Tuesday, April 6. 2010, 02:14 PM
I just added a s9y Mobile plugin that auto-detects the browser/client (ie. mobile device) and then formats a special version of this site to fit the medium.
BlackBerry and other basic browser devices will see a much simplified version with reduced image sizes and larger text, while iPhone users will have their own special version.
I've looked at these "feeds" via the Firefox user agent switcher and also on my own BlackBerry Bold 9700 (I don't have have an iPhone).
I'm kind of torn. On one hand the idea of mobile optimization is to reduce bandwidth, speed up page loads, and ensure the content (mainly the text) is as readable on those little screens as possible (and minimize left-right scrolling).
But with a browser like on the iPhone, the plain formatted colours and text just looks plain boring compared to the full-blown FireFox version. The regular site even looks better on the small BlackBerry screen, even though the text is quote small and you have to scroll from left to right to see everything.
But I guess the idea is you just want the quick basics when you're surfing for something quick online. How many sites have we seen that just don't even function when you browse on a mobile device?
I'll leave the mobile stuff reformatting in place for now, but I imagine I'll be addressing this again in the near future.
BlackBerry and other basic browser devices will see a much simplified version with reduced image sizes and larger text, while iPhone users will have their own special version.
I've looked at these "feeds" via the Firefox user agent switcher and also on my own BlackBerry Bold 9700 (I don't have have an iPhone).
I'm kind of torn. On one hand the idea of mobile optimization is to reduce bandwidth, speed up page loads, and ensure the content (mainly the text) is as readable on those little screens as possible (and minimize left-right scrolling).
But with a browser like on the iPhone, the plain formatted colours and text just looks plain boring compared to the full-blown FireFox version. The regular site even looks better on the small BlackBerry screen, even though the text is quote small and you have to scroll from left to right to see everything.
But I guess the idea is you just want the quick basics when you're surfing for something quick online. How many sites have we seen that just don't even function when you browse on a mobile device?
I'll leave the mobile stuff reformatting in place for now, but I imagine I'll be addressing this again in the near future.
