Jynx
11-28-08, 07:07 PM
Possible to have a mobile version so the site can easily be viewed on a blackberry? Not sure how easy it is to add but just curious.
Forum Suggestions & User Assistance - Mobile version?
Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.View Full Version : Mobile version?
NoRacer
11-30-08, 08:47 AM
Possible to have a mobile version so the site can easily be viewed on a blackberry? Not sure how easy it is to add but just curious.
If you have a Google account, you can read the RSS feed from BF over Google Reader ( http://www.google.com/reader/view/#overview-page ). You can even access the original post from the reader. I use my Verizon networked Mobile Web enabled cell phone in this way.
Unfortunately, so far, it's been hit and miss for me regarding making posts back to BF. It seems that the login times out or something while I hunt-and-peck my way through a message using the cell phone keyboard. If my answer is very short, I can get it through, usually.
If you have a Google account, you can read the RSS feed from BF over Google Reader ( http://www.google.com/reader/view/#overview-page ). You can even access the original post from the reader. I use my Verizon networked Mobile Web enabled cell phone in this way.
Unfortunately, so far, it's been hit and miss for me regarding making posts back to BF. It seems that the login times out or something while I hunt-and-peck my way through a message using the cell phone keyboard. If my answer is very short, I can get it through, usually.
Rollfast
11-30-08, 05:27 PM
Interesting concept, this being mobile and typing posts. I guess it's the immediacy of it as much as the need to say it before it's lost.
Although it's true that it took Hemingway years and a few bottles to finish some times ;)
Although it's true that it took Hemingway years and a few bottles to finish some times ;)
Brian
12-02-08, 04:42 PM
Possible to have a mobile version so the site can easily be viewed on a blackberry? Not sure how easy it is to add but just curious.
Don't hold your breath. You're overlooking the obvious.
Don't hold your breath. You're overlooking the obvious.
Rollfast
12-02-08, 10:49 PM
The provider?
Doug5150
08-27-09, 10:30 AM
A mobile version would be something I'd pay for.
A number of other sites I know of offer this--a "lite" version, with all the same content but with all the fluff gone. Mobile bandwith and CPU power are at a premium, and mobile web-enabled phones are proliferating every day. Many people (who have access to it) will view the lite version even on their home PCs just because it loads faster and is easier to read (-it's also less load on the server, too-). Many of the pages on bikeforums are 500-600-700kb, and it's not because there's that much actual content on them.
One site I know of that does this offers a lite/mobile version) allows anyone to view the mobile version, but only allows paying members to post from it. The forum software also puts in a special sig that says "posted from mobile site", so that others who view the post are made aware that the mobile site even exists.
General suggestions:
...minimal tables and no javascript for formatting, javascript only for page controls where necessary (navigation, posting, ect). Phones have tiny screens and formatting needs to be flexible so it can be viewed well in portrait and landscape mode.
...ads can still be used, but they are single-word, text-only HTML links. No graphics, no Flash at all. Any content graphics get a link, and ideally there's no graphics inline at all. One small banner of the site's name is acceptable but really rather unnecessary when you think about it--HTML text serves the same purpose with less bytes.
Yea I know, it's not a quick or simple thing to implement--but it would be nice.
~
A number of other sites I know of offer this--a "lite" version, with all the same content but with all the fluff gone. Mobile bandwith and CPU power are at a premium, and mobile web-enabled phones are proliferating every day. Many people (who have access to it) will view the lite version even on their home PCs just because it loads faster and is easier to read (-it's also less load on the server, too-). Many of the pages on bikeforums are 500-600-700kb, and it's not because there's that much actual content on them.
One site I know of that does this offers a lite/mobile version) allows anyone to view the mobile version, but only allows paying members to post from it. The forum software also puts in a special sig that says "posted from mobile site", so that others who view the post are made aware that the mobile site even exists.
General suggestions:
...minimal tables and no javascript for formatting, javascript only for page controls where necessary (navigation, posting, ect). Phones have tiny screens and formatting needs to be flexible so it can be viewed well in portrait and landscape mode.
...ads can still be used, but they are single-word, text-only HTML links. No graphics, no Flash at all. Any content graphics get a link, and ideally there's no graphics inline at all. One small banner of the site's name is acceptable but really rather unnecessary when you think about it--HTML text serves the same purpose with less bytes.
Yea I know, it's not a quick or simple thing to implement--but it would be nice.
~
Brian
08-27-09, 11:23 AM
Hmm. Spend money to design and implement a feature that doesn't support ads, and only a fraction of a percentage of users would find useful.
Don't hold your breath.
Don't hold your breath.
dauphin
08-27-09, 11:25 AM
just buy a netbook
Brian
08-27-09, 12:28 PM
just buy a netbook
With Linux.
With Linux.
Doug5150
08-28-09, 03:45 PM
Hmm. Spend money to design and implement a feature that doesn't support ads, and only a fraction of a percentage of users would find useful.
Don't hold your breath.
Yea, who has mobile phones anyway? Almost nobody......
I know implementing it costs money--but I am noticing more and more that sites are catering to mobile users (by offering low-bandwidth versions), it is LESS load on the server than the "normal" sites, and those of us with mobile internet capabilities are often willing to pay a fee for it.
~
Don't hold your breath.
Yea, who has mobile phones anyway? Almost nobody......
I know implementing it costs money--but I am noticing more and more that sites are catering to mobile users (by offering low-bandwidth versions), it is LESS load on the server than the "normal" sites, and those of us with mobile internet capabilities are often willing to pay a fee for it.
~
Brian
08-28-09, 04:29 PM
Yea, who has mobile phones anyway? Almost nobody......
I know implementing it costs money--but I am noticing more and more that sites are catering to mobile users (by offering low-bandwidth versions), it is LESS load on the server than the "normal" sites, and those of us with mobile internet capabilities are often willing to pay a fee for it.
~
How many ads have you clicked on and made a purchase from your mobile device?
I know implementing it costs money--but I am noticing more and more that sites are catering to mobile users (by offering low-bandwidth versions), it is LESS load on the server than the "normal" sites, and those of us with mobile internet capabilities are often willing to pay a fee for it.
~
How many ads have you clicked on and made a purchase from your mobile device?
monogodo
08-29-09, 08:37 PM
BikeForums looks & works just fine on my iPhone. This post was composed on my iPhone.
Doug5150
08-30-09, 10:19 AM
Interesting concept, this being mobile and typing posts. I guess it's the immediacy of it as much as the need to say it before it's lost.
Although it's true that it took Hemingway years and a few bottles to finish some times ;)
Posting from a phone is not my preferred method of using the internet--but when your phone has the ability, you find yourself stuck with free time while going about your normal business. It's really easy to get used to having the internet in your pocket all the time.
How many ads have you clicked on and made a purchase from your mobile device?
I haven't tried to buy anything on the phone yet, but lack of ads on mobile-friendly sites is not the reason. And anyway, if the site gets more paying subscribers, then they don't need the ads so much.
Numerous sites already do have mobile versions, but you can't see that unless you go browsing with a phone. And mobile sites can have ads, but they need to be small bandwidth. Pretend everyone's on dial-up again! :p
BikeForums looks & works just fine on my iPhone. This post was composed on my iPhone.
Yea it works on my HTC 4550 too. My two previous posts were also.
The problem is the bandwidth use--or rather--the portion transmitted that is not directly related to the actual content of the page (-if you're in a big urban area you may be getting 3G and this doesn't matter so much, but most anywhere else is EDGE, and it does). Having a thread page with only 8-10 short posts that weighs in at nearly 1 megabyte isn't a problem for a DSL or cable home PC, but simply isn't going to cut it for most mobile users.
Also the inflexible complex formatting of the regular site is a nuisance, as no phone screen is big enough to show it properly anyway.
~
Although it's true that it took Hemingway years and a few bottles to finish some times ;)
Posting from a phone is not my preferred method of using the internet--but when your phone has the ability, you find yourself stuck with free time while going about your normal business. It's really easy to get used to having the internet in your pocket all the time.
How many ads have you clicked on and made a purchase from your mobile device?
I haven't tried to buy anything on the phone yet, but lack of ads on mobile-friendly sites is not the reason. And anyway, if the site gets more paying subscribers, then they don't need the ads so much.
Numerous sites already do have mobile versions, but you can't see that unless you go browsing with a phone. And mobile sites can have ads, but they need to be small bandwidth. Pretend everyone's on dial-up again! :p
BikeForums looks & works just fine on my iPhone. This post was composed on my iPhone.
Yea it works on my HTC 4550 too. My two previous posts were also.
The problem is the bandwidth use--or rather--the portion transmitted that is not directly related to the actual content of the page (-if you're in a big urban area you may be getting 3G and this doesn't matter so much, but most anywhere else is EDGE, and it does). Having a thread page with only 8-10 short posts that weighs in at nearly 1 megabyte isn't a problem for a DSL or cable home PC, but simply isn't going to cut it for most mobile users.
Also the inflexible complex formatting of the regular site is a nuisance, as no phone screen is big enough to show it properly anyway.
~
Brian
08-30-09, 11:25 AM
And anyway, if the site gets more paying subscribers, then they don't need the ads so much.
Are you high?
Are you high?
ImRael
08-30-09, 06:40 PM
just buy a netbook
They need some kind of pack to carry. Handhelds don't.
They need some kind of pack to carry. Handhelds don't.
Jynx
09-12-09, 07:41 AM
How many ads have you clicked on and made a purchase from your mobile device?
The same amount I have clicked from my PC. Zero.
And give me a break with the "it costs money thing". The site is now owned by Internet Brands. They can afford this given they own more then 90 major websites. Internet Brands already uses tons of features on other sites yet they refuse to bring a lot of it here. I bet they already have mobile versions on their other sites.
Internet Brands:
Revenue: $104 million (2008)
Operating income: $19 million (2008)
Net income: $11.6 million (2008)
The same amount I have clicked from my PC. Zero.
And give me a break with the "it costs money thing". The site is now owned by Internet Brands. They can afford this given they own more then 90 major websites. Internet Brands already uses tons of features on other sites yet they refuse to bring a lot of it here. I bet they already have mobile versions on their other sites.
Internet Brands:
Revenue: $104 million (2008)
Operating income: $19 million (2008)
Net income: $11.6 million (2008)
Brian
09-12-09, 09:43 AM
The same amount I have clicked from my PC. Zero.
And give me a break with the "it costs money thing". The site is now owned by Internet Brands. They can afford this given they own more then 90 major websites. Internet Brands already uses tons of features on other sites yet they refuse to bring a lot of it here. I bet they already have mobile versions on their other sites.
Internet Brands:
Revenue: $104 million (2008)
Operating income: $19 million (2008)
Net income: $11.6 million (2008)
No break for you. How did you determine that they can afford this on the basis of owning other sites? What's your logic there? Which of the other sites have mobile versions?
It still costs money. Money for which there is no immediate return. When you get old enough for college, you should take a business course or two.
And give me a break with the "it costs money thing". The site is now owned by Internet Brands. They can afford this given they own more then 90 major websites. Internet Brands already uses tons of features on other sites yet they refuse to bring a lot of it here. I bet they already have mobile versions on their other sites.
Internet Brands:
Revenue: $104 million (2008)
Operating income: $19 million (2008)
Net income: $11.6 million (2008)
No break for you. How did you determine that they can afford this on the basis of owning other sites? What's your logic there? Which of the other sites have mobile versions?
It still costs money. Money for which there is no immediate return. When you get old enough for college, you should take a business course or two.
monogodo
09-14-09, 01:03 PM
The same amount I have clicked from my PC. Zero.
And give me a break with the "it costs money thing". The site is now owned by Internet Brands. They can afford this given they own more then 90 major websites. Internet Brands already uses tons of features on other sites yet they refuse to bring a lot of it here. I bet they already have mobile versions on their other sites.
Internet Brands:
Revenue: $104 million (2008)
Operating income: $19 million (2008)
Net income: $11.6 million (2008)
And how many companies that reported high net incomes in 2008 are still doing well today?
And give me a break with the "it costs money thing". The site is now owned by Internet Brands. They can afford this given they own more then 90 major websites. Internet Brands already uses tons of features on other sites yet they refuse to bring a lot of it here. I bet they already have mobile versions on their other sites.
Internet Brands:
Revenue: $104 million (2008)
Operating income: $19 million (2008)
Net income: $11.6 million (2008)
And how many companies that reported high net incomes in 2008 are still doing well today?
Brian
09-14-09, 02:11 PM
That income was from 90+ sites. And it was most likely generated on the basis of impressions served. The fastest way to more income is to not be so picky about what ads are run.
monogodo
09-14-09, 02:40 PM
I also visited 20+ of Internet Brands sites via my iPhone, and not one of them came up with a mobile version.
Brian
09-14-09, 02:42 PM
I also visited 20+ of Internet Brands sites via my iPhone, and not one of them came up with a mobile version.
That's practically like stealing. :)
That's practically like stealing. :)