Amazon.com mobile site recipient of actually useful redesign 13

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 1:54 pm EDT

If a few weeks ago you’d pointed your Pre’s browser to Amazon.com, you were greeted with a less-than-inspiring mobile site that felt like it would have been more at home on a Treo than in the advanced WebKit-based browser shipping with webOS. Thankfully, that’s changed, and the new Amazon.com mobile site runs in a manner that’s much more cohesive than what you’re used to from the full site.

The front page greets you with drop down menus for the stuff that smartphone users are bound to be looking for on Amazon: books, entertainment, and gadgets, as well as a link to take you to similar menus for eleven major categories. Every item page has been packed with much of the info you’re used to from the full site, including options to add to your shopping cart or wish list, descriptions, reviews good and bad, and full image galleries when available. Every single page also provides one-tap access to your cart, wish list, account, 1-Click settings, and Amazon’s full site should you so desire it.

All together, it’s a welcome aesthetic and functional refresh from the mobile Amazon.com of old. And is it just us, or does it seem to run faster too? Even better.

Source: Amazon.com, Thanks to foggylemon for the tip!

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13 Comments

Posted by DanLipson on Sat, 19 Jun 2010 2:11 pm EDT

is that a bookmark button?
is that built into webOS 1.4.5?

Posted by cmilette on Sat, 19 Jun 2010 2:24 pm EDT

no. that's actually just a patch. as you can tell by the top bar in the picture, his phone is all patched up

Posted by Abalistar on Sat, 19 Jun 2010 2:20 pm EDT

I find it really weird that and Amazon MP3 app comes with the phones, yet we still don't have an official Amazon app. Bah!

Posted by brendilon on Sat, 19 Jun 2010 4:42 pm EDT

Bookwark the site, drop it in your laucher, Bang, instant app.

It never ceases to amaze me how people clamor for apps from sites with good mobile portals. You don't need an App for that.

Posted by kinster02 on Sat, 19 Jun 2010 5:16 pm EDT

Wow, one cent Pre's

Posted by ewl88 on Sat, 19 Jun 2010 7:29 pm EDT

A bit off topic but $20.12 touchstones on amazon. Excellent price. Almost same price as radioshack's clearance but they're available!

Posted by unseenme on Sat, 19 Jun 2010 8:49 pm EDT

off topic: TS's are $49.99 in-store @ BestBuy but $19.99 online...and they price match their own website, & Pre's are $29.99 on new contract in-store.

on topic: didn't expect to see a post about Amazon's mobile website as a topic here...but okee dokee...

Posted by ilovemypreplus on Sat, 19 Jun 2010 11:23 pm EDT

Wow, I just learned here about being able to send bookmarked web pages to the launcher-thanks! Btw, when I signed into Amazon, it opened up to "Recommendations for You" which included a touchstone for $15.51. I sent that page to the launcher and it opens up already signed in. I may add another launcher page just for icons for bookmarked websites, which is easier than opening the browser and then finding the bookmark. And yes, I agree that websites with good mobile versions are like having an app!

Posted by ekauq on Sun, 20 Jun 2010 5:33 am EDT

I like the "add to launcher" option as well. I never liked the default icon options or even trying to pan around a bookmarked page to find one, so I used a little trick.

First, I went to the page I wanted to bookmark and copied the address.
Then I googled " icon" (i.e. "amazon icon") and looked at the image results.
Then I started the "add to launcher" option, panned and sized to the icon I liked, changed the name and pasted the address.

The result is a nice looking icon that points to the original site I wanted

Posted by phil71 on Sun, 20 Jun 2010 8:22 am EDT

I wish I would see more websites to do mobile versions like amazon's one instead of doing app for the ... iPad.

I'm really amazed at the speed and ease of use of the new amazon mobile website. Check it out!

Posted by ananimus on Sun, 20 Jun 2010 3:10 pm EDT

Warning: I actually used this just the other day to help my mother order some books. When checking out, I changed the shipping address to go directly to her (an address they had saved from some things I'd previously sent her).

The package arrived on my door a week later. They had used her as the bill-to address and me as the ship-to. I'm pretty sure that wasn't user error, but nonetheless...

Posted by cobrakon on Sun, 20 Jun 2010 10:54 pm EDT

Just used it...it rocks! This should be the standard other mobile sites are held to.

I spent about 30 mins on the site and ended up placing a Prime order and everything was flawless. It event picked up my account info from the mp3 app and I was signed in automatically on the first visit.

Very nice...