Mobile is a totally new medium. Best practices from the desktop world simply do not
apply. The unique attributes of the mobile device, ecosystem and user require new best
practices for Mobile Web development.
This book teaches you the syntax, semantics, and ecosystem of the Mobile Web. You
will learn to build adaptive, responsive, and standards-compliant Mobile Web sites
guaranteed to work on any mobile browser. Simple development tips and techniques
will improve web usability on small screens. You will enrich your Mobile Web site for
advanced smartphone browsers (browsers in high-end mobile phone with integrated
Internet features such as email and desktop-capable Web browsing) capable of
rendering full HTML and proprietary extensions. After development, you learn to test
thoroughly on actual mobile devices, optimize Mobile Web pages for network transport,
and maximize survival in the mobile ecosystem by avoiding transcoding.
The Mobile Web is the Wild West. The big guns control the ecosystem, and shootouts
are commonplace. A determined individual can stake a claim, build a homestead, and
establish a community, and independent outposts flourish in remote locations. But the
best way to survive is to show up armed. The most effective weapons for a mobile
developer in the Wild West include:
deep technical understanding of mobile standards and best
practices
critical thinking skills and a healthy sense of skepticism
fanatical devotion to syntactic correctness
an appreciation of the needs of mobile users
A standards-based approach to Mobile Web development ensures compliance and
usability across mobile browsers and platforms. Knowing all the rules—and knowing
when to ignore the rules—is necessary for success on the Mobile Web.
