Paul Boag

An iPhone Obsession

Author:
Paul Boag
Email the author
Published:
23 February 2010
Categories:
Mobile
Reading time:
1 minutes

The iPhone has become an obsession. If we don’t pay attention, we’ll have a mobile web that only works on the iPhone.

Warning! The post you are viewing is out of date and almost certainly no longer accurate. For more topical posts, check out the “related reading” at the bottom of this page or drop me an email with any questions.

PPK recently wrote an excellent article on the state of mobile web development. If you ignore the fact that he is ranting uncontrollably he is actually making some superb points…

We laughingly disown every single principle the web standards movement has ever stood for in the past ten years in order to swoon and drool over Apple’s iCandy and happily accept the reality distortion field that emanates from it.

The iPhone has become an obsession. If we don’t pay attention, we’ll have a mobile web that only works on the iPhone. And then we’ll have the real mobile web that wasn’t made by us and doesn’t give a shit about web standards and best practices.

Worse, it seems web developers are happy with this state of affairs. It seems web developers are congratulating themselves on excluding 85% of the smartphone users. They certainly never bother to check their sites in S60 WebKit, the largest smartphone browser in the world.

via QuirksMode

Although every word rings true, it would be good to have some more constructive advice. Part of the reason so many web developers fixate on the iPhone is because it is easier to develop for. It would be great if PPK could give us some advice about developing for other mobile platforms.

What do you say PPK?

If you recognise that the mobile web is important and you need help deciding on a strategy, then book a mobile consultancy clinic.

Book a consultancy clinic or contact Rob about a more in-depth review.

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