04/02/2010
iPhone applications are programs you can use on your phone that provide information, diversion, education, or help you with tasks. For instance if you're a bird lover you may want to download Apple's iBird Explorer Backyard. According to Apple, this app. will help you "...search North American birds by color, shape, habitat, location, and more."
On the other hand, an iPhone template is a special slimmed down version of your website that is easier for mobile uses to access on their phones.
At Gravity Switch we have experience with both of the above iPhone technologies and believe each can be a valuable stand alone piece or extension of your website. Which technology you chose depends on the goals of your project.
iPhone Application for OYSI
We recently created a website for a client whose mission is to preserve the heritages of cultures who only have oral traditions (as opposed to anything written). The OYSI website gives users the ability to review, learn about, and post information about these cultures - sort of like a wiki. All information submitted to OYSI is reviewed by the website administrator before it is added to the site. The main users of OYSI are cultural anthropologists as well as members of the cultures themselves.
The iPhone application that we built in conjunction with the site will allow users to directly post audio, video and other content to OYSI website from out in the field. Our application will also store all information as users load it. This ensures that no audio or video is lost during upload if your cell phone connection is dropped while you're out in the field in a rural village.
iPhone Templates for MCLA
When we redesigned the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts website we also created some cool iPhone templates. As phone browsers get better, more and more sites work well without making special mobile versions, but a slimmed down site does make it much easier on the mobile user to navigate quickly to the information they need:
We'd love to hear about your project's goals and help you decide for yourself which extension of your website is best for you. Email us for a free consultation or give us a ring at 413-586-9596.