RevOnline = standalone web Browser

[ooper]

In case you don't read the rest of this post, read this:

Create a product that lets you persist objects around a new applications-plus-browser. You can then call it "browser++" or LiveBrowser if you wish. It doesn't have to be a full blown IDE, but it would allow users to integrate the browser with unique web-enabled personal applications. In other words, bring the Home stack back (the browser) and let users create, script and edit –not just view-- new stacks around Internet pages. Imagine the customization/hybrid browser opportunities for your existing customers, let alone the monetization opportunities for RunRev; compete with Google on your own space!


Web 2.0 as it's called strives to become what we had on the desktop (at least) 25 years ago in terms of usability and productivity. This is vastly because of deployment convienience and not because of usability or personalization. In my opinion, the browser's strength continues to be in static information, storage, the social network and ecommerce. The big hole is in productivity, privacy and personalization.

While it may not be true for future generations, the stack/card/background metaphor continues to arguably be the closest translation between the real world and the computer –-Grandmas and youngsters pick it up right away. Given what I mentioned before with regard to productivity, privacy and personalization, it makes sense that there is room for a tighter integration between the IDE and the browser.

Let me be clear. I don't mean a standalone with an embedded browser. I mean a hybrid IDE with creational capabilities that is given away for free or perhaps around $10. Not only would this be a disruptive technology making RunRev very well known, the company could make a lot more money on monetization alone, without changing its current model --only now you would have a more popular platform to develop for and inherently acquire a vast number of new customers. Another avenue might be to offer an IDE with a set of services that can turn stacks into remote applications that others can use. Hint: an incarnation of Rev Online, only now a stack is no longer "personal..." Fill in some more ideas...

Best,
/Carl

[ooper]

While I'm on a roll, I wanted to complement the feature/product/idea of this thread with a potential feature of a browser-IDE hybrid.

Live Messaging: Imagine having the abiltity to send "live" stacks to others --not unlike an email. This traveling or live card/stack can be authored by others as it moves across the internet. Here is ONE example of the possibilities.

Online greeting cards, which is BTW over a $5 billion market --that's billions, with a 'b'. While having a fancy card with animations and so forth is already possible in the normal web, with Live Message you can author one card and then have others sign it before it gets sent to the recipient. As far as I know there isn't ONE major site on regular web that can do that! Animation, authorship, personalized templates, ads...all opportunities for RunRev and its developers--of course, ads can be written in LiveCode

of course Messaging is ONE possibility...you can introduce your own. If anyone wants to talk to me directly, please feel free to send me email at ooper1@hotmail.com.

Rgds,
/Carl

[Mark]

Carl,

I'm sure there is a reason why none of the millions of greeting card websites can do that. Perhaps, it is easier for a group of people to send as many cards as there are people in a group than to have one card signed by the entire group. It would be different, if the card were eventually sent as a real, printed card.

Best,

Mark

[ooper]

Hey, Mark. Thanks for the response.

Live greeting cards don't preclude you from generating a PDF or HTML file to a production printer. but I'm afraid you missed the point. Greeting cards was just an example on how one could use a hybrid browser to send stacks not unlike emails. This was in turn an example of a stack application that could be integrated.

Do you have any relevant feedback or questions on the thread? Can it be written better to make it more clear and concise?

Rgds,
/Carl

[Mark]

Hi Carl,

Actually, I am pretty sure that HTML5 has the future and plug-ins will soon be doomed. RunRev will have to go the same path as RealBasic and provide a RunREv IDE to create HTML5 web apps. I don't know if this is a relevant answer, as I really have no clue about your "browser" concept, but this is what I think about RunRev's current web capability.

Best regards,

Mark

[ooper]

Mark,

HTML5 is interesting, but given how browsers usual "enhance" standards, plus the end-user's low rate of adoption --for example, 25% of IE users are still on IE 6, I think HTML5 is still a long shot.

Do you really think the browser will be as important given improvements in bandwidth and processor power? Will the browser loose its charm to standalone Rich Internet Applications? Will the Javascript incompatibilties continue in Html 5?

Frankly I don't know, but all wishful thinking aside, my take of the world today is that RIAs will continue to be in high demand. The explosion of iphone and Android apps over their browser-based counterparts is no coincidence.

It is in this light that I brought up the hybrid browser++ concept into a feature request. The idea is bridging LiveCode's IDE (create and script abilities) with web integration using LiveCode's browser plugin. In other words, the web only complements the stack --What HyperCard should have been can can still be, today: LiveCode, the ultimate Rich Internet Application.

/Carl

[Mark]

Dear Carl,

Make a standalone. Let it download a stack from a server when it opens. This stack would be the actual programme and it could be anyting. You could even create objects and alter script within some limits.

Yes, I think that HTML5 is (going to be) huge. No... not that huge. Huger.

I've said all I want to say about it now. Maybe someone else wants to take up the discussion with you.

Kind regards,

Mark

[ooper]

Make a standalone. Let it download a stack from a server when it opens. This stack would be the actual programme and it could be anyting. You could even create objects and alter script within some limits.

Mark, you got it. that's almost EXACTLY what I was proposing!!!! --except for full/more enabling scripting, including IDE integration.

I'm sorry if I threw you off with the title/abstraction. I have retitled this thread to simplify the concept.

In fact, here is the feature:

• Enhance the revOnline browser and include it in the revWeb plugin.
  Make it behave like the original HyperCard Home Stack with its basic buttons + social network buttons
  Let it not only download stacks, but also "browse" html/rebWeb pages.
  Optional: Add full scripting and IDE (with current scripting and IDE limitations lifted).
  Optional: Also distribute it as a standalone application to compete in the internet browser space

**No browser has this level of end-user customization/personalization. Virtually all of HTML 5 features can be accomplished today using the most elegant end-user language.

Rgards,
/Carl