Blackberry and other Mobile support?

[wildviper]

Hi,

Do you guys offer a mobile version of the smugmug site? I would love to be able to pull up my smugmug acct and have a slideshow of pictures to show someone when I am out and about.

Yahoo has done that with Flickr under Yahoo Go!. It is pretty cool. (I just don;t like Flickr)

[Andy]

some folks reporting good results on other devices, with our /iphone link

so
http://nickname.smugmug.com/iphone

try it :thumb

[LiquidOps]

some folks reporting good results on other devices, with our /iphone link

so
http://nickname.smugmug.com/iphone

try it :thumb

Works great on my Verizon Treo 700W

[jaysonmc]

It would be nice to seem some sort of slideshow feature available for the blackberry or all mobile devices, such as you see on Flickr and now on picassa.

the /iphone thing on blackberry isn't the greatest thing but is doable, though using /iphone on a blackberry just seems counter intutive, /mobile would have been better.

[madeingermany]

But Don has an iphone :D

[jchin]

You mean no SmugMug geeks have a Blackberry/Crackberry?

I have a Blackberry Curve and my site does not load properly for me when I use the /iphone page.

Can we make a more mobile friendly page? That is another thing Flickr has over SmugMug, they have http://m.flickr.com/

Don't get me wrong, I love SmugMug and would like to see as many features implemented as possible to keep SmugMug the best site.

[3n-out]

Looks like this works on the following Blackberry's.

Blackberrry 8100
Blackberry 8300
Blackberry 8700
Blackberry 8800

I have tested this link on all these models. :ivar

[madeingermany]

I have no problems on my Blackberry Pearl using the iphone page in the Blackberry Browser.
Also works in Opera Mini (http://www.operamini.com/) (highly recommended).

What issues are you encountering?

[leebase]

The iphone link is a big step forward -- but I want to add my voice to those who'd like a "smartphone" (windows mobile 6) friendly version.

Lee

[LiquidOps]

The iphone link is a big step forward -- but I want to add my voice to those who'd like a "smartphone" (windows mobile 6) friendly version.

Lee

As stated above, this works great on my Treo 700W (Windows) smartphone

[Sheaf]

You mean no SmugMug geeks have a Blackberry/Crackberry?

I don't think any of us do, no. iPhone or bust around here.

I think there are three main reasons we don't yet have a standardized mobile SmugMug yet. First, the iPhone is the only phone with a good Web browser. Second, we don't have all the various phones to test and play with in order to develop it properly for them. Third, we have other features to build that we consider more important or that need updating.

I am curious though why our current iPhone interface would work on some Blackberries but not on the Curve. Or on some Windows mobile thing-a-ma-jigs but not on others. Any information on that would be appreciated (like what exactly doesn't work).

[Allen]

Works fine on my Sprint 6700.

[madeingermany]

I just watched this and around minute 28 Don talks about mobile support:
http://www.podtech.net/scobleshow/technology/1706/smugmug-brings-us-mugnormous-photos-and-videos

[Jason Dunn]

I don't think any of us do, no. iPhone or bust around here.

I'm really hoping that when you guys feel there are browsers worthy of supporting, you'll buy a few devices and make a real go of it - it's a bit, well, off-putting :cry to be told that mobile support only comes in the form of a single device from a single company. The iPhone just doesn't do it for me (I need a keyboard, and third party software, and lots of other things).

I am curious though why our current iPhone interface would work on some Blackberries but not on the Curve. Or on some Windows mobile thing-a-ma-jigs but not on others. Any information on that would be appreciated (like what exactly doesn't work).

On my T-Mobile Dash (a Windows Mobile Standard device, non-touchscreen), the main page loads ok, I can browse to an album, but then on some albums I'll see about eight or so pictures then the rest won't load. If I select an image it loads....nothing. I'm not sure if it's supposed to load a larger version, or what.

[3n-out]

Seems like you have testers here already. I have access to blackberries and have tested all devices even curve - which is the Blackberry 8100. It worked on all devices. Although it is data intesive on these little guys it does work. It appears to time out once and a while but I highly expect that is due to the service provider and not the device or your coding.

I would suggest that if you really wanted to display all the images like you are that you make way smaller thumbnails of the images will work much better on these smart phones and the service providers.

[marlof]

Picasaweb uses their AJAX to provide both an iPhone (http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2007/12/picasa-redefined-for-your-iphone.html) specific, and a Windows Mobile (http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2008/04/picasa-web-albums-for-windows-mobile.html) specific interface. Sure, one can get by with the iPhone interface on Windows Mobile, but a more targeted interface is really welcome. Especially in those of us in countries where the iPhone simply is not available yet...

So I still have my hopes high that Smugmug won't be outdone by Google. :D

[Rhuarc]

Any word on a windows mobile specific interface? I realize that everyone at SmugMug HQ uses the iphone, but it really sucks that windows mobile has been around fo years with a ton of people using these devices, and no love for a specific smugmug version for it. Then seemingly within weeks of the iphone coming out suddenly it has all the support in the world from smugmug!

Just kind of frustrating...

I have tried using the iphone site on my i760, but it doesn't really work the same as I'm sureit does on an iphone. On the iphone it will display the images in a gallery full screen correct? I mean without any web interfaces or anything? On my device I still see the arrows and what not. :dunno

[cjyphoto]

The Iphone link works pretty good with my LG Voyager. Can't do the cool rotation thing the Iphone does though. If only AT T had better coverage in my area.

[Allen]

I get the category listing but none of them are clickable, that sucks.:cry Have to
page thru 100's of galleries. btw, the gallery listing has way too many line
spaces.

[Danbri]

I agree with Allen. A have a lot of galleries and have to scroll through them until I find the one I want. However, after I click on the link for the gallery, the photos look really good.

[Danbri]

I don't think any of us do, no. iPhone or bust around here.

I think there are three main reasons we don't yet have a standardized mobile SmugMug yet. First, the iPhone is the only phone with a good Web browser. Second, we don't have all the various phones to test and play with in order to develop it properly for them. Third, we have other features to build that we consider more important or that need updating.

I am curious though why our current iPhone interface would work on some Blackberries but not on the Curve. Or on some Windows mobile thing-a-ma-jigs but not on others. Any information on that would be appreciated (like what exactly doesn't work).


Yes but Flickr does have one, and with all do respect, there have been more blackberry users for years than iphone users (even now). Facebook and Myspace have it too. There has to be something that Smugmug can do about it.

[Andy]

Yes but Flickr does have one, and with all do respect, there have been more blackberry users for years than iphone users (even now). Facebook and Myspace have it too. There has to be something that Smugmug can do about it.
It's quite possible we'll get there one day...thanks for the feature request!

[johndoc]

I don't think any of us do, no. iPhone or bust around here.

I think there are three main reasons we don't yet have a standardized mobile SmugMug yet. First, the iPhone is the only phone with a good Web browser. Second, we don't have all the various phones to test and play with in order to develop it properly for them. Third, we have other features to build that we consider more important or that need updating.

I am curious though why our current iPhone interface would work on some Blackberries but not on the Curve. Or on some Windows mobile thing-a-ma-jigs but not on others. Any information on that would be appreciated (like what exactly doesn't work).

I think this has been posted in the past, but I will repeat it here. The iPhone app works fine on my Blackberry Curve (8310, ATT) except for the Categories. Unlike when I try this on the web, the categories page appears, but none of the links are clickable except 'Show more categories' which brings up more unclickable categories.

John

[jfriend]

I think this has been posted in the past, but I will repeat it here. The iPhone app works fine on my Blackberry Curve (8310, ATT) except for the Categories. Unlike when I try this on the web, the categories page appears, but none of the links are clickable except 'Show more categories' which brings up more unclickable categories.

John

Categories didn't even work for me when I tried it in an actual 3G iPhone in the Apple Store. When I clicked categories, it said I had no public galleries in the category, but there are tons of public galleries in the category.

[Andy]

Categories didn't even work for me when I tried it in an actual 3G iPhone in the Apple Store. When I clicked categories, it said I had no public galleries in the category, but there are tons of public galleries in the category.
Bug, logged in our system already and will be fixed.

[Berknip]

I'll be interested to see how this works on my BlackBerry Storm compared to the installed Flickr version.

Color me interested in a full featured version for BlackBerry phones.

[ZPrime]

It's terrible on the Storm compared to the included flickr app. Flickr app ties in to the various portions of the BB and allows you to upload pics directly, etc. Very nice.

Smugmug looks like a complete joke on the Storm, no offense guys. I haven't seen it on an iPhone. I've tried the /iphone link and the main menu is pretty, but then when I hit galleries or Categories, I get a plain text-type page and it's pretty sad.

If I didn't already have an investment of time in smugmug and prefer your normal web interface, this lack of support would have me strongly considering flickr. Writing for the Blackberry is all Java; it's not like it is some uber-exotic language. ;)

And yes, I registered for dgrin just to express my annoyance at the lack of BB love. :thumb

[Andy]

And yes, I registered for dgrin just to express my annoyance at the lack of BB love. :thumb
Well, thanks! We'll show this to the team.

[Ducati23]

And yes, I registered for dgrin just to express my annoyance at the lack of BB love. :thumb

I want to chime in and show some BB love here also!! I have a BB Bold 9000.

[Jackhole]

Another dgrin n00b vote for better mobile support. I'm a big smugmug fanboy and have gotten a lot of great use out of my account over the last 6 years or so. I've opened accounts for each of my kids, and always recommend the site to friends and family.

However, I can't even tell you the number of times I've been in a social situation where I wanted to quickly find and show a picture, but failed miserably. Even if you do persevere and manage to find a link that will display, by that time the moment has probably long since passed. :doh

Someone mentioned that there were other priorities before mobile support. IMHO, there has been a tremendous amount of work done to the smugmug UI over the years that looks really cool, is fun to use, but doesn't really add much new functionality. Personally, I'd rather see more functionality (such as mobile support!) than more client-side widgets and animations.

The iPhone support is great, but there is actually a whole big mobile world out there beyond Apple. :deal I'd hate to see smugmug lose any ground to inferior sites due to this issue.

Just one Jackhole's $.02. :1drink

[rabia]

The iPhone support is great, but there is actually a whole big mobile world out there beyond Apple. :deal I'd hate to see smugmug lose any ground to inferior sites due to this issue.


ooh ooh!! +1 BB Pearl user here.:poke

[zebek]

+1 Storm/Pearl/Treo Pro/HTC Touch Pro user here....

Not an iPhone guy, work for a competeing mobile company, but would love to demo my SmugMug site when selling a phone, and I don't want to type iphone when demo'ing....lol...but good advertising for smugmug :)

[jchin]

Any updates of a possible "mobile" site that can show password protected galleries?

BTW ... the iPhone site on my Blackberry curve shows blank images (just a box) even with public galleries. :dunno

[peestandingup]

I've never really liked Smugmug's decision to hop on the iPhone bandwagon & leave other mobile users out in the cold. From what I remember, it was developed FAST too. Now we get "sorry, we have other things to do now." Really?? :scratch

I'm just saying. Why develop for one specific platform in the first place & not a "mobile Smugmug" for all?? Especially a platform that was so new & you knew that you werent gonna have the resources to make a real mobile site later. That would be kinda like developing Smugmug's regular site to work with only Safari & nothing else for years & saying you'll get around to it eventually.

Yes yes, I myself am the geekiest hardcore Mac user I know, love Apple's stuff, yadda, but still. The question begs to be answered truthfully. If I were guessing, I think it probably came down to giving into some fanboyism within the company & not what probably should have happened.

[jchin]

I've never really liked Smugmug's decision to hop on the iPhone bandwagon & leave other mobile users out in the cold. From what I remember, it was developed FAST too. Now we get "sorry, we have other things to do now." Really?? :scratch

I'm just saying. Why develop for one specific platform in the first place & not a "mobile Smugmug" for all?? Especially a platform that was so new & you knew that you werent gonna have the resources to make a real mobile site later. That would be kinda like developing Smugmug's regular site to work with only Safari & nothing else for years & saying you'll get around to it eventually.

Yes yes, I myself am the geekiest hardcore Mac user I know, love Apple's stuff, yadda, but still. The question begs to be answered truthfully. If I were guessing, I think it probably came down to giving into some fanboyism within the company & not what probably should have happened.

maybe (at least I believe) all the chiefs all have iPhones :wink

[sg_is_me]

I never have tried the Storm's Flickr interface, but I'm not unhappy with the iPhone interface on the storm. I mean, sure, I'd like to have my galleries, and design show up. I'd REALLY like to be able to see the exif info - but for showing some of my pics to friends, when we're not in front of a computer, this works.

BTW, I'm an avid Mac user - and a Mac consultant, but the iPhone didn't do what I needed - the Blackberry does. So please do, consider us a bit more...

[jchin]

Smugmug gods ... just FYI, the T-Mobile Blackberry with WiFi works via WiFi without having to need for a T-Mobile account or SIM card for that matter. Does that help in potentially getting some development going on a Blackberry page? I am sure you can find a T-Mobile Blackberry Curve on eBay or from someone who upgrades to the Bold or Storm or new Curve 8900.

[johndoc]

I last posted here in November. I continue to try the iphone app on my Blackberry Curve. It still will not link from Categories (an enormous shortcoming) and as Allen posted here about a year ago, the number of blank lines in the Galleries listing is extra punishment for Blackberry users. We cannot use the Categories links, so we must page through interminable numbers of screens to find a gallery of interest (that is, if you are using Smugmug to, you know, store photos). When I pull this app up on a browser, it all works so I know that the links are there. The links work on the Galleries pages, is it so difficult to fix the links on the Categories page?

I continue to urge a solution. Not quite ready to bolt to Picasa.

John

[Andy]

I last posted here in November. I continue to try the iphone app on my Blackberry Curve. It still will not link from Categories (an enormous shortcoming) and as Allen posted here about a year ago, the number of blank lines in the Galleries listing is extra punishment for Blackberry users. We cannot use the Categories links, so we must page through interminable numbers of screens to find a gallery of interest (that is, if you are using Smugmug to, you know, store photos). When I pull this app up on a browser, it all works so I know that the links are there. The links work on the Galleries pages, is it so difficult to fix the links on the Categories page?

I continue to urge a solution. Not quite ready to bolt to Picasa.

John
Hopefully we'll see some more traffic & demand from Blackberry users, but right now it is overwhelmingly from iPhones. And it's not just us, it's the same 'round the net as well.

[jfriend]

Hopefully we'll see some more traffic & demand from Blackberry users, but right now it is overwhelmingly from iPhones. And it's not just us, it's the same 'round the net as well. Traffic might not be a very good thing to wait for if the current implementation doesn't work very well.

[Rhuarc]

Hopefully we'll see some more traffic & demand from Blackberry users, but right now it is overwhelmingly from iPhones. And it's not just us, it's the same 'round the net as well.

In my opinion it shoudl be the other way around. Support for other mobile users has NEVER been there, and still isn't, so why should I even try going to smugmug from my mobile device? And of course you are going to get more traffic from iphones, you spent the time to actually build something specifically for it! Anytime you spend the resources to develope for a specific platform of course you can expect to see more traffic from that platform.

Again, I am a HUGE smugmug fanboy. It just really dissapoints me how close minded it seems like the smugmug office is ot anything except for apple, and how "ooooo shiny!!!!" they are about anything apple.

[Andy]

Again, I am a HUGE smugmug fanboy. It just really dissapoints me how close minded it seems like the smugmug office is ot anything except for apple, and how "ooooo shiny!!!!" they are about anything apple.
I don't think that's it at all. We've a list a mile long, guys, of much higher priority stuff. I'm sorry I wish we had 1000 Sorcerers and could do everything you ask for :D

[Allen]

The only way to get to galleries that works halfway decent is the timeline.
You can jump to any gallery by browsing the year, month and date, if you
know the date.:D

[Rhuarc]

I don't think that's it at all. We've a list a mile long, guys, of much higher priority stuff. I'm sorry I wish we had 1000 Sorcerers and could do everything you ask for :D


I understand this, and I certainly appreciate all the work that is being done on everything else. It just feels a little odd that as soon as the iPhone came out suddenly there just happened to be enough time to put something together for that.

[Andy]

I understand this, and I certainly appreciate all the work that is being done on everything else. It just feels a little odd that as soon as the iPhone came out suddenly there just happened to be enough time to put something together for that.
And, it turned out pretty smart, if you look at a) the # of people that bought Iphones and use SmugMug and b) the number of new customers that we have from using SmugShot our iPhone App.

We'll get there, I hope, for other devices!

[cmason]

Part of my work in real life is related to this area, and what I read on blogs and even in the press amuses me, including these last few posts. We tend to think the world looks much like our world around us. An example here is that when one has an iPhone, it looks like everyone has an iPhone. But the reality out there is that relatively few people actually own one.

I suspect your traffic is matching how you see the world. Imagine the traffic you would generate if you built apps for the devices that more people have:

iPhone units:

2007: 7.7M
2008: 9.9M

Blackberry:
2007: 13.8M
2008: 26 M

Compare this to Nokia:
2007: 437M (60M Smartphones)
2008: 468M (?? Smartphones)

source: http://www.teleco.com.br/en/default.asp


The iPhone is a tremendous platform, and hopefully Apple will continue to develop it. But, while iPhone is simple for Apple programmers to develop for, and this I suspect has more to do with your having created an app than anything, it really is not at all pervasive. It may be pervasive in your target market, and if so, I applaud you for your focus. Otherwise, you may wish to take a strategic deep breath and review what the rest of us use :D

[Andy]

Part of my work in real life is related to this area, and what I read on blogs and even in the press amuses me, including these last few posts. We tend to think the world looks much like our world around us. An example here is that when one has an iPhone, it looks like everyone has an iPhone. But the reality out there is that relatively few people actually own one.

I suspect your traffic is matching how you see the world. Imagine the traffic you would generate if you built apps for the devices that more people have:

iPhone units:

2007: 7.7M
2008: 9.9M

Blackberry:
2007: 13.8M
2008: 26 M

Compare this to Nokia:
2007: 437M (60M Smartphones)
2008: 468M (?? Smartphones)

source: http://www.teleco.com.br/en/default.asp


The iPhone is a tremendous platform, and hopefully Apple will continue to develop it. But, while iPhone is simple for Apple programmers to develop for, and this I suspect has more to do with your having created an app than anything, it really is not at all pervasive. It may be pervasive in your target market, and if so, I applaud you for your focus. Otherwise, you may wish to take a strategic deep breath and review what the rest of us use :D
'That's why I posted this:

We'll get there, I hope, for other devices!

[Rhuarc]

And, it turned out pretty smart, if you look at a) the # of people that bought Iphones and use SmugMug and b) the number of new customers that we have from using SmugShot our iPhone App.

We'll get there, I hope, for other devices!

I apoligize if it seems like I am being antagonistic. I am not trying to be. I currently own an iPod Touch and love it, I use the SmugWallet app for storing SMugmug photos on my device to show people.

My response to your comment is this: If you had spent an equivalent amount of time creating an app specifically for the Blackberry, do you really not think that you would have seen an equivalent increase in sales? As was pointed out in the prior post there are an immense number of other mobile users out there that may have never looked at SmugMug because nothing is available for them. It would be interesting to go back in time and create a Blackberry app at the same tiem you created an iPhone app, give them both equal marketing value, and see which one created more sales.

Again, I really don't intend to be a pain, and I appreciate the discussion around this. I guess I would even be ok with the higher ups saying they are Apple fanboys and that's why they created an iPhone app and nothing for Blackberry, instead of trying to point to the sales as the reasoning, when it seems as though sales could have been just as high or higher if a Blackberry app had been put out.

Thanks for the discussion Andy! I've been around here for along time, and I don't intend on going anywhere any time soon! :D

[jchin]

Guys ... honestly, I think we are all beating a dead horse :deadhorse This thread started back in Aug. 2007. Nothing seems to have changed in regards to this topic.

What would be really interesting to know is ... how many Smugmug gods have Blackberries? and how many have iPhones? I think that all of the chiefs have iPhones ... so iPhone development it is. End of story. For all of us non-iPhone mobile users ... "sorry" seems to be the answer.

If the would only develop an interface that works well with Opera Mini, then it would statisfy a lot of mobile phones and Blackberry users (as well as iPhone, I assume). Then again, that is only my logic.

In the interim, I have been telling my clients ... "sorry, no mobile browser view, use your desktop browser". Do I lose sales because of it ... I believe I do lose sales, but what can I do? Just have to wait.

[Mike_P]

Just another data point:

I have a Sprint Diamond Touch (Windows Mobile 6.1) and the /iphone link works pretty darn well now with the built in Opera browser.

There was a certain amount of experimentation involved -- I had almost given up on it once or twice before I finally smoothed out most of the rough edges. Now being able to admire my galleries on my smartphone on the road is pretty neat.

So don't give up -- I have a sneaky suspicion that, in addition to iPhones, a lot more Windows Mobile based devices will work (with a little elbow grease) than we might expect.

-- Mike

[mlee]

I just wish the button for "hiding the iPhone interface" as mentioned by Baldy back in December would come out of testing soon.

http://dgrin.com/showpost.php?p=992118&postcount=166

Crossing my fingers.

Mike

[Andy]

Anyone know any Blackberry app developers? :ear
http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/appworld/?

[photosignals]

Anyone know any Blackberry app developers? :ear
http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/appworld/?

Andy, you could always try one of the freelancer boards - put up a fixed price project for the app and get bids for it. A cheap way of kick starting a project - the resulting code can then be used by in house devs to carry on.

+1 for a BB app

[WeiPhotoArts]

I can understand all that has been said abt other platforms. But I realize SmugMug is a small company that focuses on what their users want, and where the industry is going. How many SmugMugers own Apple versus Blackberry versus Palm? I was in the Palm group, but switched to iPhone. I did it not based on SmugMug, but my own needs. Luckily there is support for it at SmugMug. Thanks, Heros.

The smartphone industry is fragmented a bit; so everyone might have to be patient, even us iPhone users who was direct-to-blog (as in Blogger) emails, rather than cut 'n paste on iPhone for URLs, which don't work. I'll be patient, as most of my needs have been satisfied by a great support team and website.:clap

[fatdr]

Just went to the link http://fatdr.smugmug.com/iphone and it worked fine (almost) on my Blackberry Storm. I could not, however get my slideshow to work. Anyone know of a fix for that?

[Dan7312]

Please add me to you growing list :clap of Blackberry users who would like to upload from their phones, a Blackberry Tour in my case.

Dan

some folks reporting good results on other devices, with our /iphone link

so
http://nickname.smugmug.com/iphone

try it :thumb

[Dan7312]

Blackberry picture uploads to http://www.evernote.com work. From evernote.com I can email to Smugmug, which also works.

Dan

Please add me to you growing list :clap of Blackberry users who would like to upload from their phones, a Blackberry Tour in my case.

Dan

[Dan7312]

So I've taken a quick look at what it takes to make a Blackberry app to do uploads to Smugmug. It doesn't look all that bad, but of course the devil is in the details.

Are there like 3 other people who would really want this or 300? If I do it, it would be free but I'm just trying to get an idea of how many Karma credits I would get.

I'm guessing that the BB uploader isn't very high on Smugmug dev. sched? Is that true? Time is the issue for me so I just don't want to spend the time on this if it is going to happen anyway.

Anyhow it will be a couple of weeks before I even get around to starting on putting together the stuff I'll need to do this so don't anyone hold their breath...

Dan

[fatdr]

So I've taken a quick look at what it takes to make a Blackberry app to do uploads to Smugmug. It doesn't look all that bad, but of course the devil is in the details.

Are there like 3 other people who would really want this or 300? If I do it, it would be free but I'm just trying to get an idea of how many Karma credits I would get.

I'm guessing that the BB uploader isn't very high on Smugmug dev. sched? Is that true? Time is the issue for me so I just don't want to spend the time on this if it is going to happen anyway.

Anyhow it will be a couple of weeks before I even get around to starting on putting together the stuff I'll need to do this so don't anyone hold their breath...

Dan

I for one would love to be able to upload from my BB Storm :clap

[johndoc]

'That's why I posted this:

OK Andy, but given the stats that CMASON posted, can you at least stop suggesting that there is more iPhone traffic and it's prevalent? You see more iPhone traffic because you developed an app for it. When you are a hammer, the whole world looks like a nail. This is just a flatout miss at Smugmug. As others have mentioned, the iPhone seemed to come together real quick. For two years, we've been hearing "Some day soon".

Let me add for Dan, I would kill to be able to upload via my Blackberry Curve.

John

[Andy]

OK Andy, but given the stats that CMASON posted, can you at least stop suggesting that there is more iPhone traffic and it's prevalent? You see more iPhone traffic because you developed an app for it. When you are a hammer, the whole world looks like a nail. This is just a flatout miss at Smugmug. As others have mentioned, the iPhone seemed to come together real quick. For two years, we've been hearing "Some day soon".

Let me add for Dan, I would kill to be able to upload via my Blackberry Curve.

JohnSpirit's willing, flesh is weak. We have a list a mile long, of things that have caused customers to beat me bloody over :D

I'm sorry but it'll be while before we get to this. I'm really sorry.

PS: Aren't there app developers for the BlackBerry? :ear

[Hawkman]

some folks reporting good results on other devices, with our /iphone link

so
http://nickname.smugmug.com/iphone

try it :thumb

I tried it on my Android G1. It almost works. however, when you try to go back a page (with your built in back link), all the test ans links go off the right of the screen. Wish it did work, it is a nice layout. I am sure with a little effort this could be corrected and would make a lot of people happy.

Gene

[swcolleen]

I have to throw my opinion in the mix too. I agree with the others who said that the reason iphone app was developed was b/c there are more iphone users is kind of a cop-out. I think others have said it best that you are aware of iphone users BECAUSE of the app. I think if there was a blackberry app you would notice the traffic from them to increase but if there is no app, its not a great measure of potential or need because if what is available doesn't work, and competing sites such as flickr DO have an app, the traffic for BB may go there, especially if they are not already smugmug users :)

I understand there are a lot of other things that are higher on the totem pole, however I do feel that I would prefer the answer was because of that, not because of perceived traffic when the BB market is untapped at this point.

And I am pretty sure myself and others would be interested if there was a BB app out there. Not everyone is an iphone user. I won't lie and say I wouldn't check it out if it was on verizon but the fact is, I am a verizon customer and have no plans to change so my options lie in the realm of blackerry:)

But I do love my smugmug!!!

[jfriend]

I have to throw my opinion in the mix too. I agree with the others who said that the reason iphone app was developed was b/c there are more iphone users is kind of a cop-out. I think others have said it best that you are aware of iphone users BECAUSE of the app. I think if there was a blackberry app you would notice the traffic from them to increase but if there is no app, its not a great measure of potential or need because if what is available doesn't work, and competing sites such as flickr DO have an app, the traffic for BB may go there, especially if they are not already smugmug users :)

I understand there are a lot of other things that are higher on the totem pole, however I do feel that I would prefer the answer was because of that, not because of perceived traffic when the BB market is untapped at this point.

And I am pretty sure myself and others would be interested if there was a BB app out there. Not everyone is an iphone user. I won't lie and say I wouldn't check it out if it was on verizon but the fact is, I am a verizon customer and have no plans to change so my options lie in the realm of blackerry:)

But I do love my smugmug!!! I doubt anyone from Smugmug will say this, but the real reason they did special support for iPhone is that when it first came out, it was a breakthrough phone and finally had a usable browser on a phone. Those factors made individuals at Smugmug really interested in the phone. Several folks at Smugmug got iPhones and they then got motivated to do some special support for it (perhaps even in their spare time). No such similar motivating experience has happened for the blackberry. Doing the iPhone support initially was probably not the result of a global prioritization that ranked it higher than other things - but more likely the result of some personal passion and interest.

It is probably true that per device, iPhones do more internet browsing than blackberries just because they generally have a more browsing optimized experience with the larger screen and touch on all devices, browser zoom and full Safari. But, there are a zillion blackberries out there as an installed base too (most with some kind of internet plan) so it's not quite so simple to know whether blackberry users as a whole would do a lot of Smugmug browsing or not.

Overall, doing "mobile anything" right now is probably just not a very high priority vs. all the other things on the list.

[peestandingup]

I doubt anyone from Smugmug will say this, but the real reason they did special support for iPhone is that when it first came out, it was a breakthrough phone and finally had a usable browser on a phone. Those factors made individuals at Smugmug really interested in the phone. Several folks at Smugmug got iPhones and they then got motivated to do some special support for it (perhaps even in their spare time). No such similar motivating experience has happened for the blackberry. Doing the iPhone support initially was probably not the result of a global prioritization that ranked it higher than other things - but more likely the result of some personal passion and interest.
This is basically what I've said all along, that it came down to personal fanboyism (Yes, I remember those shots of all the SM crew in lines for the original iphone launch). It was apparent from the initial release of the first one that SM went straight to work on an "iPhone site" & trying to figure out any way they could to work strictly with the iPhone (remember, Apple didnt let you install apps for well over a year. Everything was browser-based). Which is fine. We all have our favorites. Plus, its not like SM was the only ones who did it. A lot of companies that also develop a mobile version of their website still have "iphone" somewhere in the url address. Which is kinda dumb at this point IMO. So, I dont totally fault them for this.

But its just the blatancy of it that bothers me & the fact that no one will just come out & say that. The development was just so fast for it. Now when we ask about other mobile platforms, we get "Sorry, we got other things to do now. But someday, guys. Someday." Which means they're not even working on it.

Listen, I understand iPhone was the first smartphone that appealed to the masses. I know it was the first one that had a browser that didnt totally suck. I get that. But, friends, that was well over 2 years ago now & we're past that. The market has come a LONG way since then & its only gonna get more popular. I bet in the next 2 years, damn near every phone will be considered a "smartphone" & be running either Mobile OS X, Blackberry OS, Palm's webOS, Google's Android or Windows Mobile.

You guys really should be thinking more ahead than what you are & start considering a small mobile division of Smugmug to develop apps & to make sure your mobile version of the website displays correctly for these platforms instead of painting yourselves into a corner by only developing for one.

[swcolleen]

This is basically what I've said all along, that it came down to personal fanboyism (Yes, I remember those shots of all the SM crew in lines for the original iphone launch). It was apparent from the initial release of the first one that SM went straight to work on an "iPhone site" & trying to figure out any way they could to work strictly with the iPhone (remember, Apple didnt let you install apps for well over a year. Everything was browser-based). Which is fine. We all have our favorites. Plus, its not like SM was the only ones who did it. A lot of companies that also develop a mobile version of their website still have "iphone" somewhere in the url address. Which is kinda dumb at this point IMO. So, I dont totally fault them for this.

But its just the blatancy of it that bothers me & the fact that no one will just come out & say that. The development was just so fast for it. Now when we ask about other mobile platforms, we get "Sorry, we got other things to do now. But someday, guys. Someday." Which means they're not even working on it.

Listen, I understand iPhone was the first smartphone that appealed to the masses. I know it was the first one that had a browser that didnt totally suck. I get that. But, friends, that was well over 2 years ago now & we're past that. The market has come a LONG way since then & its only gonna get more popular. I bet in the next 2 years, damn near every phone will be considered a "smartphone" & be running either Mobile OS X, Blackberry OS, Palm's webOS, Google's Android or Windows Mobile.

You guys really should be thinking more ahead than what you are & start considering a small mobile division of Smugmug to develop apps & to make sure your mobile version of the website displays correctly for these platforms instead of painting yourselves into a corner by only developing for one.

What he said :)

Seriously though...I can't speak for others but I know that if the right app was developed for Blackberry I would be willing to purchase it-I don't expect everything to be free but I do agree that while iphone is still big, blackberry (and others) are not "small" either.

This is not something that would ever turn me away from smugmug, but it definately *might* be something that would entice others, especially considering Flickr has an app that is pre-installed on my blackberry and I don't want to use the competition:) If smugmug had an app, it might bring in more smugmug business b/c people would have options.

[Andy]

What he said :)

Seriously though...I can't speak for others but I know that if the right app was developed for Blackberry I would be willing to purchase it-I don't expect everything to be free but I do agree that while iphone is still big, blackberry (and others) are not "small" either.

This is not something that would ever turn me away from smugmug, but it definately *might* be something that would entice others, especially considering Flickr has an app that is pre-installed on my blackberry and I don't want to use the competition:) If smugmug had an app, it might bring in more smugmug business b/c people would have options.We sure wish that a third party would take up the cause... wouldn't that be cool?

[swcolleen]

We sure wish that a third party would take up the cause... wouldn't that be cool?

Just out of curiousity-has Smugmug reached out to any third parties? If I knew anything about developing apps I could say more-I don't. And that is why I am willing to buy from those that do.

But I know there are sites like www.crackberry.com and www.blackberry.com that probably have people (or know/recommend people) who DO make apps. If smugmug really is interested in supporting something like this from a third party, and I could be way off here on how things work, but if smugmug reached out to those sites or others like it, maybe they COULD find a third party who would be willing to work with smugmug? To me, a request from an established company might be given a little more serious support for a need than if joe-shmo requests it for them self.

I just tend to think that if blackberry developers are hearing from sites like Flickr and creating apps for them but are not hearing from smugmug (and maybe have never even heard of smugmug) they would have no reason to develop for smugmug BUT if they were actually contacted directly, maybe that would change their tune.

I understand that smugmug has a lot of other projects that are higher on the totem pole but it seems like the answer is "we would if we could-but we can't but if someone else can develop it for us, we would support it". I guess my thought is has Smugmug themselves tried contacting any outsiders who can develop and if not, is it something they would consider doing?

Thanks!!

[Dan7312]

We sure wish that a third party would take up the cause... wouldn't that be cool?

The problem, as has been noted before, is almost certainly due to the fact that the Blackberry doesn't identify a picture attachment as as a picture... technically it identifies the attachment as an octet-stream (which means is just a bunch of bytes) instead of an image/jpeg. For smugmug to handle this it would have to read the uploaded bytes figure out what the format really was. Not impossible but it's easy for me to understand why it has a low-priority.


It turns out the underlying problem seems to be in the core of the Blackberry support for accessing the web. Even if you write your own Blackberry program to send email and tell it the attachment as a jpeg it will still identify it as a bunch of bytes instead of as a jpeg.


I have a bug report into RIM (https://www.blackberry.com/jira/browse/JAVAAPI-363) about this but so far they are missing what the underlying issue is.


If you care about some the technical details this Java instruction:

SupportedAttachmentPart sp = new SupportedAttachmentPart(mp, HttpProtocolConstants.CONTENT_TYPE_IMAGE_JPEG, "testpic.jpg", buffer);

should make an image/jpeg attachment for an email, but instead makes an octet-stream attachment. This is the Java instruction that is used, under the covers, when you make an attachment to an email you are sending from a Blackberry.

In the mean time, or maybe I should say spare time, I am working on an uploading app for Blackberry (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=142890). I have been able to send an picture from my phone to one of my galleries just to prove to myself that it could be done. Now I have to add a bunch of stuff to turn it into a real application. When I do it will be a free app available to anyone who wants it.

This is only a spare time effort for me but it is something I really want so it is my top spare time effort. But if you think Andy and SmugMug are circumspect about giving you a date for when something will ship... you aint' seen nothin' yet. :D


Dan

[Dan7312]

Just let whoever might be interested that things are happening on the Blackberry uploader, slow though progress might be.


I can now upload multiple files... in the previous version I just uploaded one, so that's progress.


It's still a ways from being done but here is my plan for the initial version... which I'm trying to keep as simple as possible.


When you run the BBUpload app it uploads all the picture in your Blackberry that it hasn't already been uploaded to a an album named "BBUpload". The album must already exist.


The way that I will tell if the file is already there is by it's name... if the BBUpload album already has a file of the same name it, then it won't be uploaded.


This is about the most simple way I can think of to get an initial version out there. I think it will be useful but the main thing I'm looking at right now is doing whatever is the most simple thing there is to get it working... after that I'll start looking at ways to enhance it.

[peestandingup]

We sure wish that a third party would take up the cause... wouldn't that be cool?
There's no reason why someone there at Smugmug couldn't develop for some of these platforms. Answer me this. Why can't one of your guys develop for Palm's webOS?? It's completely based on nothing but web standards (HTML, CSS & Javascript) & call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure most of your web gurus there have those licked by now. I seriously bet one of your people could churn out a usable app in a matter of a couple days. So what is the excuse?

You can get the tools here (http://developer.palm.com/). Palm has an official App Catalog that you can submit your finished product to, but a lot of developers (esp rookies) like to submit their early beta stuff to the Homebrew App gallery (http://www.precentral.net/homebrew-apps) before they go official.

[Dan7312]

I know you're out there... waiting to free the pictures on your Blackberry's :D

Anyhow so far I've got the core stuff working and was able to upload all of the pictures on from Blackberry to SmugMug, so the basic stuff is working:clap . It only uploads pictures that have not already been uploaded and even has just a tad of robustness in the face of network errors.

It still not ready for prime time yet, but as I make progress I'll keep updating this thread.

[havanese]

Not counting sticky posts, this post about wanting a BB app is #5 for views after

1 Journal and slideshow question
2 Easy Customizer
3 Disable iphone disclaimer
4 Gallery view question

Maybe if we can get in the top 3 the "interest" will be enough to get bumped up the "I want" list.

[fatdr]

Top 3, top 3.... I really want an uploader for the BB. My pics are lonely :cry

[toddh39]

I just got the HTC Hero from sprint with the Android OS. I am looking for a Smugmug app. anyone know of any, I have tried the Pixelpipe, nothing but problems. I think smugmug should make their own like they did for the Iphone.
This android will kick Iphones but.

[havanese]

I just got the HTC Hero from sprint with the Android OS. I am looking for a Smugmug app. anyone know of any, I have tried the Pixelpipe, nothing but problems. I think smugmug should make their own like they did for the Iphone.
This android will kick Iphones but.

As has been stated before. SM all have iphones which explains why they developed an inhouse iphone app. Since they have no other smartphones inhouse - we are inferior for not using an iphone and must be punished by seeking 3rd party programmers to develop a SM app for BB, Android, etc smartphones.

:D

[Andy]

As has been stated before. SM all have iphones which explains why they developed an inhouse iphone app

Not stated that way by us, at all. What I have stated is that I sure hope that the third party market for Blackberry Apps grows, and a developer will make an app like many have for SmugMug....

[havanese]

Not stated that way by us, at all. What I have stated is that I sure hope that the third party market for Blackberry Apps grows, and a developer will make an app like many have for SmugMug....

Understand. But you must admit that you can see why non-iphone peeps get a little "upset" that SM did develop an inhouse app for iphone, but let the rest out in the cold.

Can I see my pictures using my BB 9630. Yes. Can I upload using the email option. Yes. So at least I have that.

[SamirD]

/iphone does work with a treo 650 with some tweaking. Is there a way to specify the iphone "mode" for a particular gallery? All my galleries are hidden and linked from my main site.

Some interesting links for creating mobile sites. There is a probably a way to make one for SM using the RSS feed.
http://instantmobilizer.com/test-your-site.htm
http://www.instantfundas.com/2009/03/5-free-ways-to-create-mobile-version-of.html

Two links on uservoice for wanting mobile SM. Vote.
http://smugmug.uservoice.com/pages/17723-smugmug/suggestions/351972-make-an-iphone-mobile-friendly-version?ref=title
http://smugmug.uservoice.com/pages/17723-smugmug/suggestions/202416-add-blackberry-mobile-support?ref=title

[SamirD]

I just ran into this SM app that may be able to make an instant mobile app:
http://web.rerenderer.com/randrenderer/index.html

[peestandingup]

All you Blackberry users have to understand that what you have there isn't really a "smartphone" in the sense we know them today. Blackberry's were never meant to have a bunch of different independent developers coding apps for it. Speaking of which, from what I understand , its a real PITA to develop for. Like the worst of all the major platforms.

Dont get me wrong, I love Blackberrys, owned probably 5 different ones in just a few years, but apps & "web stuff" is just not something they do well. So if you all are looking for a big development scene, you're not gonna find it on a Blackberry. Could that change? Sure, if RIM pulls their heads outta their asses & revamps their OS & puts out better/not-so-similar hardware to keep up with the other guys (namely iPhone & Google's Android. Palm's webOS shows a lot of promise too). But still, its not happened yet & they've started to lose marketshare because of it.

I am NOT taking up for Smugmug & their lack of development for other platforms (which some are RIDICULOUSLY easy to develop for) & their obvious Apple fanboyism. There's no excuse for them. Just saying Blackberrys arent really where its at as far as apps are concerned these days & you're probably beating a dead horse.

P.S. Here (http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/11/blackberry-innovative-edge/) is a nice article that says these things better than I could.

[havanese]

Would it really be that expensive to hire a BB programmer to make a nice app that would simply display galleries/photos and provide a uploader for photos and videos on your phone?

SM have come out with a lot of really nice features and tweaks over the past few weeks, maybe they can find some love now for this simple request.

[Andy]

Would it really be that expensive to hire a BB programmer to make a nice app that would simply display galleries/photos and provide a uploader for photos and videos on your phone?

SM have come out with a lot of really nice features and tweaks over the past few weeks, maybe they can find some love now for this simple request.
Yes, it would be expensive. But we continue to have such an item on our todo list, just that other things are trumping it, I'm sorry.

[johndoc]

Yes, it would be expensive. But we continue to have such an item on our todo list, just that other things are trumping it, I'm sorry.

You don't need a custom Blackberry app. The biggest problem with using the iPhone link on the Blackberry is that the Galleries links don't show up. This makes navigation extremely painful. Other links on the iphone interface do work on the Blackberry. This can't be that hard to fix.

On a related note, in this thread, it has been suggested that development priority went to the iPhone because it's more popular. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhtttt! Wrong. Probably among Smugmug developers, but not in the real world. The Washington Post has an article on the new Google Nexus phone at this link. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/05/AR2010010500948.html?wpisrc=nl_tech posted yesterday.

Here's an excerpt.


Despite widespread fanfare for Apple's device and its nearly button-free touchscreen, the BlackBerry still holds a two-to-one sales advantage over the iPhone, the research firm noted.

[havanese]

Despite widespread fanfare for Apple's device and its nearly button-free touchscreen, the BlackBerry still holds a two-to-one sales advantage over the iPhone, the research firm noted.


I think the point SM makes is that amongst their users the iphone holds the upper hand. They don't hide the fact that they are fanboys and all (or almost all) have iphones.

They are not going to develop an app for RIM devices so hopefully the beta uploader that a SM user is working on will continue developing and we can use it (I am using it right now).

The question is will they develop an app for Android as it becomes on equal ground with the iphone or will they snub those as well.

(Unless the rumored tablet becomes the next ipod for apple I think you are going to see a decline for fanboys as others are catching up to their quality and or services)

[Andy]

The question is will they develop an app for Android
or will a 3rd party do it? As Blossom did for the iPhone (an app that is way awesomer than our /iphone browsing app :D

[photokandy]

Alternatively, one can always develop their own mobile site with the features they want. Granted, it isn't built-in like SM's support for the iPhone, but it lets you customize your site as you see fit.

Case in point, I did a mobile site for my Smugmug site over the holidays. Probably took a couple days to build. It lives here and is mostly (not all) complete: http://m.photokandy.com

Yes, it has to live on my own host, but it works, and since I get to use PHP, I've built in support for blogger, twitter, and smugmug's feeds. That means my images gallery on the mobile site is always up-to-date, and if I wanted to, I could split it out in a similar fashion as to how SM does it. (I chose to pare it down a bit...)

If someone out there would like code, I'm more than happy to share. (Just beware -- it's ugly and hackish!) It doesn't really solve the real issue (iphone site, but no other mobile site provided by SM), but the tools are definitely there to do it on your own.

[ColoradoSkier]

I'll have to try it out on my Windows Mobile Pro 6.1 phone (HTC Touch Pro 2). Although I wouldn't use the phone for ordering anything...

[SamirD]

Case in point, I did a mobile site for my Smugmug site over the holidays. Probably took a couple days to build. It lives here and is mostly (not all) complete: http://m.photokandy.com

Yes, it has to live on my own host, but it works, and since I get to use PHP, I've built in support for blogger, twitter, and smugmug's feeds. That means my images gallery on the mobile site is always up-to-date, and if I wanted to, I could split it out in a similar fashion as to how SM does it. (I chose to pare it down a bit...)

If someone out there would like code, I'm more than happy to share. (Just beware -- it's ugly and hackish!) It doesn't really solve the real issue (iphone site, but no other mobile site provided by SM), but the tools are definitely there to do it on your own.Very cool! :thumb

[havanese]

(same comments I posted on the Release notes page)

Blackberry and Android app (that works well) wait time – over a year and still waiting.

Apple iPad app wait time – minus two days

go figure

[Andy]

(same comments I posted on the Release notes page)

Blackberry and Android app (that works well) wait time – over a year and still waiting.

Apple iPad app wait time – minus two days

go figureHi Randy- we have heard from from some of you - but overall, our CEO's tweet from a little while ago sums it up: http://twitter.com/DonMacAskill/status/11157255468

I'm sorry I don't have a better answer for you :(

PS: Sorry I may've asked this before, what does http://galleries.randyphotography.com/m/#_home do on your Blackberry and Droid?

[havanese]

Hi Randy- we have heard from from some of you - but overall, our CEO's tweet from a little while ago sums it up: http://twitter.com/DonMacAskill/status/11157255468

I'm sorry I don't have a better answer for you :(

PS: Sorry I may've asked this before, what does http://galleries.randyphotography.com/m/#_home do on your Blackberry and Droid?

Hurts a little to be called "Essentially no-one"

I just think that there is a quiet group of peeps who's audience is using multi types of BBs, the Droid, and Nexxus One (versus a single smartphone from Apple) that may not even think about the people who look at their pictures and for those non-iphone folks (not just non iphone SM users) that audience cannot get a good experience.

Maybe your right maybe the majority of users in America are using iphones and the 300k to 400k ipads that are sold with this first run are huge SM users and that audience is bigger than the ones I listed above.

To answer your second question the screen comes up with overlapping headers and each time you click to go deeper in the site it just overlaps to where you have to scroll to see the next layer of commands. You can finally get to your pictures if you keep trying (at least on my BB 9630) but it's not easy.

I know you wish I would shut up about this (as well as others on the forum) but I just think your missing the mark on only listening to the very savvy (in getting their point across) iphone/ipad fans.

[Andy]

I know you wish I would shut up about this

No way, in fact you should be louder. Post on http://smugmug.uservoice.com as well.

[melponder]

Sorry, I'm a BB user, would like interface, blahdy blah.

I don't want to work on my website from my BB, but to be able to direct viewers specific galleries or categories. I would like to put "mobile version" link on my homepage that would link viewers to my 'homepage galleries' or category of homepage galleries. Am I missing a step in CSS/Header? Is it not possible to link to a category?

Apologies if I missed a message that answered.

btw-Andy, et al, nice to meet some of you @ WPPI ;-)

Thank you!
Melissa

[SamirD]

I just went to an IAB webinar on 'Audience Measurement and Monetization for Publishers'. At the end of the presentation when talking about future trends, these statistics shocked me 56% of adult Americans access the internet via mobile devices like laptops, phones, game consoles, mp3 players. 1/3 adult Americans are using phones to access internet.That's right now. By not having a fast, seamless way for these mobile users to access SM, we're losing out on a lot of traffic, even today. And in the future, even more will be lost.

A good mobile site it going to be essential for all web sites going forward. And a fully mobilized version of even the most custom SM web sites should be readily available.

A lot of web sites that have good mobile sites use a cookie to indicate they're on a mobile device. Then the site is presented using the mobile interface (lighter scripting, less graphics, etc.). But the user can switch to the full site anytime by usually clicking on a link that clears that cookie. I think such an implementation would work great for SM.

[mdweisen]

Yes, it would be expensive. But we continue to have such an item on our todo list, just that other things are trumping it, I'm sorry.

So the number of iPad users exceeds the number of blackberry users? Why is it more important? Why didn't you wait for a third-party to create an iPad app?

[Andy]

So the number of iPad users exceeds the number of blackberry users? Why is it more important? Why didn't you wait for a third-party to create an iPad app?
Another thing: Berries are hopefully migrating to a webkit-based browser, which'll make our /m mobile site work great on them, too. As it does now, on Droids, and Palm Pres.

We'll continue to make improvements to the /m mobile site, we do realize how important mobile platforms are. I hope Blackberry gets Webkit soon!

[havanese]

(stats are from apple as of this morning)

300k ipads users > all BB and Android users.

Unfair I know as your going to quote that SM users are not BB and Android users. but are ipod and ipad users.

I love SM and don't hold this against them as they are a private company that adores Apple products and their is nothing wrong with that...as one of the few peeps who has never owned an Apple product I just have to deal with the choice that I will have to find other ways to show my pics on mobile devices.

To make matters worse I am using ShowIt ( randyphotography.com ) which doesn't even work on an ipad as it's Flash based

I agree with the post above that says if you don't have a way to show your pictures (and video) on mobile devices you are very quickly getting left behind and if your a professional you had better find the funds to get a mobile site going ASAP

[Andy]

(stats are from apple as of this morning)

Please do read my post just above yours :)

[havanese]

Please do read my post just above yours :)

Gotcha...

To show you I'm not completely old fashion I am going to a nexxus one once they become available on Verizon, then I'll be in the boat that says...wow those BB users sure do moan and groan a lot.

:-)

[Sheaf]

This (http://www.webdevelopersnotes.com/articles/mobile-web-browser-usage-statistics.php) is essentially what it boils down to.

For whatever reason, the iPhone is far more popular for browsing the Web right now. It's not even a close race, though I'm sure the gap will diminish steadily.

[Rhuarc]

This (http://www.webdevelopersnotes.com/articles/mobile-web-browser-usage-statistics.php) is essentially what it boils down to.

For whatever reason, the iPhone is far more popular for browsing the Web right now. It's not even a close race, though I'm sure the gap will diminish steadily.

Thank you for posting the link to those stats Sheaf. It helps some of us who feel our questions go ignorged by the SmugMug staff understand the reasons behind the intense development for Apple products while ignoring the other platforms. I have always had the understanding that, as popular as the iPhone, is it is nowhere close in market share to many of the other platforms, so why does SmugMug continue to focus on it? I do believe that the Smugmug staff are Apple fanboys (as witnessed by Andy's post in another thread regarding his home network equipment). A part of me just wishes they would fess up to that being the reason most of the development effort for mobile goes towards these Apple products, instead of just redirecting peoples questions about why.

But...I realize that it can be hard for people to admit that they have biases for or against a certain company or product. That link goes a long way towards showing that that bias is not the ONLY reason that such heavy development occurs for Apple product apps, but not for Android, Palm, or Blackberry apps.

I do look forward to the day that all modern mobile OS's support webkit browsing! Thank you for at least supporting that in your mobile link, and changing the mobile link from /iphone to /m. It is greatly appreciated!

One question I did have was regarding the ability to have a different template applied to the site (selectable by the user ) for mobile browsing. An example of how this is done perfetly can be seen at my Wordpress blog. If you go to http://blog.wendellbeitzel.com from a desktop you will see the normal template. If you go to it from the iPhone or Android phone you will see a mobile template. It is a plugin that I added to Wordpress. It would be awesome to let us use something like this so we could edit the mobile version of our site as well!

Thanks again SmugMug!! I love you guys, even if you are Apple fanboys!! :lust

[SamirD]

This (http://www.webdevelopersnotes.com/articles/mobile-web-browser-usage-statistics.php) is essentially what it boils down to.Awesome information! I had no idea that the market share was that high. I'm going to check my sitemeter/statcounter/analytics browser popularity and see what it's like for me. :thumb
One question I did have was regarding the ability to have a different template applied to the site (selectable by the user ) for mobile browsing. An example of how this is done perfectly can be seen at my Wordpress blog. If you go to http://blog.wendellbeitzel.com from a desktop you will see the normal template. If you go to it from the iPhone or Android phone you will see a mobile template. It is a plugin that I added to Wordpress. It would be awesome to let us use something like this so we could edit the mobile version of our site as well!I second this. This is a permanent solution to the issue of mobile browsing.

[SamirD]

Awesome information! I had no idea that the market share was that high. I'm going to check my sitemeter/statcounter/analytics browser popularity and see what it's like for me.And my stats concur. Out of all the mobile platforms out there, iphone was number one by a long shot on most of the stats programs.

[shmish]

Here's another voice for wanting a bb app. I think there is a good chance that a lot of bb & SM users aren't even aware of the possibilities of such an app. I never gave it a thought until I played around with my wife's iPhone and found the smugmug app (by first realizing that that there was other photo apps). You don't miss what you've never seen... My guess is that iPhone users love to search and fool around with apps, are more aware of the capabilities, and more in tune with what is available or possible.

The fact that it isn't being asked for in droves likely does not reflect the number of users that would ultimately love to have a sm bb app.

[Andy]

Here's another voice for wanting a bb app. I think there is a good chance that a lot of bb & SM users aren't even aware of the possibilities of such an app. I never gave it a thought until I played around with my wife's iPhone and found the smugmug app (by first realizing that that there was other photo apps). You don't miss what you've never seen... My guess is that iPhone users love to search and fool around with apps, are more aware of the capabilities, and more in tune with what is available or possible.

The fact that it isn't being asked for in droves likely does not reflect the number of users that would ultimately love to have a sm bb app.

Hi, when RIM makes the Blackberry browser webkit compliant (coming soon, RIM says), it'll all be good - your /m url will work just like on iPhones & Androids. :thumb

[shmish]

Hi, when RIM makes the Blackberry browser webkit compliant (coming soon, RIM says), it'll all be good - your /m url will work just like on iPhones & Androids. :thumb

I have downloaded a Flickr app for my BB. It allows a person to upload photos to their flickr account. It was made by RIM. This is the thing I really miss: the ability to take a picture while I'm on the road and immediately upload it to SmugMug. It is different from using the bb to view SmugMug galleries.

[Dhanu]

I have downloaded a Flickr app for my BB. It allows a person to upload photos to their flickr account. It was made by RIM. This is the thing I really miss: the ability to take a picture while I'm on the road and immediately upload it to SmugMug. It is different from using the bb to view SmugMug galleries.

Yes! I'd love a BlackBerry SmugMug app that would work like the Flickr app. Can't wait!

[bu11frogg]

Just an FYI on the Blackberry discussion, SmugMug's "iPhone" rendering looks great on the Blackberry Torch, which is running the WebKit browser. The experience is very similar to what I had on my iPhone 3GS.

Also, RIM has a new, easier way to develop apps for OS 5 and OS 6 handhelds. Maybe someone out there will make a SmugMug "widget" (a Java encapsulated web app, as I understand it) that can take photos and upload them. I'm also hoping for an app to download select galleries as thumbnails (a la SyncPhoto for iPhone) for showing off photos to prospective customers! :D

[Photometric]

some folks reporting good results on other devices, with our /iphone link

so
http://nickname.smugmug.com/iphone

try it :thumb

I wanted to report that the mobile site works on the new blackberry playbook using wifi or the "bridge browser" which uses a tethered Bluetooth connection to the smartphone(using Verizon wireless access). Good Job!

:thumb