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I fucking hate sites that automatically redirect to their mobile site's home page when you click a direct link to a specific page (self.iphone)

submitted ago by ModemGhost

Here is an example:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501363_162-57350788/passerby-rescue-children-after-icy-river-crash/

If you open this link on an iOS device, instead of opening the actual article I want to read, it instead opens the CBS News mobile home page. What the fuck? I see this a lot. Is this just stupidity / laziness on the web developer's part? Or is there a way around this on the user's end?

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[–]mocahante 211 points212 points ago

Super Relevant: http://xkcd.com/869/

[–]Bananinator 59 points60 points ago

Wow, I thought people were joking when they said that there is always a relevant xkcd comic...

[–]jbtoronto 20 points21 points ago

Sure, but where's the relevant xkcd comic about there always being a relevant xkcd comic?

[–]almosthuman 14 points15 points ago

Ooo000ooh meta comic!

[–]thecheatah 4 points5 points ago

looks like your O's work out took effect as you were writing that sentence.

[–]Braunie 88 points89 points ago

This abomination must be stopped. I deal with this on a daily basis and it drives me crazy.

[–]lemmiwinkles 10 points11 points ago

Some 3rd party browsers support browser spoofing which deals with the problem if you're happy using a 3rd party browser.

[–]chiggins89 5 points6 points ago

And you don't mind viewing the website in an un-optimised format for iPhone screens. Animated banner ads.....everywhere....

[–]tvshopceo 22 points23 points ago

The iPhone's screen is good enough that the standard website is often perfectly readable. Of course, a website using responsive design is preferable, but there's absolutely no reason to downgrade the experience to a mediocre WAP-like site.

[–]Disgruntled__Goat 3 points4 points ago

I find all to often that the lines on a page are too long and don't fit to the width at a readable size.

[–]Lolworth 1 point2 points ago

Reader button

[–]Xenc 3 points4 points ago

3rd party browsers

[–]Disgruntled__Goat 1 point2 points ago

Doesn't work on all sites though. Annoyingly it's often the ones that have the lines to long, while pages with the reader button are perfectly fine without.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points ago

Personally I uses Mercury set to the Chrome user agent. It's not that huge of a deal to pinh to zoom and read around. It's readable enough.

[–]drdeeps 4 points5 points ago

Mercury is awesome. I even bought it. I mostly use it for porn though.

[–]onenifty 4 points5 points ago

An honest man. I like you.

[–]snatchington 1 point2 points ago

Just curious, how does it help you surf porn?

[–]EdgarAllenNope 0 points1 point ago

It has private browsing.

[–]smpx 5 points6 points ago

PSA: Mobile safari has a porn mode in settings. The browser theme even turns grey for that extra porniness.

[–]drdeeps 0 points1 point ago

Its password protected. No one can access it BUT ME.

[–]Jesus_Valdez[!] 1 point2 points ago

Reader.

[–]technewsreader 1 point2 points ago

Download "user agent faker" for mobile safari

[–]kslice123 66 points67 points ago

Also, sites that ask if you want to download their app every time you visit their site. Can't they write in a cookie that I've turned it down and stop asking?

[–]kskxt 38 points39 points ago

It's the 2010s version of Clippy.

HEY, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE TRYING TO VIEW THIS PAGE ON A SMARTPHONE.

[–]Clapyourhandssayyeah 21 points22 points ago

This forum is iPhone native!

*shoots self in face*

[–]Dacvak 14 points15 points ago

IMDB, I'm looking at you.

[–]-Fake 7 points8 points ago

There's an IMDB app FYI

[–]Dacvak 10 points11 points ago

I know. The damn site tells me about it every time I try to open it on my iPad. I don't like the app nearly as much as the regular site, though. =/

[–]thecw 6 points7 points ago

THAT'S THE JOKE

[–]TVPaulD -2 points-1 points ago

Relevant

[–]-Fake 1 point2 points ago

Me neither :S

[–]smpx 1 point2 points ago

I think Tripadvisor has one, it tells me that it knows I've turned it down before but that it REALLY is worth a look. After that I think it stops.

[–]rarisgod 0 points1 point ago

YOUTUBE. I get the pop-up to tell me to add it to my home screen every time. Can't it just shut the hell up?

[–]greenysmac 22 points23 points ago

Only think you can do is use a browser that allows you to spoof the user agent. I use iCab for this, but I'm sure others do it too.

[–]Datsoon 11 points12 points ago

This gets us halfway there. When you click a link in another app (alienblue for example) it will open the link in safari. Without changing the native iOS browser, we're still kinda stuck.

[–]jiznon 7 points8 points ago

Browser Changer solves this issue. :)

Must be jailbroken, though.

[–]technewsreader 1 point2 points ago

Browser changer or user agent faker :)

[–]jiznon 1 point2 points ago

User Agent Faker changes the default browser to one of your choosing?

[–]Lolworth 2 points3 points ago

No. Fakes the UA string so the mobile set isn't loaded

[–]jiznon -1 points0 points ago

Right. So technewsreader is incorrect.

[–]technewsreader 1 point2 points ago

No the topic at hand was faking the user agent string. Top parent suggested icab and then browser changer was mentioned. You wouldnt need to replace safari with icab if you change the safari user agent.

"the only thing you can do is use a browser..." and my reply is "yea a browser like safari augmented with uafaker."

On that note I have bc and uaf installed, and mostly use opera. I also like atomic web and 360 browser.

[–]jiznon -1 points0 points ago

I see what you're saying, but feel your post should have read "A different browser + Browser Changer, or the stock Safari + User Agent Faker."

:P

[–]rocketwidget 4 points5 points ago

If you jailbreak, you can use UAFaker. It has the advantage of working for every app you want it too (Safari, Alien Blue, etc.). It can be a toggle on SBSettings.

[–]TaylorR137 5 points6 points ago

Up vote for being the only post that actually solves the problem at hand, at least until the idiot web devs and marketing departments fix their end.

[–]Telekineticism 5 points6 points ago

Dolphin does it too.

[–]madmooseman 2 points3 points ago

As does Atomic.

[–]einexile 0 points1 point ago

iCab used to be the best browser I'd ever used, any platform, hands down. It's still great but it's getting a bit bloated and clunky.

I'm enjoying 360 Browser a bit more these days. It's also clunky an has its share of problems, but it's not as bloated and has some really nice & easy customization options.

[–]Davin900 16 points17 points ago

Rotten Tomatoes does this too.

One reason I jailbreak. User Agent Faker.

[–]Game25900 4 points5 points ago

Never heard of this before, just got it through cydia now, thanks for mentioning it.

[–]Davin900 6 points7 points ago*

There's an SBSettings Toggle that goes with it as well. It's great.

[–]Treas0n 0 points1 point ago

While you're in cydia check add the modyouri repo "not modmyi" for a free Adblock toggle. Also, the reader button is super effective.

[–]BlueJoshi 2 points3 points ago

Ahhh, I knew there we something I was forgetting to install this time.

[–]Nsfw-Dragoon 0 points1 point ago

Or alternate browser, and you don't even need to jailbreak... Though I am...

[–]Davin900 1 point2 points ago

Yeah, the best thing about UAF is that it works with the browser in any app. So Alien Blue and Facebook links load the actual page you wanted to see and not the site's mobile front page.

[–]Steec 35 points36 points ago

Clicks link

Fuck. Mobile site.

Scroll to bottom, click 'view full site'.

Wait.

Fuck. Mobile site again.

[–]redwall_hp 9 points10 points ago

Or "view classic site," thinking you'll get the full site, and you get sent to a WAP page.

[–]quarktheduck 11 points12 points ago

Or when you finally get your way to the full site, click anything inside the full site, and it redirects back to mobile. -_-

[–]jaysire 0 points1 point ago

That one site... what was its name... Gizmodo used to do that. I am secretly hoping they went belly up because of that. They did go belly up, didn't they? Luckily I haven't heard about them in what feels like forever.

[–]oboewan42 10 points11 points ago

Seriously. Gamespot does this too. Whoever made this boneheaded decision seriously needs to lose their job, and never work in web design again.

[–]Alex549us3 8 points9 points ago

Yeah.. Especially when it's a porn site.

[–]einexile 4 points5 points ago

Especially when it's a porn site you fucking pay for which wants you to pay them again for mobile access. Which they more often than not never finished work on anyway.

[–]Wumb0l0gy 20 points21 points ago

a porn site you pay for

Wat

[–]KRSFive 6 points7 points ago

I personally keep a mental note of the site and never ever click on it again.

[–]megannicole910 5 points6 points ago

Or it sends you to "DOWNLOAD OUR MOBILE APP"

[–]Flexo1 5 points6 points ago

The Atomic web browser can emulate many different browsers including full (non-mobile) versions. This will get you the full page on sites you visit.

[–]Honda_TypeR 1 point2 points ago

Indeed I been using atomic and other apps before that for years now that do this masking identity of browser type so you get full version of site displayed.

Furthermore atomic browser has a way to bookmark a java link in safari so that you can quickly port what you are viewing in safari over to atomic that way you don't have To deal with copy pasting.

[–]maximusrex 0 points1 point ago

I'm starting to think that its all about Flash.

[–]MarsSpaceship 2 points3 points ago

and the worst part is when it is a site with videos and the videos don't work properly. You are greeted with the message "install flash player". Who are these guys, morons?

[–]cupertrooper 3 points4 points ago

"Just kidding; we don't really have a functioning mobile site. But you really should install our app!"

[–]maximusrex 0 points1 point ago

I actually don't mind this when the app is good. Reddit's app is really good on my iPad.

[–]technewsreader 0 points1 point ago

You mean alien blue? The official reddit app is terrible by comparison.

[–]GoodOleJR 4 points5 points ago

I've noticed Slate does this too.

I also hate that sites like IMDb (and it's local, but Denver Post) that serve up the "install our app" even if you already have the damn app installed on your phone.

[–]marksven 2 points3 points ago

The problem is there is no way to know from the browser what apps are installed on the phone, so you can't target these ads to just people without the app installed.

[–]technewsreader 0 points1 point ago

The apps could add a tag to the user agent. (+imdb)

[–]technewsreader 0 points1 point ago

I am boycotting the denver post since they removed photos from the plog rss feed. Never been to Denver but you were on my list of things to check on until they pulled that boneheaded move.

[–]organic 1 point2 points ago

Probably because the sites aren't integrated with the same content/url structure, so the same url does not exist as such on the mobile site.

[–]Brendonius 5 points6 points ago

Agreed! So frustrating. I have a few links bookmarked that do this regularly.

[–]g2g079 2 points3 points ago

Speaking of. Does anyone know how to get Joomla Community Builder to not do this after login?

[–]feeblemuffin 1 point2 points ago

oh god why.

[–]larissaqd 1 point2 points ago

I hate it when they prompt you to download their app after you click a link. I don't want a freakin' app for everything, especially when I'm just consuming content. Takes me back to the early days of the web when having a desktop apps like Pointcast were all the rage.

[–]Murray92 1 point2 points ago*

Can't believe no one has mentioned User Agent Faker yet. You need to jailbreak for it, but why would you not do that anyway?

EDIT: I am ignorant, Davin900 already mentioned it. The point remains though; if being redirected bugs you, this is how you stop it happening.

[–]lastres0rt 5 points6 points ago

My webcomic uses Responsive Web Design, which serves up a different CSS stylesheet for mobile devices. Avoids this problem completely and you never have to worry that you're somehow missing content.

So, yes, there is a proper solution, they're just not using it.

[–]gerbs 1 point2 points ago

Do me a favor: make it into a WP plugin. I want to get rid of the shitty tablet personalized plugins that look terrible.

[–]lastres0rt 0 points1 point ago

It's strictly part of the CSS stylesheet. Unless I'm mistaken, you can't just make that into a WP plugin.

a WP Theme, perhaps...

[–]gerbs 0 points1 point ago

I can't edit the themes. The magazines I work for just moved to Wordpress with an all new website layout, and messing with the theme a couple months later just isn't allowed.

[–]lastres0rt 0 points1 point ago

It's pretty design-specific to the point I don't think a plugin would help anyway.

Find a way to muck with the dang theme.

[–]jurt 0 points1 point ago

Hate this also, thought it was just me.

[–]NCWV 1 point2 points ago

This makes me FURIOUS!

[–]istara 0 points1 point ago

Me too - I share your pain. I particularly hate sites that refuse to even let you visit a regular version.

[–]mike413 1 point2 points ago

That or the popup about reading the forum in an app.

Or the full-page redirect that informs you of the mobile app, but when you "continue to the site" you lose the original place you were going.

[–]go_double 0 points1 point ago

Just saw a link to a yahoo news article in Alien Blue. Click link, mobile version with no comments. Look for desktop option, not there. Go to root yahoo page and switch to desktop version and then click on link...

And...

IT REVERTS BACK TO MOBILE!!!?!

Yahoo, if you are going to have a mobile site, it needs to have comments. Ughh

[–]Katzenbaer 0 points1 point ago

Hahaa, I feel everyone's pain here. ):

[–]Supraman2222 0 points1 point ago

I hate it when I can't zoom on a page. Shoot whoever allowed that to happen.

[–]daphaze 0 points1 point ago

Nice addition to cyanogen mod android is ability to change user agent. Even stock android has the prob (but can be changed by entering about:debug to access those settings)

[–]icarrymyhk 1 point2 points ago

SkyFire in desktop mode, there all your problems are fixed

[–]sicount 0 points1 point ago

There really is an XKCD for everything!

[–]gotlactose -4 points-3 points ago

Works fine for my iPad without jailbreak.

[–]johnnyrd 12 points13 points ago

Yes because it's an iPad so it doesn't load the mobile site like phones.

[–]wtfomg 9 points10 points ago

Some sites do redirect the Pad to their mobile sites, which is annoying as fuck. This thing can handle normal sites perfectly.

[–]CapnWarhol 0 points1 point ago

They make the "mobile site" flash free, but then get faced with a choice between directing the iPad to the html mobile site (that probably looks like a half-assed iphone app), or to the full site which is half-broken. There's too many bad programmers who think they're "web developers" who don't look at the big picture, and never enough budget to put in the time for multiple optimal solutions.

[–]romabit 0 points1 point ago

So the solution is..Kill Flash? Isn't flash pretty much dying a slow death anyway, and mobile visits will outnumber PC visits imminently, if they don't already? I'm not a developer, just a pain in the ass superuser, so I'm really curious how far this is sinking in with Flash developers these days...

Also, if we all took the time to provide feedback on our site experiences, I'd imagine resources would quickly be assembled to fix the mobile issue. The feedback must be explicit: "Mobile is the future, desktop versions won't even exist in 5 years. So if you want your company to exist in 5 years, then it's time to get with the fucking program and put some resources on it because I and others like me won't be back until you do."

Harsh but true...

[–]CapnWarhol 1 point2 points ago

The solution for Apple is kill flash. Unfortunately for Adobe, Apple is big enough of a gorilla that they've been forced to kill off mobile flash (which runs on Androids), so now we're in this limbo between the 'old' way (plugins, etc) and the 'new' way (html5, javascript, etc), but we won't see good experiences all around until this stabilises and the desktop is on the same technological and experience level as mobiles, both apple and android.

[–]gotlactose 1 point2 points ago

Some websites have special pages just for iPad, like Gmail or Yahoo. Not sure if other pages that don't specify for iPad will default to desktop versions.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points ago

iPad Safari > iPhone Safari

[–]r0unak 1 point2 points ago

So fucking annoying!

[–]DrakenZA -3 points-2 points ago

I love these kind of posts. OMG I HATE THIS ABOUT THE WEB/WORLD, SO I BLAME MY IPHONE.

No sorry bro, this happens on ALL mobile devices.

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