Head First Mobile Web

Head First Series

by Lyza Danger Gardner, Jason Grigsby

Mobile web usage is exploding. Soon, more web browsing will take place on phones and tablets than PCs. Your business needs a mobile strategy, but where do you start? Head First Mobile Web shows how to use the web tech- nology you’re already familiar with to make sites and apps that work on any device of any size. Put your JavaScript, CSS media query, and HTML5 skills to work, and then optimize your site to perform its best in the demanding mobile market. Along the way, you’ll discover how to adapt your business strategy to target specific devices.Navigate the increasingly complex mobile landscape Take both technical and strategic approaches to mobile web design Use the latest development techniques—including Responsive Web Design and server-side device detection with WURFL Learn quickly through images, puzzles, stories, and quizzes We think your time is too valuable to waste struggling with new concepts. Using the latest research in cognitive science and learning theory to craft a multi-sensory learning experience, Head First Mobile Web uses a visually rich format designed for the way your brain works, not a text-heavy approach that puts you to sleep.

Genres: Programming, Website Design, Web, Technical, Nonfiction, Technology

441 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think most people with websites are now realizing the importance of being mobile accessible. For a time, just having your site viewable on mobile devices was enough. No one complained, too much, that your site loaded slowly and looked a little messed up in places.

As mobile devices are improving and the number of people using mobile services increases, expectations rise as well. After all, why should your mobile customer have to suffer a second rate experience? No one wants to go make a sandwich while they wait for your site to load and if they can’t read the print once they get to your site what is the point anyways.

Head First Mobile Web looks at a number of different approaches to reaching the growing number of mobile users. I highly suggest going through the book at least twice. On the first go around, you will want to do the exercises. For me, practicing and seeing the results always makes things easier to understand and integrate.

I can guarantee that as you go through the book the first time you will start writing little notes and gaining some sort of inklings about how to mobilize your own site. Each site is different with unique needs and limitations. This book isn’t prescriptive so on the second reading, you will be looking to adapt what you are learning to the real world.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a valuable mish-mash of current techniques in making mobile apps and mobile-friendly web sites. It almost has to be a mish-mash because this area of the industry is greatly in flux at the time of writing. I found the chapters on responsive, mobile first design very valuable. The other chapters were a little too PHP-heavy to be of much use to me.

[Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't finish.

[Bonnie Vasko · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've only gotten through the chapter on Responsive Web design, but was able to apply everything to an existing wordpress site. It was really cool and rewarding to see how my site works so much better (and faster) on the iPad and iPhone now.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book! Wish there were online files of all the examples, but very easily explained.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful, quickly absorbed guide for a long-time application developer getting started with mobile apps.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful introduction to mobile web programming, as with most programming books, its shelf life is limited.