WP Apps - don't ask, don't get [Threads Merged]

PaulieC

We have a decent amount of WP users here on this board who, I am sure, would all like to have more 'local' apps. We see that most of the big apps like Instagram have arrived, or will arrive in the very near future, but there is still a lack of local apps here in Ireland.
I've pinged a few companies recently to ask for a WP app, but the response it mostly along the lines of 'We have no plans...'. I reckon that the more that these companies are asked about apps, the more they'll realize that they have an increasing amount of customers who are not being served by them. With WP marketshare recently topping the 10% mark in the UK (the closest we'll have in terms of figures for the Irish market), now is a good time to start drumming up some support for apps.
So, the point of the thread - if there is an app that you want from a particular company e.g. Hailo or AIB or whatever, go find out their contact details, post them up here and we can all contact them separately and register out interest for an app. We might get nowhere, but it's better to have a bunch of folk asking then individuals, isn't it ?

I'll kick off with:
Bank Of Ireland Twitter - @TalktoBOI, @bankofireland
Hailo - https://www.facebook.com/HailoIreland, @HailoIreland

AngryLips

I would like to see Hailo, Transport Ireland and PTSB.

PaulieC

AngryLips wrote: »

I would like to see Hailo, Transport Ireland and PTSB.

so the idea here is that you contact them yourself to register that interest. Then post up the contact details here so we can all do the same...

ziggy

This post has been deleted.

Queerdub

Great thread. Thanks Paulie.

I've done this with @AerLingus and gotten an atrocious response in relation to both apps and their mobile site.
I've tweeted the following
@UlsterBank_Help say they know about demand but no plans...
@talktoBOI no plans
@AskAIB no plans
@HailoIreland no plans
@ArnottsDublin no plans
@temptster who have come back with app launching soon...
@TwitterDublin re their emergency news info stuff. Ignored me.
http://www.greenletterbox.com/contact say they are going to do a W8 app, didn't mention WP...

That's all I can think of right now.

AngryLips

Just got this from Transport for Ireland:

Windows Smartphone App for the National Journey Planner.

I am pleased to inform you that there will be 2 Windows Apps Available for the National Journey Planner in the coming weeks

We will be making our own National Journey Planner available around March
And
Nokia with have all the Irish data in their excellent HERE Transit App from February.

theothernt

I'll hopefully be offering an alternative to Transport for Ireland when I get the time

wheresmybeaver

All great news! Now, the banks..

PaulieC

wheresmybeaver wrote: »

All great news! Now, the banks..

BOI isn't budging for the moment. Just keep hitting them with requests. They are still supporting BB, which is ridiculous when WP has an 11% market share in Ireland

AngryLips

Are you sure it's that high? I thought it was closer to five, never see anyone with a WP device knocking about town.

PaulieC

AngryLips wrote: »

Are you sure it's that high? I thought it was closer to five, never see anyone with a WP device knocking about town.

Officially unofficial - 11%. I know quite a lot of people who have windows phones. And I saw one in the wild yesterday...

wheresmybeaver

PaulieC wrote: »

Officially unofficial - 11%. I know quite a lot of people who have windows phones. And I saw one in the wild yesterday...

I've been seeing a lot of business people rocking the lumia 520. Was at a business premises the other day that had boxes of them stacked in a corner.

ziggy

This post has been deleted.

theothernt

wheresmybeaver wrote: »

I've been seeing a lot of business people rocking the lumia 520. Was at a business premises the other day that had boxes of them stacked in a corner.

A lot of deals were made plus it's a very cheap phone that doesn't compromise on any necessary features for the average/business user.

jimmynokia

wheresmybeaver wrote: »

All great news! Now, the banks..

The banks are idiots ive constantly hit them via twitter and mail they just keep rolling out the same trash reply......

senordingdong

theothernt wrote: »

A lot of deals were made plus it's a very cheap phone that doesn't compromise on any necessary features for the average/business user.

Then again, they could just be issued phones as opposed to selected phones.

joujoujou

Looking for WP8 application which would allow to set the phone to be easily put into a silent mode with timed switch-back to normal (loud) mode.

Something like good old "timed profile" on old nokias.

jimmynokia

joujoujou wrote: »

Looking for WP8 application which would allow to set the phone to be easily put into a silent mode with timed switch-back to normal (loud) mode.

Something like good old "timed profile" on old nokias.

There is a new app called quite hours,might be of use


https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&cad=rja&ved=0CD8QFjAG&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.windowsphone.com%2Fen-ie%2Fstore%2Fapp%2Fquiet-hours%2Ff347a36b-80c0-430f-8631-e55046ee5a2a&ei=PCfdUoPhGKOt0QWy24HQAw&usg=AFQjCNHZe7w_DUnUWQ5j8VTZSZr_EEZGzQ&sig2=r861nOLVnQDgZs4N3msmkg&bvm=bv.59568121,d.d2k

joujoujou

Thank you!

It's more than likely what I was looking for.

Downloaded free version, it works, cannot purchase full version atm (something wrong with connection, will sort that out later).

Fingleberries

jimmynokia wrote: »

There is a new app called quite hours,might be of use


https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&cad=rja&ved=0CD8QFjAG&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.windowsphone.com%2Fen-ie%2Fstore%2Fapp%2Fquiet-hours%2Ff347a36b-80c0-430f-8631-e55046ee5a2a&ei=PCfdUoPhGKOt0QWy24HQAw&usg=AFQjCNHZe7w_DUnUWQ5j8VTZSZr_EEZGzQ&sig2=r861nOLVnQDgZs4N3msmkg&bvm=bv.59568121,d.d2k

That's a good start. I'm glad that there is this type of App - it's not exactly what I had been looking for. I think I'd been spoiled by the iOS setting that would stop the phone from ringing or messages coming in during the 'Do Not disturb' time - unless the call or text was from a Favourite contact or they tried to contact you twice within three minutes.

If there were any similar Apps or features in WP8, that would be great.

Johnny Derpp

Is their a tinder app for Windows?

I googled it and got a link to s site that claimed to have one but then gave a disclaimer about having no affiliation!?

PaulieC

Johnny Derpp wrote: »

Is their a tinder app for Windows?

I googled it and got a link to s site that claimed to have one but then gave a disclaimer about having no affiliation!?

The guy who made the unofficial Instagram and Vine apps has made a Tinder app, but Tinder asked him to remove it from the store. He then tweeted that he has been asked by Tinder to make the official app. If there is no app yet, there will soon be.

Beagslife

I called into my local branch of AIB today and ended up speaking with a manager. While in my company, he tried to call the AIB head of IT. He couldn't reach him at the time but said he would email him with my comments/request.

I mentioned the fact that a number of departments/sections in the civil service have recently switched over to WP.

Perhaps it's time for a few more of you to try the same.

Thanks,

MC

theothernt

Beagslife wrote: »

I mentioned the fact that a number of departments/sections in the civil service have recently switched over to WP.

Yep, some good deals were done. I think this year we'll see a lot more WP apps for local services (banks, etc).

luketitz

I'd pay good money for a Chromecast app, now that Google have opened up the API for dev - http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/02/03/google-finally-opens-up-the-chromecast-to-developers-with-release-of-google-cast-sdk-now-part-of-google-play-services/

luketitz

and the first gambling site with a WP app will see plenty of my cash!

theothernt

luketitz wrote: »

I'd pay good money for a Chromecast app, now that Google have opened up the API for dev - http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/02/03/google-finally-opens-up-the-chromecast-to-developers-with-release-of-google-cast-sdk-now-part-of-google-play-services/

That'll be added per-app as there's no system-wide support for it on any platform, even Android (I think).

Only the most popular video players would benefit from integration (eg. MetroTube).

joujoujou

Anyone knows free SMB app for wp8?

That's ridiculous you can't simply share your files over LAN.

awec

luketitz wrote: »

and the first gambling site with a WP app will see plenty of my cash!

Not an app, but I find that the bet365 mobile site is actually pretty decent on WP.

Their app on other platforms is really just a wrapper for their website.

Maybe worth looking in to

luketitz

Yep, I have both Bet365 and Betbright bookmarked in IE and find both pretty excellent, would still love an app though!

Thought PP would have blazed a trail but it seems no-one sees much value in a WP-specific app, could be something to do with MS allowing the rights or something but I'm surprised no-one's tried it, certainly a niche in the market!

jimmynokia

And finally an adverts.ie app but not from adverts,or distilled media
http://nokianewsireland.com/2014/04/21/adverts-ie-windowsphone-app-now-in-the-store-wpdev-apps-ireland-by-igibbo/

jimmynokia

And now we have a boards.ie windowsphone app at last.
http://nokianewsireland.com/2014/04/22/exclusive-boards-ie-windowsphone-app-is-now-in-the-store-by-igibbo-wpdev-ireland/

senordingdong

They look very similar to the sites mobile version.
Are they just home screen shortcuts to the mobile sites?

theothernt

senordingdong wrote: »

They look very similar to the sites mobile version.
Are they just home screen shortcuts to the mobile sites?

Yes, they are :mad:

I really wish these amateur developers would stop doing this. It's pathetic and they're using logos, brand names, etc without permission.

liamog

I get really annoyed by website wrappers. I've a tendency to report them, I'm 90% sure that nothing will be done but I like to think I'm doing my bit.

joujoujou

joujoujou wrote: »

Anyone knows free SMB app for wp8?

That's ridiculous you can't simply share your files over LAN.

Nobody knows. Sad.

Next question - looking for registry editor for wp8.1.

liamog

What on earth would you want a registry editor for?

Those kind of apps are locked down. If you had an Interop Unlocked Ativ S Running 8.0 there were regeditors but I'm pretty sure that's one class of app that will never be allowed in the store.

theothernt

liamog wrote: »

I get really annoyed by website wrappers. I've a tendency to report them, I'm 90% sure that nothing will be done but I like to think I'm doing my bit.

Same here. And in the iOS App Store, they'd be removed quickly!

joujoujou

liamog wrote: »

What on earth would you want a registry editor for?

I really know what for.

liamog wrote: »

Those kind of apps are locked down. If you had an Interop Unlocked Ativ S Running 8.0 there were regeditors but I'm pretty sure that's one class of app that will never be allowed in the store.

I don't care about the store. I have an unlocked phone and once I get the .xap I'd be able to put it into.

liamog

joujoujou wrote: »

I really know what for.


I don't care about the store. I have an unlocked phone and once I get the .xap I'd be able to put it into.

Please enlighten us, I'm genuinely curious as to why someone needs to regedit their phone?

gibbo_ireland

theothernt wrote: »

Yes, they are :mad:

I really wish these amateur developers would stop doing this. It's pathetic and they're using logos, brand names, etc without permission.

Neil, pretty sure your app mentions Dublin Bus. Got permission?

Its clearly marked unofficial, so if you don't like it, don't install. Its free. And yes, first to admit Im an amateur, but doing it in my spare time and werent all devs once just that?

Finally, the hope is that it spurs these brands to reconsider official apps once they see the market interest. I'd gladly volunteer to remove then, not as though there's money in it for me. Just the love of the platform. Like to think I'm doing my bit

jimmynokia

gibbo_ireland wrote: »

Neil, pretty sure your app mentions Dublin Bus. Got permission?

Its clearly marked unofficial, so if you don't like it, don't install. Its free. And yes, first to admit Im an amateur, but doing it in my spare time and werent all devs once just that?

Finally, the hope is that it spurs these brands to reconsider official apps once they see the market interest. I'd gladly volunteer to remove then, not as though there's money in it for me. Just the love of the platform. Like to think I'm doing my bit

Well said there...

liamog

I have no issue with third party apps, in fact I'd fully support you if that's what you were making.

However in this case it appears that you have just wrapped the site in a web control, this to me is a terrible user experience and should not be allowed.

There is an unofficial Facebook app called Facebook. It's highly rated for some reason. I've has some WP users install and complain about the Facebook experience on the phone because they incorrectly assumed it was legit.

gibbo_ireland

liamog wrote: »

I have no issue with third party apps, in fact I'd fully support you if that's what you were making.

However in this case it appears that you have just wrapped the site in a web control, this to me is a terrible user experience and should not be allowed.

There is an unofficial Facebook app called Facebook. It's highly rated for some reason. I've has some WP users install and complain about the Facebook experience on the phone because they incorrectly assumed it was legit.

Once again, it is clearly marked unofficial, and for the reasons you stated, hopefully it will motivate the creation of official apps. Complaining on a public forum hasn't worked so far eh?

theothernt

gibbo_ireland wrote: »

Neil, pretty sure your app mentions Dublin Bus. Got permission?

Its clearly marked unofficial, so if you don't like it, don't install. Its free. And yes, first to admit Im an amateur, but doing it in my spare time and werent all devs once just that?

Finally, the hope is that it spurs these brands to reconsider official apps once they see the market interest. I'd gladly volunteer to remove then, not as though there's money in it for me. Just the love of the platform. Like to think I'm doing my bit

I do have permission to use the data, plus mentioning a brand on the about page of my app is very different to pretending to be the official app by using the Boards.ie name and logo.

If you think you’re doing some good here, you’re not. First, and there are lots of examples, but apps that are webviews (WebBrowser component) showing a website always receive bad reviews - the web experience is very different to the native experience, especially on Windows Phone. That and the fact that most mobile websites are made to look iOS-like doesn’t help either.

Look at the Aer Lingus app on Windows Phone. Even though it’s the official app, the company responsible for the app thought this was the way to go (lets just show the mobile website!). It’s obviously not, just look at the reviews.

Second, brands don’t care when apps like this appear. And I’m speaking from experience as I deal with some of these companies, trying to convince them to develop Windows Phone apps. The only response you’re likely to get with this type of webview app, if any, is for it to be removed from the store because of a copyright claim.

gibbo_ireland

From experience, looking at plenty of examples, most notably the class WP developer Rudy Huyn.....unofficial apps can and do motivate brands to develop for the platform. And if you really hate unofficial apps, and think this is bad, you should see the state of Android marketplaces.

liamog

gibbo_ireland wrote: »

From experience, looking at plenty of examples, most notably the class WP developer Rudy Huyn.....unofficial apps can and do motivate brands to develop for the platform. And if you really hate unofficial apps, and think this is bad, you should see the state of Android marketplaces.

Rudy makes good apps that work well with the platform, they show what is possible and leave users with a good impression of the service the work with.

Another distinction is that Rudy makes sure his apps have names which don't rip off the brand that he integrates with.

The description on the store is not enough to make it clear that its unofficial.

Would you open a store in Ireland and call it Asda whilst using their same logo?

I'm pretty sure if you put a sign up just inside the door saying your not really Asda but your just trying to make them see that their is demand in the Irish Market that you'd still be shut down remarkably quickly.

gibbo_ireland

Liam I agree with everything you've said. The difference here is that these apps aren't ripping off anyone. They are the brand's own service, and it could be argued help drive traffic to them. Its not as though they are copy cat services trying to deceive or take user traffic away! Nor am I attempting to make money from this in anyway, they are free.

As I've said before its simply to help put a presence on the platform they notice to entice reconsidering their position of neglecting WP8. I've notified each of the apps, and heard nothing, reinforcing all of our beliefs that they don't care....yet.

With that said, I don't wish for anyone to be misinformed or think they are official, so ill rename all asap to help avoid any possible confusion.

Beagslife

I've just seen the announcement of the new Ryanair mobile app. Surprise, surprise - available for iPhone and Android.

I've contacted Ryanair, using their easy to use feedback option, asking them to have WP included.

Please feel free to do the same.

MC

jimmynokia

I've been onto them already what a fail...

mark_m360

Beagslife wrote: »

I've just seen the announcement of the new Ryanair mobile app. Surprise, surprise - available for iPhone and Android.

I've contacted Ryanair, using their easy to use feedback option, asking them to have WP included.

Please feel free to do the same.

MC

I have done so on twitter as well but they have no plans.

I just really find it ironic. On the other hand, it is making it more and more frustrating to continue to be with windows phone. There is almost no local support in this country.