Now We Are Five: HTML5, XHTML5

Anything that talks about HTML5 and XHTML5 gets my attention pretty quickly. I don't pretend to understand all the implications of this, but it sounds cool:

This specification introduces features to HTML and the DOM that ease the authoring of Web-based applications. Additions include the context menus, a direct-mode graphics canvas, inline popup windows, and server-sent events.

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The scope of this specification is not to describe an entire operating system. In particular, hardware configuration software, image manipulation tools, and applications that users would be expected to use with high-end workstations on a daily basis are out of scope. In terms of applications, this specification is targetted specifically at applications that would be expected to be used by users on an occasional basis, or regularly but from disparate locations, with low CPU requirements. For instance online purchasing systems, searching systems, games (especially multiplayer online games), public telephone books or address books, communications software (e-mail clients, instant messaging clients, discussion software), document editing software, etc.

I can't wait. (Via Vecosys.)

Eyeing Up EyeOS

A year ago, I would have dismissed the idea of a Web-based desktop as pretty pointless. Today, spending as I do around 99% of my time within Firefox - browsing, using GMail and Writely - I have to admit that it has a certain logic.

EyeOS bolsters its case by adding two crucially important features: it's free software, and it doesn't use Flash. There's a demo for you to try it out, as well as a begging bowl - they need some dosh to move the project on.