Re: [uf-discuss] Mobile browser with support for microformats
On 1/16/09, Aleksander Kmetec aleksander.kme...@gmail.com wrote: Has there been discussion about a search microformat for functionality such as described above before? If so, is someone able (and willing) to point me in that direction so I can read up? No discussion that I would know of. But it certainly looks like we're moving towards one. I'll try to put together a basic proposal for the search microformat over the weekend; but I certainly won't mind if you beat me to it. :) There was some discussion several years ago about mapping OpenSearch to microformats. Then the browser's internal search box could act like a search box for the site http://microformats.org/discuss/mail/microformats-discuss/2006-August/005298.html If we wish to discuss new formats, we should move that discussion over to the -new list Thanks, -brian -- brian suda http://suda.co.uk ___ microformats-discuss mailing list microformats-discuss@microformats.org http://microformats.org/mailman/listinfo/microformats-discuss
Re: [uf-discuss] Mobile browser with support for microformats
On 1/16/09, Aleksander Kmetec aleksander.kme...@gmail.com wrote: Has there been discussion about a search microformat for functionality such as described above before? If so, is someone able (and willing) to point me in that direction so I can read up? No discussion that I would know of. But it certainly looks like we're moving towards one. I'll try to put together a basic proposal for the search microformat over the weekend; but I certainly won't mind if you beat me to it. :) Aleksander, I've never participated in the development of a microformat before so I went to go read up on the process on the wiki[0]. It directs me to email the -new list, as Brian did as well, so that's what I've done. (See below.) Would love to hear your thoughts, as well as others. I'll also throw out that I'm interested in seeing this through if it gains traction. On Jan 16, 2009, at 7:06 PM, Brian Suda wrote: There was some discussion several years ago about mapping OpenSearch to microformats. Then the browser's internal search box could act like a search box for the site http://microformats.org/discuss/mail/microformats-discuss/2006-August/005298.html Thanks for this pointer! The OpenSearch and microformats effort seems like it had a much larger scope than what Aleksander has done with Mosembro, though…I'm thinking simple problems first. If we wish to discuss new formats, we should move that discussion over to the -new list Thanks, -brian No worries. I've done exactly that, so we can continue this discussion, if anyone is interested in doing so with me, over here: http://microformats.org/discuss/mail/microformats-new/2009-January/002007.html Cheers, -Meitar Moscovitz Personal: http://maymay.net Professional: http://MeitarMoscovitz.com ___ microformats-discuss mailing list microformats-discuss@microformats.org http://microformats.org/mailman/listinfo/microformats-discuss
Re: [uf-discuss] Mobile browser with support for microformats
Hey, sorry about the delay... it took me a couple of days to realize you also posted here, not just on my blog. Mr. Meitar Moscovitz wrote: I'm curious, do you describe or document the microformat that Mosembro uses to provide its consistent site-wide search functionality anywhere? There's no official description of this microformat anywhere - it doesn't exist outside of the demo. The code which detects it looks for 3 things: - a form element with site-search in its class attribute - an input element which is located inside that form and has site-search-query in its class attribute - any element which is located inside that form and has site-search-description in its class attribute (The first two elements are required, but the third one is optional, since it's only used to specify the search dialog's title bar text.) Mosembro's sources. I also tried to locate the address of the Mosembro Demo Page to see if I could view the source, but alas, I'm not seeing an option or that. It's hiding here: http://lexandera.com/mosembrodemo/ Moreover, the idea of extracting a consistent search interface (perhaps with a standardized microformat) is appealing to me since many sites provide their own search forms but their locations and visual appearance varies wildly from site to site Yeah, finding the search form can be a real problem, even though it's always located in the top right corner. Except when it's in the left sidebar. Or in the center, just below the header graphic. Or at the bottom of the right sidebar. Or hidden behind a link... And when you finally find it, it throws a search term is not a valid email address error back at you, because you what you just typed into is actually a mailing list subscription form, not a search form. redesigns). On a mobile interface, it is often a nuisance to try and find the search functionality for each site. Therefore, a consistent UI presented by the user agent itself is preferable, as long as it can plug the entered text from the UI to the web site's own search field (which I am assuming is the point of what you describe possible in Mosembro, yes?). Yes, that's the point: presenting the user with a consistent search UI, which can always be found at the same place. :) Except the current implementation skips the plug the entered text from the UI to the web site's own search field part and submits the query directly to the site's search engine (location of which is specified by the search form's action parameter), bypassing the original search form. Has there been discussion about a search microformat for functionality such as described above before? If so, is someone able (and willing) to point me in that direction so I can read up? No discussion that I would know of. But it certainly looks like we're moving towards one. I'll try to put together a basic proposal for the search microformat over the weekend; but I certainly won't mind if you beat me to it. :) Regards, Aleksander ___ microformats-discuss mailing list microformats-discuss@microformats.org http://microformats.org/mailman/listinfo/microformats-discuss
Re: [uf-discuss] Mobile browser with support for microformats
Zachary Carter wrote: I just tried Mosembro out on my G1 and, while the browser is a bit quirky, the concept is executed really well. Thanks. It's nice to know it works on an actual device. :) The user installable script idea reminds me of what Mozilla is doing with Ubiquity and their mouse only interface[1]. Nice demo video. I really like those semi-transparent floating bubbles; although they probably wouldn't work well with a touch interface, since there's no mouseover event when you don't even have a mouse pointer. Regards, Aleksander ___ microformats-discuss mailing list microformats-discuss@microformats.org http://microformats.org/mailman/listinfo/microformats-discuss
Re: [uf-discuss] Mobile browser with support for microformats
I just tried Mosembro out on my G1 and, while the browser is a bit quirky, the concept is executed really well. The user installable script idea reminds me of what Mozilla is doing with Ubiquity and their mouse only interface[1]. [1]: http://www.azarask.in/blog/post/can-ubiquity-be-used-only-with-the-mouse/ Best, Zach Carter http://zach.carter.name On Tue, Jan 13, 2009 at 3:48 AM, Mr. Meitar Moscovitz meit...@gmail.com wrote: On Jan 7, 2009, at 5:01 PM, Aleksander Kmetec wrote: Hey, everyone! I was hoping you could give me some feedback on my proof-of-concept mobile bowser which is called Mosembro. Hi Aleksander, Hearing about Mosembro is *the* reason I downloaded the Android SDK. ;) So at least in concept, my feedback is purely positive. I like this idea a lot. It's one I might call brilliantly obvious in retrospect. (A compliment.) It is meant to demonstrate how taking advantage of embedded semantic metadata (in this case microformats) can help us build a more user-friendly browser for mobile devices. Since mobile devices are much more awkward to use than full size computers, even simple things like automating a task which would otherwise require you to copy some text from one app to another, can make a huge difference. You can have a look at it here: http://lexandera.com/mosembro/ Regards, Aleksander I'm curious, do you describe or document the microformat that Mosembro uses to provide its consistent site-wide search functionality anywhere? I'm having a look around and playing with Mosembro in Android's emulator now, but I can't seem to find mention of this idea anywhere on the Microformats wiki or the mailing list archives, and my Java knowledge is way too poor to efficiently go code diving into Mosembro's sources. I also tried to locate the address of the Mosembro Demo Page to see if I could view the source, but alas, I'm not seeing an option or that. (Note that it's very possible I'm simply overlooking something, as is this is the first time I've ever seen Google's Android interface.) Moreover, the idea of extracting a consistent search interface (perhaps with a standardized microformat) is appealing to me since many sites provide their own search forms but their locations and visual appearance varies wildly from site to site (and even between a single site's redesigns). On a mobile interface, it is often a nuisance to try and find the search functionality for each site. Therefore, a consistent UI presented by the user agent itself is preferable, as long as it can plug the entered text from the UI to the web site's own search field (which I am assuming is the point of what you describe possible in Mosembro, yes?). Has there been discussion about a search microformat for functionality such as described above before? If so, is someone able (and willing) to point me in that direction so I can read up? Thanks very much! Cheers, -Meitar Moscovitz Personal: http://maymay.net Professional: http://MeitarMoscovitz.com ___ microformats-discuss mailing list microformats-discuss@microformats.org http://microformats.org/mailman/listinfo/microformats-discuss ___ microformats-discuss mailing list microformats-discuss@microformats.org http://microformats.org/mailman/listinfo/microformats-discuss
Re: [uf-discuss] Mobile browser with support for microformats
On Jan 7, 2009, at 5:01 PM, Aleksander Kmetec wrote: Hey, everyone! I was hoping you could give me some feedback on my proof-of-concept mobile bowser which is called Mosembro. Hi Aleksander, Hearing about Mosembro is *the* reason I downloaded the Android SDK. ;) So at least in concept, my feedback is purely positive. I like this idea a lot. It's one I might call brilliantly obvious in retrospect. (A compliment.) It is meant to demonstrate how taking advantage of embedded semantic metadata (in this case microformats) can help us build a more user- friendly browser for mobile devices. Since mobile devices are much more awkward to use than full size computers, even simple things like automating a task which would otherwise require you to copy some text from one app to another, can make a huge difference. You can have a look at it here: http://lexandera.com/mosembro/ Regards, Aleksander I'm curious, do you describe or document the microformat that Mosembro uses to provide its consistent site-wide search functionality anywhere? I'm having a look around and playing with Mosembro in Android's emulator now, but I can't seem to find mention of this idea anywhere on the Microformats wiki or the mailing list archives, and my Java knowledge is way too poor to efficiently go code diving into Mosembro's sources. I also tried to locate the address of the Mosembro Demo Page to see if I could view the source, but alas, I'm not seeing an option or that. (Note that it's very possible I'm simply overlooking something, as is this is the first time I've ever seen Google's Android interface.) Moreover, the idea of extracting a consistent search interface (perhaps with a standardized microformat) is appealing to me since many sites provide their own search forms but their locations and visual appearance varies wildly from site to site (and even between a single site's redesigns). On a mobile interface, it is often a nuisance to try and find the search functionality for each site. Therefore, a consistent UI presented by the user agent itself is preferable, as long as it can plug the entered text from the UI to the web site's own search field (which I am assuming is the point of what you describe possible in Mosembro, yes?). Has there been discussion about a search microformat for functionality such as described above before? If so, is someone able (and willing) to point me in that direction so I can read up? Thanks very much! Cheers, -Meitar Moscovitz Personal: http://maymay.net Professional: http://MeitarMoscovitz.com ___ microformats-discuss mailing list microformats-discuss@microformats.org http://microformats.org/mailman/listinfo/microformats-discuss
Re: [uf-discuss] Mobile browser with support for microformats
Aleksander wrote: I was hoping you could give me some feedback on my proof-of-concept mobile bowser which is called Mosembro I saw this earlier and my feedback is: Excellent! It's the kind of thing that I really wish were built in to the iPhone/iPod Touch. If I had a criticism, it would just be that I'm not sure if displaying the microformats logo is appropriate. I think that microformats are one of those things that should be invisible: end users should never need to know what's making the magic happen. Showing an icon of the maps app would probably convey more meaning. So basically any criticisms I've got are with the UI, not the implementation ...which looks great. Nicely done. Bye, Jeremy -- Jeremy Keith a d a c t i o http://adactio.com/ ___ microformats-discuss mailing list microformats-discuss@microformats.org http://microformats.org/mailman/listinfo/microformats-discuss
Re: [uf-discuss] Mobile browser with support for microformats
On Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 1:01 AM, Aleksander Kmetec aleksander.kme...@gmail.com wrote: Hey, everyone! I was hoping you could give me some feedback on my proof-of-concept mobile bowser which is called Mosembro. It is meant to demonstrate how taking advantage of embedded semantic metadata (in this case microformats) can help us build a more user-friendly browser for mobile devices. Since mobile devices are much more awkward to use than full size computers, even simple things like automating a task which would otherwise require you to copy some text from one app to another, can make a huge difference. You can have a look at it here: http://lexandera.com/mosembro/ Regards, Aleksander Nice, +1. -- David Janes Mercenary Programmer http://code.davidjanes.com ___ microformats-discuss mailing list microformats-discuss@microformats.org http://microformats.org/mailman/listinfo/microformats-discuss
Re: [uf-discuss] Mobile browser with support for microformats
Thanks, guys. It's great coming home from work and finding such positive reviews. André Luís wrote: On top of the previous comment, I'd add that inserting links *into* the page is a bit... bully-ish. Wouldn't it be better to follow the Operator or Oomph approach? A bar/icon representing that there is These links can actually be turned off and all possible actions are always available under a special menu. I know; I should create a newer video which shows off all the features (the current one is from 10 months ago), but for now, here's a screenshot: http://lexandera.com/files/mosembro/menu-and-options.png Also, I'm wondering... is this the regular android browser with this functionality added on top? Do you have any plan on how to keep this browser updated with the future developments on their end? It's built around the same web component that Android's browser uses, but the UI code is different; although it would certainly be possible to extend the standard browser since it's all open source. But for now the plan is to keep the code a minimal as possible so it's simple to change. Hopefully, the idea of supporting microformats in mobile browsers will become popular enough so that someone else does all the hard work of adding it to the existing products. ;) Regards, Aleksander ___ microformats-discuss mailing list microformats-discuss@microformats.org http://microformats.org/mailman/listinfo/microformats-discuss
