I really wonder how game-changing this will be. Of course most sites on the web aren't meant to be application but rather information presentation.
But it does seem like a huge step toward liberating developers from writing front-end code. The biggest possible downside I see to it that it could also liberate us from writing truly beautiful apps and we'll have a million apps that look like the standard interface.
It would be awesome to see some demos of apps not looking like 280 Slides.
I agree that most web sites are not applications, and this tool is not for them.
Atlas is going to make it pretty easy to customize the standard controls, so I wouldn't be all that concerned about cookie cutter interfaces.
It's also worth pointing out that most people don't have the ability or resources to create beautiful interfaces. Those people will get something that looks good by default.
But it does seem like a huge step toward liberating developers from writing front-end code. The biggest possible downside I see to it that it could also liberate us from writing truly beautiful apps and we'll have a million apps that look like the standard interface.
It would be awesome to see some demos of apps not looking like 280 Slides.