SixApart Debuts New iPhone-Friendly TypePad Interface

Posted by Paul Glazowski on September 11th, 2007

It seems almost a daily occurrence to have yet another Web 2.0 company debut yet another site/app for use with the widely admired and desired iPhone. Today is no different.

SixApart, the company whose mission it is to provide an easy-to-handle blogging platform for a wide range of clients, both for professional and personal purposes, has built into its TypePad system an interface designed specifically for iPhone users. The new environment is, in a word, lovely.

I have to be frank. While I knew SixApart would undoubtedly deliver its own iPhone-compatible blogging solution, I thought WordPress would be first out of the gate. Not that WordPress is significantly superior one way or another (Disclosure: Profy operates on the WordPress platform), but considering how quickly those at Automattic churn out updates and such, I’ve just naturally assumed they would be first to the punch.

Nevertheless, SixApart’s new offering for iPhone users is quite exemplary. As far as aesthetics go, it’s certainly a visual pleasure. And I think I can also safely assume interaction with its various features is just about as simple as can be.

If you have an iPhone in your possession, and have a TypePad account, all you need to do is venture to ‘http://i.typepad.com’, log in, and begin perusing. You’ll likely learn the layout quickly enough, and you can do many of the same things typically done via a full-fledged desktop browser: “create and edit posts, manage comments, configure mobile settings for posting photos directly from your iPhone, and view your published blog.”

One minor particular I can’t but help think needs addressing just a tad bit more concerns SixApart’s claims of automatic recognition of an iPhone when paying a visit to TypePad. What the company does say is that published blogs are formatted to fit the iPhone’s screen very well, but has not clearly stated whether, if one is using an iPhone, one can venture to ‘typepad.com’ (not ‘i.typepad.com’) and be directed to the iPhone-specific blog editor automatically. Like I said, it’s a minor discrepancy to be had with the company’s official statement, and one you shouldn’t look into too closely (we do that so you don’t have to), but it’s something worth sorting out if need be.

Overall, this addition to TypePad is certainly a welcome one. It’s beautiful, it’s very convenient, and most importantly, intelligently laid out. SixApart has most certainly set the bar for mobile blogging utilities with this debut. WordPress and the rest have good deal of work cut out for them.

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