I learned something new about my iPhone’s functionality. This doesn’t happen very often but when it does, it’s kind of awesome. I’m writing about this in case you don’t know about this either; it’s kind of handy.
I use Google products a lot; Google Reader is probably one of the few sites I have to visit every day, it’s such a useful website. When it comes to the iPhone though, I haven’t found an application that works quite as well. I end up using Google Reader’s mobile version. Unfortunately, things like Google Wave aren’t exactly having the best applications made for it on the iPhone format. All I see are negative reviews, and when I tried to use one it proved too clunky and weird.
But today, while taking a look at Google Buzz on my phone, a little bubble appeared that made me grin. I’ve always known you could bookmark websites on iPhone’s safari browser to come back to later, but Google felt the need to point out that you can “Add to Home Screen”, treating the particular website/webapp as it’s own freaking native application. This is done through the bookmark button, and choosing that option; simple.
The application icons take you straight to the website, and while Google has it’s apps prepared for people to do this, you can do it with any website really, even a blog you frequent or Twitter.
This discovery has made me happy, and will, apart from making things easier, probably make me try using Google Wave more (even though the iPhone doesn’t really support it yet), and look into Buzz a little bit. If you didn’t know about this, I hope this post proved informative for you fellow iPhone users.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Lots of Google's apps work like this, I've had a nice Gmail icon for a long time. It's very cool, and shows Google's main focus is still on their services, with Android being a means to an end.
Wonder if they'll put this effort into Windows Mobile Phone 7 Enterprise Corporate Home Premium Edition Service Pack 3 Release Update 2 or whatever it is they're calling it.
I like the idea you can do this with anything, not just Google applications. It's great that they have it prepared for people to do it, but the fact I could say, make a Rubenerd Blog app in my phone is kinda cool (I haven't done that, it's just an example :P)
Heh of course! In fact that Rubénerd Blog proprietor even set it up with a custom icon if you bookmark it, now he just needs to work on his theme!
Really? How'd you accomplish that?
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/apple-touch-icon.png"/>In your header. And of course an icon called apple-touch-icon.png in your root directory. Try it on the Geekorium!
Thanks man! I'll probably do this as soon as I have a decent icon for it :P