Reading vguitarforums from a phone

Started by sixeight, September 30, 2016, 06:33:39 AM

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sixeight

Had to do a factory reset on my phone again. Now I can't get Tapatalk to work. VGuitarforums is not very phone friendly. Text will resize in messages, but a lot of text is small. Had the best experience in Firefox for Android so far. Any tips from other Android users?

shawnb

Sometimes I go sideways, if there is a lot of text.

I admit I do a lot of zooming.    I have always used the default chrome browser.

Address the process rather than the outcome.  Then, the outcome becomes more likely.   - Fripp

shawnb

#2
I have been doing maintenance on the site the last two years, keeping us current & applying the occasional enhancements  (search scope, bookmarks).   

I have been looking at a responsive theme for the site, but for a lot of reasons it is not a simple task.  It would be a pretty big change in look and feel.   I  hate to admit it, but I kinda like the site today...

(Responsive = changes user interface to be more readable on whatever device you are using.)

I'll try to apply the responsive theme in test again.

I  am  NOT a fan of Tapatalk.    Their code steps all over your security, assuming you want to authenticate against Tapatalk, not your site.  Their newer versions are VERY intrusive.   Though it's configurable, I don't want them near our security code at all.     That is why we have such an old version of Tapatalk.   

Plus Tapatalk occasionally VERY aggressively crawls their sites, maxing them out on cpu.   They've done this to us before.

They are not good players...   Borderline malware, IMO.   

https://theadminzone.com/threads/tapatalk-now-forces-your-members-to-login-through-tapatalk-id.107088/
Address the process rather than the outcome.  Then, the outcome becomes more likely.   - Fripp

sixeight

QuoteThey are not good players...   Borderline malware, IMO.

The only reason I use Tapatalk is that it gives a nice reading experience. But I don't like the newer versions at all. Also externally hosted pictures are not showing. So it is not an optimal experience.

I don't know if it is possible to have an m.vguitarforums.com option, that has an alternative layout for small devices?

shawnb

That's what a "responsive" theme would provide.
Address the process rather than the outcome.  Then, the outcome becomes more likely.   - Fripp

sixeight

Quote from: shawnb on September 30, 2016, 08:29:51 AM
That's what a "responsive" theme would provide.

But perhaps you could make it optional by providing an alternative url. But I am not a web developer, so can't tell what is possible or not.

( . )( . )

I check the site regularly from my iPhone in Safari. I have no problems, beyond it being a bit more difficult to type posts - but it's still not bad. In general I'm not a fan of truncated mobile websites...while some full sites are awkward to navigate on a mobile device, I still prefer being able to see the entire site. That said, the smf layout of this site is very mobile friendly ime.

sixeight

I just found the option to show the most recent post first. This means I no longer have to scroll over to the recent post buttons on the right. Makes life easier again...

admin

#8
Mobile Tablet problems posting / editing / copying at VGuitarforums?
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=8523.msg61020#msg61020

If its an Android Tablet / Smartphone
Use Opera Mini Browser
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.opera.mini.native&hl=en

XSCope Pro Browser 
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=sui.mRelease&hl=en


shawnb

Quote from: sixeight on September 30, 2016, 09:53:22 AM
I just found the option to show the most recent post first. This means I no longer have to scroll over to the recent post buttons on the right. Makes life easier again...

When using a smartphone, I mainly use the "Show new replies to your posts" and "Show unread posts since last visit" links.    Bookmarks help, too.
Address the process rather than the outcome.  Then, the outcome becomes more likely.   - Fripp

sixeight

Quote from: admsustainiac on September 30, 2016, 10:03:50 AM
If its an Android Tablet / Smartphone
Use Opera Mini Browser
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.opera.mini.native&hl=en

Opera mini browser does some serious rescaling of the vguitarforums site. I am nog sure if I like it better , but it sure  is different...

( . )( . )

Quote from: shawnb on September 30, 2016, 01:00:13 PM
When using a smartphone, I mainly use the "Show new replies to your posts" and "Show unread posts since last visit" links.    Bookmarks help, too.

These are definitely my go to links to keep abreast of what's new...makes it very easy to navigate.

gumtown

My poor old eyes can't cope with the small print viewing websites on my phone, even with a 5 1/2" screen (known as a phablet).
Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

admin

#13
I book mark this and check each day

https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?action=recent

QuoteOpera mini browser does some serious rescaling of the vguitarforums site. I am not sure if I like it better , but it sure  is different...

Then pinch screen diagonally  and zoom in for improved legibility

sixeight

#14
Here is a screenshot of Opera mini browser:


And one of Firefox (zoomed in on main page):


Firefox is OK for browsing as it allows for larger text in the settings. This does show when reading a post:



But I did not manage to finish writing this post with pictures in either browser. Text becomes way too small. I grabbed my ipad and finished it there.

Best way to type these kind of posts is on a Mac or PC, where you have mouse and keyboard.

OldGuitarDude

Quote from: shawnb on September 30, 2016, 07:29:07 AM

I  am  NOT a fan of Tapatalk.    Their code steps all over your security, assuming you want to authenticate against Tapatalk, not your site.  Their newer versions are VERY intrusive.   Though it's configurable, I don't want them near our security code at all.     That is why we have such an old version of Tapatalk.   

Plus Tapatalk occasionally VERY aggressively crawls their sites, maxing them out on cpu.   They've done this to us before.

They are not good players...   Borderline malware, IMO.   

https://theadminzone.com/threads/tapatalk-now-forces-your-members-to-login-through-tapatalk-id.107088/

Agree with you on that Shawn. It can also be one of those contributors of "sluggish behaviour," that gets eventually written off as network latency.

shawnb

Address the process rather than the outcome.  Then, the outcome becomes more likely.   - Fripp

sixeight