Anyone know anything about creating smartphone apps?

[kopper]

If someone would like to make an app for the Hideout for smart phones, let me know by replying below. I am not the owner of a smart phone nor do I even use these things, so I know nothing about making an app for the site that would allow people to view our stuff easier than the regular old Web view.

Basically, if you know ANYTHING about doing this, and can do it quickly and cheaply, then you've got the green light from me to make one for the site. I'd appreciate any help I could get with this as I realize it would help drive traffic here.

Thanks!

kopper

[Mardy Pune]

Maybe the easiest way would be to develop a mobile site?

Is there anything in the Ning software/code/whatever for that?

[kopper]

No idea on developing a mobile site. I know that Ning offers several options for creating apps, the problem is, none of them are free:

http://go.ning.com/everywhere/?utm_source=NCD&utm_medium=WEB&am...

I'm trying not to incur any additional expenses here. The site costs a lot as it is, and I barely make enough to cover it. Yes, Google Adsense ads help, but considering the hours I spend here most days of the week, it's almost like a second full-time job. If I figure in what little money comes in from ads and divide that by the number of hours I spend managing this site, well, trust me, you don't want to know my pay rate. It's virtually non-existent.

In fact, I could just as easily ditch the site and take on a REAL part-time job, and even at minimum wage, I'd still come out way ahead.

But I realize that, while I'm the guy in charge, I should try to find a solution so that folks with smart phones & androids and tablets and all that can easily browse the site. I have nothing to test it on since I'm still only using computers to run it and visit it. Yet I hear all the time about kids (even grade school-age kids, fer cryin' out loud) creating apps for all kinds of useful things, so I thought I might be able to find someone here who could do it. Again, I really know very little about this stuff since I'm quickly becoming a Luddite (well, me and my old-fashioned computer Internet connection and dumb phone).

Mardy Pune said:

Maybe the easiest way would be to develop a mobile site?

Is there anything in the Ning software/code/whatever for that?

[Mardy Pune]

Hmm, after looking at that link I can see how cost is a real factor here, not to mention the time building and testing the thing!

kopper said:

No idea on developing a mobile site. I know that Ning offers several options for creating apps, the problem is, none of them are free:

http://go.ning.com/everywhere/?utm_source=NCD&utm_medium=WEB&am...

I'm trying not to incur any additional expenses here. The site costs a lot as it is, and I barely make enough to cover it. Yes, Google Adsense ads help, but considering the hours I spend here most days of the week, it's almost like a second full-time job. If I figure in what little money comes in from ads and divide that by the number of hours I spend managing this site, well, trust me, you don't want to know my pay rate. It's virtually non-existent.

In fact, I could just as easily ditch the site and take on a REAL part-time job, and even at minimum wage, I'd still come out way ahead.

But I realize that, while I'm the guy in charge, I should try to find a solution so that folks with smart phones & androids and tablets and all that can easily browse the site. I have nothing to test it on since I'm still only using computers to run it and visit it. Yet I hear all the time about kids (even grade school-age kids, fer cryin' out loud) creating apps for all kinds of useful things, so I thought I might be able to find someone here who could do it. Again, I really know very little about this stuff since I'm quickly becoming a Luddite (well, me and my old-fashioned computer Internet connection and dumb phone).

Mardy Pune said:

Maybe the easiest way would be to develop a mobile site?

Is there anything in the Ning software/code/whatever for that?

[kopper]

There was a "free" option that I attempted about a year ago... not sure if you remember that Forum discussion or not. It didn't go too well. Here's the link for the story:

http://garagepunk.ning.com/forum/topics/anyone-know-anything-about

[Mardy Pune]

yeah, I do remember that discussion. A bit of a painful conclusion after all that work!

I'm going to download this and have a look at it: Android SDK

I'm not making any promises though, I'll probably end up more confused than I already am after looking at it!

[Mardy Pune]

Yes... very confused...

Mardy Pune said:

yeah, I do remember that discussion. A bit of a painful conclusion after all that work!

I'm going to download this and have a look at it: Android SDK

I'm not making any promises though, I'll probably end up more confused than I already am after looking at it!

[kopper]

Well, it appears that "Andyuzz," the guy who was supposedly working on one of these for us, suddenly left the Hideout. No word on why he ditched us. Kinda odd, huh?

[Mardy Pune]

Yep, odd alright... back to the drawing board I guess...