https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ape.apps.forumfiend
So I am the developer of a little known Tapatalk alternative forum reader called Forum Fiend. The app has come a long way since I released it last fall. The reason for my post is that I have noticed XDA is the #3 site accessed through Forum Fiend, so there might be a couple of users around here. Was wondering if people could share their issues with the app or provide feedback on how to make it better. My goal is to provide a fully functional and superior forum browsing experience vs Tapatalk.
Thanks in advance for your input!
Sent from my SM-P600 using Forum Fiend v1.2.5.
Update 20150112 - v1.3.1
Addressed bugs from Google Play error console
Added "Timeline" view and start page option
Added the ability to rename servers on the main screen
Improved server-detection methods
Removed old unused libraries
Forum owners can now collect Google Analytics data through Forum Fiend
Forum owners can now use their own Mobfox ad banners to monitize through Forum Fiend
Update 20141217 - v1.3
All new theme settings screen with real-time preview
Added quick reply on post pages
Brought post pagination stuff out of the menus/actionbar
Can now customize the forum start page
Active Users sidebar can now be turned off for tablets
Inbox/Mail layout updates
Layout updates to sliding drawer menu
Added support for https servers
Now supports Android v2.3 Gingerbread devices
Added Material theme support
Bug fixes
Update 20141128 - v1.2.14
Slight layout changes
Bug fixes
Update 20141123 - v1.2.13.1
Quick bugfix release for Lollipop devices
Update 20141122 - v1.2.13
Increased mail service timer again to further reduce server loads
Slight theme changes
Added a circle border around user avatars
Update 20141111 - v1.2.12
Theme updates for Lollipop devices
Other random slight theme updates
Update 20140930 - v1.2.11
Bug fixes
Update 20140829 - v1.2.10
Increased the mail service timer to reduce loads on servers
Added Meme Maker!
Added user online status indicator to posts
Slight layout rearrangments on posts and topics
Slight layout changes to Chat screen
Added the option to save post pictures to SD card
Update 20140803 - v1.2.9
Addressed bugs from Google Play error console
App now renders smileys
Added support for
Code:
tag
[*]Added a views indicator for topics
[*]Added 'Open in Browser' and 'Share Topic' options for phpBB systems
[*]App now handles file attachments
[/LIST]
[B]Update 20140609 - v1.2.8[/B]
[LIST]
[*]New Theme Options - Forum theme options have been greatly expanded. You can now alter the accent color, background color, text color, forum element color/visibility, forum wallpaper, and turn on/off forum icons/avatars.
[*]App can now be installed/moved to SD card
[*]Kit Kat(+) devices now tint the status and nav bars with forum theme color
[*]Added Favorites list (bookmarks) for forums.
[*]Added more functionality to forums viewed in the Web View (non-tapatalk forums)
[*]Various bug fixes
[/LIST]
[B]Update 20140507 - v1.2.7[/B]
[LIST]
[*]Non-Tapatalk forums can now be added to the app. If you enter a URL that does not work with Tapa, the app will ask if you want to use the forum in a WebView instead.
[*]Added a post preview option to the new posts screen. Also added a select all, and a clear all feature. Find them by pressing the menu button on the new post screen.
[*]Various other bug fixes and layout updates
[/LIST]
[B]Update 20140430 - v1.2.6[/B]
[LIST]
[*]You can now add a direct link on the homescreen to any of your forums. It will behave just like having a stand alone forum app, completely bypassing the forum listing screen. This required the Install Shortcut permission.
[*]Forum elements now have sort of a shaded box theme to them. I think it looks a little nicer, but if people don't like it I can revert back to the old look, or make it optional.
[*]Got rid of the cartoon looking default avatar icon.
[*]Improvements to post link, quote, and other BB code handling.
[*]Forum topics listing now has an infinite scroll (at least until there are no topics left), kind of like the news feeds in Facebook and Twitter apps
[*]The left slideout menu has been rearranged and now contains navigation links such as forum index, subscriptions, unread topics, etc
[*]Added a quick popup tip on how to log in when you enter a forum as a guest
[*]Changed the language on the forum listing screen input box to make it more apparent that a URL is the required input
[*]Forum settings have been moved out of the sliding menu and on to their own screen.
[/LIST]
I just tried it and it's a good start. It needs some work like labelling. Right now, it's just a box with the word "Add". Need a tutorial or something to guide the user into what or how to get into a forum. Right now, I had to guess and put the entire web address in the box. The key at the bottom needs a label. Even something as simple as "login" or something. I'm no IT/Tech expert but I can get around and figure stuff out. Not everyone is tech savvy so they need a little guidance.
Need a way to access favorite forums. XDA, for example, is a large forum. People don't like to scroll through every phone or tablet to find their forum.
Hopefully, this helps a little. I don't want to sound critical but these are things you need to know.
Taptalk is the gold standard right now but I like competition so good luck.
tube517 said:
I just tried it and it's a good start. It needs some work like labelling. Right now, it's just a box with the word "Add". Need a tutorial or something to guide the user into what or how to get into a forum. Right now, I had to guess and put the entire web address in the box. The key at the bottom needs a label. Even something as simple as "login" or something. I'm no IT/Tech expert but I can get around and figure stuff out. Not everyone is tech savvy so they need a little guidance.
Need a way to access favorite forums. XDA, for example, is a large forum. People don't like to scroll through every phone or tablet to find their forum.
Hopefully, this helps a little. I don't want to sound critical but these are things you need to know.
Taptalk is the gold standard right now but I like competition so good luck.
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THANK YOU this is the kind of feedback I'm looking for
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Forum Fiend v1.2.5.
I've been looking for something to replace Tapatalk, and I've looked at FF a few times. Figuring out how to get a forum loaded was confusing. The only way I figured out how to get on to XDA was happening to see it on the Play Store pictures. Logging in was a bit awkward too. When I saw the key at the top, I figured it was a link to purchase a pro version or something.
Most of all though, the look of it kept me from switching over. It feels dated. From the default cartoon avatars before logging in to a forum and icons, to the font and colors, it just feels a little off, although the action bar looks fine. I also feel like the slide out navigation is sort of wasted on the settings menu and active users, neither of which I use much. They might be better suited for faster navigation, search, showing subscribed forums/topics.
The number 1 reason, though, that I am looking for a Tapatalk replacement is the ability to bypass the forum selection page since I only use XDA. If it could detect that only one forum is present and automatically enter that one when opening the app, that would be legit.
Sorry to seem like I was going on and on. I think it has good potential, and some easy-ish fixes can make a world difference.
Jesellers88 said:
I've been looking for something to replace Tapatalk, and I've looked at FF a few times. Figuring out how to get a forum loaded was confusing. The only way I figured out how to get on to XDA was happening to see it on the Play Store pictures. Logging in was a bit awkward too. When I saw the key at the top, I figured it was a link to purchase a pro version or something.
Most of all though, the look of it kept me from switching over. It feels dated. From the default cartoon avatars before logging in to a forum and icons, to the font and colors, it just feels a little off, although the action bar looks fine. I also feel like the slide out navigation is sort of wasted on the settings menu and active users, neither of which I use much. They might be better suited for faster navigation, search, showing subscribed forums/topics.
The number 1 reason, though, that I am looking for a Tapatalk replacement is the ability to bypass the forum selection page since I only use XDA. If it could detect that only one forum is present and automatically enter that one when opening the app, that would be legit.
Sorry to seem like I was going on and on. I think it has good potential, and some easy-ish fixes can make a world difference.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, this is good feedback. I have read other comments in the market also saying the interface looks dated, but I am not entirely sure what a more modern interface looks like. Do you consider the general look and feel of Tapatalk to be a good example of modern, that I can use as a guide to work off of?
As for automatically going to a specific forum, that would certainly be easy to add. I was thinking of letting users place icons for their specific forums on their homescreen, so they could launch each forum just as they would a stand alone app. They would probably be widgets technically, but could look just like a normal app icon.
bastecklein said:
Thanks, this is good feedback. I have read other comments in the market also saying the interface looks dated, but I am not entirely sure what a more modern interface looks like. Do you consider the general look and feel of Tapatalk to be a good example of modern, that I can use as a guide to work off of?
As for automatically going to a specific forum, that would certainly be easy to add. I was thinking of letting users place icons for their specific forums on their homescreen, so they could launch each forum just as they would a stand alone app. They would probably be widgets technically, but could look just like a normal app icon.
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A holo interface would be nice keeping in time with current Google design and the majority of apps that currently being published.
Sent from my N800 using Tapatalk
Added to Wishlist and will take a look at it when i get time and hello Kansas City from Springfield,MO
bastecklein said:
...I have noticed XDA is the #3 site accessed through Forum Fiend...
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Can you pleae explain what else is tracked and how?
I appreciate the fact you asked for the voice of community. I guess it's somewhat vital for application's life, if anything else for gaining people's attention. Anyway, first thing I noticed when I installed Forum Fiend (yeah, I installed Forum Fiend now for the first time) was the fact that you need to manually enter forum server's URL. It's not a major PITA, but perhaps it would be nicer if it was done the Tapatalk way. The design is quite up-to-date IMHO, but as Jesellers88 said, default icons are cute, but kind of unprofessional, I'm afraid.
Also, BBCode support is a quite handy feature which Tapatalk does not offer (kudos!), but a full-fledged editor with preview, code and other stuff depending on what each forum allows would be even better, though Tapatalk offers nothing.
To summarize: Forum Fiend is quite a nice application, but above mentioned suggestions (mine and from others in this thread) would bring it to perfection, I suppose. This post was intended to be a constructive critique and in no manner something intended to offend your work. I'm not an application developer or anything alike so this is my two cents .
Seems really interesting. Will certainly keep an eye on this project.
nice work. one issue encountered: app crashes when using "Last Page" function on a 1 page post. probably want to handle that better.
rolling56 said:
Added to Wishlist and will take a look at it when i get time and hello Kansas City from Springfield,MO
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thanks!
Sent from my SM-P600 using Forum Fiend v1.2.6.
defim said:
Can you pleae explain what else is tracked and how?
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Click to collapse
Yes sure, I use Google Analytics to track page views, and also I track an event each time a server connection is made (server URL only, no other information is tracked).
I also send server connection information (again, URL only) to a database at my website, so that in the future I can implement a "most popular" forums section.
I see someone saw my comment.
Thank you thank you thank you. I can't stand the Tapatalk app. You have my thanks and full support!
moorkai said:
I appreciate the fact you asked for the voice of community. I guess it's somewhat vital for application's life, if anything else for gaining people's attention. Anyway, first thing I noticed when I installed Forum Fiend (yeah, I installed Forum Fiend now for the first time) was the fact that you need to manually enter forum server's URL. It's not a major PITA, but perhaps it would be nicer if it was done the Tapatalk way. The design is quite up-to-date IMHO, but as Jesellers88 said, default icons are cute, but kind of unprofessional, I'm afraid.
Also, BBCode support is a quite handy feature which Tapatalk does not offer (kudos!), but a full-fledged editor with preview, code and other stuff depending on what each forum allows would be even better, though Tapatalk offers nothing.
To summarize: Forum Fiend is quite a nice application, but above mentioned suggestions (mine and from others in this thread) would bring it to perfection, I suppose. This post was intended to be a constructive critique and in no manner something intended to offend your work. I'm not an application developer or anything alike so this is my two cents .
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the feedback. A preview mode for the BBCode editor would certainly be easy to accomplish, so I will probably be adding that in there.
The primary reason I do not have a forum listing/browsing option like Tapa, is that I do not have access to Tapa's massive forum database (at least, not that I know of). I agree that it sucks having to manually type in the server address though. To try to somewhat get around this, I have been logging which servers are being accessed from the app (server address only, no personal info), and plan on adding a "most popular servers" list, or some other way to browse. It is the best I can come up with for the time being though :-/ If anybody has suggestions on better ways to implement this though, I am open to any ideas!
AbhishekS said:
Seems really interesting. Will certainly keep an eye on this project.
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Thanks, with time and work I hope to be able to rival or surpass the quality of the official app.
natezire71 said:
I see someone saw my comment.
Thank you thank you thank you. I can't stand the Tapatalk app. You have my thanks and full support!
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Thanks. The reason I started this project, and the reason I lost faith in Tapatalk, is because I had previously bought their "pro" app. Then they downgraded it to a free app and released another paid pro version. I wanted something that works without getting nickeled and dimed!
bastecklein said:
Thanks. The reason I started this project, and the reason I lost faith in Tapatalk, is because I had previously bought their "pro" app. Then they downgraded it to a free app and released another paid pro version. I wanted something that works without getting nickeled and dimed!
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I don't mind paying if it works. Tapatalk is awful.
skokielad said:
nice work. one issue encountered: app crashes when using "Last Page" function on a 1 page post. probably want to handle that better.
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oops, agreed!
Definitely need some sort of tutorial. Like how do I go about subscribing to a thread?
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk