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Web Design Hampers Mobile Internet?

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the yin-and-yang-of-the-net dept.

aws910 writes "Reuters is running an article on how flashy web design is impacting the usability of internet-enabled mobile devices, with quotes from Tim Berners-Lee. Although the article is sparse on details, it is an interesting topic for discussion. Having recently bought an internet-enabled cellphone, I can honestly say that most websites are painful to view on a 240x320 screen over a GPRS connection(EVDO is expensive/US-only). Have we moved away from 56K-modem-oriented design, only to be pulled back in that direction?"

4 of 434 comments (clear)

  1. Market by turtled · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Is there that big of a market for mobile internet to have sites double design, one for PCs, one for 320x240 mobile internet devices? I know very few people that use things like that. Usually to check weather and the sports scores.

    --
    "I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection." -- Sigmund Freud
  2. I wrote a portal by DrSkwid · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I just wrote a text only portal to the information I need using Nokia's Python SDK for Symbian 60.

    It screen scrapes the sites I'm interested in and just returns the stuff I *want* to know : local cinema showings, a few RSS feeds, my current bank balance - that sort of stuff

    More work than most people will do but makes me happy :)

    --
    There are places where the networks are not touching,and there are places where they are-Boeing's Lori Gunter
  3. Market or Technology? by Delilah+Jones · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It seems plausible to think that the market forces will overpower (or otherwise direct) those of technology in this instance.

    For example, do you think that Amazon will move to a simpler website design to accomodate relatively few mobile users? Or would they go to the trouble to create an alternate 'mobile-only' website?

    The answer?

    Yes, if the market demands for such a headache merit doing so.

    Otherwise, I think the technology of mobile Internet will have to conform to the current market situation of flashy website designs.

    --
    http://augustwestproducts.i8.com
  4. Re:Useless... by Deinhard · · Score: 5, Interesting

    With all of the RTFM and RTFA retorts around here, I think the best solution to a boring wait is to RTF whatever. Better still, read a book.

    Are we getting so wired that we can't just sit still with a bound book and read for half an hour?

    --
    Successfully condensing fact from the vapor of nuance since 1998.