GameKnot: GameKnot related, App is needed

GameKnot related: App is needed

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bluor
24-Jul-12, 08:00

App is needed

I think that game knot should have an android app and an iOS app. Gameknot is always adding new features so the next should be an app

bluor
24-Jul-12, 08:00

all in favor

All in favor say I

rockall
24-Jul-12, 13:32

Neutral

bluor,
At one time I would have advocated for this, but GK does have mobile version of its web page that takes care of most issues,

AND

Talking with a software developer, I learned that if you are going to write an app for the Android, there are over 50 different hardware-carrier variations that need to be addressed if you want your app to work perfectly for anything other than simple tasks, and that number is growing steadily. Apple is more rigorous in enforcing standards, so there are only 4 variations for them currently, but even the Apple apps will change as they bring out new models.

So it's really not as simple as it might seem to create an app that works well for everyone. One would really need to make the case that revenues would be significantly improved to pay for the cost of creating it and the cost of maintaining it. I don't see the justification. The mobile version of the web page works well on my iPad.

bluor
25-Jul-12, 08:29

Deleted by Gameknot.com on 01-Sep-12, 12:45.

nathanman22
01-Sep-12, 12:23

100% agree

I just was about to start a thread on this and I saw this one! I definitely agree a mobile app would be so helpful. I think it would draw more customers from a business perspective and would prevent time outs and other issues if someone doesn't have a computer (people are more likely to have phones)...So PLEASE Gameknot.com, please create a mobile app!

-Nathan

Gameknot.com
01-Sep-12, 13:01

We do provide a mobile version of GameKnot that works just fine on any phone/tablet/etc. that has a web browser: m.gameknot.com (you can find the link at the bottom of all GK pages)

We do certainly understand that a native app would be preferred in some situations, however GK has been in development for 12 years now and while it won't take us as long to get the app up and running, it would take close to that long to fully support the multitude of all the different smartphones/tablets/etc. (including different versions of Android, see the post from rockall above). Not to mention that there is a new version of every smartphone coming out every year, and we would have keep up with that well, etc. etc.

It's already a significant pain in the neck to make sure GK works perfectly with the 4 main web browsers — if you add 50 more different devices/operating systems/etc. we have to support as well, you'll agree it's just not worth it. Considering the added cost and the extra effort, and considering it will only provide a marginally better experience and would have significantly fewer features than the main website.

We would much rather focus on improving the website and making sure you have the top-notch experience here instead.

nathanman22
01-Sep-12, 13:03

Okay

gameknot.com, okay that makes sense. Maybe sometime in the future, you could reconsider. I would also love for you to bring back lifetime memberships for a limited time. (: But that's a topic for another day. Anyway, thanks for responding quickly on this issue.

-Nathan

bluor
01-Sep-12, 14:50

yeah

I agree to gameknot but please one day reconsider and make a app when ever you can

wschmidt
19-Sep-12, 20:07

I use the mobile version referred to above

regularly on my Samsung Galaxy and it works just fine. Would love to see blitz added to it, but otherwise, can't complain.

fr1ar
20-Sep-12, 08:21

I also use the moblie version

and have no complaints. If there is a wish list, mine would be for a quick link to the forums.

davidjrb
20-Sep-12, 23:37

gameknot mobile doesn't work...

If gameknot developers don't feel confident programming apps, then hire someone that does. People will pay for it. Gameknot doesn't work on my galaxy. Check out my screenshot: www.laga.is

mukherjee
01-Oct-12, 12:13

why i quit gk and learned to love the apps :-)

I , once a gameknot addict (with a different username :himu ) have switched to chess.com because the
later goes better with my smart phone and tablet. And I still miss the gameknot community, the better chess boards the opening databases the team games, and above all the annotations. Mobile computing is a reality denial will only hinder the natural growth.

Gameknot.com
01-Oct-12, 13:02

Not quite true

We are not in any way "denying" that the mobile computing is a reality, we are embracing it: m.gameknot.com

If we had a realistic way of developing, supporting and maintaining proprietary apps for each of the dozens of mobile platforms, without sacrificing the website itself in the process, we would've already done it. Our dev team is more than capable and confident programming apps -- it's not really all that different or more complicated than any other type of general programming (and we have programmers with experience working on hardware accelerated 3D graphics writing low-level shader code for a major video-game company for example, which is way more complicated than pretty much anything).

Because our dev team is already 110% occupied with the website and a long to-do list full of tasks that will keep us busy for the next couple of decades, the only way to go would be to hire a whole new team dedicated just to apps. Which means we'll need to find some way to pay them. Which means either doubling the premium membership rates, or pretty much getting rid of the free memberships (i.e. replacing them with trial memberships limited to 30 days in order to increase the revenue), or keeping everything as is in hopes that the apps will pay off big in the future to justify doubling the dev team. We've considered all the possibilities, and the added risk -- ultimately that apps won't work out and GameKnot will eventually have to shut down because we can't pay our dev team -- just isn't worth the marginally better experience that the proprietary apps provide over a regular website.

We have absolutely nothing against apps per se, we are just not willing to bet the whole GameKnot that you know and love on them. Once again, we would much rather focus on improving the website and making sure you have the top-notch experience with the website instead. It's probably only a few years left until they fix all the inherent issues with the smartphones and their tiny screens anyway -- tablets already work great with all modern websites. After all, if Angry Birds can work just fine in a web browser, surely turn-based chess doesn't need a proprietary app.

Gameknot.com
01-Oct-12, 13:18

Oh, and one more thing, if there are issues with the mobile version of GameKnot (or the full version for that matter) on your particular phone or tablet, we do appreciate your letting us know, but also please make sure to report the issue to the company that makes your phone or tablet as well. We are working hard ensuring that GameKnot always works flawlessly with the latest versions of all major web browsers as soon as they come out and the couple of most popular mobile platforms as well, so if something doesn't work on your particular phone, chances are it's not really an issue with GameKnot, but with the web browser you are using, or the phone's operating system, or the phone itself. Please make sure you have the most up-to-date versions of both the web browser and the operating system installed. If you don't, it's possible that the issue you are experiencing has already been fixed by the company that makes the phone, or they finally implemented the required features on their phone that have been available on regular computers for years, and all you need to do is update the software on your phone.

And if you do already have the latest versions of everything, simple logic suggests that because GameKnot works just fine on 99% of the rest of platforms, it's not really GameKnot that needs to be fixed. But we do always appreciate all reports of any issues with our website, no matter how small or obscure.

dayitu
24-Apr-13, 08:11

app

its not difficult and time consuming to turn an mobile website into an iphone app, most of the code is already there. besides that, it pays for itself: free version with banners, 2 dollar for paid version, something like that, and you already have a big audience..

garci08
24-Oct-13, 16:29

Direct way to go straight to gameknot.

App need to go from the front to the board.

small_potato
08-Nov-13, 13:33

I'm not sure what's so great about an app, if gameknot provided serious real-time chess maybe, but for correspondance chess I don't see what it gives you. You need internet access in either case so you can just use the website, the mobile site utilises screen real-estate fairly optimally for mobile devices so just put a link on your desktop to the gameknot 'my games' page (i assume you can do that on iOS as you can on Android, or perhaps Apple have "omitted" that feature for the next release so you can pay another $600 for it )

TBH my experience of using an app for another chess site is that it is pretty lousy and temperamental anyway so I just use the website instead anyway.

bluor
08-Nov-13, 14:05

App

I myself am a Android App Developer. I have made many apps, in just 48hrs I was able to make my own apps to work on over 1500 Devices. If I myself can do that in 48 hrs, think how hard it is for Gameknot or even a hired company to do it. And I agree with dayitu, you can put an ad free version for like $2 and google take less than 25% of the profits you make with the app, so you can make a lot of money too. More than on apple iOS Devices.

small_potato
08-Nov-13, 14:14

Any app written in 48 hours either doesn't do a lot or is full of bugs. Probably both.

bluor
09-Nov-13, 08:22

My app has no bugs, and if they do, they are stupid mistakes I made that get fixed in five minutes.

pizzaslice
27-Jun-21, 10:18

Landscape has changed

In the 9 years since this thread was posted the mobile app development landscape has changed significantly and the challenges associated with entering this market has been reduced so much that it is basically negligible. Surely a basic app could be put in place or alternatively PWA for the website could be made. Can’t you review your original standpoint?

Having an app for the platform would make it more accessible, since many people look for an app first, before looking for a website - especially for something like chess.

fjorgyn
08-Apr-22, 15:46

iOS/Android app please

We need an app!
Thanks!

nick812
18-Apr-22, 08:24

App needed

Just wanted to add my voice to those calling for an app. Playing experience on mobile is significantly worse compared to a competitor site due to lack of an app. I'm aware there is a mobile gameknot site but it simply does not perform as well in terms of ease of use compared to an app.

euro_pop_legend
18-Apr-22, 15:22

Deleted by euro_pop_legend on 20-Apr-22, 16:14.

fjorgyn
19-Apr-22, 08:03

Reply to pop_superqueen

In nowadays' economics there's no correlation (necessarily) between an app and a website. An app can be either purchased, subscribed to or run ads. If GameKnot decides to have an app, people can subscribe to it as they do here. Traditionally, apps are cheaper to subscribe to than websites because the process isn't as intricate. Chess.com, Red Hot Pawn and several other online chess communities all have their own apps.

Much like you, I prefer the large screen of a computer over small devices. The board and pieces appear more realistic and it's easier to play. But if I am on holiday, or on a business trip, I like the convenience of an app while using my iPad (or any tablet).

Cheerios!

euro_pop_legend
19-Apr-22, 10:20

Deleted by euro_pop_legend on 20-Apr-22, 16:14.

jett22
17-Jul-22, 11:49

GK has an "app" for Android (and Apple?)

Well... Sort of.

Using either Chrome (not the Google textbox, the browser) or Firefox on your phone, log into GK. First off, you'll be redirected to the mobile browser version of GK: m.gameknot.com. Bookmark this; it works well, imo.

However, you can take an additional step. In Firefox, you can open the menu and select Install. That will create a Home screen icon. You can then treat that like an app. In Chrome, the menu option is "Add to Home screen".

The downside is that lack of reliable notifications.

I would assume that that same browser have a similar function on Apple phones but I don't know.

So, until GK develops an app, that's probably the closest GK has. Hope it helps!

jett22
17-Aug-22, 14:44

Chrome "app" version of GK works very well

When I first did the steps in my previous post, I had been using Firefox. But, I moved over to Chrome to test. Since then I'm getting notifications all the time, even when I have used the Chrome browser in sometime. I get notifications for My Move and messages, though, if the message is on a puzzle, I'll have to navigate to find the comments.

Therefore, I amend my above post by strongly recommending Chrome! Give it a try and see how it works.

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