How do people access the forum?

monkey_roo

Hey
A few hours ago I posted a comment which, while relevant to the Lego model being discussed probably belonged in a different category as it crossed US/UK pricing and this was correctly pointed out. This got me thinking about how I access the forum and post comments and I realised that 90% of my interaction with the forum (like this post I am making now) is done using an IPhone and the interface I see is formated for mobile access (which i assume is out of the box functionality) and as such I just realised a number of the features and information about postings, such as their categories or any of the right hand menu options are not available to me. I guess my question at the end of this is, how do others interact with the site and in the case of mobile formated access will (or can) the full raft of features on the main site be made available? (without defeating the purpose of the mobile version) - just curious I guess

Yellowcastle

I am usually accessing via mobile as well and while the mobile version interface is nice, it's definitely missing some of the standard functionality like search and categories...

Cam_n_Stu

I am guessing Huw can tell the client type breakdown from the server logs. For the record though I access it mainly from a desktop Mac, and occasionally from a Windows Laptop, and a small screen Apple laptop and once in a while from an iPad.

rocao

@Cam_n_Stu: Actually, the administrative dashboard does not natively present us with information about client type. However, I think Huw could derive this from the analytics tracking that he put in place.

@monkey_roo: to echo and expand on what Yellowcastle said, the mobile version is an out-of-the-box feature of VanillaForums and it is slick in some instances (i.e. it lists the originator of a discussion whereas the full version does not) but currently falls short in others -- most notably the display of categories, as you mention.

However, when one starts a new discussion, the ability to specify the category is present, and I suppose it's simply a matter of time until a user is familiar with the intent of each. The moderators will politely (and increasingly more sternly :P) correct a member until then.

I think the biggest problem right now in categorization is that the top level category is not displayed in the name so categories like "Shopping->UK" only show up as "UK". I've thought about redundancy, but it would really make the Category menu look awful: "Shopping -> Shopping UK"

SiE

ipad or pc usually, sometimes iphone.

Willhorner

Motorola XOOM Baby! :)

princedraven

ipad, iphone, imac, PC, I really like the stripped down mobile view.

Matthew

Windows 7 Acer laptop and (ancient) XP PC. If I had a half decent phone I might give mobile view a go, but it won't let me onto the forum, or indeed anywhere where a login is needed...

atkinsar

PC, iPhone and Asus eee pad. On the Asus I switch the browser so that it is not recognised as a mobile device and therefore see the non mobile version of the forum.

I like the mobile version on the iPhone, but only use it as a reader or to tap out a quick comment, anything more than that i switch to PC. The mobile version is nice but you have to realise it's limitations, I can understand people's frustrations if the mobile version is their only interaction with the forum.

princedraven

^ what he said. The mobile version is great for the train or whilst waiting for the bus. Use my main computer when I want to interact fully.

Huw

^ me three, although I do often use my iPad which is ideal for everything except typing long passages.

Si_UKNZ

Sometimes HTC Desire - I use both the android app and the website, the app for the sets, but use the web-based forum mostly these days.

Sometimes a win 7 laptop - the firefox brickset search plugin is my usual entry point.

Huw

There's an Android app? What's it called?

Si_UKNZ

Lego scans. One of the few apps which gives functionality ive not seen on the PC. Maybe its not brickset related (clearly!) But id always assumed it was since the logos almost the same and it does a similar thing

Huw

I'll check that out.

I have issued API keys to a couple of people doing Android apps so I thought maybe they'd come to fruition, but clearly not yet.