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Author Topic: Developing Mobile Versions of Existing Websites  (Read 22951 times)

ukgimp

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Developing Mobile Versions of Existing Websites
« on: November 06, 2010, 07:53:24 PM »
I have a need to do this and I was wondering if anyone had any tips or good resources for doing so.

Obvious concerns are dup content as I was thinking that I could use an old site and style it accordingly, like xslt?

Any ideas/suggestions/what not to do?

Cheers
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rcjordan

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Re: Developing Mobile Versions of Existing Websites
« Reply #1 on: November 06, 2010, 08:02:10 PM »
We had a couple of the early iphones at NonCon Charleston (2008) just to review our sites. Surprisingly, the iphones did so well that I basically felt there was no need to worry with regard to my simple travel sites.

What concerns do you have regarding content?  Or perhaps it's the market share of phones that don't perform as well as iphones?
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ukgimp

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Re: Developing Mobile Versions of Existing Websites
« Reply #2 on: November 06, 2010, 08:09:53 PM »
Blackberry.

I know the iphone does an amaxing job, but sometimes when I have a lot to read I like the clean versions that appear in front of me instead of having to double tap or slide around the screen. I dont care what the graphic designers have done, I want the content.

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Rumbas

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Re: Developing Mobile Versions of Existing Websites
« Reply #3 on: November 06, 2010, 08:42:33 PM »
If you run WP, install the WPtouch theme. Awesome for mobile.
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jangro

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Re: Developing Mobile Versions of Existing Websites
« Reply #4 on: November 06, 2010, 09:07:55 PM »
I hate when I come across sites with the WPTouch theme.  Makes every site look the same. 
I can browse most sites just fine on my iphone and android phone.

Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather you leave it alone.
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ukgimp

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Re: Developing Mobile Versions of Existing Websites
« Reply #5 on: November 06, 2010, 09:09:33 PM »
No wordpress I am afraid.
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Drastic

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Re: Developing Mobile Versions of Existing Websites
« Reply #6 on: November 06, 2010, 09:18:10 PM »
>Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather you leave it alone.

pfft jangro you don't click on the right stuff anyway! hehe, good to see you man.

I just about ignore mobile, but have used the plugin.
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ukgimp

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Re: Developing Mobile Versions of Existing Websites
« Reply #7 on: November 06, 2010, 09:19:48 PM »
>>I just about ignore mobile

But a lot of characters dont just ignore it. We are not your typical audience
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Drastic

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Re: Developing Mobile Versions of Existing Websites
« Reply #8 on: November 06, 2010, 09:23:05 PM »
Sorry that was my ontopic bit to get a hello at jangro.

I'm not saying I it should be ignored, I just haven't taken the time. I should say it's on the list, but actually it's not.

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rcjordan

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Re: Developing Mobile Versions of Existing Websites
« Reply #9 on: November 06, 2010, 09:23:23 PM »
Is it your site that you showed me? In particular, is it the image size?  Or, do you think the whole site needs to be reconfigured for better usability? Move left column nav, that sort of thing?
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ukgimp

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Re: Developing Mobile Versions of Existing Websites
« Reply #10 on: November 06, 2010, 09:29:35 PM »
It is that site, but others.

I am looking for answers as to whether it is worth the hassle/pain and if so the best way of doing it.
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rcjordan

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Re: Developing Mobile Versions of Existing Websites
« Reply #11 on: November 06, 2010, 09:40:18 PM »
If it is primarily images that causes your sites' content to scroll offscreen, I've found a pretty easy way to dynamically resize them. That functionality was the reason my sites did well enough on fanboy's iphone in Charleston.
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bill

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Re: Developing Mobile Versions of Existing Websites
« Reply #12 on: November 08, 2010, 12:00:23 PM »
I've never used these guys, but a little while ago there was a lot of talk about the system at Mobify for making a quick mobile version of your site.
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Rupert

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Re: Developing Mobile Versions of Existing Websites
« Reply #13 on: November 08, 2010, 03:27:49 PM »
I looked down the mobile route.  I get orders from phones. They display the site well.  So I agree with RC.

Blackberry screen is so small that I can only see it with glasses on, but my site displayed OK. 

The only site I have come across that I wished they had a mobile site is the met office...  and now they have one.

The Technology will catch up soon for Blackberry, so why worry Rich?

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jangro

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Re: Developing Mobile Versions of Existing Websites
« Reply #14 on: November 09, 2010, 04:19:26 AM »
Looking at the last 1MM visitors to one very consumer-oriented, john q. public type, website, mobile visitors are 7.2%.

Of them, the vast majority are Safari mobile (iphone, ipad, ipod touch) at 6.4% of the total.
Blackberry is 0.4% and the rest are Opera and IE mobile browsers that barely register on the scale.

As long as the full site works well in Safari, I have a hard time justifying doing anything special for mobile, and especially for 0.4% of visitors who can probably get by anyway, though to be honest, I don't really know.

To give some gauge of the types of visitors, it otherwise has pretty standard regular browser numbers.
IE: 50%
FF: 21%
Safari: 13%
Chrome: 9%

(Good to see you to Drastic.)
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