Should LPF have a Mobile version?

I logged on to LPF today with my mobile to check my PM's and found it took 5mb to get from front page -> sign in/welcome page -> new post page -> private messages page.

For a mobile 5mb is a lot, especially if you are on a plan like me... 200mb a month :/ and not to mention slow. It took about 4 mins to get to the PM's page using 3G connection.

This is only a suggestion/curious thread to see if there is any viable way to make a mobile version of LPF like for example mobile (touch) Facebook or similar sites.

As far as my hosting knowledge goes, if you change the beginning of the web address, for example instead of www.laserpoi... to www4.laserpoi.. you can run a mobile image of this site on the same server. Now I did a little research before hand, and it seems Vbulletin (the software the forum is running off) also seems to have a mobile version.

So I guess my question is, how easy is it to implement a mobile version of LPF? Would it increase monthly costs? Do members see the need for this addition? Would it benefit the community if we had a mobile version?

Please let me know all your comments, suggestions and opinions below

I think mobile versions of sites are starting to be an outdated concept. With 4g technology and built in flash on the new smartphones coming out, I don't think it would benefit the site much. Just my 2 cents.

i just have my inbox bookmarked so i can skip all that...

i just have my inbox bookmarked so i can skip all that...

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Good idea, but I wasn't thinking just for PM's... to surf LPF would be crazy slow (in my case at least) via mobile.

It's a LOT better if you disable images. not having to load the advertisement and everyone's avatars and pictures saves tons of time.

Mohrenberg said:

It's a LOT better if you disable images. not having to load the advertisement and everyone's avatars and pictures saves tons of time.

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Is this a browser setting, phone setting, or LPF setting?


I would support a mobile browser!

Please make a mobile version.
I think vBulletin has integrated a mobile version.

Oh Chuck, yes please!

LaserNate said:

I think mobile versions of sites are starting to be an outdated concept. With 4g technology and built in flash on the new smartphones coming out, I don't think it would benefit the site much. Just my 2 cents.

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Seems like you've got absolutely no idea about what it is for people who don't have 4G unlimited plans

I too am limited with a 200MB/mo. plan and it never crossed my mind to lurk LPF with those precious scarce MBs

I use Opera Mini at my (old) smart phone. The Opera server compress the web page so they load fast with 3G (or in decease time with EDGE).

Do download Opera Mini -browser and try with it!

Edit/PS: I have Opera Mini 4, cause I have an old smart phone.

should lpf have a mobile version?

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nope, just a iphone version

@Sinuhesieda
A navigator can't compress the page before downloading it so, the load time is the same (or bigger, for compressing ).

That is, unless the server supports it.

I don't have too much trouble on my Droid X but a mobile version would make a nice addition.

Leodahsan said:

@Sinuhesieda
A navigator can't compress the page before downloading it so, the load time is the same (or bigger, for compressing ).

That is, unless the server supports it.

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Actually, Opera mini compresses images and loads a lower resolution of the same image, so it is downloading less data and thus allows for less traffic.

@niko
How it can compress the data prior to download it? I don't understand

The browser doesn't actually compress the file like winzip or winrar does... It just downloads a lower quality version of the file. I don't know how it is done on a random website, but I do know a lot of social networking sites for example Facebook, have a High quality and a Low quality version of every image on the site.

Leodahsan said:

@niko
How it can compress the data prior to download it? I don't understand

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I think when you type in an adress , your not actually accessing the website, your accessing Opera's servers, and THEY fetch the webpage you asked for , process it and then send it to your phone "compressed" . All this happens in the background of course, to you, you simply typed in the adress, and the webpage "appeard" .