ESPN Refines HTML5 Experience With Tablet-Specific Web Portal
September 22, 2011
During professional football season, I make it a habit to check ESPN's website on my iPad a couple of times a day (once in the morning, once before bed). Earlier today, when I was looking for my regular mid-week NFL analysis, the sports network's main page was its standard, old, traditional self. A few minutes ago, though, I revisited the portal, and found it a completely different affair.
This could be old news, as there's really no indication about just when this particular redesign went live. For smartphones, though, the new mobile website (which used to be available on tablets, too, and is pretty different from what you'll get on a proper slate now) has already been out for a month or more. Still, the updated tablet version was automatically loaded onto my iPad without any setting, history, or cache intervention, so there's a decent chance it's a recent addition.
In terms of usability, the headline stories feature buttery-smooth, swipe-focused navigation, and -- coupled with fullscreen layouts -- the experience should be enough to keep most users from switching (back) to the classic presentation. The only negative? No pinch-to-zoom!
Other than that curious oversight/huge potential deal-breaker, you've now got an elegant way to follow your favorite sports, teams, and players. And even if all this isn't brand new, chances are great a great many of you haven't experienced this particular ESPN iteration.
So, here's to the awesome iPad, glorious HTML5, and the Red Sox' historic September Swoon.
Go Devil Rays!
