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Ask HN: Why do websites ignore my use desktop version preference
When using my mobile, a WP7 HTC Trophy, I set my browser to as default load websites in their desktop version.
This usually works 9 times out of 10 but I sometimes find the site will display a mobile version anyway.
Why does this happen? Is it done on purpose or by sloppy coding?
Is there some kind of special header for requesting a mobile version of a website or do they just use the user-agent?
- Tactalneck 15y agoI haven't looked to deeply into how they would figure it out, but (for example) porn sites often do this because they let you stream for free on the desktop but want to charge you on their mobile version.
- leejw00t354 15y agoMaybe it's more purposeful then. I know Youtube does it, but I think they do it on purpose because the desktop version wouldn't work at all on my phone because it doesn't support flash. Surprisingly Google sends me to their mobile site by default. I don't really see what they have to gain from doing that? My phone handles the desktop version really well and I have access to all the other extras that come with it. I don't think Google would have been so sloppy to have done it by accident.
- Tactalneck 15y agoGoogle may give different results for their mobile browser and have longer term plans for SPFY type enhancements that take into account that you're using a mobile device. I also think the mobile version would use fewer resources per search than the full featured, desktop search with Google Instant. Advertisers may also want to be able to target mobile users vs. desktop users separately.