Elegant Themes just released their first mobile WordPress theme named Handheld which is simply awesome on mobile browsers and smartphones. Being an avid fan of ET, even though I do not write about just all their released themes, this one has impressed me and therefore I want to add Handheld to the list of themes I share here.
Handheld is coded in CSS3 and HTML5 and works alongside your existing WP theme even if you are not using a theme from Elegant Themes. Well, now you can prevent the awkward browsing experience that your visitors get while visiting your blog from handheld devices. I am planning to install Handheld on Icytips too in the coming weekend.
I am already testing the theme on my other niche sites and there is one thing I can confidently say about Handheld: Clean coding and therefore just like any other ET themes, customization and tweaking is very easy and clean.
Handheld – A Plugin or A Theme?
Practically Handheld works both as a WP plugin and a theme. You install the theme and Handheld will verify if your visitor is browsing from a mobile device. If it is so, then the mobile Handheld theme will be shown to this visitor while your regular desktop visitors will continue to see your current WordPress theme.
As mentioned by ET, here are some of the features of Handheld:
1. Smooth Ajax Loading – Ajax loading techniques allow loading of additional posts without the need to refresh the page and therefore reduces loading time and data size which are very important factors to consider for mobile browsing.
2. HTML5/CSS3 Coded – The theme is built using modern coding techniques and even the “wtf” Internet Explorer renders well.
3. Unlimited Colorschemes – You can easily adjust the background color of the theme from within the plugin’s options page.
4. Gallery Layout – The theme can also be used as a mobile portfolio page with its gallery layout option.
5. Plugin Options Page – The famous ET EPanel.
You can check out Handheld on ET’s website here. To grab this premium theme/plugin for FREE, you will need to become a member of Elegant Themes and the membership is at only $39/year.
Actually if you are not yet a member of ET, I personally recommend that you give it a try since for $39/year you get access to more than 65 premium high quality wordpress themes and plugins and Nick from ET is adding more and more premium themes each month.
This article was contributed by Kurt Tewin
Kurt is a webmaster, blogger, and PHP developer who lives on the Paradise island of Mauritius and who has a crazy obsession for everything Wordpress and Blogging. He founded Icy Tips to share some of his tips with the community. He is also the owner of IC a famous multi-niche daily updated community blog and the C.E.O of Icy Evolution Ltd.
Kurt has written 24 awesome articles for us at Icy Tips
