Web

6/1/2023 1:00 PM
Countdown to G-Day: the User-Agent reduction is complete
Device detection upgrade needed now
The User-Agent reduction has progressed to the final phase. All web device detection solutions that don’t support the User-Agent reduction and User-Agent Clients Hint must now be upgraded if they are to continue to function.

2/24/2023 10:30 AM
Google's revised plans for the User-Agent
User-Agent Client Hint (UA-CH) updates from the fourth CMA report
On 31 January, Google’s Q4 report to the UK CMA was released. The report provides much-needed updates on the User-Agent reduction and User-Agent Client Hints. We recap the key points from the report in this blog.

1/9/2023 1:30 PM
Countdown to G-Day: Phase 6 of the User-Agent reduction
This is a fundamental change that will affect device detection as you know it
Chrome 110, due for release on 1 February 2023, will be the first Chrome version that has information removed from the mobile and tablet User-Agents. In essence, you will not be able to tell the difference between different mobile or tablet device models.

12/5/2022 12:45 PM
Countdown to G-Day: <deviceCompat> and <unifiedPlatform>
Within the User-Agent reduction, Google has a new format for Chrome User Agent strings
Google is pressing ahead with the User-Agent reduction. From February 2023, Google will reduce the information within Chrome mobile and tablet User-Agent strings. Device information will only be available through User-Agent Client Hints.

7/25/2022 1:00 PM
Latency issues within User-Agent Client Hints
How to make your concerns known to Google
User-Agent Client Hints return device information in the second request rather than the first; this can cause latency issues. We discuss why Google need to address the latency and offer a work-around.

6/7/2022 4:00 PM
Google and the CMA: first report on the Privacy Sandbox proposals
Key points from the report include updates on the User-Agent reduction and User-Agent Client Hints
The UK Competition and Markets Authority has received the first quarterly report from Google regarding its Privacy Sandbox proposals.

2/11/2022 4:00 PM
User-Agent Client Hints (UA-CH): action needed
The UK CMA has accepted commitments from Google over the Privacy Sandbox proposals
Here's what you need to know regarding the decision, including what actions you need to take to prepare.

1/13/2022 5:00 PM
Windows 11 is only detectable with User-Agent Client Hints
We’re disappointed that Microsoft communicated their sudden change so poorly
In a surprise decision by Microsoft, Windows 11 does not have an associated User-Agent string and can only be detected with User-Agent Client Hints. It’s interesting that Microsoft has decided to implement an experimental feature that has yet to go through the Web standards process.

12/21/2021 4:00 PM
Unleash the power of the web server
Don’t assume that a good developer experience necessarily equates to a better user experience
If you’re building websites, you'll have heard of the client-side vs server-side debate. Do you keep everything in one place for efficiency or push it all out to the edges for power? To answer this, you need to understand the benefits of the two.

11/24/2021 4:30 PM
Understanding the User-Agent string
These strings hold more insight than you may realize
We know our onions when it comes to detecting information from a User-Agent HTTP request header. This guide will go through everything you need to know about the User-Agent, including how to identify a range of devices, browsers, and operating systems from the HTTP header.