A few days ago Apple published a useful demos to thier site – an HTML5 demo page that shows exactly how to use HTML5 to accomplish different tasks a la iOS

http://developer.apple.com/safaridemos/

I especially like the typography demo, as that is one of the more pressing issues, in my mind. These demos represent a major push by Apple to incorporate standards – based development practices into the ecosystem of their products, and AVANT is paying attention. Did you hear that Apple surpassed Microsoft as the tech company worth the most money? Not a fact to be ignored.

Recently, this HTML5 infographic made the rounds here at AVANT. It was really interesting for a lot of reasons, partially because we are positionning ourselves strategically with clients and partners. But the main interest to me (as a producer) was the impact on production workflow – the browser compatibility chart. What stood out more than anything else was that Internet Explorer, once again, is incompatible in its support for the technology that several others seem to be getting behind. Is the Silverlight play SO important that Microsoft intends to leverage XAML against the rogue wave of HTML5? Is that going to be the development battle ground for the next phase of Mac vs. PC?

I understand that Microsoft has made an effort, that thier business is built around proprietary software, IE8 was a big step up, and that IE9 will be even bigger in the right direction. But honestly, its not enough – soon enough – if the focus on UX is REALLY a goal for Microsoft. If this graphic is correct, then it appears that we will have to continue designing for multiple browsers in order to extend apps to multiple devices: All reasonable browsers, IE7, IE8, IE9, sometimes IE6 (still). Our goal is generally the best UX, and we would rather focus on that over bug testing syntax shifts for IE.

As if the promise of HTML 5 wasnt cool enough, watching the new TRON trailer using the new <video>  tag gets us all hot and bothered. Check it out here along with other cool demos on new HTML 5 features. Looks like the pluggin-based web may be getting the End of Line from Master Control.

We are proud to announce that one of our most recent products is now up and running with a new public website! AVANT is a core part of the product design and development team for CIVIO and has partnered with CIVIO, LLC to share in the success of the platform. We also designed and developed the new public site.

Our work on CIVIO reflects a core principle at AVANT that building community is important. Experiencing ideas outside one’s immediate sphere of influence inspires and educates, and that is precisely what CIVIO does for customers and communities it serves. The product itself is one of three successfully launched products AVANT contributed to in 2009. We are optimistic that CIVIO is going to be a great success and help change the world for the better.”

- Michael Kemper, AVANT Founder + Principal

The CIVIO application is available to potential investors, existing customers and VIP’s, but for now everyone else in the world can learn about the vision and direction for the product here. Congratulations to the CIVIO team on a snappy launch!

In anticipation for the long awaited January 26th release of the PS3 game, MAG: Shadow War, ClikThrough has launched a skinned version of their video technology on www.mag.com. This collaboration between ClikThrough, Euro RSG Worldwide, and AVANT features fictional Investigative video reports that explore each army within the game and how the Shadow War itself started between 3 corporate military factions: Valor, Raven, and S.V.E.R. The site also boasts a complete historical time line of how the Shadow War began, explanations of the game play mechanics, and easy to find links to helpful resources like the MAG Blog, the official forums, and more. Check it out here.

Today is a national holiday in the U.S. where our country celebrates the life and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King who marched, spoke, and worked for compassion, peace and equality for ALL people. His actions truly changed the world for the better, which is a quality deeply admired by AVANTians and reflected by our core values as a company. We live in a time where making a positive difference and changing the world can be done in relative comfort thanks to technology. On this day, when so many people are suffering as a result of the earthquake in Haiti, help us celebrate and spread Dr. Kings message of compassion and unity by contributing to relief efforts. Happy MLK!

http://webdesignledger.com/
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/
http://motionographer.com/
http://www.blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/
http://www.typographyserved.com/
http://wireframes.tumblr.com/
http://ffffound.com/
http://www.booooooom.com/

We already go through a lot of production time to make applications and sites look perfect in IE – do the technology barons really want to continue to make life more difficult?

Recently, Bobby Van Der Sluis published an article on practical ways of using HTML5 today, in a way that will degrade gracefully for the browsers of today, but that will also let you take advantage of the futuristic features coming in the browsers of tomorrow.

Check out his article here:

http://www.bobbyvandersluis.com/articles/practical_html5/

Here is a quote from the article:

Personally, I have decided to start using the HTML 5 DOCTYPE for my personal projects, however I’m not particularly fond of using these workarounds. Relying on HTML 5’s backwards compatibility instead, I basically mark up my new projects as if I was using HTML 4