I have an HTML5/jquery mobile web app at http://app.bluedot.mobi. It is used for long distance races to track competitors via SPOT satellite tracking. The issue I have not yet resolved is that when loading the app when no data connection exists, the browser throws a “no data connection” alert popup as it is attempting to fetch the manifest during the checking event. Even when a data connection is present, loading the app can take a very long time. There are ~ 500 files to check. The fastest way to load the app (from a phone) is to be in airplane mode and dismiss the browser’s alert – not so elegant.
Rather than force an update on users who tend to be in the backcountry with a spotty connection, I want to use applicationCache.update() programmatically, giving the user control over the process and speeding up app load whether on or offline.
Is this currently possible with the HTML5 spec and respective browser implementations?
Sounds like you need the abort() method. Unfortunately it is very new, and it will probably be a while before it is implemented by the majority of mobile browsers.