Some of you are probably aware that most iPad and iPhone browsers are absolute garbage when it comes to displaying websites properly and most of the time, even third-party alternatives such as Opera Mini won't do the job either. However, as developers who own an Android device, getting a website to show up properly on iOS devices can be a major nightmare if we don't own an iPhone, iPad or Mac computer we might not be willing to shell $300-700 for one just to make sure that
@c4ooo , for example, can get WalrusIRC to work on iPad. Omnimaga had the same problem for 3 years (2011-14) with OmnomIRC box expanding forever in iOS Safari because no Omni staff owned an iPhone/iPad to fix the bug.
I have searched Google to see if there are Windows-compatible alternatives and found http://ipad-emulator.org/ and http://ipadpeek.com/ , but neither works (all URLs I try shows a blank page in Windows 7 Safari, Opera and Firefox) and all other options I found were from several years ago, often with broken links or they were Mac-only (and required to sign up as Apple Developer, which, I assume, also costs a lot of money that I might not be willing to spend).
So does anyone knows any free and legal solution?
I'm not sure. I wonder how Safari for windows would render them? I assume there is a Safari for windows and that's what Iphones/Ipads use.
The web rendering issues are only on iDevices it seems. I tried CodeWalrus on Windows Safari and the only problem I had is that the Search button is down by a few pixels. WalrusIRC worked fine.
Ah I see.:/ It seems there would have to be a solution for web developers to test stuff. If there isn't that's a fail on Apple's part.
I know that if you have a mac, you can use xcode, and its emu for free. SO maybe find out who has a mac around here and ask them to?
Wait, I thought that XCode and its emulator required an paid Apple Developer license or membership in order to be installed? Also is the emulator guaranted to emulate iOS browsers exactly how they are on the real thing or are they just desktop browsers set to a smaller resolution with the user agent replaced to show mobile websites by default?
This is why i don't like apple. It's either impossible or costs an industrial amount of money to develop for it, even something simple as a website. It's practically impossible for small hobby coders to make something for apple devices.
Quote from: DJ Omnimaga on August 19, 2015, 02:02:14 AM
even third-party alternatives such as Opera Mini won't do the job either.
Third party browsers aren't allowed to bring their own engine because of the stupid appstore rules. So they all use the system's web engine which sucks.
Quote from: Cumred_Snektron on August 19, 2015, 07:41:22 PM
This is why i don't like apple. It's either impossible or costs an industrial amount of money to develop for it, even something simple as a website. It's practically impossible for small hobby coders to make something for apple devices.
And the issue with that is that many people use iDevices to browse the web so us web developers who don't own such device have our hands tied by Apple. I bet Apple intentionally left in some browser compatibility issues just to convince web developers to buy their emulation tools.
Quote from: Streetwalrus on August 19, 2015, 07:43:39 PM
Quote from: DJ Omnimaga on August 19, 2015, 02:02:14 AM
even third-party alternatives such as Opera Mini won't do the job either.
Third party browsers aren't allowed to bring their own engine because of the stupid appstore rules. So they all use the system's web engine which sucks.
I see, that might explain why even third-party browsers couldn't do the job.
Quote from: DJ Omnimaga on August 19, 2015, 10:11:53 PM
Quote from: Cumred_Snektron on August 19, 2015, 07:41:22 PM
This is why i don't like apple. It's either impossible or costs an industrial amount of money to develop for it, even something simple as a website. It's practically impossible for small hobby coders to make something for apple devices.
And the issue with that is that many people use iDevices to browse the web so us web developers who don't own such device have our hands tied by Apple. I bet Apple intentionally left in some browser compatibility issues just to convince web developers to buy their emulation tools.
Quote from: Streetwalrus on August 19, 2015, 07:43:39 PM
Quote from: DJ Omnimaga on August 19, 2015, 02:02:14 AM
even third-party alternatives such as Opera Mini won't do the job either.
Third party browsers aren't allowed to bring their own engine because of the stupid appstore rules. So they all use the system's web engine which sucks.
I see, that might explain why even third-party browsers couldn't do the job.
I have an old iPod touch laying around if that helps.
Wait why did you quote my post without adding any new content or reply? O.O
I have a Mac with Xcode, my school has the iPod simulator installed on their Macs, but I'm not sure if it's free. Gotta check it out.
Quote from: DJ Omnimaga on August 19, 2015, 11:36:49 PM
Wait why did you quote my post without adding any new content or reply? O.O
I managed to get my comment into a nested quote.
That's why you didn't saw it. I fixed it.
Ah ok I see it now. Thanks :)
I think after you buy Xcode, the emulator doesn't have a web browser.
But last time I used xcode was around 5th grade
Quote from: DJ Omnimaga on August 19, 2015, 06:33:28 AM
Wait, I thought that XCode and its emulator required an paid Apple Developer license or membership in order to be installed? Also is the emulator guaranted to emulate iOS browsers exactly how they are on the real thing or are they just desktop browsers set to a smaller resolution with the user agent replaced to show mobile websites by default?
I had a version running with an IOS 6 emulator included that had a working web browser. For free, of course. I believe that you only need to pay if you want your thing on the AppStore.
Hmm I see. Nonetheless, I wish that there was an alternative that is available for Windows, such as a browser that emulates iOS engine, for web devs. Maybe Apple patented it? The issue is I don't really want to depend on someone else who owns an iDevice/Mac just to test a website, although that can always be a solution I guess.
So yeah, until
@Juju or someone else with a Mac finds some time to help making the site compatible with iOS browsers, I encourage people who use iPads and iPhones such as
@c4ooo to upgrade to at least Internet Explorer 6 for Windows, since it appears to be much more compatible. :P
Also for some reasons I posted this topic in the calc sub-forums. I moved it now.
Yeah, you need a mac to run the "emulator" (it's more of a simulator) and you can't debug on hardware unless you pay for a developer account (fu apple).
Oh wow... if it's a simulator, then I am not 100% confident it will even display the site exactly like on the real iDevices.
With Apple's greediness and restrictions, I sometimes have to wonder if small sites like CodeWalrus aren't better off doing what sites sometimes did with IE6 and simply place a big warning box at the top of the page saying the site will not run properly on iOS and that switching is recommended? I mean, I am kidding about IE6 above, but IE6 and iOS browsers are the only browsers on which WalrusIRC doesn't work. It's a serious problem if all web developers have to pay extra money just to make sure that their sites work on iOS. >.<
I was talking about applications, but obviously if you want to test on hardware you need to buy a device. I have an ipod touch but it's ancient (gen2, won't upgrade past ios 4.2 or so).
Oh ok I thought you meant a browser simulator. So basically there are no iOS browser emulator/simulator?
The iOS IDE comes with a device simulator which includes the browser. I have no idea how close it is to the real thing though.
I see now. I don't trust it. What if Juju buys it for his Mac, only to end up with an innacurate simulator like old versions of TI-Smartview and the TI-Nspire Student software that can't reproduce the error? Better wait until we get an iOS user who is commited and motivated enough to test our stuff.
I'll try to set something up myself. I mean, getting the simulator to work is really easy.
Quote from: DJ Omnimaga on September 01, 2015, 02:44:22 AM
I see now. I don't trust it. What if Juju buys it for his Mac, only to end up with an innacurate simulator like old versions of TI-Smartview and the TI-Nspire Student software that can't reproduce the error? Better wait until we get an iOS user who is commited and motivated enough to test our stuff.
IIRC the IDE is free.
I downloaded it yesterday, then fell asleep. Now gotta check if my Xcode upgrade contains an iOS Simulator as advertised.
Lol I see. Let us know if it has one. Hopefully Friday you are done moving and cleaning completely so you can finally settle back into your school and non-school projects.