Tapatalk?

**Ziege** · 06-03-2010, 14:00

Has the question of Tapatalk ever come up?

Tapatalk is a vBulletin (and a few others IIRC) plugin and smart phone (Android/iPhone) app combo that allows a sort of streamlined/stripped down access to forums.

I'm rather ambivalent myself. First, it cuts ad revenue because (last I checked) it doesn't display a forum's ads. Second, it's a bit limited compared to the browser forum experience. OTOH, it's slightly less frustrating than accessing a forum from the native browser on an iPhone/Android phone.

Oddly, none of the camping/hiking or motorcycling forums I've explored offer tapatalk support, even though those are exactly the sorts of activities where dragging a laptop along seems least desirable.

**angrysparrow** · 06-03-2010, 14:06

I've looked into it before. While it's an interesting idea, ultimately a standalone device app is less versatile than a mobile skin would be.

I think we'll have a mobile skin in the future, after a couple of other projects are completed.

**Ziege** · 06-03-2010, 14:49

That's probably where I'd be headed too. You keep control and the user experience gets a bit better. Only thing you really miss going that way (AFAIK) is the ability to attach pictures directly from the phone. Not a huge deal.

Back when I got my iPhone I started doing quite a bit of mobile browsing. After upgrading to the Nexus One that has gone through the roof. Probably half my overall browsing is done on a phone these days...except for forums....they don't work all that well on a phone. Or maybe it's me.

**E.A.Y.** · 06-03-2010, 17:33

Originally Posted by angrysparrow

I think we'll have a mobile skin in the future, after a couple of other projects are completed.

OOooooh!

**LostCause** · 06-03-2010, 18:13

Originally Posted by angrysparrow

I think we'll have a mobile skin in the future, after a couple of other projects are completed.

Sweet! But what are the other projects that are further in the queue?

**NFA** · 08-12-2010, 07:23

I understand the desire to install a mobile skin instead of the tapatalk app, but tapatalk really does work very well on the forums that I use it with, and other fixes (like flexplat) are kludgy substitutes that don't deliver...

Why not do both...the tapatalk plugin is free for HF to download/use...

Jamie - nfa

**Kasuko** · 08-12-2010, 07:45

Can we request the simple tapatalk install while we wait for the mobile skin? This would be AMAZING!

I agree with this from their FAQ:

Originally Posted by http://www.tapatalk.com/plugin.php

Q: What's the point of this app if my members can access my site with mobile skin at no cost?
A: We received a lot of feedback from users that they want a dedicated app on their smartphone. Most users are contented with the mobile skin or a standard web browser but some of them would appreciate a full-on native app on their phone. For example Tapatalk app allows user to upload photo directly from their phone to your forum as an image attachment. We are also rolling out Push Notification support so it helps your members to stay in touch with your forums while on-the-go.