Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Newschoolers App Beta Feedback Thread

profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,628
We have sent out the first round of invitations to those special few who signed up for our awful April Fools joke.

If you missed out, please be patient as we're releasing this app in limited waves as it becomes more and more ready. If you didn't sign up, please sit tight and wait for the sign of the next round of invites to go up.

If you did, then please post up any bugs, feedback, thoughts or whatever else in this thread.
Apr 3 2017 4:24PM
54 1
profile picture
Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
I like the part where I can finally trade in all of my Karma points for prizes
Apr 3 2017 4:26PM
10 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,628
SklarI like the part where I can finally trade in all of my Karma points for prizes

Oh you...
Apr 3 2017 4:29PM
2 0
profile picture
Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
Mr.BishopOh you...


Apr 3 2017 4:31PM
0 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,628
Anyone in here yet? I can see you signing up...
Apr 3 2017 5:08PM
0 0
profile picture
.Rybak.
Posts: 9017 - Karma: 9,864






Still haven't had a ton of time to use it too much but here are a few things I've noticed at first glance:

- When switching between news/photos/videos the title doesn't change. For example, if I go from news to photo or videos the header still reads "News."

- Formatting pictures in posts from the app is difficult as well apprently or I'm just stupid. Uploading the actual pictures from phone is extremely easy though.

- Probably not a huge deal but as far as upvoting news maybe make the up and downvote arrows just slightly bigger or add a little bit more whitespace between the end of the article and the suggested articles. It might make it a little cleaner as well but it's not like it's a huge deal.

So far I really do enjoy the app. This entire time I've been saying the mobile site works just fine and that there really is no need for an app but now that I've used the app just a little I'm pretty stoked that ns now has one.

Viewing photos is so much easier and convenient as well. On mobile I usually would stray away from viewing legit content and sticking more to the forums but now with the app the photo and video section become much cleaner because there's no need to click on a thumbnail.
Apr 3 2017 5:40PM
1 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,628
.Rybak.






Still haven't had a ton of time to use it too much but here are a few things I've noticed at first glance:

- When switching between news/photos/videos the title doesn't change. For example, if I go from news to photo or videos the header still reads "News."

- Formatting pictures in posts from the app is difficult as well apprently or I'm just stupid. Uploading the actual pictures from phone is extremely easy though.

- Probably not a huge deal but as far as upvoting news maybe make the up and downvote arrows just slightly bigger or add a little bit more whitespace between the end of the article and the suggested articles. It might make it a little cleaner as well but it's not like it's a huge deal.

So far I really do enjoy the app. This entire time I've been saying the mobile site works just fine and that there really is no need for an app but now that I've used the app just a little I'm pretty stoked that ns now has one.

Viewing photos is so much easier and convenient as well. On mobile I usually would stray away from viewing legit content and sticking more to the forums but now with the app the photo and video section become much cleaner because there's no need to click on a thumbnail.

Great suggestions. There's a lot of little tweaks like this we still need to make before I really feel good about letting this thing into the wild. Since its still in beta, I know that we have missed a bunch of things which can be improved on. I'll take down your suggestions and work them into a later build.

I do also agree with you though that the App has a far better experience than mobile web. There's a certain amount of this which comes from the fact that in app you have to use a more familiar navigation structure which is similar to other apps. There's page speeds as well, which are big - and we did a huge amount of work to build a custom interface for this thing. All together, its a much better experience.

The push notifications with the forums are really cool too.
Apr 3 2017 5:49PM
0 0
profile picture
BrennenM
Posts: 129 - Karma: 1,012
The continuous scroll is pretty sweet, the one thing I noticed so far is there's no "back" button for the search tab
Apr 3 2017 5:57PM
2 0
profile picture
.Rybak.
Posts: 9017 - Karma: 9,864
Mr.BishopGreat suggestions. There's a lot of little tweaks like this we still need to make before I really feel good about letting this thing into the wild. Since its still in beta, I know that we have missed a bunch of things which can be improved on. I'll take down your suggestions and work them into a later build.

I do also agree with you though that the App has a far better experience than mobile web. There's a certain amount of this which comes from the fact that in app you have to use a more familiar navigation structure which is similar to other apps. There's page speeds as well, which are big - and we did a huge amount of work to build a custom interface for this thing. All together, its a much better experience.

The push notifications with the forums are really cool too.

Hmm the push notifications didn't seem to work.

(im on iphone if that means anything)

also just noticed under my post that there seems to be options to delete the post and edit the post but when clicked on it just brings me to a white screen with the black/gray header.
Apr 3 2017 6:02PM
0 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,628
.Rybak.Hmm the push notifications didn't seem to work.

(im on iphone if that means anything)

also just noticed under my post that there seems to be options to delete the post and edit the post but when clicked on it just brings me to a white screen with the black/gray header.

What didn't work about the push notification?

yeah I think we don't have the mod tools being hidden for regular users.
Apr 3 2017 6:03PM
0 0
profile picture
.Rybak.
Posts: 9017 - Karma: 9,864
Mr.BishopWhat didn't work about the push notification?

yeah I think we don't have the mod tools being hidden for regular users.

Do you mean that we will actually get a notification on our phone if someone responds to our post? I just didn't receive one at all. I checked to make sure notifcations were enabled for the app even.

I just so happened to check ns or be on ns when I got quoted.
Apr 3 2017 6:06PM
0 0
profile picture
Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
SklarI like the part where I can finally trade in all of my Karma points for prizes


I don't think push notifications have worked for me since the new update today
Apr 3 2017 6:07PM
0 0
profile picture
Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
SklarI don't think push notifications have worked for me since the new update today


Yea, they don't seem to be working for me. iPhone.

Also, I still have never seen any mod tools.
Apr 3 2017 6:08PM
0 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,628
.Rybak.Do you mean that we will actually get a notification on our phone if someone responds to our post? I just didn't receive one at all. I checked to make sure notifcations were enabled for the app even.

I just so happened to check ns or be on ns when I got quoted.

If you're out of the app it will give you a notification. If you're in it, you get the box that jumps up.

Yes, the idea is that when the app is closed you will get push notifications when you're quoted as long as you have opted in.

SklarI don't think push notifications have worked for me since the new update today


Uh oh, we might have broken them.

So you didn't get the notification for this?
Apr 3 2017 6:09PM
0 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,628
BrennenMThe continuous scroll is pretty sweet, the one thing I noticed so far is there's no "back" button for the search tab


Screen shot?

Did you try search? Its improved...
Apr 3 2017 6:13PM
0 0
profile picture
Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
Mr.BishopUh oh, we might have broken them.

So you didn't get the notification for this?


I did not get a notification for this post
Apr 3 2017 6:23PM
0 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,628
SklarI did not get a notification for this post

Dang it.

I even See the notification sending. We'll have to review tomorrow.

Anyone else getting notifications?
Apr 3 2017 6:25PM
0 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,628
The referenced post has been removed.

Hm - we must have broken it in the last update. Fix will go out tomorrow to get notifications firing again. Sorry!

Yes the ultimate goal is to have all mobile activity happen in app when a user has it installed. That will take some time to get built in, so the initial version is going to be missing some features like this.

Version 1 will be a simple baseline, and then we have the entire summer to make it fancy.
Apr 3 2017 6:36PM
1 0
profile picture
eheath
Posts: 61588 - Karma: 122,914
Just thought id add, iOS notifications are not working.
Apr 3 2017 7:15PM
0 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,628
eheathJust thought id add, iOS notifications are not working.

Dang it.
Apr 3 2017 7:56PM
0 0
profile picture
Shoey-Ski
Posts: 1649 - Karma: 6,190
Woah there's finally an app coming!!! Please sign me up for beta as soon as a spot is open
Apr 4 2017 9:09AM
1 0
profile picture
broto
Posts: 9039 - Karma: 25,662
would be nice to be able to see the OP when making a reply to a thread like you can normally. a checkbox that would make it appear/disappear at will would be even better

loving the app so far tho, huge improvement over the mobile site
Apr 4 2017 10:23AM
0 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,628
brotowould be nice to be able to see the OP when making a reply to a thread like you can normally. a checkbox that would make it appear/disappear at will would be even better

loving the app so far tho, huge improvement over the mobile site

We had to make a lot of difficult decisions to keep extra shit on the page to an absolute minimum. One of the reasons that apps are fast and slick is they drastically simplify everything.

I don't think we should be adding anything else into the posting page just yet. Maybe the ability to uncover it as you mentioned could be something we look at in the future but I really want to keep everything as trim as is possible.

That is how it's faster and slicker.
Apr 4 2017 12:20PM
2 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,628
The referenced post has been removed.

That is exactly something we've been talking about. It could be a great idea and seems like that is how most iOS apps work.
Apr 4 2017 12:34PM
1 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,628
BrennenMThe continuous scroll is pretty sweet, the one thing I noticed so far is there's no "back" button for the search tab


.Rybak.Hmm the push notifications didn't seem to work.

(im on iphone if that means anything)

also just noticed under my post that there seems to be options to delete the post and edit the post but when clicked on it just brings me to a white screen with the black/gray header.


.Rybak.Do you mean that we will actually get a notification on our phone if someone responds to our post? I just didn't receive one at all. I checked to make sure notifcations were enabled for the app even.

I just so happened to check ns or be on ns when I got quoted.


SklarI did not get a notification for this post


The referenced post has been removed.


eheathJust thought id add, iOS notifications are not working.


brotowould be nice to be able to see the OP when making a reply to a thread like you can normally. a checkbox that would make it appear/disappear at will would be even better

loving the app so far tho, huge improvement over the mobile site


FYI - There's an update for iOS which should have just pushed out via Testflight, which will make your push notifications work.

Please install and jump back in here so we can test it.
Apr 4 2017 12:35PM
1 0
profile picture
Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
SklarI did not get a notification for this post


how about now?
Apr 4 2017 12:35PM
0 0
profile picture
eheath
Posts: 61588 - Karma: 122,914
eheathJust thought id add, iOS notifications are not working.


test
Apr 4 2017 12:40PM
0 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,628
Sklarhow about now?


eheathtest


Cancel that. Still broken. Fixing.
Apr 4 2017 12:50PM
0 0
profile picture
eheath
Posts: 61588 - Karma: 122,914
Noticed a new bug, there are a couple threads in NSG that have two pages but the app doesn't list them as two pages

example:
https://www.newschoolers.com/forum/thread/816518/Bicycle-touring---Japan-to-England

desktop site it has two pages (beta desktop) and in the app it doesn't show the two pages on the forum page.
Apr 4 2017 1:39PM
0 0
profile picture
eheath
Posts: 61588 - Karma: 122,914
Image

Apr 4 2017 1:40PM
0 0
profile picture
eheath
Posts: 61588 - Karma: 122,914
Apr 4 2017 1:42PM
0 0
profile picture
BrennenM
Posts: 129 - Karma: 1,012
Mr.BishopScreen shot?

Did you try search? Its improved...


I have the back button showing up in articles to get back to the searches now. It's hard to screen shot, but what I also meant is that you can hit a back button to go from page 1 of "triples" back to page like 8 of "doubles if you were on that before.. much more minor

Im sill not getting push notifications
Apr 4 2017 1:46PM
0 0
profile picture
eheath
Posts: 61588 - Karma: 122,914
eheath


test
Apr 4 2017 1:49PM
0 0
profile picture
.Rybak.
Posts: 9017 - Karma: 9,864
.Rybak.Do you mean that we will actually get a notification on our phone if someone responds to our post? I just didn't receive one at all. I checked to make sure notifcations were enabled for the app even.

I just so happened to check ns or be on ns when I got quoted.

Test
Apr 4 2017 2:04PM
0 0
profile picture
.Rybak.
Posts: 9017 - Karma: 9,864
Still not working
Apr 4 2017 2:08PM
0 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,628
.Rybak.Still not working

I jumped the gun. Had it working, had another problem.
Apr 4 2017 2:24PM
0 0
profile picture
.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7472 - Karma: 11,411
This may be my fat fingers, but when trying to go to the last page of a multi-page thread, it still takes me to the first even if I click page x.
Apr 4 2017 3:31PM
0 0
profile picture
broto
Posts: 9039 - Karma: 25,662
I'm android and a bug I'm seeing is that the title bar is for some reason shifted down a slight bit, covering the notifications etc. pic related. still functional but it's annoying
Apr 4 2017 3:35PM
0 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,628
.MASSHOLE.This may be my fat fingers, but when trying to go to the last page of a multi-page thread, it still takes me to the first even if I click page x.


brotoI'm android and a bug I'm seeing is that the title bar is for some reason shifted down a slight bit, covering the notifications etc. pic related. still functional but it's annoying


We'll look into both of these. Working on Push notifications right now, some users are seeing them and some aren't. Android is working perfectly well, iOS is intermittent.
Apr 4 2017 4:31PM
0 0
profile picture
erica
Posts: 3450 - Karma: 24,083
Mr.BishopWhat didn't work about the push notification?

yeah I think we don't have the mod tools being hidden for regular users.


Mod tools still aren't showing up on mine
Apr 5 2017 11:33AM
0 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,628
ericaMod tools still aren't showing up on mine


Fucking hell.

Which mod tools? There's a "settings" gear image in each users profile which hides a few of the options you used to have.

**This post was edited on Apr 5th 2017 at 5:33:00pm
Apr 5 2017 5:04PM
0 0
profile picture
crotchvent
Posts: 1527 - Karma: 2,184
I'm loving the app. Just one question though why the decision to move the quote button from the top of the post to the bottom i keep quoting the wrong person.
Apr 5 2017 8:17PM
1 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,628
crotchventI'm loving the app. Just one question though why the decision to move the quote button from the top of the post to the bottom i keep quoting the wrong person.

It fit better with the app flow and was closer for the thumb click.

We thought long and hard about how much we wanted to keep it similar to the web forums vs how much we wanted to change it to fit mobile app usage patterns.

We tried to make it feel as familiar as possible, but navigate really well on a phone. That was the goal anyway.
Apr 5 2017 9:31PM
0 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,628
Anyone try searching yet?

would love to hear some feedback on your experience.
Apr 5 2017 9:32PM
0 0
profile picture
Lonely
Posts: 6737 - Karma: 61,596
I think this app is going to be big for Ns. It's got shaping up nice for something in beta.

Only things I've noticed thus far are the lack of reply/view counts and some longgg loading times for quoting. It takes about 5 times as long for my quote to load than the actual thread itself. I have a strong connection and the rest of the app is nice and fast for the most part.

Other than that the app is awesome and is already decreasing my productivity
Apr 5 2017 11:29PM
3 0
profile picture
Lonely
Posts: 6737 - Karma: 61,596
Mr.BishopThat is exactly something we've been talking about. It could be a great idea and seems like that is how most iOS apps work.


It's more convenient for phablet users to have the most used parts of the app (notifications, threads, messages) along the bottom rather than the top. It's kindve a stupid first world problem but it does add ease of use.
Apr 5 2017 11:34PM
1 0
profile picture
Chubz.
Posts: 13918 - Karma: 25,661
Not sure if this has been addressed yet but when I click the last page on a multiple page thread regardless if it's page 1338 on pwoym or a 2 page thread in ski gabber it directs me to the first page of the thread.



I am also experiencing ghost pages/ replies not showing up on the website as well as the app.

iPhone 6s latest version of iOS
Apr 7 2017 3:31AM
1 0
profile picture
Chubz.
Posts: 13918 - Karma: 25,661
Should add that the first page redirect is when I'm clicking on the last page while I'm in the forum
Apr 7 2017 3:45AM
0 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,628
Chubz.Should add that the first page redirect is when I'm clicking on the last page while I'm in the forum


Well review this I've seen it too.
Apr 7 2017 1:10PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)