Apple plans to push HTML5 by creating new, 'innovative' websites

Apple's newly formed "creative technology team" will be responsible for creating new, interactive HTML5-based content on the company's website to support owners of iOS devices like the iPhone and iPad.

A new job listing from Apple advertises a position for a "Creative Technology Manager" to lead the new creative technology team. The position, a part of the company's worldwide marketing communications group, will spearhead new HTML5-based content on Apple's website.

"This individual will be responsible for driving web-standard (HTML5) innovation that enhances and redefines the marketing of Apple's products and services to millions of consumers," the job listing reads. "Work will also include exploring opportunities with apple.com, email and mobile/multi-touch experiences on the iPhone and iPad."

It states that the person will lead a team to develop interactive prototypes for HTML5 websites "to evaluate innovative ideas and approaches to standards-based" development. The job will require the person to explore new types of content on apple.com, including websites specifically designed for mobile and multi-touch browsers.

Apple has recently added a handful of interactive HTML5 features to its website. This month, it released a new movie showtimes section of its Movie Trailers page, which allows users to automatically find the nearest theater and check showtimes on a desktop or iOS device.

And in August, a new option to compare Macs was added to Apple's online store. That HTML5-based web feature allows customers to review the hardware specifications and prices of multiple machines at once.

In June, Apple highlighted the interactive capabilities of HTML5, showing off features such as a 360-degree view of the entrance to Apple's iconic Fifth Avenue store in New York City, or an embedded trailer for the upcoming movie "Tron." These demonstrations were accomplished without any browser plugins and can be viewed in a a browser that supports HTML5, like Apple's own Safari.

Apple's promotion of HTML5 is part of the company's stance against Adobe Flash, which Chief Executive Steve Jobs slammed as unfit for mobile devices in a letter published earlier this year. Flash-based Web content is not available on iOS devices.

When the iPad launched earlier this year, Apple also launched a new section of its website to show off other sites that are iPad ready. Many of the featured sites offer embedded HTML5 video, and all of them rely on Web standards, including CSS3 and JavaScript, without relying on Flash.

Apple Insider