iPad Appification:Changes needed to sites to make them iPad friendly

Written by: Jonathan Briggs

April 7, 2010 [1676 views]

Yesterday's quick reaction to the iPad sparked a number of questions both here and in the office.

I am just doing an audit for all our client sites and I can see a range of both functional and cosmetic changes that will be needed:

1. Some CSS work specifically to address this version of the Safari browser
2. Some sites will need to have their UX optimised for the iPad - larger hit areas and simpler forms
3. Some Javascript issues seem present on some sites - these need to be eliminated
4. iPad webapp icons need to be created to allow the site to be bookmarked properly on the home screen - a website launched from such a icon will display without the browser chrome and on the super fast iPad feels more like an app than it ever did on the iPhone
5. Some error messages in shopping systems appear in places invisible on the iPad screen - they need to not assume a standard screen size
6. Flash needs to be removed from every site or at least replaced with alternatives
7. Video needs to be presented in a non-flash version
8. The iPad feels a very visual device and I think many designers will want to create a richer more graphical UX more like an app
9. We need to think about the impact of designing for a device that knows "where it is" presenting local content where appropriate
10. We need to simplify our interfaces to fit the audiences and their browsing contexts - their expectations are going to change once they see the gorgeousness of well designed apps and sites and this will have an effect on all of us.

Looking at my client stats I can see that the iPad has yet to create significant traffic - not surprising! But over 3% of the traffic to our client sites is from mobile devices and in one case that has reached nearly 15000 visits per month. This appears to have doubled in 6 months.

It is the appification of the web that seems to be heralded by this device - we are all going to stop building websites and start building apps (however they are delivered)

If you want to get in touch to discuss iPad call me on 02070895959 or DM on Twitter @jonathanbriggs

What do you think?

Add your comments