Why Pixel Perfect is Impossible: Mobiles, Tablets & Televisions
So far in this series, we’ve established that size, colour and fonts cannot be accurately reproduced on the web. We’ve also seen that technical limitations of web browsers mean that there can be even be differences on the same computer! With this in mind, you should be able to guess what happens when we leave the realm of computers behind, and enter into the world of mobile phone, tablets and internet-enabled televisions...
Mobile Phones
Nowadays, most mobile phones can get online and surf the web. Devices such as the Apple iPhone, the HTC Desire, the Motorola Milestone and the Samsung Galaxy S have allowed nearly complete access to virtually every website online. However, none of these devices has full support for all of the technologies in use on normal computers – one example being Flash, which is only supported on the very latest Android devices and isn’t supported at all on the iPhone.
Another problem is that due to the physical size of a mobile phone, the screen is considerably smaller than a normal computer. Additionally, the typical method of interacting with a mobile is by touch; this requires larger links and buttons than normal. Combining these properties with the very high resolution available on top end handsets, most typical websites become very difficult to use on a mobile phone.
Tablets
Whilst internet enabled tablets have been around for a while (in the form of Windows-based Tablet PCs), it is the introduction of the iPad which has seen a significant rise in their use. Since the iPad is essentially an iPhone with a bigger screen, a number of the problems associated with mobile phones also affect the iPad. Of course, it isn’t quite that simple, and all tablets have their own capabilities and limitations that must be taken into account; for example, that bigger screen leads users to expect more PC-like capabilities, and to be less tolerant of problems they might accept whilst using a mobile phone.
Televisions
I’m sure that a number of you are wondering why televisions have even made this list. However, the latest top-of-the-line televisions available today often have the ability to surf the web, and games consoles such as the Nintendo Wii and the Sony PlayStation 3 have web browsing functionality.
Once again though, it isn’t quite that simple. Televisions and games consoles tend to have equivalent levels of functionality as a mid-range mobile phone or early tablet; this time combined with a very low resolution screen (I’m referring here to the number of pixels shown for the given screen size).
How to deal with this
Unfortunately, the best way to deal with these devices with current technology is to build separate specialist versions of websites for mobiles, tablets and other devices. Alternatively, the website can be designed to allow for the variations, showing only the most relevant content each device. Of course, as usual, this means sacrificing the concept of pixel perfection!