Ronan Cremin or @xbs as he is better known in the Twitttersphere spoke at BDConf last month on Making the Most of Device Diversity. He made two basic points in his presentation:
- Complexity is the new normal
- Device detection is a valuable tool for dealing with it.
Ronan also unveiled a new tool to see server-side content adaptation methods in action at http://hydra.mobiforge.com.
We were encouraged to see that this message seemed to resonate well with people following the conference and there was little of the religiosity that's sometimes characterized debate on the topic of server side v client side in the past.
Thanks for all the tweets:
Design for the new medium. Not aproblem, rather an opportunity. @xbs #BDConf bdconf
Awesome tool! @bdconf: http://hydra.mobiforge.com shows you howdevice detection is being used by realworld sites. @xbs #BDConf viaScully
RT @bdconf: http://hydra.mobiforge.com shows you howdevice detection is being used by realworld sites. @xbs #BDConf jloton
Embrace all tools available. You discard valuable info if you don't. How to handle the web w growing spectrum of devices.#bdconf @xbs geeodz
http://hydra.mobiforge.com shows youhow device detection is being used by real world sites. @xbs #BDConf bdconf
To deliver a proper web experience and UX, you need to embrace all the tools inthe toolbox. @xbs #bdconf andrewsmyk
"Mobile gives the web wings." -Mary Meeker via @xbs #bdconf brad_frost
Don't forget present-friendliness. Are you supporting all currently availablephones, i.e. feature phones? @xbs #bdconf andrewsmyk
a new reality to the web: server side skills required #bdconf @xbs geeodz
Sensible defaults are crucial, whether it's proper baseline styles without media queries, or server-side defaultexperiences. @xbs #bdconf brad_frost
RT @AllThingsSmitty: If you think device detection is bad then @xbs has some real world stats to shove down your throat. Hungry? #bdconf. bdconf
RT @chriscoyier: Ooooh #hotdrama at@bdconf. “Device detection is bad” being refuted with real data by @xbs bdconf
Boston Globe and Starbucks are slow to load or wont render on many Nokias and Blackberries. Client-side isn't only solution. @xbs #bdconf brad_frost
RT @viaScully: "One Web" does not mean same code to all devices. http://www.w3.org/TR/mobile-bp/#OneWeb @xbs #bdconf grayscaletx
RT @ci.p: Server-side device detectiongives you 100% control of delivered content @xbs #BDConf andrewsmyk
Responsive web design and server-side detection aren't mutually exclusive. Use all available tools to create greatexperiences. @xbs #bdconf brad_frost
RT @viaScully: "One Web" does not mean same code to all devices. http://www.w3.org/TR/mobile-bp/#OneWeb @xbs #bdconf ci.p
Don't let historical precedents (IE vs Netscape, etc) prevent you from using a useful tool like server-side device detection. @xbs #bdconf brad_frost
"One Web" does not mean same code to all devices. http://www.w3.org/TR/mobile-bp/#OneWeb @xbs #bdconf viaScully
You have to design experiences for their actual environment. Great experiences are native, not converted. /via@brad_frost @xbs #bdconf JourneyGroup
You won't notice device detection when it is done right. The only time you notice device detection is when it goes wrong. @xbs #bdconf andrewsmyk
RT @bdconf: Device detection is used by all of the best brands that care about presence. @xbs #BDConf MobileInstitute
Device detection isn't noticed when it works - but when it fails, it's terribly obvious @xbs #BDConf ci.p
Every single best of breed experience uses device detection. @xbs #bdconf viaScully
RT @bdconf: Device detection is used by all of the best brands that care about presence. @xbs #BDConf grayscaletx
Device detection is used by all of the best brands that care about presence. @xbs #BDConf bdconf
Server-side device detection is just another tool in the toolbox, and we need all the help we can get. @xbs #bdconf brad_frost
"The #device is the canvas." - @xbs #bdconf AllThingsSmitty