QOTD: The mobile web?

7 Responses to QOTD: The mobile web?

1. DavidGreen says:

   July 8, 2009 at 6:09 am

   As far as I am aware, Flash is not that well supported (apparently never to be by the Apple camp).

   And aside from content specifically designed for small screens, it doesn’t look that good. However, in the cases where you really need access, then it is usable.

   But I rarely use a hand-held device for this kind of thing, and not likely to with only a GPRS connection
2. Peter Crook says:

   July 8, 2009 at 8:09 am

   No.

   Whats missing – Screen, even with my Touch Pro 2 the screen is just to small, I use when I have to but PC Screen will always win
3. Statto says:

   July 8, 2009 at 9:00 am

   It depends whether a particualr website developer has been kind enought to consider mobile users.

   PDA247 (for example) is very nicely optimised for mobile viewing, but big, compples sites are still quite hard to get a “comfortable” browsing experience on, even with devices with screens as big as say the iPhone, so in general I’d say no, you can’t generally use a mobile device as a replacement for a desktop browsing experience. Occasionally is fine.

   The point David makes is critical too. Unless mobile devices support the same features that desktops do it just won’t compare.

   I think the problem is we (that’s a “Royal” we by the way) “want” mobile browsing to be the same as a desktop. But it’s not, and I don’t think ever will be unless we have devices with big enough screens – even the 7 and 9 inch Asus Eee’s were criticised by some for nothang a big enough screen to browse effectively, so a phone isn’t going to hack it as a replacement for the desktop.

   However, careful use of optimised sites, and RSS readers etc makes the “internet” experience (rather than the browsing experience) perfectly acceptable – for me at least.
4. gavinfabl says:

   July 8, 2009 at 9:23 am

   On the iPhone you can so most things but for viewing large pics a laptop can’t be beaten. Also for long term viewing a big screen is better for your eyesight .
5. Andrew says:

   July 8, 2009 at 11:31 am

   Seriously, have you ever tried completing a web form using your mobile device?

   Andrew
6. lazyboy says:

   July 8, 2009 at 2:39 pm

   “Seriously, have you ever tried completing a web form using your mobile device?”

   Yes, I do it on the iPhone quite frequently. There’s a handy “next” button which pops up which makes navigating between fields straightforward; and the keyboard gives good visual feedback when you are entering passwords. Moreover, where the password field is “masked” there is a slight delay before each letter is hidden so that you can verify it has been entered correctly.

   In iPhone 3.0 there is also an “Auto-fill” option which will automatically fill in your name, address, telephone number etc.

   On the more general point about web browsing, there are always going to be some compromises because of screen size and processor constraints. However, I do an awful lot of browsing on the iPhone, probably more than I do on either the desktop or my laptop these days.
7. vboelema says:

   July 8, 2009 at 9:14 pm

   I quite enjoyed catching up with some of my favourites sites using Operamini. I have to admit that posting stuff was a pain, but I put that down to missing a QWERTY keyboard, since I used to way back when with my Treo 600. But maybe my expectations/needs are quite low, and I’m happy flicking through the likes of pda 247, AAS, Times Online, BBC using my mobile. But then again… I’m happy reading a book on my mobile, when most people just simply are not. But I am talking about light browsing, nothing hardcore and intricate.