Flyertalk iPhone App Feedback (all versions)
Dec 27, 2010, 9:10 pm
#76
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, Delta Skymiles Silver
Posts: 8
Ads are poorly placed and very annoying
I was elated to hear of the iphone app, but by elation quickly faded after using the app for only a few minutes.
1. the ads poor placement make the interface hard to navigate
2. the number of ads on one page are overwhelming to my limited screen real estate
3. the navigation is hampered by too small categories for my fingers and by poor navigation elements (buttons, links etc.)
I would gladly pay $5 for a ad free version with better navigation.
1. the ads poor placement make the interface hard to navigate
2. the number of ads on one page are overwhelming to my limited screen real estate
3. the navigation is hampered by too small categories for my fingers and by poor navigation elements (buttons, links etc.)
I would gladly pay $5 for a ad free version with better navigation.
Dec 28, 2010, 1:39 am
#77
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Tasmania, Australia
Programs: M&M SEN, Amex Plat, Club Carlson, Marriott, HHonors & Accor Gold, Velocity Silver, Qantas Bronze
Posts: 3,767
Crashes now seem to be fixed. Missing option to mark thread as read...
Dec 28, 2010, 12:26 pm
#79
Moderator: New York City and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: AA PLT, Natl EC
Posts: 10,855
IB-Dick, I just downloaded it and didn't think it quite as bad as some here (although I did like learning about the WAP website upthread, because I've been using the mobile one that doesn't have the UserCP, but I digress...)
Here's some feedback, which I'm sure echoes things said upthread:
1) Home page - Delete the avatar and "Welcome, dstan" at the top - it's really a waste of real estate.
2) Home page - Also delete the avatars down the lefthand side. Few on FT use them, and while some other vB sites may have more users with them, they do not add useful information.
3) Home page - Can you add a setting so that users can select whether they want to see Newest, Top, or Subscribed as the default? I suspect that many members, like myself, read only certain forums within FT, and the FT-wide selections (Newest, Top) will not get as much use, but should be there for newbies and other members who do use them.
4) Subscribed - As I think was stated upthread, we need not only Subscribed Threads but also Subscribed Forums. This is huge (see 3 above).
5) Subscribed - The Subscribed Threads list looks incomplete for me - is it truncated? Can we have the complete list instead?
6) Definitely need to add the functionality to jump to the last unread post. That's the way most of the frequent readers, who are presumably the target audience for this app, use FT.
7) Menu button at the top - It's not intuitive that it takes you to the menu but also shows what menu item has been selected. Not sure I have a better solution, though.
8) Page numbers - You could cut down the amount of real estate this requires and perhaps merge into the bottom menu by just showing first, current, last, with left and right arrows.
9) Forums - Navigating once thru to a list of subforums is fine, but twice is too much (cf. NYC). Perhaps those second derivative subforums could all be listed together rather than requiring a second clickthru.
Thanks!
Here's some feedback, which I'm sure echoes things said upthread:
1) Home page - Delete the avatar and "Welcome, dstan" at the top - it's really a waste of real estate.
2) Home page - Also delete the avatars down the lefthand side. Few on FT use them, and while some other vB sites may have more users with them, they do not add useful information.
3) Home page - Can you add a setting so that users can select whether they want to see Newest, Top, or Subscribed as the default? I suspect that many members, like myself, read only certain forums within FT, and the FT-wide selections (Newest, Top) will not get as much use, but should be there for newbies and other members who do use them.
4) Subscribed - As I think was stated upthread, we need not only Subscribed Threads but also Subscribed Forums. This is huge (see 3 above).
5) Subscribed - The Subscribed Threads list looks incomplete for me - is it truncated? Can we have the complete list instead?
6) Definitely need to add the functionality to jump to the last unread post. That's the way most of the frequent readers, who are presumably the target audience for this app, use FT.
7) Menu button at the top - It's not intuitive that it takes you to the menu but also shows what menu item has been selected. Not sure I have a better solution, though.
8) Page numbers - You could cut down the amount of real estate this requires and perhaps merge into the bottom menu by just showing first, current, last, with left and right arrows.
9) Forums - Navigating once thru to a list of subforums is fine, but twice is too much (cf. NYC). Perhaps those second derivative subforums could all be listed together rather than requiring a second clickthru.
Thanks!
Dec 28, 2010, 3:33 pm
#80
Join Date: May 2007
Location: CLE
Programs: OnePass Platinum, Starwood Platinum, Avis First, Hilton Silver, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 2,751
Dec 28, 2010, 4:28 pm
#81
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 959
That just frustrates me more! Thanks for confirming his problem though.
IB-Dick, I just downloaded it and didn't think it quite as bad as some here (although I did like learning about the WAP website upthread, because I've been using the mobile one that doesn't have the UserCP, but I digress...)
Here's some feedback, which I'm sure echoes things said upthread:
1) Home page - Delete the avatar and "Welcome, dstan" at the top - it's really a waste of real estate.
2) Home page - Also delete the avatars down the lefthand side. Few on FT use them, and while some other vB sites may have more users with them, they do not add useful information.
3) Home page - Can you add a setting so that users can select whether they want to see Newest, Top, or Subscribed as the default? I suspect that many members, like myself, read only certain forums within FT, and the FT-wide selections (Newest, Top) will not get as much use, but should be there for newbies and other members who do use them.
4) Subscribed - As I think was stated upthread, we need not only Subscribed Threads but also Subscribed Forums. This is huge (see 3 above).
5) Subscribed - The Subscribed Threads list looks incomplete for me - is it truncated? Can we have the complete list instead?
6) Definitely need to add the functionality to jump to the last unread post. That's the way most of the frequent readers, who are presumably the target audience for this app, use FT.
7) Menu button at the top - It's not intuitive that it takes you to the menu but also shows what menu item has been selected. Not sure I have a better solution, though.
8) Page numbers - You could cut down the amount of real estate this requires and perhaps merge into the bottom menu by just showing first, current, last, with left and right arrows.
9) Forums - Navigating once thru to a list of subforums is fine, but twice is too much (cf. NYC). Perhaps those second derivative subforums could all be listed together rather than requiring a second clickthru.
Thanks!
Here's some feedback, which I'm sure echoes things said upthread:
1) Home page - Delete the avatar and "Welcome, dstan" at the top - it's really a waste of real estate.
2) Home page - Also delete the avatars down the lefthand side. Few on FT use them, and while some other vB sites may have more users with them, they do not add useful information.
3) Home page - Can you add a setting so that users can select whether they want to see Newest, Top, or Subscribed as the default? I suspect that many members, like myself, read only certain forums within FT, and the FT-wide selections (Newest, Top) will not get as much use, but should be there for newbies and other members who do use them.
4) Subscribed - As I think was stated upthread, we need not only Subscribed Threads but also Subscribed Forums. This is huge (see 3 above).
5) Subscribed - The Subscribed Threads list looks incomplete for me - is it truncated? Can we have the complete list instead?
6) Definitely need to add the functionality to jump to the last unread post. That's the way most of the frequent readers, who are presumably the target audience for this app, use FT.
7) Menu button at the top - It's not intuitive that it takes you to the menu but also shows what menu item has been selected. Not sure I have a better solution, though.
8) Page numbers - You could cut down the amount of real estate this requires and perhaps merge into the bottom menu by just showing first, current, last, with left and right arrows.
9) Forums - Navigating once thru to a list of subforums is fine, but twice is too much (cf. NYC). Perhaps those second derivative subforums could all be listed together rather than requiring a second clickthru.
Thanks!
Dec 28, 2010, 8:30 pm
#82
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
I've been waiting for a FT app for my iPod for years! I'm glad to see it.
However:
I've never seen one with this number of ads! Really, it's way OTT.
I absolutely agree.
All excellent suggestions which I second.
However:
I've never seen one with this number of ads! Really, it's way OTT.
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.
1) Home page - Delete the avatar and "Welcome, dstan" at the top - it's really a waste of real estate.
2) Home page - Also delete the avatars down the lefthand side. Few on FT use them, and while some other vB sites may have more users with them, they do not add useful information.
3) Home page - Can you add a setting so that users can select whether they want to see Newest, Top, or Subscribed as the default? I suspect that many members, like myself, read only certain forums within FT, and the FT-wide selections (Newest, Top) will not get as much use, but should be there for newbies and other members who do use them.
4) Subscribed - As I think was stated upthread, we need not only Subscribed Threads but also Subscribed Forums. This is huge (see 3 above).
5) Subscribed - The Subscribed Threads list looks incomplete for me - is it truncated? Can we have the complete list instead?
6) Definitely need to add the functionality to jump to the last unread post. That's the way most of the frequent readers, who are presumably the target audience for this app, use FT.
7) Menu button at the top - It's not intuitive that it takes you to the menu but also shows what menu item has been selected. Not sure I have a better solution, though.
8) Page numbers - You could cut down the amount of real estate this requires and perhaps merge into the bottom menu by just showing first, current, last, with left and right arrows.
9) Forums - Navigating once thru to a list of subforums is fine, but twice is too much (cf. NYC). Perhaps those second derivative subforums could all be listed together rather than requiring a second clickthru.
2) Home page - Also delete the avatars down the lefthand side. Few on FT use them, and while some other vB sites may have more users with them, they do not add useful information.
3) Home page - Can you add a setting so that users can select whether they want to see Newest, Top, or Subscribed as the default? I suspect that many members, like myself, read only certain forums within FT, and the FT-wide selections (Newest, Top) will not get as much use, but should be there for newbies and other members who do use them.
4) Subscribed - As I think was stated upthread, we need not only Subscribed Threads but also Subscribed Forums. This is huge (see 3 above).
5) Subscribed - The Subscribed Threads list looks incomplete for me - is it truncated? Can we have the complete list instead?
6) Definitely need to add the functionality to jump to the last unread post. That's the way most of the frequent readers, who are presumably the target audience for this app, use FT.
7) Menu button at the top - It's not intuitive that it takes you to the menu but also shows what menu item has been selected. Not sure I have a better solution, though.
8) Page numbers - You could cut down the amount of real estate this requires and perhaps merge into the bottom menu by just showing first, current, last, with left and right arrows.
9) Forums - Navigating once thru to a list of subforums is fine, but twice is too much (cf. NYC). Perhaps those second derivative subforums could all be listed together rather than requiring a second clickthru.
Dec 28, 2010, 8:33 pm
#83
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
"Flyertalk" by
BTW, when I searched for "Flyertalk" in the iTunes Store, I came across "Flyertalk" by Christian Smith 
He also has one called "Air Miles."
He also has one called "Air Miles."
Dec 28, 2010, 8:53 pm
#84
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,934
Test message
Edit:
I posted the above message by subscribing to this thread, then doing the following steps to do post it using the app:
1. click on subscribed at the bottom of the screen
2. choose a subscribed thread
3. use the page numbers at the top of the screen to scroll to the last page
4. select the last page
5. scroll to a post to reply to and select it (I tried the last post)
6. click on reply button at the bottom of the screen
7. compose reply and click done, then click submit
8. go back, then back, then back again to list of subscribed threads
Result was the same, the subscription vanished from my list. Maybe you can try checking it out in the same way?
Edit:
I posted the above message by subscribing to this thread, then doing the following steps to do post it using the app:
1. click on subscribed at the bottom of the screen
2. choose a subscribed thread
3. use the page numbers at the top of the screen to scroll to the last page
4. select the last page
5. scroll to a post to reply to and select it (I tried the last post)
6. click on reply button at the bottom of the screen
7. compose reply and click done, then click submit
8. go back, then back, then back again to list of subscribed threads
Result was the same, the subscription vanished from my list. Maybe you can try checking it out in the same way?
Last edited by KIXman; Dec 28, 2010 at 8:55 pm Reason: Did a test using the app to confirm subscription loss
Dec 29, 2010, 7:53 am
#85
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT/CNX
Programs: UA dirt... and btw, THE innovator of the phrase 'gate lice'. Yeah, that's right.
Posts: 2,874
Holy freaking ads.
It is also VERY bothersome to have the ads scroll. The fact they take up so much space is bothersome enough as it is. Thanks for the second kick to the nuts.
It is also VERY bothersome to have the ads scroll. The fact they take up so much space is bothersome enough as it is. Thanks for the second kick to the nuts.
Dec 29, 2010, 11:45 am
#86
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA-DCA
Programs: DL Diamond & MM; Lifetime AA Plat; Starwood Plat; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Gold; AvisFirst
Posts: 38
Thanks for developing this. I just downloaded it today and after working with it here are my comments:
Agree that the avatars and number of posts bubble could be deleted. They just take up room and don't add value to a "mobile" app version.
Also there should be a way to navigate directly to the newest posts in your subscribed threads
I think one ad is acceptable but two is unusual for an iPhone app. In the FT app, having the same ad on the top and the bottom of the page seems really OTT.
Appears you have fixed the crash problem iOS 4.2.1.
Agree that the avatars and number of posts bubble could be deleted. They just take up room and don't add value to a "mobile" app version.
Also there should be a way to navigate directly to the newest posts in your subscribed threads
I think one ad is acceptable but two is unusual for an iPhone app. In the FT app, having the same ad on the top and the bottom of the page seems really OTT.
Appears you have fixed the crash problem iOS 4.2.1.
Dec 29, 2010, 5:32 pm
#87
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE100K, HH G
Posts: 2,454
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.
Dec 29, 2010, 5:56 pm
#88
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 959
Test message
Edit:
I posted the above message by subscribing to this thread, then doing the following steps to do post it using the app:
1. click on subscribed at the bottom of the screen
2. choose a subscribed thread
3. use the page numbers at the top of the screen to scroll to the last page
4. select the last page
5. scroll to a post to reply to and select it (I tried the last post)
6. click on reply button at the bottom of the screen
7. compose reply and click done, then click submit
8. go back, then back, then back again to list of subscribed threads
Result was the same, the subscription vanished from my list. Maybe you can try checking it out in the same way?
Edit:
I posted the above message by subscribing to this thread, then doing the following steps to do post it using the app:
1. click on subscribed at the bottom of the screen
2. choose a subscribed thread
3. use the page numbers at the top of the screen to scroll to the last page
4. select the last page
5. scroll to a post to reply to and select it (I tried the last post)
6. click on reply button at the bottom of the screen
7. compose reply and click done, then click submit
8. go back, then back, then back again to list of subscribed threads
Result was the same, the subscription vanished from my list. Maybe you can try checking it out in the same way?
No, it stands for Internet Brands, the owners of Flyertalk. It just so happens that the Internet Brands that owns Flyertalk is the same Internet Brands that owns vBulletin. Nice detective work though.
Dec 29, 2010, 9:25 pm
#89
Moderator: New York City and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: AA PLT, Natl EC
Posts: 10,855
Test message
Edit:
I posted the above message by subscribing to this thread, then doing the following steps to do post it using the app:
1. click on subscribed at the bottom of the screen
2. choose a subscribed thread
3. use the page numbers at the top of the screen to scroll to the last page
4. select the last page
5. scroll to a post to reply to and select it (I tried the last post)
6. click on reply button at the bottom of the screen
7. compose reply and click done, then click submit
8. go back, then back, then back again to list of subscribed threads
Result was the same, the subscription vanished from my list. Maybe you can try checking it out in the same way?
Edit:
I posted the above message by subscribing to this thread, then doing the following steps to do post it using the app:
1. click on subscribed at the bottom of the screen
2. choose a subscribed thread
3. use the page numbers at the top of the screen to scroll to the last page
4. select the last page
5. scroll to a post to reply to and select it (I tried the last post)
6. click on reply button at the bottom of the screen
7. compose reply and click done, then click submit
8. go back, then back, then back again to list of subscribed threads
Result was the same, the subscription vanished from my list. Maybe you can try checking it out in the same way?
No, it stands for Internet Brands, the owners of Flyertalk. It just so happens that the Internet Brands that owns Flyertalk is the same Internet Brands that owns vBulletin. Nice detective work though.
Also, I find the formatting palette too close to the last line of text as it gets in the way when I want to place the cursor to edit, etc.
Finally, I find the page numbers too small to hit accurately, particularly when jumping to the last page.
Hope this helps & thanks!
Dec 30, 2010, 10:17 am
#90
Join Date: May 2007
Location: CLE
Programs: OnePass Platinum, Starwood Platinum, Avis First, Hilton Silver, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 2,751
I have noticed that when you post from the App - you also have options to post a pic or video... although I have not had any success with this.
Is this really functional? It sure would be nice to be able to post a photo directly into FT rather than just linking to a website...
Anyone have any insight into this?
Is this really functional? It sure would be nice to be able to post a photo directly into FT rather than just linking to a website...
Anyone have any insight into this?