Following on from my post at the weekend about Responsive Design, a fellow blogger Tristan Bettany has emailed in his example for detecting either the iPad or the iPhone and the screen orientation.
It uses a small amount of PHP to detect the device then CSS to detect the orientation. Copy and paste the following into the head of your page.
<?php
//Functions to check user agent for iPad, iPod, iPhone
function iPadCheck(){
return preg_match('/(iPad)/', $_SERVER['HTTP_USER_AGENT']);
}
function iPhoneCheck(){
return preg_match('/(iPhone|iPod)/', $_SERVER['HTTP_USER_AGENT']);
}
//Set correct css files based on detected device
//orientation property supported in mobile safari to change layout on rotation
if (iPadCheck()) {
echo'
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="screen and (orientation:portrait)" href="iPadPortrait.css" />
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="screen and (orientation:landscape)" href="iPadLandscape.css" />
';
} else if (iPhoneCheck()) {
echo'
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="screen and (orientation:portrait)" href="iPhonePortrait.css" />
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="screen and (orientation:landscape)" href="iPhoneLandscape.css" />
';
} else {
echo'
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="screen and (max-width: 1199px)" href="minDesktop.css" />
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="screen and (min-width: 1200px)" href="fullDesktop.css" />
';
}
?>
The script detects the device then includes the associated stylesheet depending on the orientation.
Any questions add a comment.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 Apple Device Orientation Example | 4.56 KB |
Google Pack is a collection of free software packaged together with one simple installer distributed by Google. The pack includes a mixture of software including some of Googles own products such as Picasa and Google Desktop, and other programs such as Adobe reader and Norton Antivirus 2005 SE. The pack revolves around the updater that acts a package manager for downloading programs and updates.
A full list of the programs available: Google Earth Google Desktop Picasa Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer Google Pack Screensaver Mozilla Firefox with Google Toolbad Ad-Ware SE Personal Norton Antivirus 2005 Special Edition Adobe Reader 7 Google Talk Google Video Player RealPlayer GalleryPlayer HD Images When first launching Google Pack it will start downloading and installing software, you can however choose which programs you want. For instance I cancelled Google Desktop as it’s a bit intrusive on my desktop and start bar.
The Google website makes it easy to install programs as they are added to the pack.
Within the installed programs list it is easy to remove programs you don’t need.
Google Pack is a good collection of free software, it does a nice job of keeping them up to date and can integrate with your Google account. I found it especially useful when first installing a new PC as the software included with the pack is often what I find myself installing anyway.
The pack has plenty of room to expand in the future and I would like to see an audio manager, video player and maybe even an office suite such as Open Office. Currently Google Pack is Windows XP only.
It's been quiet here at ImAFish for the last week because we have been working on our latest project:
iPod History has pictures and details on every single iPod including size, battery life, compatibility and launch date.
The site is a great place to find out what others have to say about iPod models they have owned and to put across your views. It's still early days for the site so all comments are appreciated.
We have tried to make the site as informative as possible but are open to suggestions. If you like the site then please stumble it or add it to your blog!
For more check out www.ipodhistory.com
Our recent article - 21 Ways To Develop Cancer has caused quite a stir with a number of sceptics and people with first hand experience with electro magnetic radiation (EMR). A number of comments suggested we talk about how to avoid EMR where possible. Certain people are more sensitive to EMR than others, in a similar sort of way to how pollen effects only certain people. The effects of EMR can be as simple as headaches to life threatening cancer. It is impossible to cut out EMR from our daily lives however we can minimise our exposure to it, with the help from Safe Living Technologies and the guest writer of the previous article - Martin Weatherall I have compiled this list of advice to minimise exposure.
- Avoid living near a mobile phone masts or radio/TV transmitters.
- Avoid using cordless phones, especially DECT phones as these transmit radiation even when not in use.
- Avoid using wireless baby monitors or wireless security systems, where possible hard wire them in.
- Where possible do not use wireless routers - use CAT5 cable.
- Where possible use your mobile phone on hands free but without a Bluetooth headset. Aviod using a mobile phone in your car without an external antenna as the radio waves will be reflected back at you from the metal chassis. If your phone has poor signal in the car an external antenna should improve your call quality too.
- Only use a mobile phone or cordless phone for emergency calls only, use a corded phone for all regular conversations. Avoid using a mobile phone if pregnant and do not allow a child under 16 to use a mobile phone at all.
- Try not to keep your mobile phone in the same pocket all the time, if possible keep it away from the body in a bag or on a desk. Otherwise rotate it around the body.
- Avoid using the Microwave, it doesn't do anything good for your food anyway and will flood adjacent rooms with radiation.
- Minimise the number of electronic devices around your bed, this can include lights, alarm clocks, telephones, extension cords and electric blankets. Battery operated devices such as an alarm clock are good replacements.
- Make sure you don't sleep near your fuse box or distribution box.
- Avoid living near or under high voltage power lines. The same goes for electric sub-stations and transformers.
- Avoid all unnecessary exposure to x-rays and CT scans.
- Drive cars that have low electro magnetic fields.
- Make sure electronic devices are grounded (this is not such a problem in the UK as we have three pronged plugs unlike the rest of Europe and America).
- Avoid using a dimmer switch in the house as these emit high magnetic fields and cause dirty electricity.
This article from Safe Living Technologies provides a lot more detail about how to cut down your exposure to EMR.
I have been experimenting with linux for over a year now and not always with much luck. Though things seem to be getting better with the quality of the distributions and my elite skills. What people demand out of a operating system is becoming greater and greater, i couldn't have done the things that i now do in linux a year ago as the software clearly wasn't developed enough and in many cases still need developing. In some cases after installing linux today i found i could do more things easier then i would do in windows. For instance i have a couple of DivXs which refused to play in windows which after installing xine played perfectly (i finally got to watch the first episode of series 2 of enterprise) also things like gaim tabbing msn windows stops things from getting too cluttered.
Though as per usual there is a down side which every time i use linux gets smaller. I miss the integration between outlook and msn, and though gaim is a great program it misses little things like showing when people are signing in and flashing on the start bar. Also i miss how xchat doesn't flash or beep when i get messages meaning i have to check back more regularly. Another problem i have found is with icons not displaying properly when i install something, i quite often have to assign a different icon to a program when adding it to the desktop.
Though things are heading in the right direction, I downloaded netscape 7 earlier which is probably the best webbrowser after mozilla. Xine is also another great program that can play all DivXs, MP3s and DVDs - how handy, tho the program needs a few more improvements before its perfect.
Overall I'm going to stick with linux for a while because I think its a great alternative to windows which In some ways is better and in others could do with some improvements.