I’ve been evaluating the possibilities of using html/javascript/css to create mobile apps that work across various smart devices. I’m concentrating on the iPhone first. Along with developing with universal html/javascript/css, I would also like to pick up some Objective C so that I can learn a few of the unique hooks into the iPhone.

Since I’m working with html to create a rapid prototype of my app, I want to use the speed of the browser and simply hit refresh each time. I don’t want to wait the 20 seconds or so that it takes Titantium’s developer to compile the app in the iPhone simulator on my Mac (maybe that’s just my Mac though).

By publishing the app in the browser I missed the look of the simulator cradling the potential of my prototype. It made it look that much more real. I did a search for iPhone templates and found this amazingly detailed iPhone template psd by Teehan+Lax and extracted the vertical and horizontal faces from it.

I used those faces to develop my own shell with 2 views; each using an iframe. This could probably be further improved to flip on an internal app activity but it works great for simple testing and I can edit the iframe to point to a different app or game when I’m ready to test something else.

my simple iPhone shell demo

Feel free to download the source and use it in your projects.

download iPhone shell zip

BOOKS

I picked up a few books on the weekend, and I recommend both of these which should be instrumental in learning more about iPhone development.

Professional iPhone and iPod touch Programming: Building Applications for Mobile Safari (Wrox Professional Guides)

This booked is directed at the novice iphone developer and includes an Objective-C Primer with best practices on how to approach iphone development inline with the Apple app store.

iPhone SDK Application Development: Building Applications for the AppStore

This takes advantage of HTML/CSS/javascript to build browser-based applications and games that can leverage the iphone’s api to handle things like multitouch and phone calls.

SAVE THE CARIBOU

There should be an app for that.
hinterland who’s who: caribou