Tapatalk Integration

[kirent]

Is there any chance of getting Tapatalk integration for these forums? It's free and would make navigating the forums easier for smartphone users.

[empb]

I've PMed Alex about this in the past and got exactly nowhere (i.e., no response). Guess he's thought about and rejected the idea...

[kirent]

Any updates on this?

[Exige]

I agree tapatalk!

[Alex Frakt]

Sorry, but we've got way too much on our plate right now (planned upgrade to server and then forum software) to even review this, much less implement it.

[kirent]

Now that the servers are upgraded... Let's get this implemented

[Alex Frakt]

I'm not impressed by the code we'd have to insert onto every single page to use tapatalk. What we do plan on implementing is a mobile/low resolution/low bandwidth option for viewing the entire site. This will help a lot more people than forcing them to install a proprietary app (if it's even available for their platform).

[natureexplorer]

I'm not impressed by the code we'd have to insert onto every single page to use tapatalk. What we do plan on implementing is a mobile/low resolution/low bandwidth option for viewing the entire site. This will help a lot more people than forcing them to install a proprietary app (if it's even available for their platform).

+1

A solid mobile website serves a lot more people than app-based solutions. Companies like apps as it is essentially a bookmark to their site/app.

Having said that, the new forum doesn't display properly on BlackBerries. The old forum displayed just fine.

[rr2]

I'm not impressed by the code we'd have to insert onto every single page to use tapatalk. What we do plan on implementing is a mobile/low resolution/low bandwidth option for viewing the entire site. This will help a lot more people than forcing them to install a proprietary app (if it's even available for their platform).

Would the planned mobile site allow functionality in terms of starting and replying to posts, editing them, sending PMs etc or it will be a View only site?

I am using tapatalk on my Android tablet and absolutely love it. Nice clean minimalistic looks and much faster than using a browser.

[G-Force]

I'm not impressed by the code we'd have to insert onto every single page to use tapatalk. What we do plan on implementing is a mobile/low resolution/low bandwidth option for viewing the entire site. This will help a lot more people than forcing them to install a proprietary app (if it's even available for their platform).

You are not forcing anyone to install a proprietary app. The first time someone browses to a forum on their mobile device with tapatalk enabled, they get a notification they have the OPTION to install the app. If they decline, no further notifications are given. You are just letting people know who use the app that they have the option.

I would love to see this too. It would give the bogleheads site a native app feel on mobile devices. Now that the forum upgrades are done this should be possible.

[natureexplorer]

Is there now a mobile version of the Bogleheads forum? I thought I read about it, but I forgot.

[LadyGeek]

You bet! The RSS feed is up and running. Use your mobile RSS reader app to discover the feed on the home page. (bogleheads.org/rss)

(OK, it's not a forum upgrade, but it'll work in a mobile app.)

[andrewj]

Some kind of way for viewing it better on the iPhone, either a mobile version of the website or integration with Tapatalk (which I haven't tried yet but have heard about it) would be great!

[LadyGeek]

I added some opinions on tapatalk in this thread: Android app for this forum?. Below are my comments from that thread, reiterated here: (Mon Jan 30, 2012 6:50 pm)

Tapatalk has been discussed before (see Tapatalk Integration), but I'd stay away for a number of reasons - all of which are in their support forum - the first place to go when you want to check out a product.

- From the phpBB side of the fence, there's no confidence that this is a rock-solid product. In phpBB Discussion - Tapatalk Support, I see multiple complaints about PM problems and other things that I'm not happy about.

- From the Android side (Tapatalk for Android - Tapatalk Support), this app eats 15% CPU horsepower -that's a lot of juice. I also see problems with BBCode: CODE and STRIKE are not supported - that's unacceptable (Doesn't render all BB tags and smileys - Tapatalk Support).

IMHO, the best approach is to avoid proprietary apps that don't have widespread phpBB community support (there is no guarantee that tapatalk will work with phpBB mods, which is another sign that it's not fully compatible). Wait until Alex decides what to do. Sitck with a standard web browser for now, such as Dolphin.

(Updated 27-Apr-12 17:02 ET to incorporate linked comments.)

[kirent]

From a cursory glance of their support forums, it appears as though they respond very quickly, which I feel is a positive sign. And I don't believe using Tapatalk precludes the forums from using a mobile skin. Take a look at MacRumors, which appears to use both.

[phositadc]

I'm not sure what the source of the anti-Tapatalk rhetoric from the forum admins is, and since I am not a tech guy, their concerns could be well founded. I would simply note that LOTS of forums use Tapatalk without any problems, so I'm not sure why it would be any different here.

[LadyGeek]

That's certainly a valid point, and I do recognize that the support forums comprise a minority of users. It's not anti-Tapatalk per se, but a first look to see if there are any major concerns. There are some areas that require further investigation, but we'll wait until Alex Frakt decides on what to do.

[JohnM]

Tapatalk = Greatness!

I use it for several forums that I follow and the functionality is great for mobile devices.

[interplanetjanet]

Call me oldschool, but I'd really just prefer an NNRP interface...

-janet

[G-Force]

You bet! The RSS feed is up and running. Use your mobile RSS reader app to discover the feed on the home page. (bogleheads.org/rss)

(OK, it's not a forum upgrade, but it'll work in a mobile app.)

Watching the RSS feeds with google reader results in each post generating a new RSS entry. There isn't one entry per thread, there is one/post which results in a ton of repeated threads shown in google reader. I still would love tapatalk integration.

[drizzle]

1 more vote for tapatalk.

I'd be very happy to see it integrated.

[rr2]

I would like to humbly request the forum owners to once again consider tapatalk integration. Most of the forums I visit do have tapatalk available and it is really great for browsing as well as posting from an iOS and/or android. I have used an iphone as well as an android tablet and pages load really fast.

[burgrat]

One more vote for Tapatalk here! Works great on the other forums I visit.

[LadyGeek]

There are a few other threads requesting tapatalk, so I pointed them to here. Alex Frakt (site owner) has given his opinion in this thread: [POLL] Interest in mobile access to bogleheads forum, a summary:

... A mobile-friendly version is something I'm going to do eventually, but I do not like tapatalk...

I've given my opinion earlier in this thread, which looks from the developer / support perspective. A well-designed mobile interface, which is supported directly by the phpBB community, is a better alternative.

[Alex Frakt]

I'm not impressed by the code we'd have to insert onto every single page to use tapatalk.

Software evolves, so I just took another look and it appears tapatalk has greatly improved when it comes to this issue. I'll have to study it some more, but right now I'll move it from the definitely not to the possible column. The largest remaining issues are that using it constrains the modifications we can make to the regular site and it adds a potential support headache.

edit: note to self - http://www.phpbb.com/community/viewtopi ... &t=2131689 - http://www.phpbb.com/community/viewtopi ... &t=2131689 and http://www.phpbb.com/community/viewtopi ... &t=2131689

[archbish99]

Not having directly used Tapatalk for anything else, I'm not going to complain about the choice of either versus the other. (So long as something happens.) My more general experience is that apps usually offer a more comfortable experience, even when they offer the same features as a mobile site, though.

Really, just being able to hit "first unread post" without accidentally navigating to the OP's profile would be a huge improvement.

[magellan]

From reading the previous replies I can see this is clearly a personal preference. To me, tapatalk doesn't offer much over a good web browser on a capable mobile device. I can certainly see its usefulness as an aggregator for forum junkies, or as an optimizer if you've got old mobile hardware, but that's about it. Like many of today's mobile apps, it doesn't add much to the already good experience you'll get on a latest generation device.

Accessing the Bogleheads forum on my tablet is super fast, even if I only have a 2g connection. It's reliably one of the fastest websites I use via mobile. When I have a lousy connection, I tend to hang out here at Bogleheads because the site is so fast and easy to use in my tablet's browser. phpbb seems to be pretty lightweight in terms of both browser cpu load and bandwidth. I rarely experience even the slightest page refresh or navigation delays.

IMO, with today's mobile hardware, the 'app to replace every website' paradigm is fast-fading. Sure, as in the PC world, there will always be cases where a custom app is the way to go. OTOH, web browsers provide a tried-and-true interface to the Internet. They'll certainly continue to evolve to better accommodate touch and varied display sizes, but IMO mobile touch-enabled web browsers are the future, not a patchwork of disjointed apps that each reinvent the user-interface wheel.

Jim

[CJOttawa]

I'd like to see Tap-a-Talk installed.

I use it on other forums; it makes accessing forums significantly faster on a mobile device like an iPhone or Android phone.
It's of little benefit to a tablet user but a lot of benefit to those on smart phones.

[E-M-H]

Many forums have set up mobile friendly interfaces that don't require the use of an app. I think that is an excellent approach as navigation is very easy for all with a mobile browser.

[natureexplorer]

Many forums have set up mobile friendly interfaces that don't require the use of an app. I think that is an excellent approach as navigation is very easy for all with a mobile browser.

+1 from Android

[kirent]

Any updates?

[JamesSFO]

Was about to start a thread to ask and found this, so a ping for any updates on the thinking? Using the forums on a phone is pretty brutal right now and tapatalk is quite sweet.

[Sidney]

My recollection is that this will not be done.

[LadyGeek]

I haven't changed my opinion (not to do this), but will defer to Alex Frakt if he wishes to reconsider. I'm guessing he won't.