University tweeted these six “fallacies” from the letter:

1. The H.264 video format is closed & patent encumbered — not open.
2. WebKit is not the most widely deployed mobile browser; that belongs to Opera.
3. HTML5 is not finished & W3C anticipates a few more years before Ready For Prime Time.
4. WHAT WG (the incomplete HTML5) is not open either, it’s by invitation only: whatwg.org/charter
5. Two of the four major browsers do not support H.264. [see above]
6. If Apple is so open, why do they control IApp distribution with an iron fist? They don’t like your app? You’re toast. [see above]

What do you think?

Further reading:

• The Wall Street Journal’s Exclusive Interview With Adobe CEO
• Thoughts on Apple vs. Adobe
• The real reason why Steve Jobs hates Flash

Here are five excellent ways to download YouTube videos to your computer. The services work with other streaming video web sites, too, and offer multiple formats to download  such as FLV, AVI, MOV, MPG, MP4, WMV, etc.

1. Zamzar - free online file conversion. Also provides conversion of images, music, and documents! Offers 3 levels of upgraded service for a fee.
2. SaveVid – provides daily and all-time top 10 lists.
3. KeepVid – download streaming videos. Simple and easy web site service. Also offers a bookmarklet.
4. KickYouTube – Download videos from youtube.
5. Flash Video Resources Downloader – a great Firefox add-on.

PS: Here’s a video to MP3 (audio only) service: VidToMP3

two lizards (from Zamzar)