HTML5 is generating all kinds of buzz these days. Some of the buzz is about HTML5 being a replacement for Adobe’s Flash. I don’t think it’s there yet but it’s certainly on the way to changing the way content is presented on the web. This is a description of a very simple animation in an HTML5 canvas element. It is coded for readability and not for optimized operation.We’ll add a canvas element to a web page and then use javascript to draw on it. We will redraw it all every 10 milliseconds with minor changes to create the magical illusion of animation. Using j...

You’ve probably been hearing a lot lately about how Flash is a dying technology and how it’ll soon be replaced by HTML5. Personally, I think that it will slowly replace Flash for some things, but Flash will always have a place, especially for developing complex games and rich internet applications. If you’ve yet to see what HTML5 can do, I’ve rounded up 10 demos that show off some of its capabilities.So what do you think – will HTML5 replace Flash?Canvas Minimal Particle AnimationCanvasMolFlickr and Canvas in 3DCloth SimulationetchaPhysicsGoogle Images Gift B...

A comparison of streaming video via the Adobe Flash and HTML5 formats with numerous different browsers on both Mac and Windows produced wildly different results based on the operating system and browser, making neither a clear winner.The test, from Streaming Learning Center, was conducted in response to recent comments alleged to have been said by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, in which he reportedly called Flash a "CPU hog." While the test found that HTML5 is significantly more efficient than Flash on the Mac when running the Safari Web browser, those same advantages do not exist on other Mac b...

In the past two years, increased browser support has transformed CSS3 from a fringe activity for Safari geeks to a viable option for enterprise level websites.While cross-browser support is often too weak for CSS3 to hold up a site’s main design, front-end developers commonly look to CSS3 solutions for progressive enhancement in their sites. For instance, a developer might add a drop-shadow in Firefox, Safari and Chrome using -moz-box-shadow and -webkit-box-shadow, and then be comfortable with this design enhancement falling off for IE users.But wouldn’t it be great if...

Used in casting shadows off block-level elements (like divs)..shadow { -moz-box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #ccc; -webkit-box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #ccc; box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #ccc;}The horizontal offset of the shadow, positive means the shadow will be on the right of the box, a negative offset will put the shadow on the left of the box.The vertical offset of the shadow, a negative one means the box-shadow will be above the box, a positive one means the shadow will be below the box.The blur radius, if set to 0 the shadow will be sharp, the higher the number, the more blurred it will be.ColorExample...

I attended this weekend my first Ruby conference, Ruby Lugdunum in Lyon. Besides cool talks and the fun of meeting people like Nick, Blake, or Laetitia, my friend Camille & I did a surprise lightning talk about how PHP is better than Ruby. Here are the slides and a more detailed transcript:A lot of free hosts: it’s easy to find a PHP host, you just have to google “free php host” and you find a ton of free PHP/MySQL hostsBigger community: The PHP community is really huge, and it’s really easy to find a PHP developerEasy to learn: Most people in the IT field have so...

I am retiring from PHP as my language of choice for personal side projects and new programming ventures. This was not an easy decision to come to, but one that I think is necessary for my love of programming to continue. You see, I'm not only a programmer because I love programming, but because I can not do anything else.HistoryIt all started in 1999 when I was in 8th grade. The Internet was really starting to get interesting and I wanted to start programming. I had picked up basic HTML, so I could render a webpage but I really wanted to make it more interactive. The language of choic...

As web designers, we all seem obsessed by HTML5 and CSS3 at the moment. Endless posts, tutorials and discussion about them dominate the blogosphere. But how much are we learning that can be applied today?Don’t get me wrong. We all need to understand HTML5 and CSS3. And a lot of it can be used today.My point is that we seem to be spending a disproportionate about of time reading up on the subject when so many other areas deserve our attention.While others are reading yet another tutorial on CSS animation, why not broaden your horizons by researching subjects that will allow you to offer ...