Joomla! Forum - community, help and support

I don't have a problem paying for a quality template.

I am looking for a Joomla 1.6 template that will switch its layout to accommodate a mobile device (Android, IPhone, IPad, and PC/Mac).

I want my users to have an enjoyable experience no matter what device they are on. Currently I have an android device and viewing a site on it requires pinch and zoom. Not the best experience...

This could be an un-tapped area that not many are using??? Mobile Ready (True mobile ready)

Any suggestions?

If you want I can post the site I found but the don't have Joomla templates.

You can always get a custom template for handheld devices. Which template are you talking about? Url ? Let me see if I can help.

This one looks cool, but it is not a Joomla 1.6 template.

http://allwebcodesign.com/setup/mobi-templates.htm

Seems like with a growing mobile market someone can create a good niche here...

Hi kenster35

The Gantry and T2 JoomlaArt frameworks supports mobile and handheld device viewing of your website you can read more her:

Gantry framework

T3 V2 JoomlaArt framework

They are both open source and free to use, they come with a template you can build on.

Personally, I don't like the template switching approach employed by template manufacturers to date. Firstly, it relies on imperfect device detection approaches and it requires the site owner to design and support multiple templates.

I have just created a Joomla! template, based on an 1140px grid, that uses a fixed-fluid layout and media queries to ensure that all the site content is laid out in the optimal way for the device it is being veiwed from. It is all css based. No detection scripts, no 'mobile template'. 12 columns on a high-res screen down to a single column on a mobile device.

You can see it in action here http://demo.internet-inspired.com/atmedia To really 'get it' you need to visit from a smartphone. Though, you can simulate that by simply resizing your browser window. Yes, it is all done with CSS!

*Disclaimer* This is a commercial template made by myself. I do mention it here though because I feel it is innovative, the first Joomla! template I know of that uses media queries to optimise for mobile devices. I do have an obvious interest in promoting it of course.

Hi float-right

I like the idea, but is has a glich when you see it in landscape mode on a mobile device.

Hi Amras,

What's the glitch? Works fine in all devices I tested against, so I am keen to know what you are seeing.

Oh i have an iphone 2

OK, but what is the glitch you are seeing?

I don't have an iPhone 2 to test against, but it should understand media queries just fine....

When the phone is in landscape mode the website is not scaling to fit the phone, instead it shows scrollbars and the content is very big in font-size.

Would it be possible to send me a screenshot?

float-right,

I don't mind the shameful plug for your product! lol

Especially when it is what I am looking for...

Very innovative and we need many options like this.

I have viewed it on my phone and works great. I plan to check it out on my ipad.

I am still open to other ideas.

Thanks,

Kenster35

Thanks kenster35!

If you are interested I have just released a new one, based on the same 1140px framework and with the same feature set (minus the image slider);

http://demo.internet-inspired.com/notable/

It works fine on my iPad

I was using the "mobile joomla" plugin from mobilejoomla.com for a few joomla installs and I was quite happy, very easy to set up, by default it uses the browser agent to display differently.
It may not look like you want to, but with a few changes you can change the style easy, as it's just a small page without fancy styling.
It displays an add at the bottom in the mobile version, though.

Many web sites are create template and they sell. Now all person are require the ready template, because its new in market. Many site are only for the mobile software like mobile9 is the best site for the best site. You have try its for the ready template.

Thanks kenster35!

If you are interested I have just released a new one, based on the same 1140px framework and with the same feature set (minus the image slider);

http://demo.internet-inspired.com/notable/

It works fine on my iPad

You still have to scroll sideways in the landscape mode on an Iphone3gs but the fontsize is better. Still bigger than portaitmode though.

float-right wrote:Personally, I don't like the template switching approach employed by template manufacturers to date. Firstly, it relies on imperfect device detection approaches and it requires the site owner to design and support multiple templates.

I have just created a Joomla! template, based on an 1140px grid, that uses a fixed-fluid layout and media queries to ensure that all the site content is laid out in the optimal way for the device it is being veiwed from. It is all css based. No detection scripts, no 'mobile template'. 12 columns on a high-res screen down to a single column on a mobile device.

You can see it in action here http://demo.internet-inspired.com/atmedia To really 'get it' you need to visit from a smartphone. Though, you can simulate that by simply resizing your browser window. Yes, it is all done with CSS!

*Disclaimer* This is a commercial template made by myself. I do mention it here though because I feel it is innovative, the first Joomla! template I know of that uses media queries to optimise for mobile devices. I do have an obvious interest in promoting it of course.

There's a bunch of problems I see with this approach:
-speed
-bandwidth
-content.

Mobi web isn't just about making something look pretty on any size screen. It's also about reducing the content to the smallest possible size so that it loads quickly. The demo above, for example, is over 200kb. That's about 10x the best practise size for mobi friendly pages. Most mobile phones, at this stage, take longer to download and process webpages than PCs on broadband.

Also, browsing habits of people on mobiles is different. Mobile browsing is often about getting a summary of content fast, or just contact information, or location of business because you are late for a meeting. So just porting your existing content to a different template doesn't fix this issue.

I prefer the sniffer approach which:
-redirects to a subdomains accessing the same joomla database
- with specially written mobi friendly content
- a custom built mobi friend template
- using a fluid layout.

Here's an example http://m.unleashedtravel.com.au. Obviously if you look at on a PC it looks bad - better on a mobile device. The client asked that if an iPhone hits the homepage www.unleashedtravel.com.au, that it not be redirected - all other devices are redirected (hopefully) to http://m.unleashedtravel.com.au

Total size of the mobi home is 20kb

Scoopy

MobileJoomla.com provides open source component and several free basic templates.
It works very well. If you want the exact same look and feel, you'll have to get into
some serious customization. There are some great mobile joomla templates popping
you.

If you just want your content to look good and have easy (iphone friendly) navigation,
then go with Mobile Joomla component.

JoomlaShine.com templates have special built-in design optimized for modern mobile devices iPhone, Android and Windows Mobile-based.

The mobile layout is generated from current template instead of using a separate "mobile version" so it's preserving the whole original look-and-feel.

Checkout demo site to see how it works here http://demo.joomlashine.com/joomla-templates/jsn_epic/

I still have major concerns with the templating approach to mobile web design.

Research is showing that peoples surfing habits are different when using a mobile device while accessing the web. In short they don't surf. They are task orientated - mobile surfers are more interested in getting the answer they are seeking, or achieving task.

The templating approach goes against this as it usually means that pages are very, very long making it harder to find the 'answer's or complete a task.

So in my mind templating is half a solution. Yes it deals with the layout constraints of mobile devices but not the issues relating to content

Eh, a new baby was born: My daughter - Jtouch
http://www.mobilemews.com/jtouch

Touch template for your smart phone.
Current is just for Joomla 1.5, but I'm working to make it work with J 1.7

MobileMe wrote:Eh, a new baby was born: My daughter - Jtouch
http://www.mobilemews.com/jtouch

Touch template for your smart phone.
Current is just for Joomla 1.5, but I'm working to make it work with J 1.7

Your demo http://demo.mobilemews.com/jtouch/ is 295kb! I wouldn't call this a mobile friendly template.

@scoopy: thanks for your feedback, I will try to reduce page size

This tool might be able to help you with what's taking up the space and give you a place to start. http://tools.pingdom.com/fpt/

@scoppy: thanks for your instruction, pingdom is really a great tool, I will follow its advices to optimize the jtouch template ^ ^

You're welcome.

Also, the browsing habits of people on mobiles is different. Mobile browsing is often about getting a summary of content fast, or just contact information, or location of business because you are late for a meeting. Porting your existing content to a different template may work in some situations, it may just annoy your customers in other situations - particularly if you have huge amounts of content on a page.

That's why I prefer the "mobile first" approach http://www.lukew.com/ff/entry.asp?933 or the m.mydomain.com parallel site approach where content can be tailored to a mobile experience.

All the best.

@scoopy: I'm totally agree with the idea of "Mobile First" since browser(s) in mobile devices is coming as the first point using to access to the internet

I have to agree about building sites now for the mobile market. I seem to be spending more and more time browsing the internet on my phone (maybe because the wife kicks me out of the house every time is go for a smoke). But with the internet becoming more accessable in terms of speed and the devices that it can be accessed from it seems to be the way forward.

darrenlc wrote:I have to agree about building sites now for the mobile market. I seem to be spending more and more time browsing the internet on my phone (maybe because the wife kicks me out of the house every time is go for a smoke). But with the internet becoming more accessable in terms of speed and the devices that it can be accessed from it seems to be the way forward.

Agreed! Check this out http://www.[youtube].com/watch?v=orPYB741sqY

Hey @scoopy,

Thanks for all the feedback and my apologies for the delayed response. I understand your viewpoint, bu I cannot agree.

I have no interest in creating 'mobile sites' as I believe that to be a dead-end. It is a reactive approach to a problem which cannot possibly succeed longer term. Partioning the web into smaller and smaller closed ecosystems, who wants that? It is also a war that you can never win. How many devices do you have to detect today, and then serve different content for? How many will that be in 2 years time? 10?

Only responsive web design can create a site that will function on an unknown device, with an unknown resolution, some time in the future. Y only have to look at the number of big players jumping ship from the device detection approach to know that this is the case. It is happening now. Smart people are not building mobile sites anymore. Only companies with very large budgets could consider continuing to support such an approach, and those guys are already bailing out and going with rwd instead.

The first, and only, thing I do upon being redirected to a mobile site is leave. Quickly. I don't want a mobile site on my phone, I want the website I asked for. Give me something else, you have ignored my request so I leave.

A mobile site is the complete opposite of what lukew proposes with mobile-first, I suggest you reread that. Mobile first is all about responsive web design and the one web approach.

One web, one site all devices.