Re: Mobile Web -- WEB400

Here is what I am seeing and your target market is largely on where you need
to go. If your a store similar to an Amazon with returning customers, you
need an app for iOS and Android for sure with a serious look at Windows 7
(maybe) and Backberry (PITA). Your customers are more likely to browse and
comparison shop with an app.

Actually, let me refocus this. If you want repeat visits through a mobile
interface, your better hit will be an app. If it is internal type app you
can get by with a web-based application. However if you have a bunch of
sales people, it would be easier on them to have an app that is already
signed in. Just click on the app and make it easy to browse/place the order.

The best thing you can do to in order to make good recommendations is to
have one of these phones (or an iPod Touch) and buy a few different types of
apps and actually use them. Use the mobile browser and try to fill out forms
in the browser. Find sites "optimized for mobile" and use those on the
mobile browser. Only then can you really envision what would make sense for
what you want to do.

I gotta say, the Amazon app is a good shopping experience. My bank now
allows me to quickly look at my balance in an app (locked only by a pin #).
I have a better experience with Facebook in the iPhone app over the website,
same with Twitter.

While you can do a lot with a web-based HTML5 app (and is usually a good
place to start), you may find some limitations or a user experience that you
can make better with an actual application.

Just a few thoughts for my experiences and research,

--
Mike Wills
http://mikewills.me

On Wed, Nov 3, 2010 at 2:32 PM, Aaron Bartell <aaronbartell@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:

I have been reading the same things about Microsoft (with raised eyebrows).
They are losing, and fast.

My current plan for mobile development is to "try out" each of the various
spaces (i.e. Droid SDK, iPad/iPhone SDK, Webkit, HTML5, HTML pre 5, etc) to
see what works best and learn what people are wanting. We (Krengel Tech)
just completed our first paid application for Droids which accomplished
price look ups while in the field for sales reps (used SenchaTouch). It
was
a very small application, but was done as a proof of concept to see what
was
possible and what the effort was. I was impressed at how easy it was
(compared to learning doing the equivalent with CGIDEV2 10 years ago when I
first started). I will be documenting some of the approaches in an article
coming out this week (IBMSystemsMag.com - or watch my blog for
notification).

I normally wouldn't pursue new technology so potently (been doing a lot of
3
or 4am mornings lately), but frankly I am having a boatload of fun. I am
working on developing my second "silly" app that my friends and family will
be able to use. Remember when we first started programming and everybody
wanted to write video games? I feel like I am getting a taste of that with
mobile development.

I think the key will be to use whatever comes out of the W3C for HTML5 vs.
going the route of Adobe or Microsoft client side and proprietary
technologies. Note that most modern browsers don't (yet) support the
majority of HTML5 - you can check yours here: www.html5test.com

Aaron Bartell
http://mowyourlawn.com
http://mowyourlawn.com/blog/

On Wed, Nov 3, 2010 at 12:49 PM, Nathan Andelin <nandelin@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

Last night, my wife and I hung out until past midnight at a downtown

hotel

where
one of our state's political parties had rented a large ballroom and

other

gathering areas to talk and mingle with candidates, media, and various
movers &
shakers in the political scene. One couldn't help but notice the number

of

attendees polling & monitoring incoming voting results on personal
hand-held
devices; most seemed to have touch screens. Our city mayor was even
posting to
a community forum from her hand-held. It was another reminder of the
growing
ubiquity of these devices, social networking, and related applications.

I read several unfavorable reviews last week about Microsoft's mobile
platforms
and shrinking market share, generally. I wish I had more time to explore
mobile
application development. I know we've discussed mobile technology

recently

but
thought it might be worth asking again what developers are finding that
works or
doesn't work? Targeting specific platforms? Taking advantage of HTML5 or
Webkit
animations, transitions, and visual effects? Running into browser
compatibility
issues? Finding work-a-rounds?

-Nathan

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