iPhone Basics: Web Clips

iPhonewzealand Home screen icon

In this edition of iPhone basics we are going to take a look at Web Clips. I know what you’re thinking, “I thought everyone knew about this little feature”, but after I was asked by someone “what’s that App” whilst pointing at the Home screen icon for iPhonewzealand and their reaction after telling them what it was, I realise maybe not everyone knows.

So what are web clips?……well, they are *similar* to bookmarks, but web clips aren’t actually bookmarks in mobile Safari, and aren’t synced by MobileMe or iTunes. They are more like shortcuts, and you add web clips to the Home screen for fast access to your favorite webpages. Web clips appear as icons on the Home screen, and you can arrange your web clips along with the other icons.

Add a web clip:

Open the webpage and tap . Then tap “Add to Home Screen.”

"Add to Home Screen"

When you open a web clip, Safari automatically zooms and scrolls to the area of the webpage that was displayed when you saved the web clip. The displayed area is also used to create the icon for the web clip on your Home screen, unless the webpage comes with its own custom icon.

When you add a web clip, you can edit its name. If the name is too long (more than about 10 characters), it may appear abbreviated on the Home screen.

Too long? Try something shorter

Delete a web clip:

• Touch and hold any icon on the Home screen until the icons start to wiggle.
• Tap  in the corner of the web clip you want to delete.
• Tap Delete, then press the Home  button to save your arrangement.

Do you really want to do that?

Well I hope this enlightens those that didn’t know about it, for those that did know, tell us in the comments what web clips you use most regularly? (my top 3 are iPhonewzealand, Geekzone & Tuaw)