I notice when I go to a site like schwab.com, they have their full format page come up when I log on via a computer. However, if I log on via my blackberry, it;s dramatically stripped down.
I realise much of this is done by my blackberry - the disregarding of graphics, not paying attention to tables, etc. But is there a way to discern if someone is logging in via a handheld device as opposed to a computer, and route to a more appropriate view? Thanks, Janna
One way is work exactly as usual but be careful that your css etc. degrades gracefully.
Another involves creainge a fake format (eg :phone) and set the format to that in a before filter if the user agent matches something relevant or if the user has gone to a relevant subdomain (eg mobile.foo.co). Along side your html.erb template you'd have a phone.erb template with dumbed down content/presentation/etc. Rails will pick that template automatically when appropriate and of course you get to use respond_to (see http://www.slashdotdash.net/2007/12/04/iphone-on-rails-creating-an-iphone-optimised-version-of-your-rails-site-using-iui-and-rails-2/ for an example of this).
Fred
A minor quibble: translating a data-rich application from a full-size computer screen to be usable and useful on a tiny screen shouldn't be thought of as "dumbing down" -- it's refactoring that application's information architecture/presentation to better address the needs of the mobile user.
Sometimes more easily accomplished than others. 
FWIW!
Yes and it appears Rails may be particularly good at doing exactly the! Thank you both for your postings. -Janna
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