Useful Mobile URLs

Why use the mobile version or at least a simpler version of a web site when Maemo devices are capable of accessing the full version? Some reasons:

  • Speed -- simpler versions may be considerably faster because they lack Flash and JavaScript. Full versions of websites are sometimes designed to run on desktop processors using browsers with JavaScript optimizations.
  • Focus -- simpler versions are often to the point, more in keeping with the spirit of mobile apps vs. desktop apps.
  • Compatibility -- sometimes the full version of a web site doesn't support Maemo devices properly.

On talk.maemo.org, there are periodic requests for mobile versions of sites.

Contents

[edit] Shopping Sites

Mobile shopping sites
Site URL Notes
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/mobile

[edit] Application providers

Mobile application providers
Site URL Notes
Ovi store http://www.ovi.mobi/

[edit] Various Google Services

Mobile Google services
Site URL Notes
Google+ https://plus.google.com/app/plus/mp/
Google Calendar http://www.google.com/calendar/m Lists appointments.
Google Calendar (Domain) http://www.google.com/calendar/hosted/[your domain]/m Lists appointments.
Google Docs http://docs.google.com/m Some features are view-only. Spreadsheet can only view a column at a time. Opera Mobile user agent enables basic spreadsheet editing.
Google Maps http://maps.google.com/m Look up a place. View a map in simple HTML with links for zooming and shifting the display
Google News http://news.google.com/m May direct you to mobile version of news site
Google Reader http://www.google.com/reader/m Displays simple text version of article
Google Reader "Chunky" http://www.google.com/reader/i/ More touch friendly
Google Search http://www.google.com/m May direct you to mobile version of searched-for site
Google Tasks http://mail.google.com/tasks/m part of Gmail
Google Tasks "Chunky" https://mail.google.com/tasks/android More touch friendly
Google Voice http://www.google.com/voice/m
Gmail http://m.gmail.com/ Can also click "Simple HTML" link for more functionality
Gmail "Chunky" http://mail.google.com/mail/x/gdlakb-/gp/ More touch friendly
Gmail "Chunky" (Domain) https://mail.google.com/a/[your domain]/x/1gjikl11t3cl1 More touch friendly
YouTube https://m.youtube.com
YouTube http://youtube.com/xl Extra-large buttons (Dont't work in 2019)

[edit] WebMail / Social

Mobile webmail/social sites
Site URL Notes
Facebook http://m.facebook.com/ mobile site
Facebook http://0.facebook.com/ mobile site without photos, free on some mobile networks (eg 3UK).
Facebook http://touch.facebook.com/ Touch site
FriendFeed http://friendfeed.com/iphone
Google+ see above
Gmail see above
Hotmail Mobile http://mail.live.com/m Obsolete?
Hotmail Mobile https://mssl.mail.live.com/m/?bfv=wm Works with Outlook.com
Hotmail Mobile Alt http://mobile.live.com/hm
Hotmail Mobile (Switch off) http://profile.live.com/contacts?bfv=um Useful if you are stuck on mobile view. Click the link, then click PC Site (located at the bottom)
MySpace http://m.myspace.com/
Twitter http://mobile.twitter.com/
Yahoo http://m.yahoo.com/ "Mail" link is in upper right
VK http://m.vk.com/ mobile site

[edit] News / Information Sites

Modile news/information sites
Site URL Notes
Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com recognizes some user agents
CNet http://m.cnet.com
Google News http://news.google.com/m May direct you to mobile version of news site

[edit] Search

Mobile search sites
Site URL Notes
Bing http://m.bing.com/
Google https://news.google.com/news/m
Yahoo http://m.yahoo.com/
Startpage https://classic.startpage.com/m/

[edit] Common Patterns

A quick glance at this table shows you that mobile-friendly URLs often fall into certain patterns:

  • m.site.com
  • www.site.mobi
  • www.site.com/m
  • www.site.com/mobile

Knowing these patterns, you can discover other mobile-friendly sites.