10-18-2002, 09:25 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Here a Tweak, There a Tweak, Everywhere a Tweak-Tweak
We're still working hard to polish up the rough edges of the site. Here are a few of the outstanding issues our team has tackled lately:
� If you're a Mac user using Mozilla, and wondering why you're ending up on the mobile page, here's the deal: the user agent string for Mozilla on the Mac is, you guessed it, "PPC" - the same as Pocket Internet Explorer (it stands for "PowerPC" in this case). So, unfortunately, this means you get punted to the mobile version of the site. The best solution we can come up with is a version of the site that has no browser sniffer on it. Bookmark that URL and use it to avoid this issue. Then start an email campaign to get Mozilla to change it. :roll: The downside to the "no siffer" version of the opening page is that it's not compatible with the news filter on the site.
� Voting has been switched from an IP-based system to a cookie-based system. The net result is that those of you sharing an IP address with your fellow co-workers can now vote in the polls. The downside is that it's now possible to "cheat" on the polls by tossing your cookies (so to speak) and voting again. My hope is that everyone will be honest and only vote once. I should note that your vote is tied to your profile, so I hope you all at least have your own profiles on the site.
� For those of you who are using Mobile Favorites to download this site, you should point your browsers to mobile.pocketpchtoughts.com. That URL should work for everyone within 72 hours, and it points directly to the mobile version of this site.
There's still a lot of work to be done on the site, but we're getting there!
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10-19-2002, 12:32 AM
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Mystic
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,768
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changes keep getting better
Let me be the first to say ithat this site rocks and the changes are an improvement on what was already very useful and rich source of Pocket PC news. Keep up the great work and service to the community!
__________________
Jonathan (JonnoB)
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." -Edmund Burke
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10-19-2002, 01:28 AM
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Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
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What about email notification? Or are you guys just trying to get rid of me? 
Dave
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10-19-2002, 01:41 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 26
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In Javascript, doesn't navigator.platform return the OS platform? For PC's it returns WIN32, so I would imagine it would return MAC or something for a Mac. I've successfully done it before, but misplaced my code at my old job.
You may want to investigate this further, because the user agent is not the only way to detect who's accessing the site. A combination of user agent and navigator platform should be able to determine almost exactly what platform a user has.
Are there a lot of Mac pocket PC users?
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10-19-2002, 02:47 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,981
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Jason,
When sniffing for Pocket IE, just check that the OS isn't Mac based. That should fix the problem.
Your typical PIE browser string looks like:
Mozilla/2.0 (compatible; MSIE 3.02; Windows CE; PPC; 240x320)
So you can easily check both the operating system AND the browser type.
If you need any help with this, let me know. I might be able to help you out.
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10-19-2002, 03:16 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 179
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Wireless PIE access
Previously I found that the site was a pleasure to access via wireless PDA, even over a slow CDPD connection. It formatted well to the PPC screen but does not now. Maybe I'm using the wrong URL but I was under the impression that, with the sniffer, I should be able to point PIE at www.pocketpcthoughts.com and still be given the mobile version.
This has probably been raised in previous discussions and I apologise if so because I have not been keeping up.
I'll try the mobile URL.
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10-19-2002, 05:43 AM
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10-19-2002, 08:56 AM
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Swami
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 4,396
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E-mail Notifications
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Paragon
What about email notification? Or are you guys just trying to get rid of me?
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I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who's not getting the E-mail notifications. Let's get that fixed before the Mac issue. :-)
Steve
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10-19-2002, 03:18 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 27
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Re: Here a Tweak, There a Tweak, Everywhere a Tweak-Tweak
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
� If you're a Mac user using Mozilla, and wondering why you're ending up on the mobile page, here's the deal: the user agent string for Mozilla on the Mac is, you guessed it, "PPC" - the same as Pocket Internet Explorer (it stands for "PowerPC" in this case). So, unfortunately, this means you get punted to the mobile version of the site. The best solution we can come up with is a version of the site that has no browser sniffer on it. Bookmark that URL and use it to avoid this issue. Then start an email campaign to get Mozilla to change it. :roll: The downside to the "no siffer" version of the opening page is that it's not compatible with the news filter on the site. |
Jason,
I usually like what you do with this site, but this is one area where I disagree with you.
Why do you think Mozilla is at fault here? PPC for PowerPC has been in use WAY BEFORE Microsoft ever thought of the term "Pocket PC." IBM called their original RS/6000 platform the "Power Platform" and the one-chip version of it the "PowerPC." You may also consider that "PocketPC" is just Microsoft's name du jour for the platform. It is a rename of Windows CE (with the rather ugly shortened name "WinCE"). Who knows if Microsoft won't decide that "MiniPC" might be a better name next year? After all, nobody REALLY puts these devices in their pockets (at least, not their pants pockets!).
Personally, I think that "sniffing" for a PocketPC device and redirecting the user to a different page is wrong. If a person wants to get to the mobile page, they should type "mobile.pocketpcthoughts.com" or whatever other URL in the first place. Why do you think it necessary to try to outsmart the visitors to your site? Some people might want to actually get to the site that they type!
If you INSIST on "sniffing" for a PocketPC, why not give them the page they asked for, and, if you wish to be helpful, add a link near the top saying "If you are viewing this on a PocketPC, you may find this link to be better. Bookmark the resulting page." This way, you won't frustrate Mac users or PocketPC users that wish to view your site.
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10-19-2002, 05:03 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 204
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I wish the 'sniffer' would work on the forums while using PIE!!
__________________
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1Cor 1:18 In hand:*Axim x50v; 2gb SD; 4gb CF;*LG 325 Contributing Editor - pocketnow.com |
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