Mobile and Desktop Guide

When It Was works seamlessly on any device. Learn how to get the best experience whether you're on your phone, tablet, or desktop computer.

When It Was is built with responsive design, meaning it adapts intelligently to whatever device you're using. Whether you're exploring from your phone during a walking tour or researching on a large desktop monitor, you'll have a great experience. Here's how to make the most of each platform.

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Using When It Was on Mobile Phones

Mobile is perfect for on-the-go historical discovery. Use your phone to look up buildings as you pass them, take walking tours, or quickly satisfy curiosity about locations you encounter.

Mobile-Specific Features

Location Awareness: Enable GPS to see your current position on the map and find nearby historical locations.
Touch Gestures: Pinch to zoom, swipe to pan, tap to select locations—all natural mobile interactions.
Streamlined Interface: Simplified navigation designed for smaller screens with thumb-friendly buttons.
Vertical Scrolling: Content organized for easy one-handed scrolling.
Collapsible Sections: Tap headers to expand/collapse content sections to reduce scrolling.
Quick Share: Share interesting locations directly via text, email, or social media.
Offline Bookmarks: Save favorite locations to view later without internet connection.

Mobile Navigation Tips

Use the hamburger menu (☰) to access full navigation
Tap the search icon to quickly find addresses or businesses
Swipe left/right to browse through photo galleries
Tap map markers to see quick info; tap again for full details
Use the timeline slider at the top of the map to filter by era
Rotate your phone to landscape for wider map views

Battery Saving Tip: Using GPS and map features can drain battery quickly. For extended walking tours, bring a portable charger or reduce screen brightness and close other apps.

Best Mobile Browsers

iOS: Safari, Chrome, or Firefox all work excellently
Android: Chrome (recommended), Firefox, or Samsung Internet
All Platforms: Keep your browser updated for best performance

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Using When It Was on Tablets

Tablets offer the perfect middle ground—portable like phones but with more screen real estate for comfortable browsing and research.

Tablet Advantages

Larger Map View: More locations visible at once without zooming.
Side-by-Side Content: View maps alongside location details on landscape orientation.
Better Photo Viewing: Historical photos display larger and clearer.
Comfortable Reading: Longer articles and stories easier to read.
Precision Selection: Easier to tap specific map markers in dense areas.
Multitasking: Use split-screen to compare When It Was with other research tools.

Tablet Usage Recommendations

Use landscape orientation for map exploration
Switch to portrait for reading location details and stories
Take advantage of larger screen for photo galleries
Connect to WiFi for faster loading of high-resolution images
Use Apple Pencil or stylus for precise map navigation (if available)

iPad Tip: Add When It Was to your home screen for quick access. In Safari, tap the share button and select "Add to Home Screen" to create an app-like icon.

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Using When It Was on Desktop Computers

Desktop provides the most powerful experience with full features, multiple windows, and optimal screen real estate for serious research.

Desktop-Only Features

Full Navigation: All menus and options visible without hamburger menus.
Mouse Controls: Precise map navigation with scroll wheel zoom and drag.
Keyboard Shortcuts: Arrow keys for map panning, +/- for zoom, spacebar to pause timeline animation.
Multiple Windows: Open several locations in different tabs for comparison.
Larger Timeline: Extended timeline slider with finer control over year selection.
High-Resolution Photos: View full-size historical images in detail.
Print-Friendly Views: Format location information for printing.
Wider Search Results: See more results at once without scrolling.

Desktop Navigation Tips

Hold Shift while dragging to rotate the map view
Double-click locations for quick zoom
Right-click markers for additional options menu
Use Ctrl+F to search within location pages
Open location details in new tabs (right-click > open in new tab)
Press F11 for fullscreen map experience

Recommended Desktop Browsers

Chrome: Excellent performance and full feature support (recommended)
Firefox: Great privacy features and smooth experience
Edge: Fast and well-integrated with Windows
Safari: Optimized for Mac with excellent performance

Multi-Monitor Tip: If you have multiple monitors, keep the map open on one screen while researching or taking notes on the other. Perfect for deep historical research sessions.

Feature Comparison by Device

Feature	Mobile Phone	Tablet	Desktop
GPS Location	✓ Full support	✓ WiFi/Cellular	Limited
Map Size	Small	Medium	Large
Touch Controls	✓ Optimized	✓ Optimized	Mouse/Trackpad
Keyboard Shortcuts	N/A	Limited	✓ Full support
Multiple Tabs	✓ Yes	✓ Yes	✓ Yes
Best For	On-the-go	Casual browsing	Research
Photo Quality	Good	Better	Best
Timeline Control	Touch slider	Touch slider	Mouse + keyboard

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Syncing Across Devices

Your When It Was experience can follow you from device to device with proper account setup.

What Syncs Across Devices

Bookmarked Locations: Save favorites on desktop, access on mobile.
Contribution History: All your submissions visible regardless of device.
Account Settings: Preferences carry across all platforms.
Search History: Recent searches available on all devices (if enabled).
Comments: Post from any device, view from all devices.

How to Enable Syncing

Create a contributor account (free)
Log in using the same account on all devices
Enable "Sync Preferences" in account settings
Your data automatically syncs when logged in

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Performance Optimization by Device

Mobile Performance Tips

Close unnecessary browser tabs to free memory
Clear browser cache periodically (Settings > Clear Data)
Use WiFi instead of cellular for faster loading
Reduce timeline animation speed if experiencing lag
Disable location services when not needed to save battery

Tablet Performance Tips

Keep tablet OS and browser updated
Restart browser if pages become sluggish
Use native Safari on iOS for best performance
Close background apps while exploring large photo collections

Desktop Performance Tips

Use modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari)
Enable hardware acceleration in browser settings
Close unused browser tabs
Ensure graphics drivers are updated
Use wired internet connection for fastest speeds

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Accessibility on All Devices

When It Was is designed to be accessible on every platform with support for assistive technologies.

Accessibility Features

Screen Readers: Compatible with VoiceOver (iOS/Mac), TalkBack (Android), NVDA/JAWS (Windows)
Keyboard Navigation: Full site navigation without mouse (desktop/tablet with keyboard)
High Contrast: Readable color scheme works with system contrast settings
Text Scaling: Respects device text size preferences
Focus Indicators: Clear visual indicators for keyboard navigation
Alt Text: All images include descriptive alternative text

Accessibility Help: If you encounter barriers while using When It Was on any device, please contact us. We're committed to improving accessibility.

Choosing the Right Device for Your Needs

Use Mobile When: You're out and about, want to look up a building you're passing, or need quick access to historical info on the go.

Use Tablet When: You want comfortable browsing experience at home, are showing friends local history, or prefer touch controls with a larger screen.

Use Desktop When: You're doing serious research, want to compare multiple locations side-by-side, need to print information, or are contributing extensive content.

The best part? You don't have to choose! Use whichever device suits your current situation, and your bookmarks and account will follow you across platforms.

Ready to Explore?

Open When It Was on any device and start discovering local history.

Open the Map