MobileESP API
The following methods are consistent across the currently supported platforms: PHP, Java ASP.NET, and Python.
New! Demo the PHP API using your device.
GLOBAL INFO
- GetUserAgent(): Returns the useragent string. For PHP, Java, Python, and JavaScript, this value is lowercase. For ASP.NET, the value is uppercase. The spelling of the method varies by platform.
- In PHP, it’s called Get_Uagent().
- GetHttpAccept(): Gets the full HTTP accept value. Browsers use this value to provide details about what kinds of content it can accept, such as images (e.g., PNG, GIF, JPG), text, and Java. This value is useful to detect for WAP and WML support in older devices.
- In PHP, it’s called Get_HttpAccept().
DETECTION METHOD RETURN VALUES
All DetectXXX() methods return a boolean or equivalent.
- PHP: Returns the integers 1 for TRUE or 0 for FALSE. These values can be configured as they are variables set at the beginning of the variable list.
- Java: Returns the booleans TRUE or FALSE.
- JavaScript: Returns the booleans TRUE or FALSE.
- ASP.NET: Returns the booleans TRUE or FALSE.
- Python: Returns the booleans TRUE or FALSE.
DETECTION METHODS: Platforms and OSes
- DetectIphone()
- DetectIpod()
- DetectIpad()
- DetectIphoneOrIpod(): When creating an iPhone-optimized site, use this method. Don’t ignore the iPod Touches!
- DetectIos(): A convenience method for catching any iOS device.
- DetectAndroid(): Detects any Android device: phones, multi-media players, tablets, and Google TV.
- DetectAndroidPhone(): Includes phones and multi-media players; excludes tablets
- DetectAndroidTablet()
- DetectGoogleTV()
- DetectAndroidWebKit()
- DetectWebkit(): Note that some desktop browsers also use WebKit rendering engine, including desktop Safari.
- DetectS60OssBrowser(): This is the new WebKit-based browser rather than the older proprietary browser Nokia used.
- DetectSymbianOS(): Includes non-Nokia devices.
- DetectWindowsPhone7()
- DetectWindowsMobile()
- DetectBlackBerry(): For all BlackBerry devices.
- DetectBlackBerryTablet(): For the PlayBook
- DetectBlackBerryWebKit(): For new BlackBerry OS 6 devices running the new WebKit browser.
- DetectBlackBerryTouch(): For touchscreen devices, including Storm, Storm 2, Torch, and Bold Touch (99xx).
- DetectBlackBerryHigh(): Newer devices with moderate CSS support but poor JavaScript support. Examples: Storm, Bold, Tour, Curve2.
- DetectBlackBerryLow(): Older BlackBerry devices with poor CSS and JavaScript support.
- DetectPalmOS()
- DetectPalmWebOS()
- DetectWebOSTablet()
- DetectGarminNuvifone()
- DetectBrewDevice()
- DetectDangerHiptop()
- DetectOperaMobile()
- DetectOperaAndroidPhone()
- DetectOperaAndroidTablet()
- DetectWapWml()
- DetectKindle()
- DetectAmazonSilk(): Detects the Android-based Amazon Kindle Fire when the Silk acceleration mode is on.
- DetectSonyPlaystation()
- DetectNintendo()
- DetectXbox()
- DetectMidpCapable()
- DetectMaemoTablet()
- DetectArchos(): Primarily intended for the older non-Android-based video and music players.
- DetectSonyMylo()
DETECTION METHODS: Classes of Devices
These methods detect broad classes of mobile devices, excluding the Apple iPad. However, for developing mobile-optimized web design, we recommend using the Device Tier methods.
- DetectSmartphone(): Detects any kind of smartphone device. This method doesn’t take into account browser capabilities.
- DetectMobileQuick(): Detects most recent mobile phones.
- DetectMobileLong(): Detects most mobile phones, including some older phones, and game consoles.
- DetectGameConsole(): Rolls all of the gaming consoles up into a single method.
DETECTION METHODS: Device Tiers
These methods group mobile phones into three broad tiers based on the capabilities of their browsers.
- DetectTierTablet(): These have larger screens (8 inches or larger) and their browsers are HTML 5-capable. These browsers handle CSS and JavaScript very well, which means that modest AJAX sites with native (iPad or other) style components typically work great. Includes: Apple iPad, Android tablets (e.g., Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1″), BlackBerry PlayBook, WebOS HP TouchPad, etc.
- This list will be updated as new tablets are launched!
- Note that sometimes 7″ tablets report themselves as tablets while other times they report themselves as phones; it depends on the OEM.
- DetectTierIphone(): These are modern touchscreen phones with WebKit browsers. These browsers handle CSS and JavaScript very well, which means that modest AJAX sites with native (iPhone or other) style components typically work great. When testing for this tier, include at least 3 platforms to be sure the app works great and isn’t an “iPhone-only” site. Includes:
- iPhone and iPod Touch
- Android phones & multi-media (MP3) players
- Windows Phone 7
- BlackBerry OS 6 WebKit Browser
- WebOS -Garmin Nuvifone
- DetectTierRichCss(): These devices can handle CSS reasonable well, so that iPhone- or Android-style UIs generally look fine. Unfortunately, JavaScript support is poor. For these reasons, in most cases, it’s probably best to serve these devices the generic mobile site rather than the iPhone Tier site. Includes:
- Symbian S60 Open Source Browser (WebKit-based)
- ‘High’ BlackBerry devices
- Windows Mobile
- Other WebKit-based browsers
- DetectTierOtherPhones(): Detects for all other mobile devices, excluding the iPhone or Rich CSS tier devices. For these devices, it’s best to serve only the most basic CSS style, limited to little more than text color, alignment, and bold/italics.
To best use the device tier system, you might optimize your device detection logic like this:
- If DetectTierIphone(), send to the nice iPhone/Android/etc. optimized version of the site.
- Else, if DetectMobileQuick(), send to the general mobile site with minimal CSS and no JavaScript.