AppCast widgests are tiny apps that can be "installed" on the iPhone home screen, run on Javascript while offline, and can be distributed on web sites. They can additionally pull in live data while online, but at the minimum will start and have useful functionality when offline.
Apparently, there is a way to store a home screen bookmark (app icon) with a page that can load offline. Kent Brewster's page shows an example using canvas animation. The key is to use the data: protocol. This could work just as well for text data and text apps. Like this,
Hello, World. This is a great way to offer an instant small iPhone "app" that visitor's can install when simply visiting your web page using safari/iPhone.
With careful design, you can even make it work dual mode online/offline. Persistent data storage is questionable, depending on whether cookies work with the data: protocol.
But the real power is to use this to start native iPhone apps that support custom URL scheme with different parameters. The parameters can seed data into the native app that will make it behave differently. You can add/replace data in the app. You can set/change complex app configuration by sending a link to your customer to give them customized iPhone app without the App Store.
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