Introducing the new Slashdot Mobile experience: clean, modern, and fast

A message from Gaurav Kuchhal (Head of Product, Slashdot)

Today, on the 15th Anniversary of Slashdot, we are thrilled to announce a brand new mobile experience. The new mobile interface is an indication of what to expect from Slashdot as it embraces the personal and mobile Web.

Without further ado, we present the new Slashdot Mobile Web App (Beta) for iPhones and Android phones. Just direct your mobile browser to mbeta.slashdot.org.

As we built this new mobile experience, we followed three guiding principles:

1. Let the community shape it.
2. Embrace open HTML5 web architecture.
3. Provide a clean, modern, fast experience.

This Slashdot mobile experience has been shaped by the feedback received from hundreds of alpha users over past few weeks. We want to thank all the alpha users for your enthusiasm and critical input, as we couldn't have done it without you!

What can you do with new Slashdot Mobile?

• Read comments and stories in a mobile-friendly view
• Find "Most Discussed" stories at the top
• Share stories and comments
• See rich user profiles of your friends and foes
• See beautiful achievement badges
• Quickly participate in polls
• Show off your latest Gravatar
• Access previous and next stories with a swipe

From Alpha to Beta

Because we've adopted a rapid and iterative method to develop this new mobile experience, we've been able to quickly make changes based on your feedback.

Here are a few features that testers asked for during Alpha, delivered today in Beta:

• Show preview of story on the home page
• Ability to expand -1 comments
• Load more comments initially
• Remember which stories or comments you were reading
• First select and then vote on a poll, eliminating unintentional voting
• Improved comment filtering interface

What's Next?

We're not done yet. This mobile web app is optimized for iPhones and popular Android smartphones (version 2.2 and up). We will continue to support more devices.

We're also adding many of your most-requested features, including the ability to view notifications, as well as submit stories, moderate others' submissions and comments, and set your own mobile preferences — just to name a few.

A tablet app is also in the works. If you own an iPad or Android tablet and can't wait to get your hands on a Slashdot app for it, you can participate in the Tablet Alpha.

We hope that you continue to shape this mobile experience by providing us feedback.

Looking forward to a good experience

[pinkushun]

I browse ./ more often on the Android based phone. My first impression on scrolling is: impossible. It is almost like the page is stuck with glue instead of rolling on bearings. Perhaps its just my underpowered Galaxy Ace.

Will test some more with various settings. Thanks for this /.!

Re:

[smg5266]

On my Samsung Galaxy S3 scrolling doesn't work when in a story. In fact it sort of freezes the browser (Chrome). Otherwise the app looks great and the main page is pretty responsive.

Re:

[Threni]

I can confirm that nothing works on the S3.

Not looking forward to a good "experience"

[Pseudonym]

"A brand new mobile experience"? Are we serious? Is this what Slashdot has come to? Will we be leveraging our assets and enhancing shareholder value next?

Say it ain't so!

What's the deal with

[Compaqt]

"device not supported"?

Sorry, but that's pretty evil. Just load the site.

Anyway, how come you can't click links to open them? Is that just in Firefox on the desktop?

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

Open in Chrome. Right click, inspect element to bring up developer tools. Click gear icon in bottom corner. Choose "Emulate touch events" under "User-Agent".

Clicks now act as touch events and you can experience the mobile site on your desktop.

Re:

[steveg]

I get the same thing with Dolphin. "Device/browser not supported."

And Opera. And Firefox.

It does work on the stock browser. But I never use it.

Re:

[MeNeXT]

I feel we are back in 1995 and need IE 3 or some such thing.

Could we just create standard code please. Forget mobile it's not ready for the web yet. I have no issues when I tell sites to send me the desktop version. Why do I have issues with mobile?

Random events

[brabo_sd]

First off, it looks awesome. Secondly, the scrolling indeed feels 'sticky'. On my Galaxy Gio on random moments either the page goes to top or it opens an article i didnt click... Keep up the good work! :)

iPhone? Android?

[SuperMooCow]

Just use media queries and CSS sprites you insensitive clods! Stop trying to be a smart ass about the whole "200% dynamic HTML5 app" thing. Mobile devices don't run at 3GHz and don't have 8GB of RAM with unlimited bandwidth. HTTP requests are costly on mobile.

tar -xvf then at the command line...

[Impy the Impiuos Imp]

"Looks like your browser/device is not supported."

It's Google Android.

And anyone who's knee is twitching to yelp, "Oh! You need to go into settings and blah blah blah!" needs to be slapped as clueless.

BB experience mixed

[Lev13than]

No go with a Bold 9900 - the "Load Mobile site anyway" link doesn't even work. Disappointing but not a big loss - die OS7, die.

Works well and looks great on a PlayBook. Actually might prefer this layout to the full version!

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

Spoke a bit too soon - mbeta home page does launch on the Bold (slowly, but once it's up everything scrolls ok). However, can't seem to get through to the actual articles.

Re:

[kokoko1]

on my BB 9790 i get 'Device/Browser Not Supported" .....> Go to Full Site.

Finally, five years later.

[Game Genie]

I complained to CmdrTaco about the lack of a mobile site at a Slashdot 10th anniversary party. Coincidence?

Mobile should follow user preferences

[tjhayes]

Why does the comments section of articles on the new mobile slashdot not follow my user preferences? For example, I normally browse at +4 or higher, yet mobile is showing me all comments.

Re:

[gkuchhal]

We have not implemented the Mobile Preferences feature yet, and are still working to add support to follow your preferences.

android 4.0.4 s3 dolphin browser

[buanzo]

says it's not supported, but i force mobile and it works awesome.

happy 15th bday. - I still have, and use, my 10th bday tshirt :)

Device/Browser Not Supported

[irishdaze]

Device/Browser Not Supported: iPad / iOS 6

Re:

[gkuchhal]

That's right. Tablet app is in works, and will be launched soon. Let us know if you like to get your hands on the Tablet alpha by clicking on the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Slashdot [surveymonkey.com]. On the same note, we are continuously optimizing this HTML5 web app for more Android smartphones and browsers.

Google nexus 7

[kokoko1]

Works great so far in Google nexus 7 tablet.

where is tablet interface?

[kokoko1]

They say .....tablet app is also in the works. If you own an iPad or Android tablet and can't wait to get your hands on a Slashdot app for it, you can participate in the Tablet Alpha. But clicking the link only give the survey.

Re:

[gkuchhal]

Thanks for your interest to participate in the tablet alpha. For the sake of simplicity, we only created one survey. Feel free to skip all the questions and give us only your email address and some info about the tablet you will be using to participate in the tablet alpha.

Re:

[MeNeXT]

I don't like giving my email to random sites so since the servey was forwarded toa third party I skipped it. I guess forget the alpha for me.

N900 - blank

[Anonymous Coward]

I know, Nokia N900 is already ancient... yet, nothing. Not even the "device/browser not supported" message some other people get.

Blank...

[lw7av]

page on Opera Mini.

learn it

[yizhumachinery]

As we built this new mobile experience, we followed three guiding principles: 1.Let the community shape it. 2.Embrace open HTML5 web architecture. 3.Provide a clean, modern, fast experience. my website www.yizhu-machinery.com

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