Adjusting Screen Resolution
With more devices come varying screen resolutions, definitions and
orientations. New devices with new screen sizes are being developed every
day, and each of these devices may be able to handle variations in size,
functionality and even color. Some are in landscape, others in portrait, still
others even completely square. As we know from the rising popularity of
the iPhone, iPad and advanced smartphones, many new devices are able to
switch from portrait to landscape at the user's whim. How is one to design
for these situations?
In addition to designing for both landscape and portrait (and enabling
those orientations to possibly switch in an instant upon page load), we
must consider the hundreds of different screen sizes. Yes, it is possible to
group them into major categories, design for each of them, and make each
design as flexible as necessary. But that can be overwhelming, and who
knows what the usage figures will be in five years? Besides, many users do
not maximize their browsers, which itself leaves far too much room for
variety among screen sizes.
Source: Smashing eBookModern Web Design and Development