How to store 40.000 images using HTML5?

[surfari adam]

Hi guys,

I have a very specific need for an application, a product catalog and ordering system but I have not found a way to implement it.

The application is a product catalog, like an e-commerce web site but for bulk orders, not final clients, each image is a product, that is why there is a need to have 40k images.

I have searched long time for a way to store a large number of images in HTML5

However I have faced the following limitations:

1. Use html5 offline (app cache) - This is limited in iOS devices to 50Mb, and hard to manage the manifest file.
   
2. Use webSQL database with base64 encoded images. Same size limitations (50Mb).
   
3. Use localCache with base64, again size limitations (5 to 10Mb).
   
4. Convert my HTML5 app to use PhoneGap File API, but then I lose desktop Support for Windows PCs, and have some issues with web services.
   

So perhaps I am missing a working alternative to do this?

Is there an HTML5 way to store a large number of images for offline viewing? FileSystem API is not supported in mobile devices and being able to run on mobile devices is a strong requirement.

Also if HTML5 is to be accepted as a platform, why do we have browser specific limitations?

In iOS there are tremendous difficulties using large offline applications, having to close and open safari to load the rest of the manifest in iOS5, etc... 

If HTML5 is to progress as a development platform doesn't it make much more sense to have a permissions system where the user has to accept special requirements if it needs to do something outside the normal (like store large amounts of data)? Why are developers limited to the whims of browser vendors?