[Web4lib] Mobile identification code

[Thomas Edelblute]

What about a QR code that automatically links the user to the web site or cell phone app?  Is anybody doing that?

Tom


-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Ken Irwin
Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 9:34 AM
To: 'web4lib at webjunction.org'
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Mobile identification code

Dawn,

I've been using to different sources of mobile-detection code.

For our library website, where I have access to PHP, I use the code downloadable from:
http://detectmobilebrowsers.mobi/
(Free for non-commercial use, commercial license fees apply otherwise)
The PHP is truly elegant, and I like it quite a bit.

For our library catalog, where we can't execute PHP code, I use an excerpt of the JavaScript code available at:
http://detectmobilebrowser.com/
This is a less elegant approach, but it works.

You can also do some non-script-based detection using the media attributes of a CSS <link> tag, but that path is fraught with peril. An intro to this approach can be found in Jonathan Stark's excellent book _Building iPhone Apps with HTML, CSS, and Javascript_ from O'Reilly. (see p16).

I strongly recommend that book (and probably its forthcoming Android-app companion book) to anyone interested in learning to build mobile-friendly websites. Despite the "iPhone app" orientation of the title, it is an excellent introduction to building mobile websites. (I'm really surprised that I've not found any other books that really plumb this territory. I'm curious if anyone else has, but I should probably post that as a separate thread.)

Good luck,
Ken


_______________________________________________
Web4lib mailing list
Web4lib at webjunction.org
http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/



THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR ENTITY TO WHICH IT IS ADDRESSED AND MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION THAT IS PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL, AND EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE UNDER APPLICABLE LAWS. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, forwarding, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by e-mail or telephone, and delete the original message immediately. Thank you.