Add-On Releases - Mobile Device Style Assignment

This is my first released hack, be nice.

This hack will detect when a mobile device connects to your site and allow you to override the default style/skin with one you specify.

Just install the product-file and set which style is your mobile device style via the AdminCP. Has been tested with several 3.6.x versions up to 3.6.8

I am also releasing a skin I wrote (it is based on vbmechanics Alabama skin, so updated or modified would be a more accurate description) for my own needs - it could probably be tidied up a lot more, but it works for me - take it as it is, I may offer limited support for this skin if I get time (no promises), and feel free to offer suggestions. Mobi - My super light skin is probably the one to go for, it has much greater functionailty.

=Install Instructions=
Go to Plugin System, Manage Products in your AdminCP and click Add/Import Product link at the end of the page
Browse for the product-mobile_enabled36-x.x.x.xml product file and click 'import'
Refresh your admincp page and in VBulletin Options, select the settings for 'Mobile Device Detection'
Change the styleid of your mobile skin in "Mobile Device Style" to the StyleID number of your mobile device skin
Change the styleid of your PDA skin in "PDA Device Style" to the StyleID number of your PDA device skin
Your mobile/pda skin must be user selectable (although you can disbale the ability for users to change styles in vBulletin Options)
Thats it!

=Upgrade Instructions=
Go to Plugin System, Manage Products in your AdminCP and click Add/Import Product link at the end of the page
Browse for the product-mobile_enabled36-x.x.x.xml product file
Choose to overwrite
Click 'import'
Re-configure Styleid of mobile/pda skin if required

VERSION 1.0.7a
Based on initial release - supports assigning one alternative style to ALL detected mobile devices

VERSION 2.1.2
Now allows the addition of exceptions and also specifying a skin for Pocket PCs (Windows CE devices) and a skin for all otehr detected mobile devices.
I've also released a very light skin HERE which is great for cell/Mobile phones

LAST UPDATE 22-October 2007
VERSION 2.1.3 - removed, small bug
VERSION 2.1.3a

• Added ability to assign different styles to IPods/iPhones (In addiotn to Windows CE devices and other detected mobile devices
• Added ability to assign specific style to a user defined device (based on user agent string).
  
  You will need to know the useragent string, or a unique fragment of the user agent string to do this. One exmple of how this can be used would be to assign a specific style to say Firefox users, perhaps a different style for Blackberry users, or you could assign a specific style to search engines (beware when doing this - google apprently doesn't like people displying different content to search engines)
  

To upgrade, simply overwrite product - your existing settings should be preserved.

I've left the previous version available for download - to get the new version, download and install the attached XML

**BACKUP YOUR DB BEFORE INSTALLING**

Other Mobile / Lite Skins:

Mobile - My super light skin
iPhone / iPod Touch Optimised Style
Alabama
VBLite
WAP Plugin - this is a similar product and skin which I didn't find till after I'd made this one - it seems to be more directed at WAP devices as opposed to all Mobile Devices, and appears to no longer be supported, but worth having a look at.


Remember to click install and give a rating :up:

keywords: Mobile, PDA, Autodetect, Autoselect, WAP, Skin, portal, cell, phone, iphone

3.7 Version Here

[tekguru]

Grabbing it now and will instsall later - watch out for any feedback!

[tekguru]

Silly queson but where does one throw the CSS file to?

[dartho]

yep - totally new, although any templates I didn't redo are alabama templates.

CSS goes in forum root.

@Derek Trotter - I'm suprised you can't log in, I'm pretty sure I had that all sorted, although I only tested on emulators. I intend on doing the PM section also - just wanted some feedback before I put the time in

[Amenadiel]

Hi. I'm looking forward to enable a special style for the users visiting my forum with Internet Explorer. It seems that when using Firefox, Opera or Safari my default style (CA EVO) works fine, but it's too slow to load on IE, so I want IE visitors to be presented a lighter style.

I've seen that this mod has a browser detection array

$browsers = array(
"Windows CE",
"WebTV",
"AvantGo",
"Blazer",
"PalmOS",
"lynx",
"Go.Web",
"Elaine",
"ProxiNet",
"ChaiFarer",
"Digital Paths",
"UP.Browser",
"Mazingo",
"Mobile",
"T68",
"Syncalot",
"NetFront",
"Danger",
"Symbian",
"Symbian OS",
"SymbianOS",
"Maemo",
"Opera Mini",
"Nokia",
"Xiino",
"AU-MIC",
"EPOC",
"BlackBerry",
"Wireless",
"Handheld",
"Smartphone",
"SAMSUNG",
"320x240",
"240x320",
"PSP",
"J2ME",
"MIDP",
"MIDP-2.0",
"Opera Mini",
"Blackberry8700"
);

So I guess I could use something like

$browsers = array(

"Internet Explorer 6",
"Internet Explorer 7",
"Maxthon"
);

but I'm not sure of which browser strings to use.

Besides: does this mod disallow for users to choose another style if they wish to? will they be forced to use lighter style when browsing with IE?

[dartho]

It would be possible to extend or alter this mod to detect different desktop browsers and present with different styles, but this mod does force a style - it can't be changed by the user...

[Spika]

Hello!
I´ve a problem, from mobiles devices works fine, but If ahythig choose dartho Mobile alabama style in a PC, after cannot back to default style, even turn off the browser (IE7 or Firefox), Mobile Style is not default style in ACP. And isn´t possible choose style in dartho mobile alabama skin, I can not view this option.
Thanks in advanced
(sorry for my english)

[Derek_Trotter]

@Dartho
No, I definitely can't log in. Here is link to my phone specifications http://cellular.co.za/phones/nokia/2004/nokia_7260.htm
Maybe that can help you to find out why my browser can't work properly.
I have one suggestion. It would be very nice if you can disable all images in post except
smilies. It would speed up forum and it would be cheaper for some visitors.

[dartho]

@ Derek_Trotter - Not sure if I can help you - I'll look around for an emulator and test further. I can however change how images are displayed - simple matter of replacing IMG tags with URL tags.

@Spika - if you just go to your sites home page and add "?styleid=xx" where "xx" is your default styleID you'll be ok. I'll add an option in the footer of the next release to change styles - but this won;t work if you use the "mobile detection" hack as it forces a mobile style when it detects a mobile device.

Might be a while before I can apply these changes - gotta get some sleep sometime!

[tekguru]

Installed it here nad it runs fine, I can log in with no problems. NO way I could see to post a new message though. A good start indeed.

[Derek_Trotter]

OK. Is better to replace IMG with URL tags. If someone want to see image let he just click on link.