iWork to Become a Web Application at Macworld?

MacRumors · 08:15 AM

9to5Mac claims that Apple will be announcing at Macworld that the next version of iWork will be composed of web-based applications. According to the rumor site, that means the future versions of Numbers, Pages and Keynote will be entirely browser based. (Note that this does not necessarily mean that native Mac versions will not also co-exist.)

Apple's move into web-based applications has been clear with the release of MobileMe's extensive Mail and Address Book applications composed entirely out of web-based technologies such as Javascript. In fact, there had previously been talk of an entire "Webkit-based" platform after Apple had adopted the SproutCore framework for use in MobileMe.

Developers have been constantly pushing the boundaries of what a web application can accomplish. 280 Slides is an example of a browser-based version of Keynote/Powerpoint written by former Apple employees.

Article Link: iWork to Become a Web Application at Macworld?

Spades · Dec 31, 2008, 12:16 PM

No. Just, no.

theheadguy · Dec 31, 2008, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spades

No. Just, no.

Agreed. Every new push of .mac is a disappointment. Ugh, it's frustrating at the thought that this might go web-based.

jellomizer · Dec 31, 2008, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spades

No. Just, no.

You probably haven't seen to many good web apps. Most of the ones that you use public kinda need to work for IE as well, A huge stumbling block for development. With just having it work with Safari/WebKit you are able to use web standards that newer then 5 years old. I have made a bunch of really cool web apps that did a lot of things... However once I need to get IE to make it work I needed to strip out features or make things differently to get it to work.

I am rather confident that iWorks via the Web will actually be a very well designed and useful web application (Much better then Google Docs).

abhimat.gautam · Dec 31, 2008, 02:17 PM

I definitely do not think this will be a replacement for iWork. It would be too unreliable. Plus, there are many places which would not have internet, and many others where internet is not always reliable or too slow. It would have to be just a supplement, like MobileMe is for Mail, iCal, Address Book, etc. However, this rumor does seem like likely to be true, and would increase the amount of users for iWork.

BJWanlund · Dec 31, 2008, 02:19 PM

I'm willing to give Apple the benefit of the doubt for right now.

Besides, maybe Apple and AT&T will allow iPhone tethering at long last!

And yes, EDGE is dog slow, but it's better than using dialup OR no Internet connection at all.

BJ

Akira1980 · Dec 31, 2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spades

No. Just, no.

First thing that came to my mind.

MattInOz · Dec 31, 2008, 08:27 PM

To me making them webkit based means they could run native on iPod Touch and the Mac with little native processor code to keep the speed good. But does allow for a hosted version as well.

Sounds to me like the big Touch is coming.

BTW · Jan 1, 2009, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spades

No. Just, no.

I'll be dropping iWork for Office for the Mac if they go that route.

zedsdead · Jan 1, 2009, 03:20 AM

The only good news about this rumor is that it sounds like a new version of iWork is on the way, hopefully for Macworld.

I would love for there to be companion apps, but I do not like the idea of all online at all, nor do I want to have the apps running offline through Safari. Time will tell.

Bad Paper · Dec 31, 2008, 12:16 PM

Browser-based apps suck. They are never even as good as the browser.

zap2 · Dec 31, 2008, 12:21 PM

Well, that might be cool as an add on...but be sure I want iWork on my local drives as well!

alexbates · Dec 31, 2008, 12:24 PM

It should only be a plugin, not entirely Web-based. Apple could add that feature for free on Safari 4.

roland.g · Dec 31, 2008, 12:26 PM

Add on sure. But webapps are entirely unreliable. MobileMe loves to reload itself and lose emails. No one would choose to work for extended periods of time through a web based app when their work could be so easily lost.

JeffreyM · Dec 31, 2008, 12:30 PM

What about those who don't have internet every second of every day? This better be bs.

Alchemist · Dec 31, 2008, 12:24 PM

Agreed. Web Apps suck. Latency is the big problem.

I used to work at Sun Microsystem and all their systems were slow as can be because they insisted on running everything within a browser environment.

I'll be disappointed if this is the way of things to come rather than an addition to the existing feature set.

speakerwizard · Dec 31, 2008, 12:26 PM

has anyone else tried http://280slides.com/ ? this could be good based on how good that is

Nick012 · Dec 31, 2008, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speakerwizard

has anyone else tried http://280slides.com/ ? this could be good based on how good that is

I have fast internet and its pretty laggy... 15 down, 1 up.

DaBrain · Jan 1, 2009, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alchemist

Agreed. Web Apps suck. Latency is the big problem.

I used to work at Sun Microsystem and all their systems were slow as can be because they insisted on running everything within a browser environment.

I'll be disappointed if this is the way of things to come rather than an addition to the existing feature set.

Agreed! Just don't buy into this and if they come out with this and no one buys they WILL get the msg!

FCP.guru.guy · Dec 31, 2008, 12:25 PM

Mobile Me did surprise me in the Keynote because of what it could do as web app but when it was released it was a disappointment and made me late for waiting in line for the iPhone 3G!

I think that if "Mobile iWork" is released Apple would put more testing into it so that it actually works.

dtyson · Dec 31, 2008, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zap2

Well, that might be cool as an add on...but be sure I want iWork on my local drives as well!

Absolutely.

An application like iWork is definitely not the type of application that should be web-dependent. Any number of problems could shut down productivity in a real hurry.

I just can't imagine Apple going there. There will have to be a version that can be stored on one's machine. It'll probably be like the MobileMe cloud apps. Address Book and Mail both have local copies and cloud copies. Of course, the cloud copies are never quite as robust.

I don't know. Maybe this is another way to push MobileMe membership.

It's going to be interesting to see what happens here.

fleshman03 · Dec 31, 2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zap2

Well, that might be cool as an add on...but be sure I want iWork on my local drives as well!

My thoughts exactly.

Voidness · Dec 31, 2008, 12:23 PM

No, please. What happens when I'm not able to connect to the internet for one reason or another? Like an internet cable getting cut.

DeekinBlooz · Jan 1, 2009, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voidness

No, please. What happens when I'm not able to connect to the internet for one reason or another? Like an internet cable getting cut.

Like on a plane!

iDarbert · Dec 31, 2008, 12:25 PM

I just hope this is not true, that would be terrible.
Even if they offered offline mode or something like that it would still feel awkward to do everything from a web browser.

It would be nice if they had this as a complement to the desktop suite, thought; something to edit documents on the go, maybe featuring collaboration features.

Dec 31, 2008, 12:12 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	iWork to Become a Web Application at Macworld? 9to5Mac claims that Apple will be announcing at Macworld that the next version of iWork will be composed of web-based applications. According to the rumor site, that means the future versions of Numbers, Pages and Keynote will be entirely browser based. (Note that this does not necessarily mean that native Mac versions will not also co-exist.) Apple's move into web-based applications has been clear with the release of MobileMe's extensive Mail and Address Book applications composed entirely out of web-based technologies such as Javascript. In fact, there had previously been talk of an entire "Webkit-based" platform after Apple had adopted the SproutCore framework for use in MobileMe. Developers have been constantly pushing the boundaries of what a web application can accomplish. 280 Slides is an example of a browser-based version of Keynote/Powerpoint written by former Apple employees. Article Link: iWork to Become a Web Application at Macworld? Last edited by arn : Jan 1, 2009 at 08:15 AM.

Dec 31, 2008, 02:17 PM	#5
abhimat.gautam macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2007	I definitely do not think this will be a replacement for iWork. It would be too unreliable. Plus, there are many places which would not have internet, and many others where internet is not always reliable or too slow. It would have to be just a supplement, like MobileMe is for Mail, iCal, Address Book, etc. However, this rumor does seem like likely to be true, and would increase the amount of users for iWork. __________________ Abhimat Gautam

Jan 1, 2009, 03:20 AM	#10
zedsdead macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jun 2007	The only good news about this rumor is that it sounds like a new version of iWork is on the way, hopefully for Macworld. I would love for there to be companion apps, but I do not like the idea of all online at all, nor do I want to have the apps running offline through Safari. Time will tell. __________________ iMac 27: 2.8 Core i7 Quad, 2TB, 8 gigs of RAM, ATI 4850 Macbook Pro: 2.4 Core2Duo, 128 SSD, 4 gigs of RAM, NVIDIA 9400/9600 iPhone 3G S⃣ ; Apple TV; Final Cut Studio 2.5, Logic, Drobo, EyeTV

Dec 31, 2008, 12:16 PM	#11
Bad Paper macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: graphite clamshell	Browser-based apps suck. They are never even as good as the browser. __________________ Hurry and respond, before mods delete this post, too!

Dec 31, 2008, 12:21 PM	#12
zap2 macrumors 601 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NJ	Well, that might be cool as an add on...but be sure I want iWork on my local drives as well! __________________ "We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by." Will Rogers

Dec 31, 2008, 12:16 PM	#2
Spades macrumors 6502 Join Date: Oct 2003	No. Just, no.

Dec 31, 2008, 02:19 PM	#6
BJWanlund macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2008	I'm willing to give Apple the benefit of the doubt for right now. Besides, maybe Apple and AT&T will allow iPhone tethering at long last! And yes, EDGE is dog slow, but it's better than using dialup OR no Internet connection at all. BJ

Dec 31, 2008, 08:27 PM	#8
MattInOz macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2006	To me making them webkit based means they could run native on iPod Touch and the Mac with little native processor code to keep the speed good. But does allow for a hosted version as well. Sounds to me like the big Touch is coming.

Dec 31, 2008, 12:24 PM	#13
alexbates macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Georgia, USA	It should only be a plugin, not entirely Web-based. Apple could add that feature for free on Safari 4. __________________ 13" 2.53GHz Unibody MacBook Pro: 250GB HD, 4GB RAM 10" MSi WIND Hackintosh: 1.6GHz Atom, 160GB HD, 2GB RAM, Leopard 10.5.7 15" 2.16GHz MacBook Pro: 320GB HD, 3GB RAM Twitter

Dec 31, 2008, 12:26 PM	#14
roland.g macrumors 68040 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: One mile up and soaring	Add on sure. But webapps are entirely unreliable. MobileMe loves to reload itself and lose emails. No one would choose to work for extended periods of time through a web based app when their work could be so easily lost. __________________ I know this because Tyler knows this. You are not a beautiful snowflake. You are the same decaying matter as everything else.

Dec 31, 2008, 12:30 PM	#15
JeffreyM macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Toronto, ON	What about those who don't have internet every second of every day? This better be bs.

Dec 31, 2008, 12:24 PM	#16
Alchemist macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2004	Agreed. Web Apps suck. Latency is the big problem. I used to work at Sun Microsystem and all their systems were slow as can be because they insisted on running everything within a browser environment. I'll be disappointed if this is the way of things to come rather than an addition to the existing feature set.

Dec 31, 2008, 12:26 PM	#17
speakerwizard macrumors 68000 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London	has anyone else tried http://280slides.com/ ? this could be good based on how good that is __________________ mac pro octo-core, 10GB, 5.25TB, 8800GT, 30"acd iphone 3G, Macbook pro C2D

Dec 31, 2008, 12:25 PM	#20
FCP.guru.guy macrumors 65816 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: trapped as a prisoner of a purple aurora and an aluminum device	Mobile Me did surprise me in the Keynote because of what it could do as web app but when it was released it was a disappointment and made me late for waiting in line for the iPhone 3G! I think that if "Mobile iWork" is released Apple would put more testing into it so that it actually works. __________________ There are no stupid questions, just stupid people.

Dec 31, 2008, 12:23 PM	#23
Voidness macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Null	No, please. What happens when I'm not able to connect to the internet for one reason or another? Like an internet cable getting cut. __________________ void...

Dec 31, 2008, 12:25 PM	#25
iDarbert macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2008	I just hope this is not true, that would be terrible. Even if they offered offline mode or something like that it would still feel awkward to do everything from a web browser. It would be nice if they had this as a complement to the desktop suite, thought; something to edit documents on the go, maybe featuring collaboration features.

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