HTML5 : Sencha's Fastbook

When Zuck said HTML5 is not ready yet, many took it as a word of God and turned away from HTML5 to native SDK for mobile application development. Couple of days back Sencha brought the focus back into HTML5 with their new HTML5 based clone of facebook's official app . "So, when Mark Zuckerberg said HTML5 wasn't ready, we took a little offense to the comment." they wrote in their blog The Making of Fastbook: An HTML5 Love Story 

In my opinion both Zuck and Sencha could be right. As Sencha have actually demonstrated, it probably is quite possible to develop responsive applications using HTML5. At the same time it is also true that it depends a lot on the developers skill set. By HTML5 they actually refer to the JavaScript and when trying to develop rich applications using Java Script you end up creating a lot of low level code. On top of it the tooling for HTML5/Java Script is not as mature as it is for say native SDKs or even Adobe Flex/Flash. This makes HTML5 development time consuming and complicated. 

The main stream programming world would  probably prefer native SDKs whenever they can and they have to provide rich experience to users. HTML5 based applications will be the poor cousins and will be the secondary choice. The user experience of HTML5 based applications will be behind native applications.

At the same time, native applications have their own issues like application discovery,  code updates and they are discussed here and here . I think the future is probably in mobile web where web sites(applications) in mobile devices provide an experience similar to native mobile apps. And for that to happen, HTML5 is must.

Markerboard.in An Online Store for White Marker Boards

We are happy to announce that Markerboard.in , an interesting project we have been working on for a customer has gone into beta. It is an online store for buying white marker boards and similar items. It is probably a first of its kind in India :). We have been working on this project for Corporate Concepts based out of Chennai, India. Corporate concepts is a leading manufacturer and distributor of White Marker Boards. They have a big presence in South India. And this online initiative is part of their strategy to reach out markets in North India and abroad.

You may be wondering if this is a viable online business. However, Corporate Concepts and even we are bullish about the possibilities. This is a product needed widely across India by schools, colleges, institutions and even start-up companies. However not many stores could stock this locally because it is not a mass market product. Hence the whole searching and ordering process is time consuming and it happens pretty much over phone. An online store will make it easy for customers to browse through the product catalog easily and order them quickly. Markerboard.in will be offering free shipping across India and wide variety of payment options(Credit Card option is coming soon)

Currently Markerboard.in is in beta and the full launch is expected within a month. Even as an individual, you can check the site out as a white marker board will be a great productivity tool at home or at office. And if you register now, you will get some awesome discounts during the launch and probably will get an invite for the launch party :)

And we are definitely interested in hearing your views and feedback. If you have any please let me know.

Another One

It is a shame that I am keeping this space not updated. Shame on me. I can give excuses like I am busy..blah blah. A busy man is one who finds time for everything. I am a lazy one...That's a criminal mistake.
The economy is in a whole lot of trouble and its the best time to be in a cozy job rather than mucking around crazy thoughts and uncertain things. But I am already in neck deep, and I am going to enjoy this.
We closed last year reasonably OK, but that elusive break through has been just that. And as it is enough(or already late) testing water we are diving head first into deep waters by taking on some wild ideas.
We will keep you posted. We released couple of small android apps[Quizzen and Go! Chennai] into market. We are continuing to work in improving these apps.
Lot more stuff to come keep an eye on this page if you want to see what we are doing. And I too promise to come back here frequently.