OT: MGOBLOG APP Feature Ask

Submitted by Gavia immer_MI on January 23rd, 2023 at 11:00 AM

I'm not sure the appropriate way to go about making an ask/recommendation like this, so apologies if this isn't the way/place.

I've noticed that the mobile app seems to be configured to automatically switch between landscape and portrait mode depending on the orientation of your phone. Having this baked in causes some issues for me when laying on my side while reading the site. The vast majority of cases I want the app to remain in portrait mode. As soon as my phone tilts, it switches to landscape. When I tilt it back upright, the text is tiny and doesn't fit the screen.

I'm wondering if it would be possible to turn this feature off and instead make it optional when a user allows the phone to rotate between landscape and portrait mode.

FWIW, I'm an Android user of an old Samsung S8+. Maybe this isn't an issue for newer phones or for iPhone users.

Thank you for taking this request into consideration.

BoFan

January 23rd, 2023 at 11:41 AM ^

It’s most likely a responsive design (edit: a progressive web app which has better performance) and it’s definitely not an app. Responsive web apps and progressive web apps are not really apps.  They are just links to a webpage you put on your home page to make it look like an app. 

The old app, as I understand, was a volunteer 3rd party design that was ended years ago because it interfered with monetization. 

Responsive and progressive designs do automatically adjust to the screen layout.  You need to control it from your android and freeze it. Not sure how it works on Android, but on an Iphone you just press a lock screen rotation button.  

Joined: 03/09/2012

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mGrowOld

January 23rd, 2023 at 11:08 AM ^

Seth actually has a thread posted as a sticky for questions like this one, just scroll down off the front page to "Go to MgoBoard" and you'll see it near the top.  Or just click on the link below.

https://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/meta-mgoblog-31-bug-sticky

I do have to say though if our MgoOverlords are in this thread my request would be "can you make it so my phone doesnt take over a minute to load up when i try and open up the site?"  That drives me insane (I've got an IPhone 13).  Lucky for everyone else though I've got the patience of Job when it comes to connecting here so you plebes dont miss out on my very important thoughts on things.

Joined: 10/04/2010

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Oregon Wolverine

January 23rd, 2023 at 11:51 AM ^

Check the referenced sticky thread.  There are directions on how to load the browser page to your phone’s Home Screen — it’ll look like a stand-alone app.

Took me a bit to figure out how to do it (old Luddite lawyer) but once accomplished, functionality and speed increase markedly. 
 

edit — see Seth’s comments below, w/directions.  

Joined: 09/30/2014

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Seth

January 23rd, 2023 at 11:28 AM ^

Yeah it's just a wrap. The #1 feature is it gets around the bad way they build browsers these days, which are built under the assumption that nobody wants to read longform articles anymore. So if you do write longform either you go wall of text like NYT or you create pages, which we don't have the time or resources for. The app can cache like the old internet, which helps load times.

I can also speed up load times by clearing cache on the site, but that breaks our points system for some reason.

Joined: 10/14/2008

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Quail2theVict0r

January 23rd, 2023 at 11:31 AM ^

I liked the app specifically for the message board interactions. So I'd say the #1 feature is that you don't have to open the browser on your phone at all to go to the website. It would be like having to use Twitter by only going through the browser, I suspect my twitter usage would go down without the app as well.

It also boiled the content down into headlines so it was really easy to scroll (and search) both the message board topics AND the main posts by title. 

Joined: 12/01/2008

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echoWhiskey

January 23rd, 2023 at 1:50 PM ^

The #1 feature is it gets around the bad way they build browsers these days, which are built under the assumption that nobody wants to read longform articles anymore.

I've seen this mentioned a couple of times since the redesign. I'm sorry but this is a fundamental misunderstanding of web browsers and caching. There are plenty of long form/news sites on the web that load fast.

To the original poster's question, search for "orientation lock" and your phone model. I have an iPhone, but I assume Android has a similar feature that will prevent the auto-rotation you describe.

[Edit]: I want to clarify the above a bit as this came off more harsh than I intended. I understand WHY the site is slow - the ads - but I disagree with the insinuation that modern web browsers fundamentally don't work well for these types of sites.

Joined: 06/30/2008

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aenima0311

January 24th, 2023 at 11:24 AM ^

Would you be able to increase content engagement with push notifications? Not sure if it's even possible to do them in the wrap-app, but those would be nice. Often I get notified from TheScore or The Athletic when MgoBlog had the story first due to last of push. 

It's not make or break. Still love the content. 

Joined: 11/21/2008

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JMo

January 23rd, 2023 at 11:46 AM ^

Honestly, I visited the site a lot more where there was an app. 

 

Yeah, Seth.. here's my take on this. I visit the site a lot more when Michigan goes 25-3 in two seasons of football play, including two wins over OSU, and two CFP appearances. If you have control over that, then by all means ... make it happen.

While I may have also noticed some of the other things mentioned about slow down on the site, it's not like there's another option for the type and quality of content we get here. Keep working it and do your best given the parameters of the site you're working with. 

Joined: 12/14/2011

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Quail2theVict0r

January 23rd, 2023 at 11:52 AM ^

My comment wasn't a shot at the quality of the content, but the convenience of accessing it. without the app I don't find myself going to the browser and physically typing in "Mgoblog.com" to look at stuff very often. With the app it was right there in my face, and it was something I'd regularly click. Now I mostly look at the site on my computer; which typically equates to viewing it during the normal work week. 

 

Joined: 12/01/2008

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JMo

January 23rd, 2023 at 1:16 PM ^

A few different things here.

Obviously your comment wasnt a shot at the quality of the site. How could it? Your comment was basically saying "no worky app, no traffic from visitor." And while I wasn't going to bring it up directly, except to simply say to Seth my experience, which I believe is actually most people's experience. Since you're bringing it up, I'll say it more directly.  I find it pretty offensive. 

They run a site. Among other things, the revenue model of this site is based on traffic. Obviously no one gets that better than they do. They don't need someone saying "hey I'd come here more if you did it the way I like." You've been on here for 15 years, you've seen numerous attempts to either fix, or explain, or upgrade the UX here, just like the rest of us. 

As for the app. Unless I'm mistaken (as there's been a couple swings at this) I'm pretty sure the app that everyone refers to as loving from ages ago, was an unofficial app. Meaning they didn't get the revenue off that app and that's why it went away. Every other version of the app has simply been a site wrapper. And there are challenges to that, as Seth mentioned above. But at least they get the site revenue as they should. 

Offer a suggestion. Sure. There's a place for that. Passively imply that they're doing wrong and suffering as a result, personally, I take exception, but only because you asked. The original premise of my original comment still stands. Keep up the good work Seth. My traffic, this site's traffic probably has very little to do with UX (see Drupal) and everything to do with Michigan's historic run and the quality of content you guys produce.

 

Joined: 12/14/2011

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Quail2theVict0r

January 23rd, 2023 at 2:23 PM ^

I was trying to make sense of the nonsense you posted in your original reply. It makes even less sense after your explanation, thinking your seemingly harsh response was you thinking something my comment was not. And clearly you do, but in the weirdest ways. I clearly visit the site. My comment was not a hostile one. I miss the app. The site was more accessible on the app. Period. And it was an official app, see Seth’s comment. There was an unofficial app that sucked, that gained more popularity when they shut the official app down. 

They run a site. A site and its content that was easier to access with an app. Sites and apps most commonly work together. That’s all my comment said. It wasn’t offensive in any way. No one is suggesting they are suffering. What I am suggesting is that the app was a better way to consume and find the content. The site traffic most certainly increases with better on field results. And a lot of people probably, by preference, would love the app option back to consume it more. I was offering a pretty common opinion, that I personally go to the site less often without the quick access an app provides on portable devices….which is why apps exist.

And before you offer up some other nonsense to try and find offense with. The App came with ads as well. Ads that couldn’t be blocked by an ad blocker. 

and a lot of people miss the app. See this thread. Feel free to continue to feel offended at something you’ve created in your head. 

Joined: 12/01/2008

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El Demonio

January 23rd, 2023 at 11:18 AM ^

On most phones, you don't need to do this through the APP, you can turn off the "Auto-Rotate" feature.  The phone would remain in portrait mode, if turned off.

 

Also MGOBLOG has an App?  Nothing shows up in my APP Store (Android).

Joined: 01/20/2011

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Team 101

January 23rd, 2023 at 11:38 AM ^

Years ago there was an app that worked great.  I forgot what it was called but I think it was unsanctioned and was taken down.  Mgoblog on the phone has never been as good since so I usually use the pc.

Joined: 04/15/2013

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Seth

January 23rd, 2023 at 11:47 AM ^

It worked great because it hogged the site. That app was always pinging our site to get updates, even when you weren't using it, which created humongous loads. We were constantly serving people who had their phones in their pockets instead of the people trying to load the site.

Joined: 10/14/2008

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matty blue

January 23rd, 2023 at 5:09 PM ^

i wish we could set our own default number of message board comments per page.  used to be able to do that, as well as see a highlighted “new” tag when leaving and returning. those both made quick-skimming the board a lot easier. 

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