LinkedIn launches HTML5 site, revamps apps

Maybe everyone really is shifting to building mobile sites in HTML5. Adobe Systems recently debuted its Edge tool set in public preview mode for developers interested in creating motion and interactive graphics written natively in the language.

Although this isn't quite the same as Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and others being relatively forced into HTML5 by Flash-resistant Apple for selling products on mobile sites, LinkedIn is getting on board with HTML5 with a new "experience" that can be viewed in nearly any mobile Web browser.

The HTML5-optimized version, along with updated iPhone and Android apps, are getting entirely new user experiences that are touted to be faster, simpler, and better overall than previous versions.

Specifically, that means:

• Mobile apps will be between two and ten times faster across all features
• Apps are organized around four primary areas: Inbox,Updates, Groups & More (i.e. People You May Know feature), and You (i.e. user profile, connections, etc.)
• The Updates news stream is at the front of the app so that users can stay up-to-date more easily with connections

For those who would prefer to point their mobile browsers to the HTML5 page--which is actually still in preview mode--visit touch.linkedin.com. More features from the full site are expected to be brought over to the mobile versions in the coming months.

For a closer look at LinkedIn's mobile app, check out the promo video below:

This story was originally published at ZDNet's Between the Lines.