META: MGoBlog app
With the return of voting will there be an update to the app to allow for voting or will it be limited to the website? I have been primarily using the app since finally ditching my BB getting an android last year, but I like the voting feature and would probably come to the website more often because of it. Thoughts?
December 12th, 2013 at 9:20 AM ^
when we had voting on posts prior to the start of the football season, the app wasn't able to do modding and upvoting. While I'd love to see that feature get added, I have no idea how difficult that would be to program. I think I remember the programmer mentioning in a post here before that it would be too complicated, but I could be wrong.
December 12th, 2013 at 10:59 AM ^
Who in the world spent a valuable MGoPoint downvoting your comment? This may take a while to settle back down.
December 12th, 2013 at 10:59 AM ^
First rule: No talking about mgopoints!
December 12th, 2013 at 11:04 AM ^
back on the old voting system, someone -1'd everything I posted, regardless of content. it's probably the same guy.
December 12th, 2013 at 12:27 PM ^
i think it's your wife
:)
(trying to get you off of mgoblog...)
December 12th, 2013 at 9:21 AM ^
December 12th, 2013 at 9:23 AM ^
On a slightly related point, I've always wondered how much Brian & Co. makes off of me visiting the website versus reading it on the app. Is the difference in advertising revenue significant? If you make a lot more from website pageviews than app ads, I'll try to use the website instead of the app when possible.
(Of course, I disable adblock for mgoblog.com because viewing ads on the sidebar are the least I can do to support the site.)
December 12th, 2013 at 9:30 AM ^
...because presumably the app feeds people's MGoAddiction and leads to continued/increased website viewing (where the clicks equate to >$$$).
December 12th, 2013 at 9:36 AM ^
True for some people, not true for others. I have friends who started reading via browser and now ONLY view the site via the app; if the app didn't exist, though, they would visit the site (either using their phone's browser or on a computer). So for some, the app (which probably pays less per visit) is cannibalizing views.
My question was just for people in my situation: I sit within an arm's length of a computer most of the day and can choose to either check the site via browser or app, and am deciding which benefits the site more.
December 12th, 2013 at 9:46 AM ^
December 12th, 2013 at 10:15 AM ^
I understand that -- but I'm guessing that the amount of revenue that brings in per visit is much less than the website.
December 12th, 2013 at 10:53 AM ^
December 12th, 2013 at 11:20 AM ^
The advertising si Dave Brandon's fault!
December 12th, 2013 at 9:28 AM ^
I believe it was fellow MGoBlogger elaydin who was primarily responsible for the app in the first place, so he might be the best resource on this one. I don't think he posts very frequently, however, so the best bet might be to contact him through his website (Elaydin Tech is the name, I think - he offer support for everything he has developed there) and ask. I know several people asked about this in Brian's front page post yesterday, so there is definitely a demand.
December 12th, 2013 at 9:32 AM ^
Elaydin does the iOS app, android is by https://twitter.com/SeanPONeil
December 12th, 2013 at 9:33 AM ^
Does anyone have the info that would help me get the MGoBlog app for my Kindle Fire loaded?
December 12th, 2013 at 9:43 AM ^
I find using the desktop view on my Kindle Fire is better than the mobile app anyways. At least for my cell phone, images, especially in the comments, never show up. And posting .gifs is really half of what I do here.
December 12th, 2013 at 9:48 AM ^
but wanted to see if the mobile app on Kindle is worth it. Sounds like it isn't, so I'll just keep on doing what I've been for the time being.
December 12th, 2013 at 4:32 PM ^
My wife wants a tablet for Christmas and I was leaning toward the Kindle. You like?
December 13th, 2013 at 12:09 AM ^
If she likes to read she will love it. My gf doesn't put the damn thing down.
December 12th, 2013 at 9:52 AM ^
Programmer here.
I've never used the MGoBlog app nor have I programmed an app, but I have programmed mobile landing spots for websites and things of that nature.
Since the app is coded in a different language than the website is, the voting system would have to be coded into the app separately. It would probably be a pain in the ass to do, TBH.
If there was a mobile version of the site, however.. it wouldn't be as difficult. I assume the voting system is just an increment/decrement AJAX function.
December 12th, 2013 at 10:46 AM ^
If i recall correctly, I believe the mobile app utilizes a seperate server from the main site as well, so there's that to contend with too...
December 12th, 2013 at 10:32 AM ^
What compels the "META:" before the post title? I understand what META means, but I see it frequently and haven't really seen where in the rules it says to open a thread by declaring it to be a META. The title would stand on its own without the mighty META declaration in front of it, so I'm confused. Someone educate this old soul.
December 12th, 2013 at 10:38 AM ^
CLord:
It is my understanding that "META" is a signal that the post or thread will be about the site itself and not any other issue. So in this case META is properly used because the OP is asking about voter moderation on the ap and not about things say like your Avatar's play calling abilities.
December 12th, 2013 at 10:42 AM ^
META is used kind of as a signal to either everyone on the website or for something that the mods/Brian/people of importance(like the MGoBlog app creators) that should read this. In the past, everything regarding the mobile apps has been made meta so that it would stick out to the creators, who don't frequent mgoblog as often, and they would check it out and see if there are bugs or commentray about the app that needs to be checked out and they're usually pretty quick about sending updates out or giving advice on what to do.
December 12th, 2013 at 11:02 AM ^
Meta has a lot of different meanings. One of which is to refer to oneself. This is now a quite common usage with programming and website development/design. And that is the way I believe we use META here; to refer internally to the overall site itself.
December 12th, 2013 at 10:32 AM ^
December 12th, 2013 at 10:51 AM ^
December 12th, 2013 at 12:30 PM ^
December 12th, 2013 at 10:49 AM ^
I do have a fix for the video issue coded up, but there are some cosmetic changes I need to make for ios7 before I release it and I didn't want to goof things up in the middle of football season.
December 12th, 2013 at 3:28 PM ^
I was wondering if it was going to get an iOS 7 update. Now I can dig it out of a folder and start using it again soon. Can't wait, thanks.
(yes I understand, it could still be a long way off)
December 12th, 2013 at 4:25 PM ^
It'll get an update, but I wasn't going to do anything special for ios7 except maybe changing it to look more pastel-y and flat.
December 12th, 2013 at 11:34 AM ^
Two different guys run the two apps for iPhone and Android, respectively, and neither are MGoBlog employees so you'll have to wait for updates from them.
Because they work independently, I can't really control how or when they update the apps. They just send us a check for the ads. Since it's a very small revenue stream (I can't sell space directly so the CPM is way lower), it doesn't get much attention either.
The guy who does the iPhone app (Elaydin) is usually very on the ball with updates when we change something; the Android guy usually takes longer but is still pretty quick. When Brian makes changes to site code we're terrible at communicating that, so really they're left to adapt to whatever happens, so you have to appreciate how dynamic those guys are, as well as appreciating the apps themselves.
December 12th, 2013 at 12:31 PM ^
Hey Seth, I negged you for no reason in particular. Mostly because I can.
Also, I'll add that the Android app is great and very well done. I know the dev on that has been really responsive to suggestions and comments, so muchos kudos to him.
December 12th, 2013 at 2:25 PM ^
December 12th, 2013 at 11:28 PM ^