Mobile browser support

[Dog Cow]

Yes, but it's more efficient to not have to send the HTML for elements which aren't displayed. In addition, it may be more efficient to not execute PHP code for elements which are not displayed.

[EXreaction]

Sure, but it isn't worth the time hacking everything to have an additional style and if ($mobile) checks around to disable things that are not used. That sort of stuff takes a very long time and can introduce additional bugs. If a specialized mobile style is not included with phpBB4 because of additional work, a custom stylesheet is an option which would make it easy to make a mobile style, and, while it may not be the best, it's still better than nothing.

[jasmineaura]

So you're only going to cater to the 1-5% of the world that will have a laptop-sized mobile phone in their pockets when phpBB4 rolls out? I don't think that should be the focus of the mobile browser support if it were to be added in phpBB4. It should be a simple interface without any bells and whistles that will fit on a standard-sized phone's web browser. There are a LOT of sites that do it this way: Bank of America, PayPal, Quicken.com, etc.


So I think we should follow a similar style/format as they do and keep it simple.

Agreed, or at least a lo-fi version for handheld devices would be nice

Perhaps something like this: http://www.mobileonlinestyle.com/?q=mophpbb3-demo

[$username]

It is a good idea. In the App Store you could find some apps wich allow you to view a phpBB Forum in mobile format. But most of them are paid. So it would be a great new feature to add Mobile Browser Support.

[callumacrae]

So you're only going to cater to the 1-5% of the world that will have a laptop-sized mobile phone in their pockets when phpBB4 rolls out? I don't think that should be the focus of the mobile browser support if it were to be added in phpBB4. It should be a simple interface without any bells and whistles that will fit on a standard-sized phone's web browser. There are a LOT of sites that do it this way: Bank of America, PayPal, Quicken.com, etc.


So I think we should follow a similar style/format as they do and keep it simple.

Agreed, or at least a lo-fi version for handheld devices would be nice

Perhaps something like this: http://www.mobileonlinestyle.com/?q=mophpbb3-demo

I think something more like http://phpbbmobile.co.cc/demo/

~Callum

[ameisez]

I am just about to post something like this because I got new iPhone and I tried visiting phpbb. I thought it was better if there is something that will optimize the view of the forum in my iPhone...

or perhaps phpbb iPhone Apps for iPhone users

EDIT:
Looks like parts are already available. http://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/mod/phpbb_mobile/

Just needed to add official phpbb styles for mobile phones

[topdown]

As a note, if not mentioned, almost all recent smart phone browsers have HTML browser support.
Most include CSS3 support with exception of Windows mobile of coarse, unless the user uses an alternative browser which is smart from the word Go!

Anyway, CSS3 support minimizes the need for scripts etc.... for mobile detection on smart phones by simply specifying an alternative stylesheet for mobiles or browser width.
eg.

Code: Select all

<link href="mobile.css" media="only screen and (max-width: 480px), only screen and (max-device-width: 480px)" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">

Full explanation and example here http://valid-webs.com/web-development/c ... -with-css3

So what I am saying is by the time of Rhea's release, this may be the only solution needed for 98% of the mobile phones in use.

I'm not sure it would be worth spending time on Mobile browser support in itself rather than just adding a stylesheet to what ever the default theme will be.

[callumacrae]

I am just about to post something like this because I got new iPhone and I tried visiting phpbb. I thought it was better if there is something that will optimize the view of the forum in my iPhone...

or perhaps phpbb iPhone Apps for iPhone users

EDIT:
Looks like parts are already available. http://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/mod/phpbb_mobile/

Just needed to add official phpbb styles for mobile phones

That one's out of date try http://www.phpbb.com/community/viewtopi ... &t=2092248

I think it should stay as a mod. It would be good if it was built in, but I don't think any of the dev team want it. If I did a patch (if I could work out how) would it be included?

~Callum