HTML5 for mobile - Comparing JQueryMobile and Sencha Touch

I have been playing around with some HTML5 / JS frameworks that allow creation of mobile web sites and can be integrated with platforms such as PhoneGap for creating mobile apps.

The two frameworks that I have tinkered around with are JQuery Mobile and Sencha Touch. Here is what I found...

 

JQueryMobile

Summary: Easier to learn framework with a strong focus on mobile web / apps. Has a larger corporate backing / partners, and is integrated with Adobe Dreamweaver CS 5.5.

Pros:

• Much easier to learn as compared to SenchaTouch

• Newer version has good basic themes and themeroller makes custom theming easy

• UI controls appear better focused on mobile devices e.g. 

 - By default labels are above the text input boxes which preserve real estate on mobile devices

 - iPhone style Flip switches work out of the box and allow text on both sides of it Ref: http://jquerymobile.com/demos/1.0a4.1/docs/forms/forms-switch.html

  - Placeholder text for dropdowns works as expected (broken in Sencha touch)

Cons:

• Less Object oriented / more web site programming like when it comes to wiring events etc. For non-trivial applications, it may almost require using another framework such as backbone or Knockout

• Rough at the edges, Transitions may flicker and sometimes are not smooth

• Some UI controls do not work very well (Fixed toolbars that are overlaid everytime on vertical scrolling make the UX very flaky)

 

Sencha Touch

Summary: A more robust OO style architecture with a strong focus on mobile web / apps.

Pros:

• True MVC style architecture

• Takes a SASS based object oriented approach to theming

• Much smoother / flicker free transitions than JQM

• Nicer iPhone style theme and icons (better than JQM's, IMO)

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve, changes from Sencha 1.x to 2 in coding styles etc. do not help

• UI is more oriented towards web design than mobile design e.g.

  - Form style UI layout with labels on the side of text boxes

  - iPhone style Flip switches (Toggle in Sencha world) require .css changes (https://github.com/tomalex0/SenchaTouch-Form-iosToggleField/commit/0b7de60782...

 

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Remembering Steve Jobs

This is an excerpt from an article originally published here

 

1. Do what you love.

Jobs once said, "People with passion can change the world for the better."

 

2. Put a dent in the universe.

He once asked then-Pepsi President, John Sculley, "Do you want to spend your life selling sugar water or do you want to change the world?" Don't lose sight of the big vision.

 

3. Make connections.

Jobs once said creativity is connecting things. He meant that people with a broad set of life experiences can often see things that others miss. Connect ideas from different fields.

 

4. Say no to 1,000 things.

Jobs was as proud of what Apple chose not to do as he was of what Apple did. Why? So he could put the "A-Team" on each product. What are you saying "no" to?

 

5. Create insanely different experiences.

Everything about the experience you have when you walk into an Apple store is intended to enrich your life and to create an emotional connection between you and the Apple brand.

 

6. Master the message.

Instead of simply delivering a presentation like most people do, he informed, he educated, he inspired and he entertained, all in one presentation.

 

7. Sell dreams, not products.

Your customers don't care about your product. They care about themselves, their hopes, their ambitions. Jobs taught us that if you help your customers reach their dreams, you'll win them over.

 

See genius in your craziness, believe in yourself, believe in your vision, and be constantly prepared to defend those ideas.

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Let's play "Catch the image slider"

I recently encountered this image slider that changes the location of controls on every image switch. Now, maybe there are good reasons for making it this way, but it almost seems wrong to me. Then again, what do we know ;-)

You can see this in all its glory on the Best Buy's Magnolia section (assuming they still have it). That's professional Interaction / Interface design for ya!

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Electronics/Magnolia-Home/pcmcat139900050002.c?id...

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Et tu Apple - Someone was asleep at the wheel

I recently changed my AppleID password. When I logged in, Apple wanted to store my birthdate and a secret question. That's great, but when I try to save it, I get this error about not entering the birth year....but, there is no place to enter birth year.

And we thought only blue screens of death were bad ;-)

 

 

 

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