What new APIs should W3C work in to allow powerful mobile web applications?

Question

As an amateur mobile developer, I feel dismay every time I have to fix, update or add new features to an application of mine.

I'm eagerly awaiting the moment you can just develop a web application for any kind of device.

HTML5 and new APIs like Geolocation API or Contacts API are a step forward, but what other APIs could be useful to move current mobile developers to the web? For example, some kind of Sensor API to access mobile accelerometers or magnetometers.

I am aware that future Flash and AIR mobile releases are coming, but I'd rather prefer web standards.

Answer 1

There’s an idea to add a general devices API to HTML5.

http://www.w3.org/TR/dap-api-reqs/

To be honest, I don’t think you can do this sort of thing generically (or at least it’s an impractical challenge). I think it’s down to the folks who make mobile operating systems — i.e. Apple, Google, and the rest — decide whether and how to provide JavaScript access to hardware.

It’s potentially a massive security risk. Go to a hijacked website, and suddenly Russian criminals are copying every photo you take? There’s a “powerful mobile web application” for you.