The Wikimedia Foundation unveiled a new look for Wikipedia and its other properties for tablets. There are similarities to the mobile web version you’ve already been seeing on your smartphone, but there are also some differences.
For one, they’ve increased the font size and narrowed the width of the content area, and the design is responsive, so it’s optimized to cater to different screen sizes.
“Get to the section you need quicker, but don’t be afraid to lose yourself in the content once you’re there,” says Wikimedia’s Maryana Pinchuk. “We’ve taken advantage of the larger screen space that tablets provide and kept article sections open to encourage long-form reading.”
The design also better highlights articles that have been edited recently, and those that need more info.
“Wikipedia is never finished. Getting more readers to see that our content is constantly growing and evolving is a big priority for us.,” says Pinchuk.
There are also simplified formatting options and mobile-friendly linking to page or references. This stuff will roll out on Thursday.
The upload, watchlist, page history, and notifications features have also been optimized for tablets.
If you would rather use the classic desktop version, you’ll still have the option to switch to it.
Earlier this week, the foundation announced that it has made some changes to its terms of service to better disclose when articles have received paid edits.
Images via Wikimedia Foundation