Is there any use of favicon.ico for mobile websites?

Question

Is there any use of favicon.ico for mobile websites? will it be shown in browser address bar and tabs in mobile websites

We use apple icons <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/apple-touch-icon.png"/> in mobile websites. what about Android, Blackberry and Windows 7 phone? Is favicon.ico useful for other mobile phones other then iOS mobiles

Solution 1

Here is my study about icons:

Considering the tag: <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="IMAGE-NAME" />

Considering the sizes:

57x57px default size

72x72px iPad size

114x114px Retina / Opera

Images:

'apple-touch-icon.png' - at iOS, in this image will applied the 'Gloss' effect. On other OS'es, nothing happens.

'apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png' - This image will not receive any effect

Here is the following tests on OS':

BlackBerry v6.0 or higher - Only works 'apple-touch-icon'

BlackBerry v5.9 or lower - Not supported

Android 2.2 or higher - Works both versions

Android 2.1 or lower - Only works 'apple-touch-icon-precomposed'

iOS 4.1 or lower - Works both versions

iOS 4.2 or higher - Works both versions and accept size attributes (and so, sizes different from 57x57px)

Nokia's (probably S60 5th FP1 and higher, not fully confirmed) - Some accept 'apple-touch-icon'

OperaMini (SpeedDial Shortcut) - Works both versions BUT must have at LEAST 114x114px (speed dial normally is 200x200px if i'm not mistaken.

Solution 2

I can see tiny favicon in the browser address bar on my Android phone. I'm not sure how useful it is :) but it is there..

UPDATE

As far as I can see favicon is not displayed if I add a bookmark on the homescreen (at least not in HTC Sense)

And bookmarks in the browser itself are just tiny page screenshots, so favicons not used there as well.

Don't think they are useful at all on an Android device.

Solution 3

I add favicon to all mobile sites for 3 reasons:

1. It doesn't hurt
2. Looks good when browsing via PC :)
3. Some browsers look for it, so why would you return 404 and possibly use more bandwidth instead of sending a tiny favicon?

Comments

[Mike]

This seems to depend on the browser. For example, favicons are not displayed in the address bar but they are displayed in the Bookmarks menu in Opera Mobile on my G2.