By Daniel Eran Dilger

Published: 09:00 PM EST (06:00 PM PST)

SproutCore, the open source "Rich Internet Apps" framework Apple adopted and invested in to construct its online MobileMe suite of web apps and its iWork.com service, is taking on a larger life of its own as independent companies use it to deliver sophisticated multitouch web apps targeted at iPad and other HTML5-savvy tablets.

Among those using SproutCore to target the new market for such multitouch RIAs is Strobe, Inc., founded by Charles Jolley, the founder of SproutCore and until just recently a core developer of Apple's own SproutCore apps.

Jolley is now working both to advance SproutCore into the multitouch realm, and to promote solutions based on SproutCore that help publishers bridge the gap between desktop web apps and those aimed at running on touch-based devices.

"We're focused on helping companies transition their software from mouse-based desktops to touch mobile devices," Jolley said of his new Strobe startup in an email interview with AppleInsider. "We use a blend of HTML5 and native technologies that means the Strobe apps can be installed on your iPad or iPhone from iTunes App Store and accessed from and iPad or iPhone using Safari."

"Our first vertical is newspapers and online publishers. Right now we have a lot of interest from publishers - all household names. I will be sure to let you know as soon as I can announce something," he said. "My goal is to substantially grow the number of publications available on the iPad over the next year."

Solving the Flash problem

Many existing content developers are finding their existing proficiency in Adobe Flash to be worthless on the new iPad, which does not support Flash content. Adobe's own solution has been to create a native iPad app that simply flips users through a digital copy of existing print publications, a workaround used by Condé Nast to digitally publish Wired for iPad users.

The lack of strong alternatives to publishing content in Flash is creating a demand among publishers for tools that can help them transition to a future based on HTML5 and other open web technologies, creating content that will work on iPad and other touch-based mobile devices that support open web standards.

SproutCore developers recently demonstrated a web-based version of the native NPR iPad app (pictured below), which can now be viewed live online. That demonstration shows how sophisticated web apps are can now be, thanks to the SproutCore Touch framework.

Speaking of his new direction in building such tools, Jolley said, "Apple has been a life changing experience. It's not often you get to work with so many people so dedicated to building an amazing product. The products the company as put out over the last three years will transform the way we use computers for the next 15. Over the next few years most software and content companies will have to transition to touch devices. I think we can make that transition much easier with SproutCore, so I'm leaving Apple to focus on it."



The failure to Flash

The market for creating dynamic content for desktop web audiences has long been dominated by Adobe Flash. However, that company's inability to ship a suitable mobile version of its Flash Player for iPhone and other smartphone platforms over the last three years has resulted in Apple hitching itself to a faster new horse in the technology race: HTML5.

Adobe largely ignored Apple's decision until the unveiling of the Flash-free iPad this spring. As an instantly popular, multitouch tablet device, Apple's iPad appeared to be just what Adobe needed to propagate its Flash platform beyond the PC desktop. The problem is that much of the existing Flash content on the web would need to be reworked to support its exclusively multitouch interface; there's no mouse pointer or cursor control that nearly all existing Flash content assumes will be there.

Additionally, Apple has complained that the current Flash Player is not at all optimized for presenting either video or interactive content on mobile devices with significant engineering constraints related to battery life, available memory and processing capacity. Further, because Adobe owns Flash, Apple would have little control over how the technology evolved into the future, even if it joined Adobe's Open Screen Project, an initiative intended to help third parties port Adobe's Flash Player software to their platforms.

On page 2 of 2: A return to open web standards, RIAs, SproutCore aims at touch, tools.