Over the weekend, we noted that one of the new features in the second beta of iOS 5 released to developers on Friday was the addition of native-style momentum scrolling for web apps, a key feature that will enable web app developers to easily make their apps feel much more like regular iOS applications.

ios 5 web app scroll
Daring Fireball now points to this demo from @cpojer showing off how the new CSS property can be implemented on a web app. While the demo will only function properly for those with iOS 5 Beta 2 installed, it does show the momentum scrolling and an implementation of the "pull to refresh" functionality that has become increasingly common on native iOS apps.

Top Rated Comments

NAG Avatar
171 months ago
I thought web apps ceased to exist since the App Store.

Because obviously Apple is evil and hates the open web. (i.e. don't believe everything Google and Adobe say)
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NAG Avatar
171 months ago
I just hate the thought of having to have an internet connection to even open an app, as I have an iPod Touch which 90% of the time can't connect to the net. If it can, then I'm probably at home and I might as well use my computer anyway. What's even worse is that it runs in the browser, and it doesn't make use of native things (well, momentum scrolling can now be native, but what about the rest?).

There is support for offline web apps. They don't have to be connected all the time. I agree that native apps are better for iOS. Still, it is nice that web apps have one more tool to make themselves feel better (not necessarily like a native app).
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
baryon Avatar
171 months ago
Because obviously Apple is evil and hates the open web. (i.e. don't believe everything Google and Adobe say)
I just hate the thought of having to have an internet connection to even open an app, as I have an iPod Touch which 90% of the time can't connect to the net. If it can, then I'm probably at home and I might as well use my computer anyway. What's even worse is that it runs in the browser, and it doesn't make use of native things (well, momentum scrolling can now be native, but what about the rest?).
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NAG Avatar
171 months ago
This is probably one of the main advantages that native apps had over web apps from a user experience perspective. Some web apps tried to emulate it but it never felt quite right (better than the dead scrolling you get otherwise, though). Nice to see the feature be integrated into the OS.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Rumored to Use Same Rear Chassis as iPhone 16

Friday July 19, 2024 7:16 am PDT by
Apple will adopt the same rear chassis manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 that it is using for the upcoming standard iPhone 16, claims a new rumor coming out of China. According to the Weibo-based leaker "Fixed Focus Digital," the backplate manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 is "exactly the same" as the standard model in Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 lineup, which is expected to...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Just Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Monday July 15, 2024 4:44 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
iphone 14 lineup

Cellebrite Unable to Unlock iPhones on iOS 17.4 or Later, Leak Reveals

Thursday July 18, 2024 4:18 am PDT by
Israel-based mobile forensics company Cellebrite is unable to unlock iPhones running iOS 17.4 or later, according to leaked documents verified by 404 Media. The documents provide a rare glimpse into the capabilities of the company's mobile forensics tools and highlight the ongoing security improvements in Apple's latest devices. The leaked "Cellebrite iOS Support Matrix" obtained by 404 Media...
tinypod apple watch

TinyPod Turns Your Apple Watch Into an iPod

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:18 pm PDT by
If you have an old Apple Watch and you're not sure what to do with it, a new product called TinyPod might be the answer. Priced at $79, the TinyPod is a silicone case with a built-in scroll wheel that houses the Apple Watch chassis. When an Apple Watch is placed inside the TinyPod, the click wheel on the case is able to be used to scroll through the Apple Watch interface. The feature works...
bsod

Crowdstrike Says Global IT Outage Impacting Windows PCs, But Mac and Linux Hosts Not Affected

Friday July 19, 2024 3:12 am PDT by
A widespread system failure is currently affecting numerous Windows devices globally, causing critical boot failures across various industries, including banks, rail networks, airlines, retailers, broadcasters, healthcare, and many more sectors. The issue, manifesting as a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), is preventing computers from starting up properly and forcing them into continuous recovery...
New MacBook Pros Launching Tomorrow With These 4 New Features 2

M5 MacBook Models to Use New Compact Camera Module in 2025

Wednesday July 17, 2024 2:58 am PDT by
Apple in 2025 will take on a new compact camera module (CCM) supplier for future MacBook models powered by its next-generation M5 chip, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Writing in his latest investor note on unny-opticals-2025-business-momentum-to-benefit-509819818c2a">Medium, Kuo said Apple will turn to Sunny Optical for the CCM in its M5 MacBooks. The Chinese optical lens company...
Apple Watch Series 9

2024 Apple Watch Lineup: Key Changes We're Expecting

Tuesday July 16, 2024 7:59 am PDT by
Apple is seemingly planning a rework of the Apple Watch lineup for 2024, according to a range of reports from over the past year. Here's everything we know so far. Apple is expected to continue to offer three different Apple Watch models in five casing sizes, but the various display sizes will allegedly grow by up to 12% and the casings will get taller. Based on all of the latest rumors,...