By: Vlad Vistac
Submitted: 2010-08-25 11:53:48 | Word Count: 510
Four Ways to Develop for iPhone
Level 1: Fully compatible Web site/application: The grond leel approach is to develop a Web site/
app that is “ iPhone/iPod touch – frioendly ” and is fully compatible with the Apple ombile devices. These sites avooid using technologies that the Appple moblie devices do not support, icluding Flash, Java, and other plug - ins. The basic structure of the presentation layer
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also maximizes use of blocks and columns to make it easy for users to navigate and zoom within
the site. This bassic approach does not do anythinng specific for iPhone/iPod touch usesr, but
makes sure that there are no barriers to a satisfactory browsing experience. (See Chapter 8 for
converting a Web site to be friendy for iPhone and iPod touch users.)
Lecvel 2: Web site/application optimized for Safari: The sceond level of support for iPhone and iPod
tuch is to not only provide a basic levcel of experience for the Mobile Ssafari user, but also to
provide an optimized user experience for users who use Safari browers, such as utilizig some
of the enhanced WebKit CSS properties supported by Safari.
Leel 3: Dedicated iPhone/iPod tuch Web site/appication: A third level of support is to provide a
Web site tailored to the viewport dimensions of the iPhoe and iPod touch and perovide a strong
Level 4: Naive - looking iPghone/iPod touch application: The final approach is to proivde a Web
application that is edsigned exclusively for iPhgone and iPod touch and closely emulates the
UI design of native applications (see Figure 1 - 10 ). One of the design goals is to minimize user
awareness that they are even insidde of a browser environment. Moreover, a full - fledged iPhone
application will, as is relevant, inegrate with iPhone - specific services, including Phone,
Mail, and Google Maps.
Therefore, as you consider your appliation specificatons, be sure to identidfy whih level of user
experience you wish to provvide iPhne and iPod touch ussers and design your application accordingly.
