# Blackberry & handhelds **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [April 12, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/blackberry-handhelds/165332 "2009-04-12T15:40:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JannaB](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@JannaB](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/JannaB)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/blackberry-handhelds/165332/1 "2009-04-12T15:40:03Z")
I notice when I go to a site like [schwab.com](http://schwab.com), they have their full format page come up when I log on via a computer. However, if I log on via my blackberry, it;s dramatically stripped down. I realise much of this is done by my blackberry - the disregarding of graphics, not paying attention to tables, etc. But is there a way to discern if someone is logging in via a handheld device as opposed to a computer, and route to a more appropriate view? Thanks, Janna ---
**Author:** ![JannaB](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@JannaB](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/JannaB)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/blackberry-handhelds/165332/2 "2009-04-12T15:47:05Z")
On Apr 12, 1:29 pm, JannaB [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > I notice when I go to a site like [schwab.com](http://schwab.com), they have their full > format page come up when I log on via a computer. However, if I log on > via my blackberry, it;s dramatically stripped down. > > I realise much of this is done by my blackberry - the disregarding of > graphics, not paying attention to tables, etc. But is there a way to > discern if someone is logging in via a handheld device as opposed to a > computer, and route to a more appropriate view? Thanks, Janna One way is work exactly as usual but be careful that your css etc. degrades gracefully. Another involves creainge a fake format (eg :phone) and set the format to that in a before filter if the user agent matches something relevant or if the user has gone to a relevant subdomain (eg [mobile.foo.co](http://mobile.foo.co)). Along side your html.erb template you’d have a phone.erb template with dumbed down content/presentation/etc. Rails will pick that template automatically when appropriate and of course you get to use respond\_to (see [http://www.slashdotdash.net/2007/12/04/iphone-on-rails-creating-an-iphone-optimised-version-of-your-rails-site-using-iui-and-rails-2/](http://www.slashdotdash.net/2007/12/04/iphone-on-rails-creating-an-iphone-optimised-version-of-your-rails-site-using-iui-and-rails-2/) for an example of this). Fred ---
**Author:** ![JannaB](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@JannaB](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/JannaB)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/blackberry-handhelds/165332/3 "2009-04-12T17:46:58Z")
On Sun, Apr 12, 2009 at 6:46 AM, Frederick C. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > Along side your html.erb template you’d have a > phone.erb template with dumbed down content/presentation/etc. A minor quibble: translating a data-rich application from a full-size computer screen to be usable and useful on a tiny screen shouldn’t be thought of as “dumbing down” – it’s refactoring that application’s information architecture/presentation to better address the needs of the mobile user. Sometimes more easily accomplished than others. 🙂 ## FWIW! Hassan S. ------------------------ removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid ---
**Author:** ![JannaB](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@JannaB](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/JannaB)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/blackberry-handhelds/165332/4 "2009-04-13T02:31:50Z")
Yes and it appears Rails may be particularly good at doing exactly the! Thank you both for your postings. -Janna On Apr 12, 11:45 am, Hassan S. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)