The Mobile Web Designer on the iPad

Modern technology has taken society places that few could have foreseen. While The Jetsons imagined flying cars and housekeeping androids, it is now possible to create an entire world within the confines of the Apple iPad’s 10-inch screen. Applications that make web design accessible to everyone, combined with access to broadband internet, eliminate the barriers that once stood between viewing and reading websites and making your own.

Blogging is the brand new media slowly tearing down print media as years go by, while the WordPress app is available to everyone with an internet connection, web designers have the luxury of taking advantage of this technology to push their portfolios from anywhere without being at their main workstation. WordPress allows you to create, edit, and comment on posts, and also change the way your blog webpage looks. With the combination of the iPad and WordPress, you can be part of a vibrant community of bloggers and earn more hits on your website simply by posting your opinion on current events, fashion, or your favorite topic. Another benefit to this is that it is possible to monetize your WordPress account, meaning that you can also earn income if your website gains enough traffic.

(Courtesy of axbom)

Another way that the iPad puts the power of the internet in your hands is through an app called iMockups, which allows you to build an entire webpage on your iPad. Using modules and other web design tools, iMockups allows you to see what your website would look like, and also allows you to make changes. For example, if you would like set up a website dedicated to your adorable puppy Spot, you can control where text would go, as well as where the pictures of your cute canine companion would be placed on your webpage.

For web designers who are more advanced at their craft, the iPad offers the opportunity to write out the script for your website wherever you are. With Gusto, you can write and edit your code to customize your website on the go. If you are working on a website and are on a tight deadline, Gusto can make the difference between handing in a late or unfinished project and making a lasting impression. Because of the ability to open multiple tabs, you will be able to multitask in unprecedented ways. One of the best features of Gusto is that it has a built-in FTP/SFTP system, enabling you to publish your website wherever you have a broadband internet connection in a safe and secure way.

Another iPad app that is useful for the web designer, whether novice or expert, is Penultimate. Though Penultimate is not specifically for web design, ideas for your website development can come to you at any moment, and the app offers the opportunity to store all of those ideas quickly. If you are interested in slowly fleshing out the vision for your website, Penultimate allows you to do so wherever you may be; if you are the type of person whose inspiration comes in spurts, then the ability to separate projects into multiple notebooks will prove invaluable for organizing your thoughts. With Penultimate at your fingertips, going “back to the drawing board” does not have to be a bad thing, particularly in the fast-moving world of web design.

No matter what path you may take with iPad web design, it is important to always be on the lookout for the next big thing in the world of web design. Technology moves at the speed of light in the present day, so it is important to keep your ears to the ground to anticipate big changes and adapt accordingly.

This is a guest article by Ruben Corbo, a writer for the website Broadband Expert where you can find broadband internet providers in your area and compare prices on different deals for your mobile broadband needs.