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Gorilla Marketing

Published March 8, 2010 by Richard

At Handset Detection we don’t mind a little monkey business. So, last thursday, when I found out AIMIA (the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association) had its annual awards night right here in Melbourne it was an opportunity too good to pass up. What better way to reach the heads of digital and interactive luminaries from around the country than to conduct a little gorilla marketing. :-)

The plan : 1 Man, 1 Gorilla suit and cards. Straight forward really.

Tragically the main thrust was thwarted by Melbourne traffic, arriving late on the scene after the bulk of awards goers has entered the building. However, I did get to chat to a few people and hand out quite a few cards. Fairly early on (like right as we arrived) security suggested that I was uninvited (really ??) and that I should move back off the premises. Fortunately the layout meant that people had to access the venue from the road where they would pass by us. And who can pass by a waving gorilla ?

Moral of the story : Allow for bad traffic and get there early ! :-)

It was all over pretty quickly and all in all some good fun. We’ll keep an eye on traffic over the next few days and see if it generates any web traffic.

In other news congratulations to the AIMIA winners on their achievements and awards.

  • Best Advertising or Marketing Ask Richard, Naked Communications & Frank PR askrichard.com.au

Posted In More Fun
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Party on down at SxSW

Published March 3, 2010 by Richard

We’re hosting a massive party with our most excellent peers from The Small Business Web at SxSW this year, in fact next week !

Come along, meet us, meet some of our friends (BatchBook, FreshBooks, FormSpring, MailChimp, Outright, Rackspace Email & Apps, Shipwire, Shoeboxed, SurveyGizmo, TeamSupport.com, Wufoo) and have a beer (or 3) on us.

One thing, due to the licensing regulations in Austin we need you to drop your name(s) into this form.

Details
4-7pm Saturday, March 13
The Pure Volume House at 504 Trinity St, Austin, TX.

Would be great to see you there.

Posted In More Fun
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Mobile Detection with the Zend framework.

Published February 16, 2010 by Richard

Today’s quick tutorial is from Peter Johnson. Thanks Peter, take it away.
—–

Getting up and running with Handset Detection under Zend Framework is Quick & Easy.

To start performing detections you’ll need to download the latest PHP API kit from http://www.handsetdetection.com/resources/api-kits

Extract the whole hdapi folder into your Zend library folder, mine is /application/library, it should be named /application/library/hdapi

Copy your hdconfig.ini file from the kit into your public folder, mine is /public, it should be named /public/hdconfig.ini

Now you should be able to start using the API directly, but to simpify the process even further you can use this wrapper class.
Create a file called ‘HandsetDetectionService.php’ in your Zend library folder, mine is /application/library, it should be named /application/library/HandsetDetectionService.php

< ?php       class HandsetDetectionService   {       private $_instance;       private $_caching = true;       private $_hdapi_path;              public function __construct()       {           $this->_importHdApi();
          $this->_instance = new HandsetDetection();
          $this->_instance->setTimeout( 10 );
          $this->_instance->detectInit();
      }
             public function isMobile()
      {
          if( !$_caching ){ $this->_instance->clearCache(); }
          return $this->_instance->ismobile();
      }
             public function mobileRedirect( $url = "http://m.google.com" )
      {
          $this->_instance->setMobileSite( $url );
          if( $this->isMobile() ) $this->_instance->redirectToMobileSite();
      }
             public function detect()
      {
          if( !$_caching ){ $this->_instance->clearCache(); }
          $this->_instance->detect();
          return $this->_instance->getDetect();
      }
             public function vendorList()
      {
          if( !$_caching ){ $this->_instance->clearCache(); }
          $this->_instance->vendor();
          return $this->_instance->getVendor();
      }
             public function modelList( $vendor_name )
      {
          if( !$_caching ){ $this->_instance->clearCache(); }
          $this->_instance->model( $vendor_name );
          return $this->_instance->getModel();
      }
             public function getError()
      {
          $error = $this->_instance->getError();
          return ( $error == 'Not Found' ? '' : $error );
      }
             private function _importHdApi()
      {
          $this->_hdapi_path = APPLICATION_PATH . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . 'library' .
              DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . 'hdapi' . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR;
                                             require_once( $this->_hdapi_path . 'class.wsse.php' );
          if (!function_exists('json_encode')) require_once( $this->_hdapi_path . 'json.php');
          require_once( $this->_hdapi_path . 'hdbase.php' );
      }
         }
?>

Now you can use this code in any controller to test out the API:

< ?php   // Setup Connection   $hd = new HandsetDetectionService();   // Perform a Basic Detect, Just to see if it's a Mobile Handset   $ismobile = $hd->isMobile();
  $error = $hd->getError();

  // Output Some Data
  if( $error ) echo "An Error Occured: $error";
  elseif ( $ismobile )
  {
      // Do a Full Detection, Only needed if you want the Device details
      // ..such as Model Name or Handset Capabilities.
      if( $ismobile ) $detection = $hd->detect();

       echo "It's a Mobile Handset! - " . @$detection['product_info']['brand_name'] . " " . @$detection['product_info']['model_name'];
       echo ""; print_r( $detection ); echo "";
  }
  else echo "Not a Mobile Handset.";

  // Query for a list of Vendors & Models
  if( !$error )
  {
      echo "Vendor List";
      echo ""; print_r( $hd->vendorList() ); echo "";
      echo "Models from 'Apple'";
      echo ""; print_r( $hd->modelList('Apple') ); echo "";
  }
?>

or, if you just want to do a basic Mobile Redirect, use this:

< ?php   $hd = new HandsetDetectionService();   $hd->mobileRedirect( 'http://m.digg.com' );
?>

Note: If Zend is having trouble loading the HandsetDetectionService class, you probably have Autoloading disabled and you’ll need to include that file manually, to do this add the following before you call ‘new HandsetDetectionService()’:

require_once( $this->_hdapi_path = APPLICATION_PATH . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . 'library' . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . 'HandsetDetectionService.php' );

Posted In Mobile Web
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Rolling Database Upgrade

Published February 15, 2010 by Richard

Just a quick note to let you know that we’re upgrading database servers today.

The blog and forum will be running on reduced effectiveness, detection services will not be effected.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled program & have a nice day. :-)

Update : Detection services suffered 30 minutes of intermittent outages over the course of 3.5 hours while we diagnosed a load balancing problem. We’re disappointed that the service suffered and apologies if you were affected.

Posted In Support
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Our new helpdesk is Zendesk

Published February 8, 2010 by Richard

Were moving to Zendesk

Quietly, in the background, since Christmas, we’ve been analyzing, installing and generally fooling around with nearly a dozen leading help desk systems. We’ve been installing, tweaking, breaking, emailing, emailing and emailing (bueller…). Most have their strengths and weaknesses, some just seemed to have weaknesses. The most important thing is that we’ve chosen a winner, and that’s Zendesk.

Zendesk just had more awesome, so in the end it was an easy decision. We’re excited to be plugging Zendesk into Handset Detection and we’ll be switching on Zendesk Wednesday Feb 10 in the morning, after coffee (GMT + 11).

What does this mean to you ?

Some of you will be in the middle of an email support conversation. When we flick the switch you’ll get a trouble ticket email saying ‘Thanks for your request …’, which might seem weird because, well, obviously we know about your request, but Zendesk doesnt. So just wanted to point that out.

We’ll also be moving our forum to Zendesk on Tuesday the 16th (GMT +11). The old forum will linger on for a while, we’ll move the more interesting posts across and then switch the old forum off.

We hope the new helpdesk is a great experience and, as always, let us know how you get on.

Posted In Support
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Handset Detection – Jan/Feb 2010 updates

Published February 3, 2010 by Richard

A few weeks ago we launched our new green themed website along with a raft of changes and tweaks. Here’s a quick overview of the new stuff.

Profile

Deep down, at the bottom of the Profile Settings page, you can find Quota Alerts. Quota alerts will notify you by email as your account approaches its monthly detection quota.  Alerts default to On and are set at 90% threshold. Checks are performed hourly, so if you’re in the middle of a super large volume spike then its best to drop your ideal threshold by a few percent.

Quota Alerts

Quota Alerts

We’ve also made it super easy to configure the API kits with a configuration file you can download straight from your Profile page (Its down the bottom in the Get Connected section, Note : The PHP API kit only at the moment, coming to the other kits shortly).

Analytics

We’ve improved device segmentation and added Operating Systems and Screen Size as sorting options. Click on the relevant links, ie the screen size or the operating system for more information and a full device breakdown.

Operating System Device Segmentation

Operating System Device Segmentation

Screen Size Device Segmentation

Screen Size Device Segmentation

Section overviews now compare the top 5 devices. Click the check boxes in the legend to toggle graphing on or off for any particular data set (like devices / countries etc..). Plus snazzy new graphs individual devices and aggregate data sets.

Handset History

Handset History

Detection History

Detection History

We’re Listening

The single largest piece of feedback we received last year was, This thing looks great, but how do i use it ?

We’ve taken many of your comments and suggestions on board. We’ve re-designed, re-branded and re-jigged everything to make Handset Detection an easy and enjoyable experience. We hope you like the new look but more importantly that you find what you need in places you expect.

If you have any comments and suggestions then please let us know, below. We’re all ears.

Posted In Release
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Optimizing for Mobile Websites : The 3 Template Trick

Published January 29, 2010 by Richard

We’ve had a few queries over the last month from folks looking to optimize their mobile websites. There’s a truck load of ways to go about this however here’s the way I recommend. Its simple and easy. I call this the 3 template trick.

Step 1 – Build 3 mobile templates (or pages) – Optimized for screen size.

The idea is that you’ll customize a layout for each screen width. Note, we’re not so concerned about screen height as people are mostly used to scrolling up and down the page.

The 3 screen widths this script is setup to handle is 241 pixels and greater (large), 181 to 240 pixels (medium) and 180 pixels and smaller (small). The large template is going to get more modern mobile browsers which offer a better mobile web experience, guys like iPhone, Palm Pre, Motorola Droids live here. The medium group contains mid range phones such as the Nokia N95, T-Mobile Atlas or Samsung S8300. The small group is largely made up of older model phones whose numbers are still significant but are declining.

Step 2 – Add this script.

This script works with the PHP Api kit, You’ll have to download that and install it first.  Then make a file called index.php and with the script below.

You’re done ! Thats it. You can now detect 3 screen sizes and display the most appropriate page.

/*
**
** Handset Detection - devices.detect.php script
**
*/

require_once('hdbase.php');
$hd = new HandsetDetection();	

$hd->detectInit();

$ret = $hd->detect('display');

if ($ret) {
	$data=$hd->getDeviceResolution();
	if($data['width']>241){ //for large screen size devices
		require_once("large.php");
	}elseif($data['width']>181){ //for medium screen size devices
		require_once("medium.php");
	}else{					//for small screen size devices
		require_once("small.php");
	}
	exit;
} 

//go to the pc version
require_once("pc.php");

Posted In How To
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Hello hello, echoecho !

Published January 27, 2010 by Richard

When cool people do cool stuff with our stuff, well, then, that makes us cool by association right ? :-)

Nick and the Purpose Wireless team are such guys. They’ve developed the first free, permission‐based, location sharing solution available worldwide on iPhone, Android, Nokia Symbian, BlackBerry, and Windows Mobile.  Its called echoecho.

With echoecho smartphone owners can ask and answer the question “where are you” in one simple click.

Whether you are travelling, meeting friends around town or trying to determine whether your date will be on time for dinner – echoecho helps you find your friends and family – without repeatedly texting or calling.

We’re been using it on the office here, its excellent.  Install is a snap, we’re running it on iPhones and various Nokia devices and it works a treat.

Posted In Mobile Apps
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New Look & New Release, Sneak Preview

Published January 19, 2010 by Richard

New Look

Happy New Year ! Hope you had a great News Years Eve.

2009 was an awesome year for Handset Detection. Thank you everyone that joined during 2009, and an extra special thank you to the people that came on board as subscribers. :-)

It was a year of milestones for us.

Launching the paid service was big.  Bill joined me as the second full time staff member, and Peter came on board for a coding sprint to help us get this release to fruition. David is back, helping out with promotion. Dhvani is interning with us doing a great job with testing and all manner of random tasks. Thanks to Munish who put the website look together and to Helen/Malcolm from Creative DV who did some great work on the new logo. I’ve always been partial to the smiley myself. :)

2010 is shaping up as a great year.

We have a new release primed and ready to ship. You can catch a sneak preview over here. Its a whole new … well, everything really. Login with your existing details or use the demo account (username demo@handsetdetection.com password demo). The data isn’t live, it was imported last Wednesday.

We hope to have the new release out later this week.  Let me know what you think in the comments below.

UPDATE : The new look website is live. (You’ve probably noticed already).

Posted In Release
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Upgrades – fast fast fast !

Published November 24, 2009 by richard

Over the next 5 to 6 hours we’ll be upgrading our servers with the latest release of Handset Detection.

Im really excited about this release! Its fast! We’ve rebuilt the detection engine from the ground up for pure speed! Conservatively its 30% faster, perhaps even more depending on your mobile vs non mobile traffic makeup. Speaking of which, the analytics are also enhanced to provide more information at a glance. Working out how much of your traffic is mobile has never been easier !

There will be no disruption to any detection services, however analytics information from today will not be in the database for 24 hours.

Thanks and we hope you enjoy the pure speed of the new release. :-)

Update : A glitch in our data migration scripts has put the upgrade on hold until tomorrow. Sorry about that folks.

Update on the Upgrade Update : The kinks are now worked out – Hooray! :-) We’re targeting Friday for release day. Bring it on !

Friday Update 2pm : The latest release, ‘turk’, is up and running on the live servers. There are a few remaining updates to perform on some historical data so stats may seem a little inconsistent for a few days. We’ll migrate the older analytics data as soon as the DNS updates have everyone off the old servers and onto the new ones. If everything looks really messed up on the screen then hold down shift and click refresh to get new versions of the stylesheet.

Posted In Release
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