Great post. I had this same realization not too long ago.
I am a firm believer that HTML/CSS/Javascript will eventually take the role of all mobile applications in the future. While mobile applications do provide the benefits of interacting with the mobile OS at a lower level, browsers are becoming more and more powerful. The line dividing the OS and the browser is getting lower as seen in some OS's including Google's Chrome OS.
Why HTML5? While browser incompatibility is still an issue, HTML is the most supported and consistent markups on the internet; everyone uses it.
In addition, Apps written in HTML5/CSS/Javascript are all hosted on the server, meaning that it is very simple to update your product. It is more difficult with mobile OS based Apps for which you have to send an update to the phone each time you update the product.
I am a firm believer that HTML/CSS/Javascript will eventually take the role of all mobile applications in the future. While mobile applications do provide the benefits of interacting with the mobile OS at a lower level, browsers are becoming more and more powerful. The line dividing the OS and the browser is getting lower as seen in some OS's including Google's Chrome OS.
Why HTML5? While browser incompatibility is still an issue, HTML is the most supported and consistent markups on the internet; everyone uses it.
In addition, Apps written in HTML5/CSS/Javascript are all hosted on the server, meaning that it is very simple to update your product. It is more difficult with mobile OS based Apps for which you have to send an update to the phone each time you update the product.