Apple iOS 5's hidden 3D revealed iOS 5, the latest OS for Apple trinkets, has hidden depths in the form of support for 3D objects embedded in web pages though the use of WebGL, and not just for paying customers. At first it seemed that WebGL would only be available for advertisements using Apple's iAd framework, but Aussie developer Nathan de Vries has worked …
"At first it seemed that WebGL would only be available for advertisements using Apple's iAd framework,"
OK, so let's support 3D rendering, but ONLY to ram crap down your throat - not to do anything USEFUL.
Advertising has become a cancer upon the world - a parasite, providing no benefit to its host, existing only to serve itself.
The reason is simply because WebGL still has some security issues to shake off.
Allowing only WebGL on the controlled environment of iAds isn't a problem, Apple has to approve each iAd after all, letting it out on the open web is a whole other thing.
For references check the Wikipedia page on WebGL: "Notable independent graphic and security experts have weighed in reinforcing that WebGL is a severe security risk and will be hard to secure, including John Carmack[22] and Dan Kaminsky.[23]"
All the Lintard and iTards want to know why the Android ecosystem is "better" than the Apple Walled Garden? Now you know. Features for the sake of features is Androids motto. Apple's is features us to cut everyone else out, and just enough for the end-users to use to make our product sell.
Apple are big supporters of WebGL but the technology is hard to get right from a security point of view as per the comments of Microsoft. iAd content is HTML based but Apple get to vet it before sending it out. So enabling WebGL only for iAds gives them an opportunity to test their implementation in a controlled fashion.
I think it's safe to assume the measure is temporary, as per the faster Javascript engine that was rolled out across the OS only in small steps a few versions back.
... support for WebGL isn't completely finished/tested so Apple wants to have control of what's being displayed with it. I think they review iAds, so they can confirm that they work with the current WebGL implementation. Think of it as a controlled beta test before assuming that Apple is looking for ways to antagonize their customers for no reason.
3D rendering *is* supported in any app you care to write for it, through OpenGL and DirectX. It's powered by the PowerVR GPU built into the A5 processor.
Besides, advertising has its place in the world. Even the sign outside a shop telling you it's a kebab shop is a form of advertising. Hosting a corporate website is advertising. To call it a cancer is a tad overdramatic.
... DirectX is specific to Microsoft's own platforms. It's extremely proprietary.
DirectX does rather more than OpenGL does, as the latter is *only* for 3D graphics rendering; DirectX also has APIs to deal with input devices, audio, and a bunch of other stuff game developers tend to find useful.
Apple's iDevices support OpenGL ES, not full OpenGL. OpenGL support is found on their Macs.
Agree with the advertising stuff though. Advertising is just a fancy term for "Telling you about stuff we're selling." It's every business' mating call. People have been advertising since the invention of language.
"WebGL is today's attempt to get 3D objects into web pages, using JavaScript this time around. It's not as interactive as the HTML-based VRML was"
um, this is nonsense. people are writing games with WebGL. Being as it's used via Javascript I think it's fair to say WebGL is a lot *more interactive* than VRML, which was just a markup language.
The Register 
Biting the hand that feeds IT
Copyright. All rights reserved © 1998–2024
