Roger Johansson posted nice summary about best practices for the mobile web development.
- Link target ID: Clearly identify the target of each link.
- Pop ups: Do not cause pop-ups or other windows to appear and do not change the current window without informing the user.
- Scrolling: Limit scrolling to one direction, unless secondary scrolling cannot be avoided.
- Use of color: Ensure that information conveyed with color is also available without color.
- No frames: Do not use frames.
- Tables layout: Do not use tables for layout.
- Non-text alternatives: Provide a text equivalent for every non-text element.
- Objects or script: Do not rely on embedded objects or script.
- Valid markup: Create documents that validate to published formal grammars.
- Control labelling: Label all form controls appropriately and explicitly associate labels with form controls.
I can testify that new windows are even more annoying in a handheld browser than in a desktop browser. I use Opera in my Nokia 6680 and it does display a meny of the “windows” that have been spawned, but it’s very difficult to notice that a new window has been opened to begin with. Just don’t do it, unless you really have to.
