-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
A NeoGAF iPhone Web App
- Thread starter ckohler
- Start date
- Status
Adam Blade
WWKC
Cyan said:
Oh you.
cjelly said:
Indeed he did. Thanks, ckohler.
Ha ha. Awesome. I love this app, and I use it on my iPad all the time. It's much better than the official site. The only thing that bothers me is the lack of italic option when posting. Bold is the only formatting option, and I use it much less. Using bold and then editing the "b"s into "i"s is a bit of a ball ache.Adam Blade said:
Patrick Bateman
Member
Is it possible to use buttons with a higher resolution? Either it's just me, or they do look different on the iPhone 4-screen.
Kermit The Dog
Banned
Yeah, some of the buttons are fuzzy on the 4s. I've noticed too.Patrick Bateman said:
Wow. The update destroyed the web app. So much is broken. 
I've turned it back on and disabled all of the stuff I couldn't fix in the last three hours including:
I've turned it back on and disabled all of the stuff I couldn't fix in the last three hours including:
- Posting
- Private Messages
- Subscribing
- More...
D
Deleted member 22576
Unconfirmed Member
Thanks for getting it back up so quickly.
Xal-Shoota
Member
Wow. The update destroyed the web app. So much is broken.
I've turned it back on and disabled all of the stuff I couldn't fix in the last three hours including:
When I have more time I'll try and fix these. At least now we can at least (mostly) read the forums. You don't need to post every bug you find, I know they are out there. Parsing this site's HTML is such a royal headache.
- Posting
- Private Messages
- Subscribing
- More...
Just wanted to randomly say THANKS for making and fixing up this app. You rule.
Wow. The update destroyed the web app. So much is broken.
I've turned it back on and disabled all of the stuff I couldn't fix in the last three hours including:
When I have more time I'll try and fix these. At least now we can at least (mostly) read the forums. You don't need to post every bug you find, I know they are out there. Parsing this site's HTML is such a royal headache.
- Posting
- Private Messages
- Subscribing
- More...
Thanks for all your work, much appreciated.
co-signed.
If it was an actual app that would be really sweet.
I wonder if there will ever be anyway to allow GAF to become an official App. Too bad it's been rejected, any loopholes we can think of?
I'd like a free NeoGAF app, and a NeoGAF Gold app for 99 cents that includes 'special' features etc. But PLEASE for the love of god never include ads in the mobile version, it's too constricting.
I'd like a free NeoGAF app, and a NeoGAF Gold app for 99 cents that includes 'special' features etc. But PLEASE for the love of god never include ads in the mobile version, it's too constricting.
Fine by me on all fronts.
I'll be glad to finally make this official and bypass all the workarounds. The security, screen scraping and lack of ads supporting NeoGAF has always bothered me.
Just let me know whenever you're ready to move forward.
It has to be monetized in some capacity. Unless you want GAF to die.
Great to hear, thanks. Your webapp is designed really well and significantly better than every other solution I've seen, really. I eagerly await the day I can use it while logged in ;b. I'll get back to you soon.
I think alot of gaffer would happily pay for a nice app.
D
Deleted member 22576
Unconfirmed Member
I'm not sure how practical it is setting up payment systems or getting on the itunes store, etc. But if given the choice between mobile ads or purchasing an app, I'd probably choose the latter.
Although I want it on lots of mobile devices (I switch phones a lot), I'd probably buy an iPod touch version and/or iPad version. There are plenty of forum apps out there, so there shouldn't be any issue anymore about that, right?
alternatively I'm fine with mobile ads too. I don't have a problem with neogaf ads on my computer, except that annoying floating pop-up one.
Any reason you don't even have a donate button? I'm sure there are a bunch of us that'd be happy to pay something back for the value we've had from the site.
alternatively I'm fine with mobile ads too. I don't have a problem with neogaf ads on my computer, except that annoying floating pop-up one.
Any reason you don't even have a donate button? I'm sure there are a bunch of us that'd be happy to pay something back for the value we've had from the site.
butter_stick
Banned
I would rather pay for an app than have ads in the webapp.
Ads on a mobile device are always terrible.
Ads on a mobile device are always terrible.
Lol, don't get republican on me bro. I'm fine with monetization until it directly interferes with user interface and ease of access. For a mobile device, ads are too intrusive to be comfortable imho.
I would appreciate you guys investigate and look into any other form of comprehensive/appropriate monetization/advertising before dropping in ads to a mobile version.
We'll see as we goI suppose, but if there is no way to get this app approved on the app store (and thus priced), then i'm afraid ad inclusion is the only type of monetization (that I can think up of anyway).
Yeah, basically my point to begin with. I wouldn't mind a web passed version like this (i.e. ads etc) and then having a 99cent or w/e version on the App Store, that's more 'integrated'/clean since it's an actual app. However, I don't know how viable the latter would be even if it were to be approved.
butter_stick
Banned
There's a SomethingAwful app in the App Store which I use to browse their forums. There's also an image board reader i use for 4chan, and Reddit apps. I don't see why a GAF one would be a problem.
This is perfectly valid when you're not dealing with the issue of monetization. When the only way to generate money is from ads, you're making the user experience much worse.
If there was a magical way to just pay to access the web app, that'd be fine. Obviously at a reasonable price.
Given how much I've used your web app, I'd have no problem just paying for it. It's a great solution I use daily. But I've never seen ads on a mobile device that don't bug me, so just putting them in would be a shame. I'd much rather just be able to pay somebody.
D
Deleted member 22576
Unconfirmed Member
Oh right, that makes sense.
Yeah, I agree that a webapp makes more sense in that it doesn't need to be approved on each specific platform (and with its associated costs), doesn't need platform specific updates each time (major pain in the ass for the developer), and automatically supports just about anything that has a web browser anyway.
Re: charging for an app. I won't do it. I'm fundamentally opposed to charging for NeoGAF, if you hadn't noticed. The site's totally free and even the t-shirts are sold at-cost. It's a free site supported by ads. Mobile version has to have an ad of some sort.
Re: charging for an app. I won't do it. I'm fundamentally opposed to charging for NeoGAF, if you hadn't noticed. The site's totally free and even the t-shirts are sold at-cost. It's a free site supported by ads. Mobile version has to have an ad of some sort.
It's ultimately up to EviLore but I think you guys are blowing the mobile ads issue out of the water. I've used web apps with mobile friendly ads and it's no big deal. Go check out m.digg.com. It's not as bad as you make it sound.
But you can't charge for a web app. Do you want GAF to die?
Seriously though, I don't want to sound demanding or whatever, but I honestly think a priced 'official' NeoGAF app that has features not possible in a web based version/finely integrated (for iPad too), would be a hit.
And honestly, how many people are using this web app that looks 100% like an Apple device app, on an android phone? I'd feel dirty. :lol
notworksafe
Member
Why not something like what the Whiskey Media sites use? You can only use the mobile site if you have a paid account. Otherwise, you are forced to the use the normal site.
Basically it'd be actual GAF Gold. :lol
Basically it'd be actual GAF Gold. :lol
getting native apps out there means getting way more people involved who can program and design proper UI for the appropriate platforms. it will likely also require a lot more time for troubleshooting and updates.
Im fine with a web app considering the drawbacks (UI chrome isnt as polished, no system wide notification alerts) are small to me compared to the advantages of ease of development and updating.
and a small admob type ad at the top of the screen that gets scrolled by wouldnt be too distracting for me. I understand that we cant expect Gaf to have no ads on mobile devices as they are going continue increasing the share of total views of the site. long term, it needs to be monetized.
Im fine with a web app considering the drawbacks (UI chrome isnt as polished, no system wide notification alerts) are small to me compared to the advantages of ease of development and updating.
and a small admob type ad at the top of the screen that gets scrolled by wouldnt be too distracting for me. I understand that we cant expect Gaf to have no ads on mobile devices as they are going continue increasing the share of total views of the site. long term, it needs to be monetized.
If you're president and the citizens demand to be fucked in the ass, what do you do? You fuck them in the ass.
In other words, this wouldn't be charging for GAF per-se, but just paying to eliminate mobile ads from the web based version, i.e. GAF Gold.
PS. I still commend you (as I always have) on not taking advantage of this forums user base/willingness to pay.
better man than I
I suppose it depends on how the ads will be displayed. The iPhone screen is limited already but I'm sure you and ckohler could think of something unobtrusive.
Still, what about have 2 versions of the mobile app?
1. Free version with ads in some capacity.
2. Same version but unlocked with a code (is that possible?) after donating money to the development, or however you want to categorize it.
I'd easily give $10 for an official, feature-complete and ad-free mobile app.
butter_stick
Banned
Charging for an ad-free version isn't the same as charging for the site. A lot of people would be happy to do it, while a lot of people would just live with ads.
Personally I'd rather pay more than you'd generate through showing me ads for the pleasure of not seeing ads.
Personally I'd rather pay more than you'd generate through showing me ads for the pleasure of not seeing ads.
If theres only, like, three people demanding to get fucked up the ass you dont really need to do it.
The Broken Ska Record
Member
I kinda agree with this. Personally, I'd rather not see ads anywhere, but I will pay to have them disabled.
I basically agree with this, but we should make it clear there's a difference in charging for a mobile version of something and a desktop version. I have no problem with ads on the standard GAF. Only reason why I would be uncomfortable with it in a mobile version is due to screen real-estate, not because I just don't want to see ads/they appall me etc etc. Just hinders the experience/ease a bit.
A web based version has been established as necessary due to the ease of updating it whenever, as well as being accessible on multiple mobile devices (unlike a dedicated app). What's also been clear is that this version (web based) would need to have ads (as a form of monetization). Now that's where most people are splitting, right? Having an official App Store version, without ads, priced appropriately.
Other than the strain this might put on ckholer in having two versions to maintain, I don't really see a dilemma here as it's just two versions monetized differently for different user bases;
Those who want to help GAF be sustainable and thus bear ads, or those who want GAF to be sustainable but don't want ads (on a mobile version) and can afford/are willing to pay for the app. Simple, no?
I think a lot of people would rather pay for an appropriately (hell, even non-appropritely) priced GAF app, instead of having to live with ads on a small screen. Poll time? :lol
No, the site's for-profit, I just prefer it being totally free.
I'm waiting for the Android, WP7, webOS, 3DS, etc. users to speak up against there only being only an iOS app. 
Also, if there was an actual real app (and judging by EviLore's post, that's highly unlikely) I can assure you it wouldn't be built by me. I don't know the first thing about Objective-C. I'm a web developer, not a applications developer.
Also, if there was an actual real app (and judging by EviLore's post, that's highly unlikely) I can assure you it wouldn't be built by me. I don't know the first thing about Objective-C. I'm a web developer, not a applications developer.
I'm waiting for the Android, WP7, webOS, 3DS, etc. users to speak up against there only being only an iOS app.
Also, if there was an actual real app (and judging by EviLore's post, that's highly unlikely) I can assure you it wouldn't be built by me. I don't know the first thing about Objective-C. I'm a web developer, not a applications developer.
I wouldn't want an iOS version for the reasons everyone already mentioned.
But is it possible that you can have 2 different web-versions, only differences is one has ads and the other has no ads but is unlocked somehow?
I don't know how many people would be willing to pay for GAF without ads if it weren't through iTunes. I mean, for a mobile app version anyway.
To clarify, surely many would be willing, but the ease and simplicity of just paying for an app like many due all the time, would make it less of a big deal and not really 'paying for gaf'.
Really? Shit, I could have swore remembering someone submitting a NeoGAF app to the App Store but being rejected.. maybe no avatars are messing me up, but I thought that was you. :lol
Damn well better have been rejected.
You're right. It certainly would be the easiest, but then we leave out all the other non-iOS users in the cold.
The way I am suggesting most likely would just be a mess, unfortunately.
I suppose the best way is to just go through with the ad-version (especially if it takes advantage of all the new GAF features) and just make the ads unobtrusive for viewing and posting, but maybe in the Main Menu or something.
OK NOW I REMEMBER. Thought I was going nuts for a sec there, knew it happened at one point.. was just getting Juice and ckholer mixed up.
It'd probably just be what we have now, plus ads and more security, rather than some massive reintegration or whatever.
Well, I'd like to see the percentage of use stats on this. I'm sure most of the mobile GAF (that use secondapps) user base are either on an iDevice (iPad/iPhone/iPod) than not.
How about it being free, then charging $.99 to get rid of the ads? Kind of like GAF Gold, but cheaper since it's only mobile.
- Status