Help us Prioritize Features: iPhone or Not?

By scott
(1 votes) (report abuse)

We've got an ever-growing list of potential neighborhood blog features over at Neighborlogs , our little software product that runs CDNews and a bunch of otherneighborhood blogs . But we need more hard data to help us decide what to work on next. 

More mobile tools is an obvious place that could use some focus. But we're not sure how deeply some of the fancy new phones have penetrated into the neighborhood.

Do you have an iPhone? Plan on getting one? No interest in ever getting one? Let us know in this poll:

What's your iPhone status?

I have the fancy new iPhone 3GS
I plan on getting or upgrading to the iPhone 3GS in the next few months
I have an older iPhone 3G or 2G (original version), and plan on keeping it for a while
I don't have an iPhone, and don't plan on getting one
or show results
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posted onMon, Jun 29, 2009 04:53 PM
last updated onMon, Jun 29, 2009 04:59 PM
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Please don't make an app.. bynicpottier8 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
What is the question?

Whether to make an optimized version of the page? Or whether to make an iPhone app version?

There is a pretty ridiculous tendency for people to release apps in the App Store for things that are perfectly suited for the excellent iPhone browser. It is actually incredibly silly because for things like websites it is both far easier to develop an iPhone specific HTML version and far faster to update said 'app' without going through the Apple QA process etc..

I feel I can say this with some authority since my job is making games and apps on smart phones. :)
RE: Please don't make an app.. byscott8 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
We're just generally trying to gauge the penetration of iphones among our readers. A mobile HTML UI is definitely our first priority for general browsing, commenting, etc. But mobile newsgathering is also important, and mobile Safari's lack of HTTP upload is a big frustration there.
RE: Please don't make an app.. bybpm20008 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
x500. dont make an app to replace something you can browse up, cant say it enough.

uhh and winmo ftw!
applications byjoanna8 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Although I voted the last one, I want you to know I don't have anything against any of the new phones. It isn't a priority at the moment. Never say never is my philosophy.
RE: applications byAndrew Taylor8 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
Ditto.
Andrew
No love... bykb8 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
...for an android-based phone?
Yes, iphone! byAnita8 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Yes, iphone, twitter, facebook, all of it!
ning model byNate8 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
I like my.greatcity.org (sorry for the shameless plug) and other ning sites, which allow you to do this:
Add By Phone
Add photos and videos to Seattle Network from your phone by sending them to this email address:
NateColeDa550@seattlegreatcitynetwork.ning.com
oh and the phone byNate8 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
I almost forgot to say I use a windows mobile device but I voted for #2, even though its more like "hope" than "plan" at this point. I'd love a better interface than the way it looks now, although going through google reader helps.

Thanks for asking!
I'd focus on other features vs. iPhone specfic development byDave Schappell8 months ago (1 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
I have an iPhone and love it, but find that I get most of my news from you via twitter, and then come to the site at night (and plan to do more of the latter -- I just love the local content).

My hunch is that you'd be better off focusing on site development/features, and making sure it works well in Safari & other browsers.

That said, it's hard to vote, when I'm not sure what you're thinking about enabling in the iPhone. If you had a simple list of features/capabilities, the idea of an iPhone app might get more interesting (i.e. the ability to read the feed of info... the ability to submit stories/photos/videos...)

Great job,

Dave
I wouldn't bother with custom iPhone HTML byMaarten8 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Have you looked at stats on how many people follow your blog via Twitter or an RSS aggregator vs. actually visiting the front page?

Second, the iPhone is more capable than any other phone of making regular pages usable. Thus, the iPhone needs a custom HTML version less than any other device. I haven't yet seen a mobile dumb-down that I liked.

Now, a news reporting app sounds interesting.
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