Chapter 4. Advanced WebKit and textual web apps

In the previous chapter we covered the fundamentals of redeveloping an existing web page for use on iPhones. In the process you learned about important concepts like the viewport, and we discussed a lot of what works—and what doesn’t—on Apple’s unique mobile platform. We expect, though, that most of you aren’t just interested in touching up existing web pages but instead are looking to create totally new programs. Further, after considering the advantages and disadvantages of both web and native development, you’ve decided that writing a new program using a web language is the best way to go. We’re now ready to enter the world of web apps, a topic that will consume the rest of part 2 of this book.

We’ve identified three ways to create web apps for the iPhone. Each will take advantage of all your existing web knowledge, but each will also connect you with a specific library or Apple browser add-on that will allow you to unlock additional functionality on the iPhone platform.

First, you might choose to build a textual web app, which is an application that is largely built on the fundamentals of HTML itself. You’ll be able to supplement it with the advanced features of Apple’s WebKit. We’ll be discussing this programming method in this chapter.

4.1. Introducing the WebKit

4.2. CSS transforms, transitions, and animations

4.3. The WebKit database

4.4. Adjusting the chrome

4.5. Recognizing touches and gestures

4.6. Recognizing orientation

4.7. Upcoming features: CSS gradients and masks

4.8. Summary