The AMV .Org App Feedback Thread!

[Pwolf]

Hopefully some of you have had a chance to try out the Android and iOS app I've created for the org. I am planning on ramping up development here pretty soon and I would like a little bit of community feedback and participation. You guys are going to be the ones using this application the most so I would like to gather some ideas about how you would like it to look and function!

While I might be a decent editor and, dare I say, decent programmer... I am a terrible designer, as you can see from the layouts I've alrady done for the app. This is where you come in. I don't care if you're like me and can't design or you're a professional designer, I want to know what you think. I also want you to show me what you think.

First off, since I'm working on two separate platforms, the design requirements for each are also different. Android is pretty open of about their UI requirements. Apple on the other hand is not. They are rather strict about this. That said, I don't necessarily want both platforms to look the same. So go all out on Android if you want.

Second, iOS is pretty stand across all versions, this is good and bad. I'm not a huge fan of the iOS gui but at least it will be consistent across all devices. Android's gui isn't very consistent. This is also good and bad. As mentioned earlier, the requirements are open so we can do a lot of things but the differences between versions can cause problems. For instance, ICS has some really cool designed features that aren't in the older versions. Keep these in mind but also realize that a lot of things can be done in code to duplicate these things in older versions. So don't let that stop you.

I also need icons and other assets! If you want to make some icons, go for it! Take a look at the UI guidelines I'll link below for examples of content.

Here is an example of something I did in a few minutes for a possible home page (it's terrible but you get the idea)

Android:

There's a top tab bar that will cycle through all the major sections of the app. On the home page, you can tap the main headline (news/amv spotlight) to hide them. The screen will also scroll down if needed.

ALSO! I plan on making tablet versions of the app as well! If you have any ideas for these larger screen formats, I want to know them as too. Feel free to mock those up aswell.

There are several resources out there to help with the mock up process should you desire to help:

Android:
Android User Interface Guidlines
Android Design

iOS:
iOS Human Interface Guidelines

Photoshop Templates:
Android:
2.3.x (Gingerbread): http://www.teehanlax.com/blog/android-2 ... h-density/
4.x (Ice Cream Sandwich): http://techietalkz.com/2011/12/13/andro ... op-format/

iOS:
iOS5: http://www.teehanlax.com/blog/ios-5-gui-psd-iphone-4s/
iPad: http://www.teehanlax.com/blog/ipad-gui-psd-version-2/

You don't have to use these resources. Make what ever you want and I can work within the guidelines and version restrictions to make it work. Also, if you don't feel like opening Photoshop, throw out some ideas and see if someone else can work with it!

[TEKnician]

I'm working on a design as we speak. But a couple things i need to ask:

-Color Scheme?

Though it might look a bit flashy and will most likely mean more code-writing, I'm imagining a black, white, green color scheme (White background, black buttons, green highlight, text color inverts upon selection)

-Buttons?

How many? Limitations? Here's my 5-plot idea:

(--SEARCH--|--GUIDES--|--HOME/PROFILE PAGE(?)--|--FORUM--|--NEWS--)

What Options?

Whats new in this version? Will there be a FAVORITES option? Will there even be FORUM POSTING integration/capabilities? And also, as a suggestion:

(SIGN IN)
OR
(SIGN UP)

As far as the forum is concerned, that is our biggest and busiest part of the .org. So refinement in this area can be crucial. Have you heard of the "Tapatalk" app? It is a app that allows iOS users to connect to their online forums in a restructured app-vironment to access new, unread, and participated posts. Give it a look if you need some ideas on the organization and layout.

WILL YOU BE NEEDING AN iPAD 2 AS WELL, SIR?

I'm just throwing this out in the open:

Spoiler :

should there ever be a price for this app, possibly sending proceeds as donation to .org?

[gotegenks]

Org app lite/full :O

[Pwolf]

I'm working on a design as we speak. But a couple things i need to ask:

I am open to everything and anything. I want you guys to give me your ideas. I'll let you know what's possible and what isn't. As far as content/features. This is your place to let me know what you want to see in the app also, so do what ever.

WILL YOU BE NEEDING AN iPAD 2 AS WELL, SIR?

It would help. I was planning on purchasing one with donation money but there's been very little of that. At the moment, while I want to develop for the iPad and will work towards it, an app for it wont be released until I procure one and after the iPhone/Android Phone versions have been worked on. My current priority is Android over iOS and then phone over tablet. So a version for the iPad probably wont happen for a while.

I'm just throwing this out in the open:

Spoiler :

should there ever be a price for this app, possibly sending proceeds as donation to .org?

In my opinion, no. It would be more work for me to manage and I'd personally rather the app be free.

[TEKnician]

HERES MY BASIC LAYOUT AND HOMEPAGE:

Spoiler :

And the basic Search:

Spoiler :

Thoughts?

[Pwolf]

HERES MY BASIC LAYOUT AND HOMEPAGE:

Spoiler :

Quoted Image converted to link:
http://www.deviantart.com/download/3135 ... 4ohefe.jpg

I kind of like having the home page centered on the top tab bar. I think changing "Guides" to "Resources" or some other term would allow me to organize other content a bit more. Instead of just guides, I was thinking of providing some small built in applications, like an Aspect Ratio Calculator someone could pull up if they needed it.

As a general question for everyone: should there maybe be a tab for just "Videos" in general? Within that tab, there would be the Video Spotlight, New Videos on the Block, the top 10 Star Rated videos for that week, and then the search can be accessed?

[TEKnician]

How about changing it to "Tools"? That way it's easy to tell that it's a section for both written tools and wittle calculators n stuff. How about an "approximate file size" calculator for certain video containers/codecs? (if that's even possible)

And I'm with you on that "Videos" section. Perhaps "Search" would be a button at the bottom of the list that segways to a search screen?

[BasharOfTheAges]

I can't fathom why you'd bother to put things like guides and tools on a mobile device app. If you're editing or researching shit, you're going to do it on a computer, not on your goddamned phone. Way too much bloat in a design like that.

[Pwolf]

Well for one, an AR calculator. I have one I made for myself on my computer, which I use fairly frequently. Whenever I need to use it, i just open it up and do what I need to do. I assume most people either don't have their own program, or don't know where to find something that is 1) easy to use and 2) easy to find.

As for guides and such, I agree for the most part that it's extra bloat but there has been on occasion, while at a con, where I'm trying to explain something to someone or they ask a specific question, I know the answer is in the guides. I tell them to go read the guides. I'd personally find it helpful to point out to these people where exactly in the guides it's located so when they do get back to their computer, they can look it up. The app itself isn't really meant to be used if you have a computer handy so the guides would really only be for reference when you don't have a computer handy and you want to point something out.

Anyway, i'm just throwing ideas out, not like it has to be there (kind of the point of this thread). What is considered bloat? What isn't? Someone had suggested the idea of adding the guides and other tools (what ever "other tools" means, i don't know but an AR calc was the first thing that came to mind). Unfortunately, I'm not getting a whole lot of feedback so I have to do what I would like to see for the situations I'd use it for.

[BasharOfTheAges]

Well for one, an AR calculator. I have one I made for myself on my computer, which I use fairly frequently. Whenever I need to use it, i just open it up and do what I need to do. I assume most people either don't have their own program, or don't know where to find something that is 1) easy to use and 2) easy to find.

But not relevant if you're editing already. You're already on your computer any time you'd need it.

As for guides and such, I agree for the most part that it's extra bloat but there has been on occasion, while at a con, where I'm trying to explain something to someone or they ask a specific question, I know the answer is in the guides. I tell them to go read the guides. I'd personally find it helpful to point out to these people where exactly in the guides it's located so when they do get back to their computer, they can look it up. The app itself isn't really meant to be used if you have a computer handy so the guides would really only be for reference when you don't have a computer handy and you want to point something out.

If the goal is to point out where the guides are on the site, you'd use the web browser on your phone though. Otherwise it's not going to help them when they sit down at their computer and look for it again themselves.

If the only time you'd need it is when you're physically at your computer editing, then it's probably not necessary to have it in a mobile app. If it's only purpose is to have a tool on hand to explain thing to people when they ask you questions, you're really stretching to legitimize having it in there. That's not a use-case most of your users would care about at all.