Re: xMobile - Smartphone mobile template
 

I was investigating improving site performance by using the web page test tool at http://www.webpagetest.org/ when for our xMobile homepage the tool reported that a resource was not found (error 404). The resource in question is:

On 5 occassions the resource is called, on each occassion the call takes hundreds of milli seconds resulting in file not found.

Has any one here who uses this template come across this problem before? I have just this moment raised a ticket with thexcartstore and I'm sure I'll get a good explanation off them but until then I'd like to work this problem to resolve it asap.

B.t.w. what the heck is that resource anyway?

Re: xMobile - Smartphone mobile template
 

Hi DavyMac,

I believe we have a support ticket from you in our system relating to this issue - sent during the weekend.

We will have one our engineers looks into this for you now and respond immediately.
I will also update this thread with the response asap.

Re: xMobile - Smartphone mobile template
 

Hi David,

The SVG code in the css file is a technique that can be used to load a vector directly into the css file - without having to load an image from the server.
In our case, we are simply displaying the vector graphic as a background image (there is no external image - like in normal case).

So, the browser test you are using is expecting an image to be returned, when it doesn't get it, it thinks there is a 404 error.
But in this case, the image is built within the CSS code - not downloaded from the server.

Loading the SVG graphic should not cause any delay in your site loading, your browser testing tool is giving you the impression that the problem is here - when in fact it's not.
If you wish, we can update your CSS to call an image directly that we will upload to your server.

Try using YSlow and you will see that these errors do not appear.
Let me know what you want us to do?

regards
Will

Re: xMobile - Smartphone mobile template
 

Thanks Will,

I agree that this SVG code is not impacting page load timings, but I didn't understand what I was seeing, so thanks for the explantion.

Re: xMobile - Smartphone mobile template
 

Is there anyway to only load X-Mobile on smart phones? Ours seems to load on the iPad and Nexus 7. But not on the Asus tablet which is 10". It is coming off a responsive template if that makes any difference.

Re: xMobile - Smartphone mobile template
 

Hi Freakmode,

Yes, xmobile should only appear on smartphones.
If you could send a ticket through to our support helpdesk, we will have one of our enginners investigate your setup. Send your email through to support (at) thexcartstore.com.

Thanks again.

regards
W.

Re: xMobile - Smartphone mobile template
 

Has anyone else read this article http://www.internetretailer.com/2013/06/13/google-cracks-down-mobile-laggards?cid=2013 ?

It explains how Google will penalise mobile sites that don't comply with their vision of a "good mobile" site.

How well does our xMobile template fit with Google's vision? Will we get penalised or rewarded by Google? :?

Re: xMobile - Smartphone mobile template
 

Hi Davy,

Thanks for sharing the article.
The short answer is No, Google will not penalise your xmobile template/site.
In the case or xmobile - there are no "redirects" in place and you don't have a 2nd copy of your site that you redirect customers to. You only have 1 source for your content (as apposed to a 2nd mCommerce site, as its referred to in that article).

Hope that helps.

regards
W.

Re: xMobile - Smartphone mobile template
 

Hi Will,

The article identified three things our site must have to ensure our mobile content ranks well with Google:

1. a ⌠vary header■ to tell Google that the content at the URL varies by user agent
2. main site pages (not mobile) must have an ⌠alternate■ meta tag identifying the mobile version of the page
3. a canonical tag that identifies the desktop version of the page and the desktop URL

In our case we satisfy point #3 but our main site template (xTreme gear) does not satisfy point #2 and, to be honest, I▓ve no idea about point #1.
Since our mobile page URL is the same as our main site page URL it would not be a major task to add the ⌠alternate■ tag so that we satisfy point #2 but what would be involved in satisfying point #1?

Re: xMobile - Smartphone mobile template
 

Hi Will,

Can you shed some light on the "vary header"?