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July, 2025

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Newschoolers App Beta Feedback Thread

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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22739 - Karma: 77,027
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.
8 years ago
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Sklar
Posts: 8865 - Karma: 31,618
I like the part where I can finally trade in all of my Karma points for prizes
8 years ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22739 - Karma: 77,027
SklarI like the part where I can finally trade in all of my Karma points for prizes

Oh you...
8 years ago
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Sklar
Posts: 8865 - Karma: 31,618
Mr.BishopOh you...


8 years ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22739 - Karma: 77,027
Anyone in here yet? I can see you signing up...
8 years ago
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.Rybak.
Posts: 9017 - Karma: 9,874






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.
8 years ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22739 - Karma: 77,027
.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.
8 years ago
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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
8 years ago
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.Rybak.
Posts: 9017 - Karma: 9,874
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.
8 years ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22739 - Karma: 77,027
.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.
8 years ago
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.Rybak.
Posts: 9017 - Karma: 9,874
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.
8 years ago
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Sklar
Posts: 8865 - Karma: 31,618
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
8 years ago
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Sklar
Posts: 8865 - Karma: 31,618
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.
8 years ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22739 - Karma: 77,027
.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?
8 years ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22739 - Karma: 77,027
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...
8 years ago
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Sklar
Posts: 8865 - Karma: 31,618
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
8 years ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22739 - Karma: 77,027
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?
8 years ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22739 - Karma: 77,027
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.
8 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61974 - Karma: 126,970
Just thought id add, iOS notifications are not working.
8 years ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22739 - Karma: 77,027
eheathJust thought id add, iOS notifications are not working.

Dang it.
8 years ago
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Shoey-Ski
Posts: 1649 - Karma: 6,200
Woah there's finally an app coming!!! Please sign me up for beta as soon as a spot is open
8 years ago
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broto
Posts: 9040 - Karma: 25,675
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
8 years ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22739 - Karma: 77,027
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.
8 years ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22739 - Karma: 77,027
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.
8 years ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22739 - Karma: 77,027
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.
8 years ago
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Sklar
Posts: 8865 - Karma: 31,618
SklarI did not get a notification for this post


how about now?
8 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61974 - Karma: 126,970
eheathJust thought id add, iOS notifications are not working.


test
8 years ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22739 - Karma: 77,027
Sklarhow about now?


eheathtest


Cancel that. Still broken. Fixing.
8 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61974 - Karma: 126,970
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.
8 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61974 - Karma: 126,970
Image

8 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61974 - Karma: 126,970
8 years ago
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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
8 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61974 - Karma: 126,970
eheath


test
8 years ago
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.Rybak.
Posts: 9017 - Karma: 9,874
.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
8 years ago
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.Rybak.
Posts: 9017 - Karma: 9,874
Still not working
8 years ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22739 - Karma: 77,027
.Rybak.Still not working

I jumped the gun. Had it working, had another problem.
8 years ago
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.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7583 - Karma: 12,749
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.
8 years ago
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broto
Posts: 9040 - Karma: 25,675
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
8 years ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22739 - Karma: 77,027
.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.
8 years ago
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erica
Posts: 3457 - Karma: 24,104
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
8 years ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22739 - Karma: 77,027
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
8 years ago
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crotchvent
Posts: 1527 - Karma: 2,185
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.
8 years ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22739 - Karma: 77,027
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.
8 years ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22739 - Karma: 77,027
Anyone try searching yet?

would love to hear some feedback on your experience.
8 years ago
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Lonely
Posts: 7207 - Karma: 70,647
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
8 years ago
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Lonely
Posts: 7207 - Karma: 70,647
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.
8 years ago
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Chubz.
Posts: 13918 - Karma: 25,673
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
8 years ago
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Chubz.
Posts: 13918 - Karma: 25,673
Should add that the first page redirect is when I'm clicking on the last page while I'm in the forum
8 years ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22739 - Karma: 77,027
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.
8 years ago
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