Sunday, April 29, 2007

So You Want to Build Mobile Website - 1. Markup

Maybe I should write something I know about mobile web (wap) developement sometimes since the demand is getting bigger here in the US.

First, you may wonder what markup you should use. Your choice may depend on where you are, or where your target viewers are. For majority of people/regions, main choice is probably XHTML, but there're still plenty of people in the world use devices support only WML. (I'm taking to you, Google!). If you are creating wap site for those cute Japanese phones, you may want to write in CHTML. If you are in India, your best choice would be WML.

Here's a list of markups and DTDs (if required):

XHTML Basic

XML-based markup typically for handheld devices

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML Basic 1.0//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml-basic/xhtml-basic10.dtd">

XHTML-MP

XHTML Mobile Profile. This is a variant of XHTML Basic, defined by Open Mobile Alliance. This is usually my choice. Yes, it supports CSS!

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//WAPFORUM//DTD XHTML Mobile 1.1//EN"
"http://www.wapforum.org/DTD/xhtml-mobile11.dtd">

WML

Wireless Markup Language. This is going to be phased out but majority of devices in India supports only WML. This is similar to HTML but there're lots of special tags not included in HTML. There're some features missing in XHTML, such as softkey configuration that I wish included in XHTML-MP.

<!DOCTYPE wml PUBLIC "-//PHONE.COM//DTD WML 1.1//EN"
"http://www.phone.com/dtd/wml11.dtd">

HDML

Handheld Device Markup Language, defined by Openwave. Some Japanese phones use this, and if I am not wrong, I think some Motorola (US) phones too.

CHTML

Compact HTML -similar to WML and HDML. Used only, yet big in Japan, and it works on Japan's DoCoMo's i-mode phones. More Japanese manifacturers started making devices that support XHTML so this will be pased out sooner or later.

MML

Mobile Markup Language. Another Japan-only markup and defined by J-Phone (now SoftBank Mobile) and Keio University. Who uses it anyway?



You must have notice there're too many (yes, I'd say too many) Japanese variants, but it looks like Japanese phone companies have started following global-standard way and more devices will support XHTML and replace the older devices soon.

Conclusion: Although I mentioned earlier that Google doesn't care about Indian users by not supporting WML, for majority of people, if you want to pick only one, I'd say you should write in XHTML.

I will write about more in details later.

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Is it real? - Google's Mobile Device Photo

The rumor about Google's phone has been around, and the recent New York Times article (Big Money in Little Screens) has confirmed it really does exist by saying:

Google has gone so far as to build a prototype phone with its own software inside, according to one person who has seen it.
Now, this the first time I saw a photo of the concept design. To be honest I don't believe it is real. It's just too ugly to trust.

Source: Engadget Mobile

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Call cheap with Skype on Fring on Symbian Phones

OK, this is not a new news but my first trial on VoIP call from my mobile phone.

My headset broke, and I had to yell at my PowerBook to be able to talk with my dad via Skype. "HEEELLLOOO DAAAD?" 5 minutes of yelling made me tired. I need a new headset. But instead of buying another brand-new defected made-in-China headset on eBay, I decided to try Skype on mobile handset.

Since Skype hasn't gone mobile yet, I wanted to give some alternatives a try on my wifi'd N80 and just tried for the first time last weekend.

For some reasons, my first choice, iSkoot failed to connect, so after my 5th trials, I uninstalled it and installed Fring. Yay. This worked without any problem for me! I was able to make a call by logging into my Skype account. The sound quality is less than perfect, but so is Skype on desktop. I am pretty satisfied. But to call my dad, who has started losing his hearing a bit, I should just pay for regular phone bill.

fring (beta)

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Mobile 2.0 @ Web 2.0 Expo

I was at Web 2.0 Expo at Moscone West on Tuesday. Mobile 2.0 Keynote, Nokia's new widget for S60 (Web Run-Time), and Google's big interest for mobile (looking for mobile start-ups for aqcisition?)... I was sure that the mobile would be next big thing for the year 2007 last year, and now I feel it. Apple's iPhone is coming soon too!

As a mobile web developer, I've been busy and will be busier for sure!

Also the Bento Box and organic white tea I had for lunch at Samovar Tea Lounge )located by Moscone Center)were delicious.

Sunday, April 15, 2007

N76 Design Contest

I haven't design for ages but I'd like to try -something pink/girly! http://www.nseries.com/n76

Monday, April 09, 2007

Dare to Compare - Mobile Search

Soon after Yahoo! launched this new mobile search, oneSearch (news:Yahoo jumps ahead of Google on mobile phone search), Google tried to catch up with by adding a link to another search page with some new feature, just like Y!'s oneSearch (google.com/m). The images above are the actual screenshot of the serach result of "godzilla" on Yahoo oneSearch and Google's new search.

Also see this interesting comparison (pdf): Dare to Compare - Google vs. Yahoo!