Intro
There are several available solutions. Some are provided by javascript, some are free and some are paid services. Plus some are server side and some are client side but from this mail I think you need client side solutions.
Client side detection:
Modernizer -
aking advantage of cool new web technologies is great fun, until you
have to support browsers that lag behind. Modernizr makes it easy for
you to write conditional JavaScript and CSS to handle each situation,
whether a browser supports a feature or not. It’s perfect for doing
progressive enhancement easily.
Good :
Only client side, server side component don't exist
Fast but still large for a javascript framework with its 12kb. Because of its modularity it can become smaller, depending on your needs.
Bad :
Can do only so much, less info then server side detection.
Modernizr itself is a great way to find out about your user’s browser capabilities. However, you can only access its API on the browser itself, which means you can’t easily benefit from knowing about browser capabilities in your server logic.
Example :
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>Modernizr Example</title>
<script src="modernizr.min.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
<script>
if (Modernizr.canvas) {
// supported
} else {
// no native canvas support available :(
}
</script>
</body>
</html>
JavaScript based browser sniffing
It is arguable that this may be (academically) the worst possible way
to detect mobile but it does have its virtues.
Good :
Simple
Bad :
It will only tell device type, but it will not provide device version. For example it will tell you that iPad us used but not if it is version 1,2 or 3.
Example :
<script type="text/javascript">
var agent = navigator.userAgent;
var isWebkit = (agent.indexOf("AppleWebKit") > 0);
var isIPad = (agent.indexOf("iPad") > 0);
var isIOS = (agent.indexOf("iPhone") > 0 || agent.indexOf("iPod") > 0);
var isAndroid = (agent.indexOf("Android") > 0);
var isNewBlackBerry = (agent.indexOf("AppleWebKit") > 0 && agent.indexOf("BlackBerry") > 0);
var isWebOS = (agent.indexOf("webOS") > 0);
var isWindowsMobile = (agent.indexOf("IEMobile") > 0);
var isSmallScreen = (screen.width < 767 || (isAndroid && screen.width < 1000));
var isUnknownMobile = (isWebkit && isSmallScreen);
var isMobile = (isIOS || isAndroid || isNewBlackBerry || isWebOS || isWindowsMobile || isUnknownMobile);
var isTablet = (isIPad || (isMobile && !isSmallScreen));
if ( isMobile && isSmallScreen && document.cookie.indexOf( "mobileFullSiteClicked=") < 0 ) mobileRedirect();
</script>
More info
I have another article/answer about this topic. Find it HERE.
与恶龙缠斗过久,自身亦成为恶龙；凝视深渊过久,深渊将回以凝视…
