Web apps on apps.ie

[Darran Morris]

Hi all

Thought this would be a better place for this discussion, Twitter is a bit public and makes it difficult to discuss properly.

I don't think web apps should be allowed on apps.ie. I think it is a place for mobile app developers to showcase their work, not web app developers.

I usually screen developers apps once they sign up for an account but this one slipped through. My apologies. In future, it would be awesome if you guys spot anything that looks awry to just drop me a mail or DM on Twitter so I can take a look.

I can unpublish this app and notify the developer if that sounds like a good approach.

Cheers,

-Darran.

[Vinny Coyne]

I'm in agreement here. I don't think web apps should be on the site.

That approach sounds fine to me.

Vinny.

[Damian OSuilleabhain]

Hi Darren,

I agree. I was just about to start a topic myself.

I think it's worth re-examing the purpose of apps.ie. In my mind the goals were to;
- Act as a showcase for Irish iPhone (and Android) developers and designers
- Give us collective leverage with organisations like O2 and Enterprise Ireland
- Attract business customers looking for an app to be developed
- Increase our app sales with consumers

Providing a customer service for the sake of it was not a goal, it is a tool used to achieve the real goals above.

While allowing webapps on the site may be of benefit to consumers it does not advance our goals. I think it dilutes our message if we are swamped with every website with a mobile skin.

Therefore I agree that we should not allow webapps, and agree with Darran that he should proceed as he proposed.

Damian

[Conor Winders]

Agree with Darran, Vinny & Damian.

I don't think web apps should be allowed full stop.

I would be in favour of more segregation of the apps that are there now too. As in Android & iPhone apps shouldn't be in the same listing. I think as more viable platforms (Palm Pre) come along we are in danger of diluting the site too much. But I guess this should be a different topic!

I'm happy with the process Darran has outlined above. Would it be fairer though to spread the work around a bit. Seems Darran get's lumbered with almost everything to do for Apps.ie? Perhaps we should have a user or user group who have rights and access to go in and remove things that do not belong and are not suitable.

[Darran Morris]

It is definitely possible to create accounts with privileges you have mentioned Conor, but we would first need to make sure that those users with access didn't just go in and remove (or just unpublish) content straight away. There should probably be some sort of core group that can approve such actions.

Thoughts?

-Darran.

Conor Winders said:

Agree with both Darran and Vinny.

I don't think web apps should be allowed full stop.

I would be in favour of more segregation of the apps that are there now too. As in Android & iPhone apps shouldn't be in the same listing. I think as more viable platforms (Palm Pre) come along we are in danger of diluting the site too much. But I guess this should be a different topic!

I'm happy with the process Darran has outlined above. Would it be fairer though to spread the work around a bit. Seems Darran get's lumbered with almost everything to do for Apps.ie? Perhaps we should have a user or user group who have rights and access to go in and remove things that do not belong and are not suitable.

[Philip Kirwan]

I agree, I don't think wep apps should be there. Those apps didn't go through any approval process from Apple

I agree with Darran's approach.

Could Apps.ie be expanded to have different sections?

Philip.

[Dermot Daly]

I've always been conscious of always looking for Darran to row in when there's work to be done. He's asked for volunteers before and offered to help with training on MODx. So, if anyone wants to help, do holler.

Web Apps: I hate em, so I'd vote to take them out.
Also, IIRC the criteria is that someone attends a meetup, or is well known to a member. I think this should keep the quality up.

[Damian OSuilleabhain]

I'm happy to put myself forward as a moderator to take some of the burden off Darran if people are happy that I would be fair.

[Conor Winders]

As I missed a few meetings there for a while I guess that's why I missed the call for volunteers. I'm certainly willing to help out in any way I can with Apps.ie

For vetting content it could be as simple as a small group of us logging in once every day to see any apps that have been added since the previous day. Anything that is in anyway contentious could then be raised here or amongst a group of us over email to weigh pros/cons and merits of the app before any action is taken.

[Damian OSuilleabhain]

I like Conor's approach. +1 vote from the Balgriffin jury.

Conor Winders said:

As I missed a few meetings there for a while I guess that's why I missed the call for volunteers. I'm certainly willing to help out in any way I can with Apps.ie

For vetting content it could be as simple as a small group of us logging in once every day to see any apps that have been added since the previous day. Anything that is in anyway contentious could then be raised here or amongst a group of us over email to weigh pros/cons and merits of the app before any action is taken.

[Vinny Coyne]

I'll also volunteer to help out with moderating the apps.

I also think a vote via the mailing list or the forum here would be the best way to determine if a suspect submission should be allowed or not.

[David McMahon]

While we're discussing apps.ie, is the featured app ever going to change!? Not sure if a decision was ever reached on how that would be done. Think it's been the same for way too long now (sorry Steven!). Maybe this could also be a decision that this sub-group could make on a regular basis (weekly?), as they will be most familiar with what's on there. Or even to pick from a list of specific apps that developers request to be featured or something.

Unfortunately, I can't volunteer myself for moderating at the moment, as I'm traveling and am sometimes days without Internet access, so I don't think I'd be much use.

Oh, and no to web apps. Apologies if I've gone off on an off-topic tangent.

[Finbarr Brady]

I disagree with Vinny because he might not approve my next JSMS update :)

Just kidding. Agree with ye all. Putting web apps on the site is like putting custard on steak: It shouldn't happen!

Put me in the bucket pool also to help out with moderating.