John Dee App for Ipad??

[clark_w]

Hey John,
I love your site and look at it as often as I can even in the off season, becuase I love Snowmobiling and Love the UP.

I apolgize if one already exists, but do you (or would you) have any plans on creating an APP for the Ipad? I sure find my self using the Ipad more and more and the settings dont quite make the Ipad the most user friendly for the John Dee site?

Craig

 

[Admin]

I have explored developing apps for the site in the past, even had some good folks volunteer to write them for me for free, but one of the main stumbling blocks has been to incorporate the ad structure into the app. I really cannot create a situation where I lose traffic to the traditional site to a different version of the site that does not generate ad revenue.

-John

 

[dcsnomo]

I have explored developing apps for the site in the past, even had some good folks volunteer to write them for me for free, but one of the main stumbling blocks has been to incorporate the ad structure into the app. I really cannot create a situation where I lose traffic to the traditional site to a different version of the site that does not generate ad revenue.

-John

Isn't that called the "Facebook Problem?"

 

[polarisrider1]

Isn't that called the "Facebook Problem?"

Hey, leave me out of this.

 

[frnash]

I have explored developing apps for the site in the past, even had some good folks volunteer to write them for me for free, but one of the main stumbling blocks has been to incorporate the ad structure into the app. I really cannot create a situation where I lose traffic to the traditional site to a different version of the site that does not generate ad revenue.

-John

When I'm using my iPad to access the forum via the Safari browser, I see all the same ads as would appear with a browser on my desktop, including Adsense. However, for posting and editing messages, this is clearly an extremely crude, user hostile interface.

It would seem that an app could be developed to provide the display in a similar manner, perhaps with a GUI front end/interface for Safari but with a whole bunch more user friendly methods. It would be best if the app were tied to vbulletin, rather than something unique to the JD forum.

Of course, though sorely tempted, I have thus far firmly resisted studying iPad/iPhone application development, so what do I know.

 

[Admin]

I think there was a slight miss-communication here. When it was asked if I had an app for the "site" I thought the reference was to the entire site, and not just the board. I realize that for some, the board is the main reason they come to the site and thus is considered "the site", but at my end, the board is just a small part of the site.

So, with that said, we did upgrade the software a month or two back to include the capability of third party apps to utilize it and make it more friendly to smart phones and tablets. That's the good news. The bad news is that I had meant to test things out with my phone using droid and Nora's I phone and I Pad, only I got busy and forgot to and now cannot even remember the process involved!

So I will get in touch with the wonderful person that helps me immensely with this board and see if he can remember all that is involved. I have a pretty busy week ahead, so it may be a week or two before I can reply with the needed info. But the bottom line is I am pretty sure there is a solution in place.

-John

 

[Admin]

Upon further review. I believe the app is called forum runner and you can get it here: http://www.forumrunner.net/

Again, I am almost positive that this is what we did the upgrade for and have not done any experimentation with it at all, so you are on your own as far as how to set it up and run it.

-John

 

[frnash]

Upon further review. I believe the app is called forum runner and you can get it here: http://www.forumrunner.net/

Again, I am almost positive that this is what we did the upgrade for and have not done any experimentation with it at all, so you are on your own as far as how to set it up and run it.

-John

Thanks, John! That, and the following quote from the forumrunner site is also looks encouraging:

"Branded versions available

If you would like a custom branded Forum Runner app specifically for your site matching your site's look and feel, using your logo, etc., we can provide this to you as well. We'll even handle submitted apps and updates to the iTunes App Store and Google Play."

P.S.: Even if the Forum Runner app only handles the interactive forum (vbulletin), that would be fine with me, as I have found the Safari browser on the iPad/iPhone is perfectly satisfactory for the non-interactive portion(s) of johndee.com.