appMobi Launches jqMobi 1.0 HTML5 Mobile App Framework

appMobi releases jqMobi 1.0, its open-source HTML5 mobile app framework.

appMobi has announced the release of jqMobi 1.0, the initial generally available version of its new open-source HTML5 mobile framework for building apps for mobile devices. appMobi originally created and open sourced jqMobi to remedy the poor cross-platform performance of JavaScript frameworks on iOS and Android, the company said. Frameworks like jqMobi speed the development of HTML5-based mobile apps that are deployed as Web apps or as hybrid iOS and Android apps created using appMobi or PhoneGap/Cordova. The jqMobi HTML5 mobile framework includes three functional libraries: jqMobi, a blazingly fast query selector library with jQuery-compatible syntax; jqUI, a touch-based user interface library for WebKit browsers that handles headers, footers, transitions, scrolling lists, transitions, forms, carousels and Android bug fixes;and jqPlugins, a jQuery-compatible plug-in manager for WebKit browsers. As a proponent of the open mobile Web, appMobi has developed tools and cloud-based services built on HTML5, CSS and JavaScript, creating a unified, open ecosystem that competes favorably with “walled gardens” offered by Apple and Google. In 2011, the company released several of its core technologies as open source, including its cross-platform mobile device API, mobiUs Web browser, the jqMobi app framework and directCanvas HTML5 game acceleration. The 1.0 release of jqMobi includes numerous improvements, bug fixes and tablet enhancements that have been contributed by the open-source community. At its original launch in January, jqMobi had only 30 API functions and basic event support. The 1.0 release features more than 60 API calls, expanded event support and query selector compatibility, along with many bug fixes. jqUI now has six color themes to choose from, vector-based iconography and it works seamlessly on tablets. jqUI is still very small, only 21K bits minified and gZipped. Additionally, jqMobi 1.0 is still just as fast as the beta version and only slightly larger, at 5K bits minified and gZipped. Initially launched as open source on January 16, jqMobi has been rapidly embraced by the mobile HTML5 development community, with more than 10,000 downloads, 80 “forks” and more than 500 watchers on its GitHub repository. “jqMobi could not have been released at a better time,” said Michael Bryne, a developer at Fueled Media, a Web design firm, in a statement. “As my first foray into Mobile Application Development, jqMobi allowed me to get my app up and running in record time, with a full feature set and rock-solid one-of-a-kind support from the development team. I cannot recommend jqMobi and jqUI enough." appMobi officials said most JavaScript app frameworks deliver a good user experience on iOS devices, yet many have difficulties with the highly fragmented Android platform. However, jqMobi offers developers a solid framework that delivers equivalent user experience on iOS and Android platforms. In terms of numbers, the Android platform dominates the mobile industry, with 850,000 new devices being authorized per day. appMobi claims. In November 2011, appMobi open-sourced some of its core HTML5 technology. appMobi announced on Black Friday, November 25, that it would open-source key elements of its mobile technology to further accelerate the industry's migration to HTML5. The open-sourced technology included the appMobi cross-platform device APIs, which support HTML5 development for both Android and iOS platforms. appMobi also released the source code for its “mobiUs” browser, which allows HTML5 Web apps to perform identically to native apps. And appMobi rounded out the bounty of technology made available to HTML5 developers with its “DirectCanvas” technology, which accelerates HTML5 canvas rendering, physics calculations and sound by as much as 1,500 percent, providing native performance to HTML5-based games. “We believe in the open Web and the importance of an open environment for mobile apps and services,” said appMobi CTO Sam Abadir in a statement. “To help advance the industry’s move from native apps to Web-based apps, we are sharing our mobile HTML5 knowledge with the global software development community. Among other benefits, the innovations in this open-source release will improve the mobile Web experience through faster downloads, better offline usage and dramatic HTML5 game performance increases. An improved HTML5 user experience is the ‘rising tide that lifts all ships’ for open Web mobile developers, and we are happy to pour our technology into that harbor.” Original Source