Also Known As: banshee_revora (Steam) Joined: 15 Aug 2002 Location: Brazil
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 3:04 am Post subject:
Have you browsed PPM in a cell phone?
Subject description: Results may vary, but the errors are constants.
Last week I've lost my old crappy cell phone in a bus when I didn't even need have brought it. I can't trust my own pocket, because the cell phone has kinda escaped on its own. This week I've decided buy a hell of a cell phone. Unlike the old one that only had 2 colours, this one comes with a 8 megapixel camera, gps, bluetooth, 3G internet and a hell lot of stuff. I've subscribed to a hell of a phone plan and a virtually unlimmited internet (they drop the speed after 2gb of bandwidth used). During this time I've browsed a lot at this website with my cell phone using the default browser which I still don't know the name and Opera Mini (which is great, by the way).
I've noticed that PPM is definitelly not designed for cell phones at all. I haven't checked the forums with that, just the site. I've been trying to keep this site compatible with 1024x768 resolution or better and compatible with Firefox and Opera (I hate Internet Explorer). The browser that came with the cellphone was a total disaster. Many images didn't load, layout was messed up, etc. Which was kinda expected. Opera Mini has acted better and the only changed thing was the width of the text in the news, to fit the screen.
Unfortunately, I'm unable to use my cell phone to browse it now, since my lovely cell phone service provider has cancelled my line for no known reason whatsoever without any kind of warning. Tomorrow early I'll try to figure out what's going on with that, because for me it doesn't make any sense at all, except if they want to bill me the contract recision fees which are very expensive in my case and I'm unable to pay it. This is why I recommend you guys to avoid the companies that own it as well, such as this one and this one. They may not act in good faith with its customers, which is a pitty.
The whole thing added one additional task for my vacations: a cell phone version of the site, cutting down the images links and no network bar. If you have a smartphone or any mobile device with internet access, stay tuned in PPM, because we'll make this site more friendly for you in the next days. QUICK_EDIT
I remember browsing PPM with my old Nokia 2650 few years ago and I wasn't able to view any of the images because that cell phone had max. 1 mb of memory. QUICK_EDIT
I was refused a monthly contract with Virgin Mobile because I failed the credit check. Despite being on Pay As You Go with them for nearly 2 years and also taking their cable TV, phone and broadband services. WTF!?!?
I just went to another network's store next door and got a better deal anyway - so much for brand loyalty!
I don't know if any C&C sites are mobile friendly, they're all very image intensive. _________________
Webmaster of - [CnCWorld]
Webmaster of - [CNC Community] QUICK_EDIT
Joined: 26 Nov 2002 Location: Algae Colony On Mars
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 1:26 pm Post subject:
Could you not make a separate page that will automatically be visited by certain UserAgents (i.e. phone browsers) that is a lot less image intensive? It could just be a stripped down page with just a PPM logo, some quick links to things and the news. Do the forums work on it? _________________
Quote:
This is sexier than what this forum was supposed to tolerate. - Banshee
With the Nokia browser on an N96 (which I believe is standard across all N-series phones and possibly other Nokias aswell) the PPM front page loads flawlessly, though a little slow because of the slower connection, as do the forums. Obviously there's a fair bit of scrolling to do.
Opera Mini 4.2 for Series 60 phones doesn't load the background for the top banner, loads the banner at a greatly reduced size and doesn't load the images under Upcoming Mod, Featured Mod, Spotlighted Map or Current Event and it doesn't load big images in the news (like the screenshot in the Tiberium Essence post). It also crushes the text into a central column so it fits in one page when you zoom in, but this makes the page longer and the Revora bar doesn't work. It loads the rest of the layout fine and the forums are fine. _________________ Last edited by Daz on Fri Dec 19, 2008 9:06 pm; edited 1 time in total QUICK_EDIT
Browsed PPM with my Nokia 5300, forums suck, really. Everything is compressed into the screen and overlapped. Sadly, using the browser consumes credit... _________________
Err...the image above means no offence to the american people...It's a bit of what I feel about it's gov't >_> QUICK_EDIT
How about people have the option to disable viewing signitures and avatars? They could do this in like their profile or something, and then that would be two less images per post they would have to load while viewinng the forums. _________________ Please, read the signature rules of the forum. QUICK_EDIT
Browsed PPM with my Nokia 5300, forums suck, really. Everything is compressed into the screen and overlapped. Sadly, using the browser consumes credit...
It's that phone, browsers on phones that aren't "smartphones" or iPhones pretty much always suck at loading anything but straightforward text. _________________ QUICK_EDIT
A smartphone is a "cell phone".
The clue is in the name...
And I also used the same two programs as Banshee did, Opera Mini and the built in manufacturer's one (though it'll be a different brand). _________________ QUICK_EDIT
TBH Cell phones shouldn't be having internet,as internet websites can be very big.And its also kinda pointless to visit PPM with an cell phone,the planet isn't going to die if you don't comment in an thread... QUICK_EDIT
omg, ppm gets mobile. In this case you should change all graphics and pictures so they are smaller than 25kb each.
i never had a cellphone and if i'm once forced to have one, i'll definitely use this only to telephone and not browsing,gaming,movie recording, picture shooting, text writing, cooking...
You're not up to date, dude. graphics don't need to be smaller than 25kb.
Also you can also use your phone as level or parking disk or light saber. _________________ Teammember of the German Gamers Association
VDVC QUICK_EDIT
Also Known As: banshee_revora (Steam) Joined: 15 Aug 2002 Location: Brazil
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 2:41 am Post subject:
I've sorted my issues with my phone line. The whole thing was a mess up between the staff from the store I bought my smartphone. They forgot to inform the manager that I've paid for the cell phone :S. Anyway, my issues are sorted and I've got the 3 days before thrusday night for free .
Cell phone sites can be much bigger than 25kb, specially because most of the cells will soon have wifi or even 3G connection and many of them already have. Considering how graphic intense C&C modding is, the site itself will still demand some hundred kilobytes. The main change between the current layout and a specific one for cell phones is the screen resolution and the menu. Also, the vast majority of the browsers for cell phones doesn't support flash, so no youtube movies.
And now, here's some random answers:
DaFool wrote:
How about people have the option to disable viewing signitures and avatars? They could do this in like their profile or something, and then that would be two less images per post they would have to load while viewinng the forums.
That would be a great idea, although I'd need to heavily hack the forum to do that or figure out if someone's mod already does it..
Daz wrote:
Opera Mini 4.2 for Series 60 phones doesn't load the background for the top banner, loads the banner at a greatly reduced size and doesn't load the images under Upcoming Mod, Featured Mod, Spotlighted Map or Current Event and it doesn't load big images in the news (like the screenshot in the Tiberium Essence post). It also crushes the text into a central column so it fits in one page when you zoom in, but this makes the page longer and the Revora bar doesn't work. It loads the rest of the layout fine and the forums are fine.
Yea, Opera Mini has several limitations. Some of them, such as the big images, I'm not sure how I'll deal with it. Youtube isn't supported by it. The other problems you mentioned seems to be easy to deal with. And Revora network bar needs to be removed, since itself alone requires a 600 pixel wide screen.
tobiasboon46 wrote:
Bansh, said cell phone, not "smartphone" or PDA/Palm/Blueberry/etc.
To be honest, I really expect smart phones or cell phones that are close to be considered smart phones. I also, I expect that users either use wifi connections or unlimmited internet plans (or at least, a non expensive one).
Deformat wrote:
TBH Cell phones shouldn't be having internet,as internet websites can be very big.And its also kinda pointless to visit PPM with an cell phone,the planet isn't going to die if you don't comment in an thread...
Internet on cell phone is very pratical. You don't need to turn on your desktop or laptop to quickly access sites. Or even better, imagine yourself in a public transport opening a laptop? Sometimes you don't have space for it, and on others, it's too dangerous. I feel much safer browsing the web with a cell phone in a bus than opening my laptop there. Actually, I've never opened my laptop in a public transport, specially because the streets from my city are full of holes. My hard disk would suffer a lot in a single trip.
Also, they are excellent to access sites with full privacy at work.
And also, sites on mobile looks good and it's easy to catch the latest news from your favourite things with it. But I agree that it is horrible to browse any forum with cell phones.
gordon-creAtive wrote:
/me: iPhone addict. It's hard to browse PPM via MobileSafari.
Sorry buddy, but if PPM ever runs well with any derivative from Safari, it's a matter of coincidence. The current site doesn't work well with Safari, Konqueror, Google Chrome, among others and I won't fix it. Now imagine with mobile safari ...
Lin Kuei Ominae wrote:
cellphone mata um.
Cellphone kills one? At least, that's the literal translation for your sentence in portuguese, except for the term "cellphone" which we call "telefone celular". So, how's that? Last edited by Banshee on Mon Dec 22, 2008 9:35 pm; edited 1 time in total QUICK_EDIT
PPM runs well on iPhone and Safari, the problem actuall is to hit these small buttons with my thick fingers, especially the pagination or the quote button. Also the font is wayyy to small. _________________ Teammember of the German Gamers Association
VDVC QUICK_EDIT
Oh my gosh Banshee I love you to death. I've been browsing PPM on my Blackberry ever since I got back from University and it absolutely freaks out when loading the main page (I use Opera Mini as well, I feel everyone's pain.) I personally think that this is a great idea, as being able to access PPM on the fly is something I've had to do alot lately. _________________ You come for the modding but you stay for the Crap Forum. QUICK_EDIT
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Have you browsed PPM in a cell phone?
