WordPress For iPhone Is Not A Killer App

Martin Brinkmann
Jul 22, 2008
Updated • Nov 13, 2013
Development
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Everyone on the Internet got really excited about the recent WordPress release for iPhone users that lets iPhone users create and edit WordPress posts using their iPhone. I'm probably the only one not falling for the hype right now, let me tell you why.

The iPhone has no ordinary keyboard. That's the reason. There, I said it. It might be a fine solution for photo bloggers or bloggers who like to write a sentence or two but imagine someone typing a thousand words with the iPhone's on screen keyboard.

On the other hand some teens, especially female ones, got really good at typing in sentences with their mobile phone which also does not come with a full keyboard. Still, my point is that most bloggers would need a real keyboard to be productive with the iPhone.

It might be nice for editing a post, adding a comment or managing the comments but it's definitely not nice to use the iPhone to type in whole articles. Feeling a bit lonely right now, anyone who actually uses the iPhone and WordPress who would like to comment on the usability and his experience? Feel welcome.

I can see it being useful as some sort of last resort option when you need to write an article and do not have access to a computer with a physical keyboard, for instance if you are live blogging from a concert or convention and your laptop battery just died or you decided not to take the device with you in first place.

Still, my initial objection stands. I can't see myself typing long blog posts using the iPhone, or any other small handheld device for that matter. Even devices that come with a full qwerty keyboard are not ideal as the keys are a tad to small for really fast typing. Again, there may be exceptions to the rule but I'm definitely not one of them.

Update: The application is now also available for Apple's iPad and other mobile platforms such as WordPress. While the app itself has been updated numerous times, my initial objection stills stands as I cannot see myself writing a larger article using an on-screen keyboard.

There are accessories now that you can buy, like Bluetooth keyboards that let you use a traditional -- smaller but hey, better then nothing - - keyboard while you are using the app or the device in general. I guess that works out fine though, but it also means that you have to carry around the keyboard with you to make that happen.

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Comments

  1. Ricardo said on January 16, 2011 at 7:39 am
    Reply

    Have a look to this iPhone App

  2. Lawrence Ip said on July 31, 2008 at 8:27 pm
    Reply

    You know what I find really strange? Is this. We humans are actually becoming physically larger, yet we want smaller devices. What’s even stranger is that most really cool mobile devices have excellent A/V Recording capabilities. Podcasting or vlogging for anyone is really easy as we all know, and if we really need to capture those thoughts, then write them down on good old fashioned paper and blog that later.

  3. Chris said on July 24, 2008 at 12:17 am
    Reply

    Yeah — it would be great for managing comments. If it managed comments. ;-)

  4. Martin said on July 23, 2008 at 9:28 am
    Reply

    The iKeyboard, I forgot ;)

  5. heathsnow said on July 23, 2008 at 7:06 am
    Reply

    Agreed. I used it last night and was really hoping that it would work in landscape mode. Nope! I switched from Blogger because it’s mobile solution is to send an email to go@blogger.com. iPhone email doesn’t work in landscape mode and only allows one picture to be sent since iPhone only allows 1 picture to be sent at a time.

    Why! Why! Give my landscape typing WordPress…..landscape! Grrr.

    Regards,

    Heath

  6. Leandro said on July 23, 2008 at 4:20 am
    Reply

    Dude, it’s a phone!
    If you want to be a blogger just open your laptop!

    It’s created for casual blogging, or moblogging.

    There’s no phones with good keyboards. Even blackberries sucks.

    But having the ability of publish something quick anywhere, is a big deal. Imagine covering an event live (liveblogging), or just writing an entry while you’re waiting to your (always delayed ;P) girl.

    I wouldn’t use this app, since I can access my blog from the iPhone’s Safari browser with a theme for iPhone.

  7. Dante said on July 23, 2008 at 12:36 am
    Reply

    Ah… but you forgot the accessories that Apple will be selling: the iKeyboard, running on iR. Hey, maybe they’ve copy righted iR and every IR device out there is in deep ga ga now :)

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