MeFi iPhone app? April 7, 2009 8:41 AM Subscribe
Would it be legal for me to write/distribute a metafilter iPhone app?
I'm not super-serious about this right now, just curious what you guys in charge would think about this. If I did write it it would mostly be as a learning project
Would it matter if the app was free or a nominal fee($0.99)?
I'm not super-serious about this right now, just curious what you guys in charge would think about this. If I did write it it would mostly be as a learning project
Would it matter if the app was free or a nominal fee($0.99)?
I mean, you can get to Metafilter and subsites through Safari, and its various RSS feeds through numerous iPhone RSS feed readers. I'm trying to imagine what kind of app you'd write.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 8:54 AM on April 7, 2009
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 8:54 AM on April 7, 2009
oooh! An app with a metafilter specific navbar at the bottom (OR THE TOP!!) would be sweet.
posted by iamkimiam at 8:56 AM on April 7, 2009
posted by iamkimiam at 8:56 AM on April 7, 2009
Huh. I can't imagine what an app would do besides be a wrapper around Safari, but if you want to try writing an app, go ahead.
Selling it is a different matter and something we should probably discuss over email, down the line when you have an app to look at and evaluate. I suspect you'd need some custom API programming on our end to do anything interesting as well, which we can figure out later I guess.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 9:04 AM on April 7, 2009
Selling it is a different matter and something we should probably discuss over email, down the line when you have an app to look at and evaluate. I suspect you'd need some custom API programming on our end to do anything interesting as well, which we can figure out later I guess.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 9:04 AM on April 7, 2009
What would you provide in an iPhone app that isn't already available to Mefi users through existing channels?
I wouldn't mind a better iPhone-specific stylesheet, but that doesn't need app development, it needs breaking into mathowie's office and rearranging the to-do list on his whiteboard.
posted by ardgedee at 9:39 AM on April 7, 2009 [3 favorites]
I wouldn't mind a better iPhone-specific stylesheet, but that doesn't need app development, it needs breaking into mathowie's office and rearranging the to-do list on his whiteboard.
posted by ardgedee at 9:39 AM on April 7, 2009 [3 favorites]
I would pay for it if it had the following features:
If I use the words drunk or wasted in a twitter post, the app will automatically post to Meta saying how much I love y'all. [There should be a frequency setting]
Call out BB for no apparent reason and then apologize once thread hits 100 comments.
Post meet ups in random cities with locations picked out of Yelp.
posted by special-k at 9:42 AM on April 7, 2009 [2 favorites]
If I use the words drunk or wasted in a twitter post, the app will automatically post to Meta saying how much I love y'all. [There should be a frequency setting]
Call out BB for no apparent reason and then apologize once thread hits 100 comments.
Post meet ups in random cities with locations picked out of Yelp.
posted by special-k at 9:42 AM on April 7, 2009 [2 favorites]
Until iPhone OS 3.0, I'd bet you'd make a lot of money making a Metafilter app that offers cut-and-paste functionality. Lots of complaining here about how the phone lacks cut and paste. You might make a fortune meeting that demand, at least between now and June.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:13 AM on April 7, 2009
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:13 AM on April 7, 2009
Post meet ups in random cities with locations picked out of Yelp.
A Metafilter meetup application might actuallly be an interesting idea.
Essentially, bridge an iPhone Map API ("Google Maps") with meetup data scraped from Metatalk. Touch and drag around the world and zoom in to different markers. Touch a meetup marker to get event details, location, and photos and comments from prior meetups.
Could be fun and useful.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:19 AM on April 7, 2009
A Metafilter meetup application might actuallly be an interesting idea.
Essentially, bridge an iPhone Map API ("Google Maps") with meetup data scraped from Metatalk. Touch and drag around the world and zoom in to different markers. Touch a meetup marker to get event details, location, and photos and comments from prior meetups.
Could be fun and useful.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:19 AM on April 7, 2009
> a Metafilter app that offers cut-and-paste functionality.
A simple browser-only copy-and-paste is trivial in Javascript. But first you'll have to write an iPhone app that allows the user to define a text selection range. That's probably not trivial.
posted by ardgedee at 10:28 AM on April 7, 2009
A simple browser-only copy-and-paste is trivial in Javascript. But first you'll have to write an iPhone app that allows the user to define a text selection range. That's probably not trivial.
posted by ardgedee at 10:28 AM on April 7, 2009
The more I think about it, I like my meetup app idea. I might give it a shot. I'll play around with the various map APIs and see how easy they are to work with...
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:11 AM on April 7, 2009
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:11 AM on April 7, 2009
I'd be doing this to try to learn some iPhone dev stuff, so I probably wouldn't intend it as just a wrapper around Safari (although I know similar sites have done so). Not really sure yet what the features would be though
@mathowie - sounds good. I'll send you an e-mail if I get anything substantial written in the future
posted by crayz at 11:13 AM on April 7, 2009
@mathowie - sounds good. I'll send you an e-mail if I get anything substantial written in the future
posted by crayz at 11:13 AM on April 7, 2009
This iPhone app, it should vibrate.
And periodically flash this.
posted by The White Hat at 11:31 AM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
And periodically flash this.
posted by The White Hat at 11:31 AM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
The Facebook "app" on Android (and I assume on iPhone) is just a browser wrapper with the ability to upload photos and notifications for incoming messages. If you did it like the mobile mefi site but with the ability to post that would be cool. Of course, Matt could do that too.
Anyway, HTML 5 is the way to go in the long run.
posted by GuyZero at 11:57 AM on April 7, 2009
Anyway, HTML 5 is the way to go in the long run.
posted by GuyZero at 11:57 AM on April 7, 2009
Can it fix the hellacious typos I seem to generate particularly on my iPhone?
posted by From Bklyn at 12:12 PM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by From Bklyn at 12:12 PM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
I think I've got it: a MeFi iPhone app could keep tabs on your location based on the phones GPS signal. When it recognized that you were nearby another mefite, it would alert you and give you directions on how how to find them.
When the two of you meet, the app would determine based on your posting histories if you had ever had any harsh words or unresolved conflicts. Regardless of the outcome, the app would instruct you to fight.
Whoever wins, would document it with the camera, which the app would tag and upload here to metatalk.
Eventually using this system, we would finally be able to determine a winner of metafilter.
posted by quin at 12:27 PM on April 7, 2009 [22 favorites]
When the two of you meet, the app would determine based on your posting histories if you had ever had any harsh words or unresolved conflicts. Regardless of the outcome, the app would instruct you to fight.
Whoever wins, would document it with the camera, which the app would tag and upload here to metatalk.
Eventually using this system, we would finally be able to determine a winner of metafilter.
posted by quin at 12:27 PM on April 7, 2009 [22 favorites]
A Metafilter meetup application might actuallly be an interesting idea.
DING!
It's 5 p.m.
View location of 10 nearest MeFites.
View location of bar equidistant from said MeFites.
Invite?
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:06 PM on April 7, 2009 [2 favorites]
DING!
It's 5 p.m.
View location of 10 nearest MeFites.
View location of bar equidistant from said MeFites.
Invite?
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:06 PM on April 7, 2009 [2 favorites]
I was about to suggest a mash-up of MeFi and Google Latitude, but I see that quin and Cool Papa Bell got there first.
I would happily pay for an app that would allow me track the location of Astro Zombie.
posted by SPrintF at 1:08 PM on April 7, 2009
I would happily pay for an app that would allow me track the location of Astro Zombie.
posted by SPrintF at 1:08 PM on April 7, 2009
That's easy and you don't even need an app. Astro Zombie is always right behind you.
posted by quin at 1:18 PM on April 7, 2009
posted by quin at 1:18 PM on April 7, 2009
Anybody who wants to be my "friend" on Latitude can see me at work all day, at home all night and may occasionally get a glimpse of me moving between those two locations. THE FUTURE IS NOW!
posted by GuyZero at 1:46 PM on April 7, 2009
posted by GuyZero at 1:46 PM on April 7, 2009
I'd settle for some basic work on the existing iPhone-styled site. Like support for login and commenting.
posted by mkultra at 1:51 PM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by mkultra at 1:51 PM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
Blazecock: Face recognition for the camera to auto-post and tag people at meetups.
posted by terrapin at 5:30 AM on April 8, 2009
posted by terrapin at 5:30 AM on April 8, 2009
I took a quick look at two iPhone map APIs. One makes use of Google Maps and the other (Cloudmade) makes use of OpenStreetMap.
The first offers markers, the second does not. However, markers with the Google API do not translate or scale from drag and zoom touches. The Cloudmade app does not have markers and it is somewhat slower and less graceful than the Google Maps API, which itself is a bit choppy. Both are free for non-commercial use and can integrate with the iPhone's LocationManager ("GPS").
There is Microsoft Virtual Earth but it looks like it has special licensing requirements, or it's not clear what the licensing terms are. There's a third-party effort to provide ObjC code, but from what I can tell, there's not as much in the way of a featured API as with Google Maps and OpenStreetMap. A lot more work would need to be done to put together an app with this map source.
I think the Google Maps option is probably the way to go, but I'd need to get markers working. I'll also test this out with the Cloudmade source.
Another thing I can imagine that would be helpful is an XML or other document that can be easily parsed to collect meet-up data. Some of the following may or may not be available somewhere already:
• location (lat. + long.)
• location name
• location street address
• location contact info
• location description
• meet-up "lead" name and contact info
• comments
• date and time info
• etc.
but perhaps a form or other means of collecting this data for upcoming meetups from the individual or individuals doing the organization work would help. I don't know how much use people would get from this app, to deserve this much extra work.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:32 AM on April 9, 2009
The first offers markers, the second does not. However, markers with the Google API do not translate or scale from drag and zoom touches. The Cloudmade app does not have markers and it is somewhat slower and less graceful than the Google Maps API, which itself is a bit choppy. Both are free for non-commercial use and can integrate with the iPhone's LocationManager ("GPS").
There is Microsoft Virtual Earth but it looks like it has special licensing requirements, or it's not clear what the licensing terms are. There's a third-party effort to provide ObjC code, but from what I can tell, there's not as much in the way of a featured API as with Google Maps and OpenStreetMap. A lot more work would need to be done to put together an app with this map source.
I think the Google Maps option is probably the way to go, but I'd need to get markers working. I'll also test this out with the Cloudmade source.
Another thing I can imagine that would be helpful is an XML or other document that can be easily parsed to collect meet-up data. Some of the following may or may not be available somewhere already:
• location (lat. + long.)
• location name
• location street address
• location contact info
• location description
• meet-up "lead" name and contact info
• comments
• date and time info
• etc.
but perhaps a form or other means of collecting this data for upcoming meetups from the individual or individuals doing the organization work would help. I don't know how much use people would get from this app, to deserve this much extra work.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:32 AM on April 9, 2009
BP, you probably know this, but Apple's also announced a new framework for map integration in the 3.0 SDK (MapKit).
(Geez. I don't know if I feel more dirty for doing free Apple advertising, or nervous about those attractive unibody aluminum helicopters flying this way.)
posted by ~ at 10:36 AM on April 9, 2009 [1 favorite]
(Geez. I don't know if I feel more dirty for doing free Apple advertising, or nervous about those attractive unibody aluminum helicopters flying this way.)
posted by ~ at 10:36 AM on April 9, 2009 [1 favorite]
BP, you probably know this, but Apple's also announced a new framework for map integration in the 3.0 SDK (MapKit).
I didn't, but I do now. Thanks!
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:17 AM on April 9, 2009
I didn't, but I do now. Thanks!
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:17 AM on April 9, 2009
Hmm. Blazecock, can it also have a searchable list of mefites with the ability to check off the ones you've met in real life so you can obsessively try to collect 'em all? Heck, I'll even code it up for you. (I'm really really liking cocoa touch.)
posted by ~ at 11:48 AM on April 9, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by ~ at 11:48 AM on April 9, 2009 [1 favorite]
That sounds awesome! I didn't think to look at 3.0 for the maps part because it won't be out for a few months, but this seems like a good way to go. Check out the Core Data component added to the 3.0 kit — you could manage this list data with it.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:19 PM on April 9, 2009
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:19 PM on April 9, 2009
Sweet. I hadn't noticed that! I haven't played with core data on the Mac, but I've heard it's quite nice.
posted by ~ at 1:18 PM on April 9, 2009
posted by ~ at 1:18 PM on April 9, 2009
Rats. I tried installing the MeFi SDK but halfway through it asked me for something called a Cabal Provisioning ID. Do you know what that is?
posted by ~ at 2:54 PM on April 9, 2009
posted by ~ at 2:54 PM on April 9, 2009
I think it involves a blood ritual and, maybe, if you're lucky, an exchange of public keys.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:50 PM on April 9, 2009
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:50 PM on April 9, 2009
Without violating the NDA I think I can say that this Maps API is pretty sweet.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:37 AM on April 10, 2009
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:37 AM on April 10, 2009
In all seriousness (I just found this page by googling, because I was thinking to post the same question to MetaTalk):
An iphone web app for mefi would be great for usability even if it just let us view things in a good-looking large font. I'm thinking, for example, of the gorgeous web app app for fluther, which is incredibly usable, legible and functional. (Fluther is sort of AskMe-ish but with a MUCH lower signal-to-noise ratio, a lot of joke answers and a lot of chatfilter -- in other words, less useful/'adult' than mefi but growing in leaps and bounds partly due to the web app.)
posted by sparrows at 11:29 PM on April 22, 2009
An iphone web app for mefi would be great for usability even if it just let us view things in a good-looking large font. I'm thinking, for example, of the gorgeous web app app for fluther, which is incredibly usable, legible and functional. (Fluther is sort of AskMe-ish but with a MUCH lower signal-to-noise ratio, a lot of joke answers and a lot of chatfilter -- in other words, less useful/'adult' than mefi but growing in leaps and bounds partly due to the web app.)
posted by sparrows at 11:29 PM on April 22, 2009
(and by same question, I just mean a "may we have this" pony request, not "may I make this")
posted by sparrows at 11:36 PM on April 22, 2009
posted by sparrows at 11:36 PM on April 22, 2009
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 8:52 AM on April 7, 2009