Ask HN: Why does HN require tiny baby fingers to operate on a phone?

#1

Post by sgbeal » Sat, Jun 24, 2023, 4:23 PM UTC

A full 3rd or more of the time when i try to tap on the "new" link at the top of HN, i accidentally tap the "jobs" link with my average-sized fingers because my phone wraps HN such that "jobs" is directly below "new", with like 3 pixels of gap between them.

Similarly, the links across each post in the list, along with the near-microscopic "up" arrow, require teeny tiny baby fingers to tap reliably.

Certainly no tiny babies are using HN, so... please, HN, fontSize+=2 for the links! :-D

Re: Ask HN: Why does HN require tiny baby fingers to operate on a phone?

#2

Post by disadvantage » Sat, Jun 24, 2023, 4:29 PM UTC

I only browse HN on my phone, and don't login to comment / submit URLs. I've bookmarked /newest so I go there straight away and don't have to hunt it down every-time and squint to see it. I would recommend using a desktop workstation for interacting with HN for submitting, commenting, upvoting, etc

Re: Ask HN: Why does HN require tiny baby fingers to operate on a phone?

#3

Post by pavlov » Sat, Jun 24, 2023, 4:36 PM UTC

January 2007. Steve Jobs introduces the iPhone web browser. “And to zoom in on any page, you just drag with two fingers… like this.” The crowd goes wild. Nobody has ever seen multitouch gestures before.

Still works!

Re: Ask HN: Why does HN require tiny baby fingers to operate on a phone?

#4

Post by sgbeal » Sat, Jun 24, 2023, 4:37 PM UTC

pavlov wrote: post #3

January 2007. Steve Jobs introduces the iPhone web browser. “And to zoom in on any page, you just drag with two fingers… like this.” The crowd goes wild. Nobody has ever seen multitouch gestures before. Still works!

Yeah, but it's annoying! It "should" "just work." This is the 21st century, for Pete's sake!

PS: you lost me at "Steve Jobs".

Re: Ask HN: Why does HN require tiny baby fingers to operate on a phone?

#5

Post by sgbeal » Sat, Jun 24, 2023, 4:38 PM UTC

disadvantage wrote: post #2

I only browse HN on my phone, and don't login to comment / submit URLs. I've bookmarked /newest so I go there straight away and don't have to hunt it down every-time and squint to see it. I would recommend using a desktop workstation for interacting with HN for submitting, commenting, upvoting, etc

i'm currently living on a boat (since a month) and don't have that luxury. It's a phone or nothing. #TheAddictionIsReal

Re: Ask HN: Why does HN require tiny baby fingers to operate on a phone?

#6

Post by dinosaurbone » Sat, Jun 24, 2023, 4:39 PM UTC

I use a third party app to get around this. Makes the mobile experience infinitely better in my opinion.

Re: Ask HN: Why does HN require tiny baby fingers to operate on a phone?

#7

Post by valine » Sat, Jun 24, 2023, 4:40 PM UTC

I prefer it to most sites, it leaves more room for text. HN feels much more information dense than similar websites like reddit.

Re: Ask HN: Why does HN require tiny baby fingers to operate on a phone?

#8

Post by sgbeal » Sat, Jun 24, 2023, 4:42 PM UTC

dinosaurbone wrote: post #6

I use a third party app to get around this. Makes the mobile experience infinitely better in my opinion.

Link please?

Re: Ask HN: Why does HN require tiny baby fingers to operate on a phone?

#9

Post by vdgio » Sat, Jun 24, 2023, 4:42 PM UTC

dinosaurbone wrote: post #6

I use a third party app to get around this. Makes the mobile experience infinitely better in my opinion.

Any specific app you would recommend?

Re: Ask HN: Why does HN require tiny baby fingers to operate on a phone?

#10

Post by sgbeal » Sat, Jun 24, 2023, 4:42 PM UTC

valine wrote: post #7

I prefer it to most sites, it leaves more room for text. HN feels much more information dense than similar websites like reddit.

On a desktop it's fine. For fingers on a phone screen it's... well, it's less than fine.