Useful Mobile URLs

(Added Google Maps)
(Various Google Services: Added touch version of Google Reader)
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| Google Reader || http://www.google.com/reader/m || Displays simple text version of article
| Google Reader || http://www.google.com/reader/m || Displays simple text version of article
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| Google Reader "Chunky" || http://www.google.com/reader/i/ || More touch friendly
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| Google Search || http://www.google.com/m || May direct you to mobile version of searched-for site
| Google Search || http://www.google.com/m || May direct you to mobile version of searched-for site

Revision as of 19:08, 25 February 2011

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

Shopping Sites

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

Various Google Services

Site URL Notes
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 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

WebMail / Social

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
Gmail http://m.gmail.com/ Can also click "Simple HTML" link for more functionality
Gmail "Chunky" http://mail.google.com/mail/x/gdlakb-/gp/
Hotmail Mobile http://mail.live.com/m
Hotmail Mobile Alt http://mobile.live.com/hm
MySpace http://m.myspace.com/
Twitter http://mobile.twitter.com/
Yahoo http://m.yahoo.com/ "Mail" link is in upper right

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

Search

Site URL Notes
Bing http://m.bing.com/
Google http://www.google.com/m
Yahoo http://m.yahoo.com/

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.