[IxDA Discuss] A quick question to iPhone users

[Will Parker]

On Jul 23, 2007, at 10:11 PM, cheryl kimble wrote:

> but i think the issue is the sites being served are those designed
> for large screens. when i try to select something, i can't see what
> i'm selecting (or hovering) and i have the same problem trying to
> zoom, always hitting some link...
>
> i'm wondering if there's a way to serve up sites and deliver them in
> pieces by eliminating some of the existing content, or at least
> rearranging it's order. it might be tedious, but at least it wouldn't
> be frustrating and tedious....

> maybe using xml and sniffing for type of connection/device or  
> resolution?

The traditional way to do that is to use a combination of a device- 
specific CSS stylesheet (  LINK REL="stylesheet" TYPE="text/css"  
MEDIA="handheld" HREF="foo.css" ) and browser sniffing of the user- 
agent string to further tailor the site appearance to the specific  
device in use.

> anyone have any thoughts?

It occurs to me that site designers who want their work to shine on  
an iPhone could easily (as in 'a weekend of tinkering') offer  
hyperlink popups mimicking the style of the iPhone's keyboard popups.  
In combination with the browser's 'finger-up == click' behavior, that  
should offer sufficient relief for closely-spaced hyperlinks.

The question then becomes how one efficiently conveys the content of  
the hyperlink's target without recreating those annoying full-page  
thumbnail popups. I'm sure the answer to that question would have to  
be content-specific.

- Will

Will Parker
wparker at ChannelingDesign.com


“I wish developing great products was as easy as writing a check. If  
that were the case, then Microsoft would have great products.” -  
Steve Jobs