Site News iOS App Now Available (Sort of)

[Ian]

The software natively has the ability to be used as an app with both Android and iOS, which I didn't really mention prior to this update since I wasn't set up with Apple to make it work. However, I spent some time earlier today setting it up with iOS, and it appears to be working.

Basically, you'll need to follow these two instructions to make it work:

Follow these directions to add the board to your home screen:
Short Video: http://cdn.patsfans.com/site/app/App_Install.mp4

And then follow these directions to enable Push Notifications so you get notified of replies, etc:
Short Video: http://cdn.patsfans.com/site/app/Notifications.mp4

I've had this on my iPhone since earlier this morning, and the notifications are coming through, and it's essentially working just like an app. You'll also see numbers on the icon like you would your other apps if you have any notifications as well. It's kind of cool.

 

[ErniesPinkStripes]

Easy enough.. Very cool, thanks Ian!

 

[PancakeBlockPaul]

Not to nitpick but all this is is a browser with a saved ‘bookmark’ as the app. Not a full blown app as I was hoping for ;P

 

[Ian]

Not to nitpick but all this is is a browser with a saved ‘bookmark’ as the app. Not a full blown app as I was hoping for ;P

lol, true. But the iOS notifications are nice, which don’t exist on mobile normally in safari and have been helpful. A little easier to keep up with stuff. I’d like to do a full-blown app at some point, but that’s probably above my mental capacity and/or the amount of free time I’d need to pull it off.

 

[PancakeBlockPaul]

lol, true. But the iOS notifications are nice, which don’t exist on mobile normally in safari and have been helpful. A little easier to keep up with stuff. I’d like to do a full-blown app at some point, but that’s probably above my mental capacity and/or the amount of free time I’d need to pull it off.

Yea I’m noticing a bit I like about it so gonna keep using it. I was always wondering if you had a full fledged app coming….i guess this sorta answers that!

 

[Ian]

Yea I’m noticing a bit I like about it so gonna keep using it. I was always wondering if you had a full fledged app coming….i guess this sorta answers that!

I like the alerts on the icon too, which is cool. I may get into doing one at some point but it’ll require creating my own board software. Which given how much I’ve learned breaking down this one, it’s not necessarily completely impossible.

 

[Ian]

Quick bump on this. I will say this has been hugely helpful since I have an iPhone and having it finally send notifications has been great. It’s also kind of nice that it’s on its own and doesn’t take up a slot in safari.

 

[n1997y]

Not to nitpick but all this is is a browser with a saved ‘bookmark’ as the app. Not a full blown app as I was hoping for ;P

What’s the key difference that would make it a “full blown app”?

lol, true. But the iOS notifications are nice, which don’t exist on mobile normally in safari and have been helpful. A little easier to keep up with stuff. I’d like to do a full-blown app at some point, but that’s probably above my mental capacity and/or the amount of free time I’d need to pull it off.

Ian, I have every confidence you’d find mental capacity no issue. Not saying free time will be available.

Quick bump on this. I will say this has been hugely helpful since I have an iPhone and having it finally send notifications has been great. It’s also kind of nice that it’s on its own and doesn’t take up a slot in safari.

I’ll have to give it a try. If I can help you with turning it into a full blown app please lmk.

 

[Ross12]

Quick bump on this. I will say this has been hugely helpful since I have an iPhone and having it finally send notifications has been great. It’s also kind of nice that it’s on its own and doesn’t take up a slot in safari.

Yeah it’s basically just a siloed safari window in its own little app wrapper.

 

[Ian]

What’s the key difference that would make it a “full blown app”?

Ian, I have every confidence you’d find mental capacity no issue. Not saying free time will be available.

I’ll have to give it a try. If I can help you with turning it into a full blown app please lmk.

It's just the whole learning two other languages thing (Swift and Android) and then going through the process of putting one together in both. I just don't know if I have the mental capacity right now to fully deconstruct the software to the degree I'd need to in terms of the forum. Possibly down the road if/when life ever allows.

I'd definitely like to learn both, but at the same time, other challenges keep coming up, even with what I'm already doing currently, especially with how the languages are all changing. Between dealing with 'this has been depreciated" or "this has reached EOL," it's a constant battle. Albeit, I do enjoy it, but delving into either of those two definitely feels a little daunting.

 

[Ian]

Quick bump on this, for anyone who isn't utilizing it. It's super helpful in terms of getting notifications and keeping up with things. And it's separate from the other browser, which is helpful.

For the notifications, click on your avatar in the top right, in the dropdown select "Preferences", and then scroll down and hit "Enable Notifications"
Short Video: http://cdn.patsfans.com/site/app/Notifications.mp4

 

[ErniesPinkStripes]

I find it very helpful/useful compared to my phone browser - A+!

 

[signbabybrady]

lol, true. But the iOS notifications are nice, which don’t exist on mobile normally in safari and have been helpful. A little easier to keep up with stuff. I’d like to do a full-blown app at some point, but that’s probably above my mental capacity and/or the amount of free time I’d need to pull it off.

You need an Ian Jr.

 

[Ian]

You need an Ian Jr.

It's funny, my son has zero interest in this place. Occasionally I do something where he's like "Oh, that's cool," but otherwise, he's not into it. Would be great if he was, would have been fun to have him do some of these things with me, but coding, writing, or website stuff in general is just not his thing.