When the original iPhone arrived it was all about web apps but since Apple launched the iTunes App Store the focus has clearly shifted. Now some developers are claiming that Apple is deliberately hobbling the ability of HTML5 web apps to run as full screen apps from the homescreen.
According to claims by The Register when a web app is saved to the home screen in iOS 4.3, it runs about 2x to 2.5x slower than in Mobile Safari. The reason appears to be that the new Nitro JavaScript engine that hit the OS with the iOS 4.3 update does not activate for full screen web apps launched from the home screen. Is this a cockup or a conspiracy?
The Palm Pre looks a lot more hackable and open than the iPhone, early adopters have found. The new Palm phone makes it easy to add custom firmware and the potential for custom versions of Palm’s webOS is huge.