ITEXPO East is set to kick-off today and HMTL5 is an important component of this key industry event. In anticipation of the conference launch, TMC (News - Alert) wanted to gain additional insight from those planning to participate. To that end, CEO Rich Tehrani recently sat down with Joey Janisheck of BestFit Mobile to get his opinion on the device wars. Janisheck believes the wars are complicating things a bit with screen resolutions and hundreds of devices to support. At the same time, he calls it very exciting.

As for BestFit Mobile’s common ways of developing for HTML5, Janisheck noted they are a close partner with Appcelerator and rely on their Titanium product to deliver applications. At the same time, he’s looking forward to what Adobe (News - Alert) will bring to the table in the next year. Asked to share his recommendations on HTML5 sites, Janisheck pointed to Aside Magazine, Hexagame and anything offered by David Kaneda. As for tools he recommends, Janisheck listed TextMate, Xcodes, Phonegap and of course, late night pizza.

Tehrani also wanted to know how the introduction of millennials into the workforce is changing the dynamic, especially as they relate to HTML5. This new generation of users, according to Janisheck, wants and expects touch, multi-touch and the availability of applications from all different screens. As for the hype surrounding HTML5, Janisheck believes the real revolution is taking traditional desktop browser-based development teams and have them write once, play anywhere. HTML5 is a must-attend event, according to Janisheck, as it enables developers to get outside of the social networks and really connect.

Their entire conversation follows:

1.      CES (News - Alert) showed us that PCs and ultrabooks are not going to go down without a fight.  How do you see the device wars impacting your development efforts? 

The device wars are complicating things a bit.  In the olden days (about two years ago) designers and developers had to overcome the challenges and roadblocks that Microsoft (News - Alert) put in the way with their subpar browsers.  That almost pales in comparison with how we have to think about screen resolutions and hundreds of devices we now try to support.  Responsive design is one strategy, but things are changing in this space every day.  It is very exciting.  

2.      We have lots of wrappers now becoming pretty standard. What are your common ways of developing for HTML5?

We are a close partner with Appcelerator and use their Titanium product quite a bit to deliver applications to our customers.  We also are huge fans of Brian LeRoux and the guys who have taken Phonegap so far.  We also look forward to seeing what Adobe will bring to the table in the next year.   

3.      What HTML5 sites do you recommend?

Aside magazine for the iPad is the bar right now.  

The work that Matteo Spinelli is doing with Hexagame is also on the top of my list. 

Anything that David Kaneda does is worth paying close attention to.

4.      What Tools do you recommend?

TextMate, Xcode, Phonegap, late night pizza

5.      Often our lessons are generational based on our kids and the millennials now entering the workforce.  What is the impact of these new users and what is their relevance to HTML5?

There is such an expectation from this next generation that the software we are building involves much more than just an arrow cursor being controlled from our mouse.  They want and expect touch, multi-touch, and that it runs on all of the different screens they carry in their pockets, school bags and even their TV.  These users will all keep us developers busy for a long time.   

6.      HTML5 is already being used by more than half of developers according to most research. Are there ways for HTML to further evolve as it continues as the defacto development standard.

I feel the term HTML5 is a bit overused and to me it describes a movement instead of just a technical specification.  The world isn't going to be changed now that the tag is available.   I believe the real revolution is taking traditional desktop browser based development teams and having them now be able to promote their software as "apps."  We are getting closer every day to the "write once, play anywhere" promise of Java almost 15 years ago.  HTML5 will make it happen. 

7.      Why is HTML5 a must-attend event in this evolving mobile world?

So many of us developers living in an insular world of the social networks that we rarely get to hang out with our friends that we follow professionally.  They are on the other side of the country or world and it is events like DevCon that allows us to hang out, have a beer and chat in sentences of more than 140 characters.

Want to learn more about HTML5? Then be sure to attend HTML5 Summit, collocated with TMC’s ITEXPO East 2012, happening NOW in Miami, FL. HTML5 has the potential to revolutionize user interfaces, challenge the status quo and change the future of both desktop and mobile web experiences. Join fellow web developers, designers, and architects, as well as technology leaders and business strategists who will gather in Miami to learn strategies and tactics to implement and execute HTML5. For more information on registering for the HTML5 Summit click here.

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