Forums that have good mobile experience???

[SDS]

Looking at some numbers today and I realize I need to really address it better than I have. Both TBD and SS get 38% of their traffic from mobile and about 12% tablet (although this is less of a concern). I know the mobile view of the forum is pretty spartan. This also dovetails in that this version of the software is EOL in 14 months.

 

My choices are probably to upgrade IPB to 4.0 series or move to Xenforo. IPB has treaded water for years and while not a dying platform it isn't growing either. Xenforo is growing by leaps and bounds taking share away from IPB and vBulletin.

 

Does anyone visit another forum that has really a good mobile experience? Here are the two mobile skins (if you are reading this on mobile - else it is just their default desktop skin)) for IPB and Xenforo:

 

IPB:

 

https://community.invisionpower.com/

 

Xenforo:

 

https://xenforo.com/community/

 

Would be interested in your thoughts.

[WildCard]

Without knowing anything other than clicking those links, visually, I prefer the invisionpower

[darksabre]

I actually find our mobile site to be pretty good compared to most. 

[...]

Of the forums I visit, I prefer the mobile experience of this site.  I think the sparse quality makes it easier to manage everything in the smaller space.

[sodbuster]

Of the forums I visit, I prefer the mobile experience of this site. I think the sparse quality makes it easier to manage everything in the smaller space.

This. It's clean, clutter free, and simple to navigate.

 

Out of the two choices, I prefer invisionpower.

Edited February 4, 2016 by sodbuster

[Eleven]

Tablet shouldn't be much of a concern at all, as you imply, because it's easy to view the regular page in a browser window.

 

I've never had an easy time using my phone to access SS.  This is the only forum I really participate on, so I don't have an example of a better one.  But I'm all for change!

[Sabres Fan in NS]

Of the forums I visit, I prefer the mobile experience of this site.  I think the sparse quality makes it easier to manage everything in the smaller space.

 

I'll third this notion.

 

I am pretty new to the smartphone thing and this is the only forum I visit.

 

I do like the mobile version that we have, my problems stem from my less than proficient (at the moment) typing skills on my BlackBerry, as I have demonstrated a few times.

 

If a change is mandated by the end of life time frame you mentioned I prefer the IPB look when I clicked on the link using my laptop, but I will take a look on my phone.

 

I also agree that the full version works well on my tablet.

[Sabres Fan in NS]

I am now on my phone.

 

I have to say that the Xenforo look on mobile is better than the other one. It's close to the one we have now.

 

Also, why did I have to log in to the mobile version when I was already logged in to the site on my laptop?

[WildCard]

I am now on my phone.

 

I have to say that the Xenforo look on mobile is better than the other one. It's close to the one we have now.

 

Also, why did I have to log in to the mobile version when I was already logged in to the site on my laptop?

Different IP's, I would assume

[Sabres Fan in NS]

After poking around both options for a while I will stick with my first impression.

 

Looking at actual threads and posts the Xenforo is much easier to navigate. It is even easier than what we have now.

NS out.

[PromoTheRobot]

The current config of SS is fine except for the 40 post length on pages. 20 like on TBD works better for me. I love that my phone remembers the last post I read. I wish my computer experience was similar.

 

Of those two I prefer xenforo.

Edited February 4, 2016 by PromoTheRobot

[pi2000]

I am now on my phone.

 

I have to say that the Xenforo look on mobile is better than the other one. It's close to the one we have now.

 

Also, why did I have to log in to the mobile version when I was already logged in to the site on my laptop?

 

no cookie set on your mobile device.

 

anyway I like the current mobile experience.    

[TrueBlueGED]

I have no complaints about the current mobile version except for the lack of a multi quote function. I also kinda like the minimalist appearance for data reasons.

 

Anyway, I will concede both you posted are more visually appealing, but don't really have a preference either way. I'd probably just go with the growing platform.

[WildCard]

I like ours, but I'm with True in the need for multiquoting

[Sabres Fan in NS]

I like ours, but I'm with True in the need for multiquoting

 

Imagine me trying to use the multi quote feature on the mobile version, you know, if we had it.

 

I think that is why we don't have it.

[TrueBlueGED]

Imagine me trying to use the multi quote feature on the mobile version, you know, if we had it.

 

I think that is why we don't have it.

Now we simply must get it :p

[qwksndmonster]

I never used the site much on my iphone 4, the screen was just too small. Now that I have a galaxy 5, I regularly use the site on my phone and it's excellent.

 

Reading page after page gets exhausting because a 2 line post on a computer screen looks like a paragraph, but I doubt anything can be done about that.

[...]

TrueBlueGED, on 04 Feb 2016 - 5:13 PM, said:

I have no complaints about the current mobile version except for the lack of a multi quote function. I also kinda like the minimalist appearance for data reasons.

 

 

 

 

Wait a minute, don't you have a problem typing on the little keyboards?  You want to give yourself more of a chance at being frustrated?  Like an artist, embrace and overcome the limitations!

[TrueBlueGED]

Wait a minute, don't you have a problem typing on the little keyboards? You want to give yourself more of a chance at being frustrated? Like an artist, embrace and overcome the limitations!

I have at least 3 typos per post anyway, may as well go big :lol:

[...]

TrueBlueGED, on 04 Feb 2016 - 5:59 PM, said:

I have at least 3 typos per post anyway, may as well go big :lol:

 

Seriously.  I would welcome any forum software on mobile if it could somehow improve the posting experience.

[JJFIVEOH]

I use the desktop version on my phone.

[Sabres Fan in NS]

I use the desktop version on my phone.

 

Must be one of those big screen phones.

 

The full version is hard enough to see on a tablet.

Seriously.  I would welcome any forum software on mobile if it could somehow improve the posting experience.

 

I agree with this, but my mobile posting issues are not really with the software.

[JJFIVEOH]

Must be one of those big screen phones.

 

The full version is hard enough to see on a tablet.

 

 

I agree with this, but my mobile posting issues are not really with the software.

Note 4. Ain't too bad, just lots of zooming and unzooming. I'm lost without all the desktop features.

[TrueBlueGED]

Note 4. Ain't too bad, just lots of zooming and unzooming. I'm lost without all the desktop features.

I used to do that. I forgot how it happened, but my phone switched to the mobile version and I came to like the smoothness of it.

Edited February 4, 2016 by TrueBlueGED

[ubkev]

I use mobile 100% of the time. Do we have to change?? The current format is so simple and perfect. I suppose I'll get used to whatever we change to, but I've never seen another forum format that I've even liked a little bit.