With the explosion of devices and browser variability, our recent projects have all tended to reign in design/UI complexity so that the page will render on nearly any platform without requiring browser detection.
That said, we still implement specific browser/device sniffer to deliver more targeted experiences (specifically iphone/ipad).
Absolutely true Stephanie. As you said smart phones and pocket devices are next gen devices. Really important point that sites need to be designed for all kind of devices especially handheld because people are moving on to that, a large number.
I think the key point is that the web is becoming divergent.
On the one hand we are seeing super fast broadband coupled with ever increasing screen sizes which allows for an immersive multi-media experience, and on the other hand the mobile web, typified by lower bandwidth and smaller screens, but arguably greater functionality (phone / text for example).
And to make it even more complex, all the mobile browsers are doing their best to emulate full blown desktop browsers in terms of rendering capability…
So where to aim for?
Myself, whilst I don’t aim for the lowest common denominator (looking at IE6 here), I do aim for several aspects of core web page design, these being:
1. Functional commonality – use technology that has a high takeup, and allow for fallback (so that would be basic JS, server side processing, CSS3 (with CSS2 fall backs), HTML5 with suitable hacks for non HTML5 browsers)
2. Page weight – less is definitely more. Whilst a heavy page might look fantastic, even fast broadband users will have contention and latency issues.
3. HTTP lookups – the less the better.
For those clients not wanting a specific mobile site, if the above are followed (and tested), the site should be perfectly usable on the majority of mobile browsers (Blackberry’s apart ;-)).
Also, it’s worth understanding what users use their mobile devices for when browsing. It’s a different user experience on mobile than on a desktop – and people browse different things on mobiles than on desktops. So for example social media sites / news sites etc will be more heavily browsed by mobile, but other, more information intensive sites possibly not.
But at the end of the day good web design – with a consideration for the user – should always win out.
23 Reader Comments
Back to the ArticleArthur Chang
With the explosion of devices and browser variability, our recent projects have all tended to reign in design/UI complexity so that the page will render on nearly any platform without requiring browser detection.
That said, we still implement specific browser/device sniffer to deliver more targeted experiences (specifically iphone/ipad).
Crishna
Absolutely true Stephanie. As you said smart phones and pocket devices are next gen devices. Really important point that sites need to be designed for all kind of devices especially handheld because people are moving on to that, a large number.
Hot Lemon
I think the key point is that the web is becoming divergent.
On the one hand we are seeing super fast broadband coupled with ever increasing screen sizes which allows for an immersive multi-media experience, and on the other hand the mobile web, typified by lower bandwidth and smaller screens, but arguably greater functionality (phone / text for example).
And to make it even more complex, all the mobile browsers are doing their best to emulate full blown desktop browsers in terms of rendering capability…
So where to aim for?
Myself, whilst I don’t aim for the lowest common denominator (looking at IE6 here), I do aim for several aspects of core web page design, these being:
1. Functional commonality – use technology that has a high takeup, and allow for fallback (so that would be basic JS, server side processing, CSS3 (with CSS2 fall backs), HTML5 with suitable hacks for non HTML5 browsers)
2. Page weight – less is definitely more. Whilst a heavy page might look fantastic, even fast broadband users will have contention and latency issues.
3. HTTP lookups – the less the better.
For those clients not wanting a specific mobile site, if the above are followed (and tested), the site should be perfectly usable on the majority of mobile browsers (Blackberry’s apart ;-)).
Also, it’s worth understanding what users use their mobile devices for when browsing. It’s a different user experience on mobile than on a desktop – and people browse different things on mobiles than on desktops. So for example social media sites / news sites etc will be more heavily browsed by mobile, but other, more information intensive sites possibly not.
But at the end of the day good web design – with a consideration for the user – should always win out.
Keep up the good work….