I'm not sure what your definition of "delicate balance" is, but it seems to imply that there should be a bare minimum amount of content to justify even posessing the app, while as much "stuff" as possible should clutter up the screen at all times. Nearly 2 out of every 3 pixels displayed by the FT app are devoted to stuff that is not actual content!



No one is asking for features to the exclusion of content. Be smart about screen real estate, and add features unobtrusively, in ways that do not detract from the actual content people are here to consume.

Consider the example of another data-heavy application designed for users to consume large amounts of text: Email. Compare Apple's implementation of "all data, all the time" to FT's version of "shovel in the features." I would challenge the app developers to work on flipping the ratio above, so that the majority of the screen is content, and the cruft stays out of the way until it's needed.

Perhaps the real estate "problems" would not be so severe if there were not such a rabid desire to stuff never-ending features around the content. All of the high quality iPhone apps have managed to execute here and have a quality experience in portrait and landscape orientations (some of my favorites are Facebook, Evernote, IMDB, and PCalc). I would expect no less from IB and FT.

I sell enterprise software. As much as I understand why you are saying this, from my perspective this is the FT implementation of the app and I dont care about the other forums. I actually want to use expletives each time i see this response. It seems that someone is confusing generic product with specific implementation. Build generic infrastructure but make sure you are releasing to me something that takes into account how and why I use your forum. This app does a very poor job of providing value in my opinion. Build something specific for the more complex customers and then cut it down to something generic would be a better way to go.

+10000!!!! ^^^
EXACTLY!!!
BTW: What is this "mobile site" others are talking about??? Do they mean the use of a mobile web browser, or is there a different site that I've missed? TIA!
Dave

FT has a mobile site available from mobile browsers (cell phones...)

Consistently crashes on trying to load this thread:
Community Buzz - Community Lounge.

+1 for the ads. As a premium FT subscriber, if the app doesn't come ad free there should be a paid app that does.

To be fair, there was no MyFlyerTalk link from the home page of the mobile site either, but you could load it and bookmark it which was almost as good. You couldn't quote, or edit your posts on the mobile version so hopefully this is the first, albeit very wonky, step forward.

I've been looking forward to an app from FlyerTalk, and having inspected it and tried it out I am very disappointed.

The worst thing about it is the amount of ads. I've never seen an app with more ads. I've already deleted the app and will not recommend it to anyone. My price for a useful 'leisure' app is 1$. Let's pay and be done with it. As it is now it's simply ridiculous.

PS: It also needs a 'My FT'-button. But without losing tons of ads that alone won't save it.

for some reason, it keeps crashing on me..

ipod touch, latest gen

Thanks for the feedback! It will be passed along!

So, you don't believe that a back button, pagination, or the thread title is necessary information do display on a thread?

We're looking into the crashes.

You're putting words in my mouth. Some basic functionality and information is important. Not all of it must be pinned to the screen constantly taking up valuable space that could be used for actual valuable content. It boggles my mind why so much space is wasted on a row of page numbers when the overwhelming use case is simply "get me to the latest unread post." Put next/previous page links at the top or bottom of the page if you must, but make them scroll away.

Compare the current FT app to the existing mobile site as displayed in mobile Safari:



Note how nearly the whole screen is devoted to actual content. Even the post metadata like date posted and FT handle scrolls off the screen to make room for more content.

The mobile site is already largely appropriate for FT consumption on the go. I like the idea of a dedicated app for an even better reading/posting experience, but it seems like the execution so far is heading in the wrong direction. I'd rather have an excellent FT reading & posting experience than a mediocre one jammed with pointless features.

(Bolding mine)

Yes you can

I have now given up. Crashes far too often to be of any use to me and will therefore wait till the ad free version 2.0 gets released.

If you are replying to a PM, and try to add a second recipient in addition to the original sender, the message screen where you've written your message goes blank.

I've been playing with the app for a couple of days, and there are no crashes. I hate the ads and find using safari for FT just a bit slower on a wireless connection, but a lot slower on a 3G.

I would gladly pay $3-5 for a "premium" version to get rid of the ads. I would of course pay with this through the AMEX bonus points mall into itunes to get 4 times the points.

Not at all useful for the iPad (which is where I would use it the most). Not only do the ads take up way too much space, but it simply is much worse than using FT on safari.

Shame, too, as I really was looking forward to an iPad app...

Have you applied a major update in the last 24hrs?

I've just logged back in (on iPhone4 iOS 4.2.1) and i'm seeing NO Ads and plenty more space for real content.

Along the top of the page are the 'page numbers' which you just swipe to scroll and then i would say 75% of the screen is dedicated to 'Text / Post' content with 10% at the bottom for (Subscribe / Search).

Is anyone else seeing the same?