Hi Sebastian (and others)
> On 23 Sep 2009, at 11:53, Brian Kelly wrote:
> >   One related application area in which the Android is ahead of the
> > iPhone
> > is augmented reality.
> 
> right. we're keen to get stuck into that too. excellent potential

Agreed.

> > devices.  And this is an example of where I would disagree with the
> > view
> > that all applications must be universally accessible on all
> > devices.  If you
> > have a large potential user base of iPhone users and development is
> > affordable (as Paul Boag speculates is the case) then I think it
> > would be
> > mistaken not to develop a native app from a point of principle.
> 
> I don't think I'd say its a principle, more a business decision about
> where to spend money.

Also agreed.

On the subject on mobile devices, accessibility and standards Sally Cain,
Digital Accessibility Officer, RNIB, gave a talk at the Techshare conference
on "Software vs web - the standards standoff" in which she argued that the
WAI approach to accessibility design isn't best suited for mobile devices,
and proposed use of an ISO standards. She argued that a Web app had more in
common with an application than a Web page - see
http://www.rnib.org.uk/professionals/solutionsforbusiness/trainingandconfere
nces/techshare/techshare2009/dayone/Pages/TS09_P05-B.aspx

There was also a talk based on surveys of people with disabilities
experiences with mobile devices, in which the iPhone was describes as 'an
expensive brick' - it didn't have an accessible interface (new model does).
The issues may be OS APIs (resizing, speaking interfaces, etc.) which might
be very hardware/OS specific (and hence generic solution at Web level may
not be ideal.

> Plainly we can't accord to write native apps for all of (at least)
> iPhone, Android, BBerry, WinMo;
> so we need a web app. If we _can_ do a better experience for the
> iPhone folks, then obviously
> do so - but not if it doubles the budget?

Agreed, but if a marginal additional cost a different decision may be taken.

Brian

> Our current strategy is rapid development on the simplest platform
> (web) in order to win hearts and minds of people with power and data.
> If they get onside, we're home and dry. If we don't excite them cos
> our app is not well sexed-up and shiny, then we lose the gamble.
> --
> Sebastian Rahtz
> Information Manager, Oxford University Computing Services
> 13 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 6NN. Phone +44 1865 283431
> 
> Sólo le pido a Dios
> que el futuro no me sea indiferente
>