As many of you are probably aware, the W3C recently released a web
compatibility test for mobile browsers:
http://www.w3.org/QA/2008/04/is_your_mobile_browser_ready_f.html
The tests do a good job at showing how crappy most mobile browsers are
but as with the WaSP ACID tests, only indicate a standards failure and
don't easily identify the specific web standard element the browser
failed: they show mobile web developers how much potential sleep they
will lose without helping them identify the elements to avoid/
workaround.
For this reason, I've restarted a mobile testbed project that I've had
on back burner for ages and would appreciate feedback from fellow
keitai-l users.
Currently it's a very early beta whipped up late last night with the
following:
1. Environment tests
Tests CSS support via external links, style, and inline style
properties with text/html and application/xhtml+xml mime types. The
idea is to get the base CSS support for the mobile web browser that
will be used for all subsequent tests: if a browser only supports
inline style (I'm looking at you Docomo), then all subsequent CSS
tests will use inline styles.
- All tests are served up as XHTML Basic 1.1 with the exception of the
inline style tests that are not XHTML Basic compliant and use XHTML
Mobile 1.2 instead.
- Many older 2G mobile will vomit all over application/xhtml+xml mime
types but since these browsers have no CSS support, they are not a
target for this testbed.
2. CSS test
Just one CSS test as a placeholder to show the testing methodology.
Apart from general feedback, what I'd appreciate from keitai-l users
is the elements tests they would like to see keeping in mind that %
testbed completion goes down with testbed length.
Once a reasonable testbed is in place, the goal would be to hook a
desktop web page into it where developers can view and download test
results for all mobiles tested.
The testbed can be accessed from here:
http://pukupi.com/mobile/testbed/
I'll be at MoMo Tokyo tonight if you would like discuss the testbed in
person.
Cheers
Kyle
Received on Mon Apr 21 05:37:09 2008