{"id":60,"date":"2012-10-09T19:08:21","date_gmt":"2012-10-09T19:08:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mysiteauditor.com\/blog\/\/?p=60"},"modified":"2023-11-24T16:41:44","modified_gmt":"2023-11-24T16:41:44","slug":"tablets-are-not-mobile-devices-dammit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mysiteauditor.com\/blog\/tablets-are-not-mobile-devices-dammit\/","title":{"rendered":"Tablets are NOT Mobile Devices, Dammit!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many people think tablets are a part of the mobile family and, well, they\u2019re wrong.\u00a0 I keep seeing tablets mis-categorized in articles and tweets and posts and quite frankly I just can\u2019t stand it anymore!\u00a0 My fury on this topic has grown to the same level as when people say \u201cI could care less\u201d when they actually mean \u201cI couldn\u2019t care less.\u201d\u00a0 But that\u2019s a whole other topic.\u00a0 Let\u2019s focus on why people are lead to make such a fatal flaw and how it\u2019s affecting their digital strategy.<\/p>\n

What People Fail To Consider When Categorizing Tablets<\/h2>\n

There are 3 main areas people fail to consider when referring to tablets as mobile devices:<\/p>\n

\u221a When\/where people use their tablets
\n\u221a How people use their tablets
\n\u221a How websites are rendered by tablets<\/p>\n

Each area will reveal key insights into user habits and help you better understand why you may need a separate tablet strategy.<\/p>\n

1. When\/Where People Use Their Tablets<\/h2>\n

One of the most controversial aspects of this topic is how people define the term \u201cmobile.\u201d\u00a0 If you consider mobile as \u201ccapable of moving or being moved readily\u201d (dictionary.com) then tablets are absolutely mobile.\u00a0 I can easily place my iPad in my purse and browse the Internet, take pictures, play games, the works!\u00a0 However, based on recent research, people don\u2019t generally use tablets to access information outside of the home.\u00a0 If I\u2019m walking down the street and need directions, I pull out my smart phone.\u00a0 If I see something funny on the bus, I\u2019ll take a picture and text it to a friend.\u00a0 So yes, tablets are mobile but they\u2019re not nearly as mobile as a smart phone.<\/p>\n

Jeff Beeler of Sync Creative, compiled data from \u201cThe Mobile Movement Study\u201d and \u201cGoogle Tablet Survey\u201d to better understand where people are using their tablets and smart phones<\/a>.\u00a0 Although both are used at home a majority of the time, data revealed that mobile phones are used far more often on the go and at work.\u00a0 This is quite interesting considering the inherent portable nature of the tablet.<\/p>\n

\"when<\/a><\/h2>\n

2. How\u00a0 People Use Their Tablets<\/h2>\n

There are very distinct usage habits for both the mobile phone and the tablet.\u00a0 Although there are definitely a few areas where the usage overlaps, there are far too many differences to ignore.<\/p>\n

They Share Them<\/strong><\/p>\n

On top of tablets being predominantly used at home instead of on the go, they\u2019re also considered a shared household appliance rather than a personal mobile device (Are You Wasting Mobile Dollars? Search Strategies for Smartphones vs. Tablets)<\/a>. Mobile phones are a very personal communication device that many hold near and dear to their heart. Most people won\u2019t voluntarily share their phone for others to access information.<\/p>\n

They Use Them for Activities That Require a Longer Battery Life<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"tablets<\/a><\/p>\n

People can use a tablet (iPad specifically) for up to ten hours at time without having to charge it.\u00a0 Even mobile phones with the best batteries can\u2019t last that long with continuous use.\u00a0 The tablet was developed to withstand longer periods of usage without a charge due to the activities it was intended to be used for-Internet browsing, gaming, streaming video etc.\u00a0 All of which are in line with what people use laptops for.\u00a0 Some think tablets are so much like laptops that they\u2019re natural competitors.<\/p>\n

Anders Rosenquist from Zazz actually noted that contention at a recent panel<\/a> at MobileNortheast in Seattle last year;<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking around the room, those of you with tablets don\u2019t have a laptop. It is kind of a laptop replacement\u2026. I think the place where it has really put the pressure on is in personal computing\u2026.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Recent stats show that Rosenquist might just be right, \u201cNearly a third of users, 28%, said their tablets served as their primary computer, with the vast majority, 77%, reporting decreased use of their desktop and laptop computers after acquiring a tablet” (The Top Use For Tablets: Gaming (STATS)).<\/a><\/p>\n

Users Access Different Content<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a study headed by Performics and Comscore, content accessed by mobile phone users suggest that they\u2019re \u201con the go\u201d (Are You Wasting Mobile Dollars? Search Strategies for Smartphones vs. Tablets)<\/a>. Popular information accessed by mobile phones includes:<\/p>\n

\u221a Weather
\n\u221a Sports
\n\u221a Regional\/local
\n\u221a Automotive
\n\u221a Newspapers<\/p>\n

Although content accessed by non PC devices overall is suggestive of being on the go, different devices are used to serve unique and particular needs and interests.\u00a0 In the case of tablets, popular information accessed includes:<\/p>\n

\u221a Tech
\n\u221a News
\n\u221a Resources
\n\u221a Community
\n\u221a Automotive
\n\u221a Sports<\/p>\n

Keep in mind that even though tablets are used for a majority of the same activities as mobile phones, people are more than TWICE as likely to use mobile versus a tablet when shopping, running errands, and commuting<\/strong> (Are You Wasting Mobile Dollars? Search Strategies for Smartphones vs. Tablets)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

They\u00a0 Connect to the Internet via WiFi<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tablets are also far more likely to connect through a WiFi Connection (Are You Wasting Mobile Dollars? Search Strategies for Smartphones vs. Tablets)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Share of Tablet Traffic<\/p>\n

\u221a Total Tablet= 92% WiFi
\n\u221a iPad=92% WiFi
\n\u221a Android Tablet=78%\u00a0 WiFi<\/p>\n

A prime component of a smart phone is having Internet access at all times.\u00a0 If a majority of tablet owners are connecting to the Internet via WiFi, then users are less likely to use the tablet to get information where WiFi isn\u2019t available-in the car, walking down the street, in stores, etc.<\/p>\n

3. How\u00a0 Websites Are Affected by the Tablet<\/h2>\n

Beyond usage components, tablets are unique in how they interact with websites.\u00a0 For the most part, tablet devices typically view standard websites vs. mobile optimized sites (Are You Wasting Mobile Dollars? Search Strategies for Smartphones vs. Tablets)<\/a>, but there are some other variations to note.<\/p>\n

Tablets and Websites<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tablets are not ideal for sites that use drop downs and other CSS that are more easily accessed via a mouse (similar to mobile devices) Some tablets do not support flash (similar to mobile devices) Tablets have very powerful processing capabilities (unlike mobile devices) Users can multitask via multiple tabs in the browser (unlike mobile devices) Tablets, specially the iPad, support html5 and other desktop mark-up standards (unlike mobile devices)<\/p>\n

With these development components in mind, would you rather have your site show up on a tablet optimized for mobile or with no mobile considerations?\u00a0 Either option is a complete mistake!\u00a0 Tablets can be best described as hybrids of laptops and mobile devices rather than one or the other.\u00a0 So take these nuances into consideration and create a unique tablet experience for visitors if it\u2019s necessary.<\/p>\n

But How Do I Know If a Separate Layout\/App is Necessary?<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re wondering whether you need a separate layout for a tablet, I recommend the following:<\/p>\n

1. Gather Traffic Data from Analytics<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"separate<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0 *I do not agree with Google Analytics labeling tablets as mobile devices<\/strong><\/p>\n

Take a look at your analytics and see what percentage of monthly site traffic is from tablets. There\u2019s no percentage set in stone, but if you see a relatively significant amount, investigate further.\u00a0 See if those users have an abnormally high bounce rate or exit percentage on certain pages.\u00a0 You may find out that some of your pages work well on tablet while others do not. Use these stats as a starting point. Just because 5% of your traffic comes from tablets doesn\u2019t mean that you need a new layout now or ever.<\/p>\n

2. Navigate your Site on a Tablet<\/strong><\/p>\n

Take time to test your site on a tablet.\u00a0 Navigate through and see if you encounter any issues with drops downs, flash components, entry fields etc.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t own tablet, try using ipadpeek.com to see how your site may render.\u00a0 It\u2019s not a perfect testing environment but it can give you a general idea of what it looks like.\u00a0 Keep in mind that even though a site may be visually ok on ipadpeek.com, users still may have issues navigating via the touch screen.<\/p>\n

3. Ask Your Consumers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be afraid to jump on Twitter or Facebook and ask your following if they\u2019ve experienced any issues.\u00a0 I\u2019ve had many clients address tablet issues because a customer notified them via their Facebook page.\u00a0 Your followers will understand that you\u2019re trying to improve their experience and will be happy to provide feeback.<\/p>\n

Developing Specifically for the Tablet<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve determined that it\u2019s best to develop a separate layout for the iPad you have a few different options:<\/p>\n

1. Develop an application (app) that is completely separate from your website
\n2. Create a specific CSS for a tablet
\n3. Use responsive design<\/a> to scale content based on screen resolution<\/p>\n

Each have their pros and cons but their strategies recognize that a tablet visitor\u2019s needs are different from those of mobile device and lap top users.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

Tablets have characteristics of both mobile phones and computers.\u00a0 So, don\u2019t assume that your site or even your mobile site is optimized for tablets. If you\u2019re truly concerned about the user experience on a tablet, do some investigative work and see if it\u2019s worth creating a uniquely tailored experience for tablet users.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Many people think tablets are a part of the mobile family and, well, they\u2019re wrong.\u00a0 I keep seeing tablets mis-categorized in articles and tweets and posts and quite frankly I just can\u2019t stand it anymore!\u00a0 My fury on this topic has grown to the same level as when people say \u201cI could care less\u201d when […]","protected":false},"author":77,"featured_media":181,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"series":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/mysiteauditor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/Tablets_are_Not_mobile_devices2_zps3d0baffc.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/mysiteauditor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/itunes-cover.jpg","download_link":false,"player_link":false,"audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":[],"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/mysiteauditor.com\/blog\/feed\/podcast","embedCode":"

Tablets are NOT Mobile Devices, Dammit!<\/a><\/blockquote>