WAP Images

• The WAP specifications allow for the use of a graphics format called WBMP. It is a 1 bit (either black or white) version of the BMP format. Consequently, all graphics must, in order to be compliant to the specifications, be converted into wbmp.

• When using WBMP, there are some guidelines to be observed. An image should not be larger than 150 x 150 pixels. Bear in mind that the WAP device screen is very limited. For instance the Nokia 7110 screen is 96 pixels (width) by 65 pixels (height), so 150 by 150 pixels would look enormous, and take up more than the entire screen. All graphics are limited to a size of 1461 bytes, because of WAP phone memory limitations. Be sure to include the <alt> option in the  tag to accommodate WAP devices that do not display images.

• The easiest way to get an image into the WBMP format is to create it as a GIF or JPG (it can be in color if you want) and then visit Teraflops.com (there are other image converters on the net)  to convert it into a monochrome (black and white) WBMP image which you can then include on your site.Images in WML are inserted using the <img> tag, just like in HTML:
  <img src="logo.wbmp" alt="Logo" />

iMODE

iMODE Definition

• The i-mode service itself uses "i-mode-compatible HTML," also known as iHTML. iHTML is based on and extends cHTML.

• cHTML, short for compact HTML, (sometimes also called iHTML), is a subset of HTML for small information devices, such as smartphones and PDA’s. cHTML is essentially a pared down version of regular HTML over the Internet.

• It is the markup language that is used for iMODE services. It does not support Cascading Style Sheets and it does not need to be well-formed, which means that it can produce inconsistent results from browser to browser.

• cHTML was created by Japan-based Access Company, Ltd for use in iMODE devices, and was accepted by W3CM in 1998.

• XHTML Mobile Profile is similar to cHTML with a few exceptions. XHTML is a W3C standard widely accepted throughout the industry while cHTML is a proprietary standard developed for iMODE. Unlike cHTML, XHTML Mobile Profile supports cascading Style Sheets. Technically, cHTML does not need to be well formed, which means it can produce inconsistent results from browser to browser, and lacks the header and DTD, which gives XHTML much of its power.

• cHTML does not support the following :

iMODE Images

iMODE browsers support images in the GIF Format. Version 3 of iMODE HTML supports the following features:

• Non-interlaced GIF
• Interlaced GIF
• Transparent GIF
• Animation GIF
• JPEG files (for 2G/2.5G and 3G)

• The file size of iMODE images is restricted by the cache size of the handset that will view the page. The default size for many is 5KB, however others have the ability to expand that amount to 8 KB, 10 KB, or even 15 KB. However, unless one is creating dynamic applications that check the user agent string for the specific cache size of the handset making a request, you should stick to 5KB as a maximum.

• The 5 KB limit is for your entire iMODE page - including the document and images together. Therefore, it is essential to reduce all iMODE images to the smallest possible size.

• Screen size determines the size of images that you can use.

Judging by the range of screen sizes and color support, you should develop iMODE graphics with the following specifications:

• Images should be created to display correctly in all screen dimensions. Generally, the maximum dimension for an image is a width of 90 pixels and a height of 100 pixels.

• The iMODE browser will scale a larger image to fit the display. However, this may result in a loss of quality because the pixels in the image must be adjusted to fit the screen.

• Images with a color greater than the screen's depth will result in a loss of quality for the viewer. You should reduce the color to the lowest acceptable for all images.

Animated GIF (iMODE compatible HTML 2.0 and later)

• Each animation GIF can consist of up to five frames.

• A maximum of four animation GIF files can be placed on the screen. The first file to download and appear on the screen will start playing first.

• An animation can be played up to 16 times, depending on the terminal.
  (When assigning a number above 16, the maximum frequency for that specific terminal will be set)

• The delay attribute makes it possible to set the interval between each frame of an animation GIF file in 1/100 second increments. Some models may be unable to reflect the interval adjustment with accuracy, however relative values will be maintained.
  The value of the delay attribute is based on a relative scale.
  (For example, a delay of 3 will be three times longer than a delay of 1.)

• Files can be composed with software for personal computers.

• Each frame of an animation GIF file must be the same size and occupy the same coordinates on the screen.

Source : http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/p_s/i/tag/anime.html#anime

Color Palette (i-mode compatible HTML 2.0 and later)

• Models with color display capabilities can show color designations assigned to GIF files, text, background and hyperlink text.
   
• Models with color display capabilities can use a 256-color palette.
   
• Actual color reproduction may differ from model to model.
   
• Colors are designated using the #RRGGBB format. (RR, GG and BB represent red, green and blue, respectively. The shade of each color is set using a hexadecimal value between 00 and FF.)
   
• The following 16 standard colors can be designated by color names, as well as by hexadecimal values.

Automatic image size reduction

• When an image has a width (including a value set using the width attribute) that is greater than the screen, the size of the image is automatically reduced to fit the screen.

• No horizontal scrolling is possible.

Source : http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/p_s/i/tag/anime.html#anime

• Macromedia has created a new profile of the Flash player called Macromedia Flash Lite designed for consumer mobile devices, including phones for the i-mode service by NTT DoCoMo. This format is designed to run optimally on devices with limited memory, processor speed, and display area.

• Starting with the 505i, the iMODE service by NTT DoCoMo supports the ability to vies Flash Lite movies. The same Flash Life finctionality is available on all 505i phones, regardless of manufacturer. The exceptions to the standard are detained from this document : http://download.macromedia.com/pub/documentation/en/flash/mx2004/fl_docomo_author_guidelines.pdf

• The iMODE phone screen size is one of the most important factors to keep in mind when developing Flash Lite movies for iMODE phones. Generally, content looks better scaling up, rather than scaling down, so it is best to create content from the smallest screen area.

• There is a prescribed limit on how a large a web page can be, whether it includes Flash Lite movies or not. For 505i phones, this limit is 20KB. This limit applies to an iMODE page's HTML, SWF content, and all graphic images combines. Web pages larger than this limit cannot be downloaded to an iMODE phone and no error message appears. This limitation also applies to Flash Lite movies played directly in the browser without embedded in an iMODE compatible HTML file.

OTHER SOURCES :

• Getting into i-Mode http://www.xml.com/pub/a/2000/09/20/wireless/imode.html

• palo wireless http://www.palowireless.com/imode/chtml.asp

• Infosyncwolrd http://www.infosync.no/news/2002/n/2002.html

• The unofficial independent imode FAQ http://www.eurotechnology.com/imode/faq-gen.html

• Advantages of XHTML for Wireless Data http://www.nokia.com/downloads/aboutnokia/press/pdf/mar011.pdf 

• iMODE http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/wireless/library/wi-imode/?open&l=803,t=grwi,p=imode

• WAP vs i-MODE http://www.netmeister.org/palm/WAP_iMODE/

• XHTML in Mobile Application Development http://www.nokia.com/downloads/aboutnokia/research/library/software_computing/SWC4.pdf

• Outline of i-mode compatible HTML http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/p_s/i/tag/imodetag.html

• I-MODE : The BIG COMPETITOR OF WAP http://www.ccwap.com/imode2.htm

• LEARN XTHML TUTORIAL http://www.topxml.com/xhtml/default.asp

• MOBILE ACCESS ACTIVITY STATEMENT http://www.w3.org/Mobile/Activity

• Introduction to WAP using WML, ASP and PHP http://www.devarticles.com/c/a/ASP/Introduction-to-WAP-using-WML%2C-ASP-and-PHP/

• Adding Client-Side Logic To WAP Using WMLScript http://www.wirelessdevnet.com/channels/wap/training/wmlscript.html

• Adding Images and i-mode Pictograms http://www.awprofessional.com/articles/article.asp?p=23743

• Outline of i-mode compatible HTML http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/p_s/i/tag/imodetag.html