FriendMobilizer Facebook Android client

[Chris Davies]

A new Facebook application for Android has been launched by Macrospecs.Â* FriendMobilizer offers status control, notifications, photo access and more, all with what Macrospecs describe as minimal memo... Read more

[mmace]

it's crap!
if lists everyone's status's, you cannot see anyones comments, you cannot "i like" anything, any links you cannot click on, it's literally status's you see there's nothing else there like new photo's, new links, new videos, new notes etc

you may as well just go to the full facebook site on your phone

you cannot look through your friends list, you cannot search for anyone or anything like that, basically if you cannot see anyone on the status updates list then you cannot see anything about them!

avoid until it's had a massive update!

[notxel21]

Originally Posted by mmace

it's crap!
if lists everyone's status's, you cannot see anyones comments, you cannot "i like" anything, any links you cannot click on, it's literally status's you see there's nothing else there like new photo's, new links, new videos, new notes etc

you may as well just go to the full facebook site on your phone

you cannot look through your friends list, you cannot search for anyone or anything like that, basically if you cannot see anyone on the status updates list then you cannot see anything about them!

avoid until it's had a massive update!

I totally agree!! Although the Dev promises lots of updates I think it should be made known that the app is in beta!

[ghoonk]

it's free, and really, is this any way to encourage developers who come up with software for a platform that is only just over 6 months old?

Seriously, we complain about not having this software and that software, but when someone starts something, you people are so quick to put them down instead of offering constructive comments and suggestions. When developers start charging a nominal fee (1% of the price of the phone) for software that they spend days or weeks on, you people complain, instead of being thankful that at least the software appears. And when developers say 'F*** this, I'm moving on to the iPhone', you people call them traitors.

The only way this platform can thrive and have a standing chance of being great is if we recognize and support the developers who come up with apps that we find useful, and the way to do so is through constructive support rather than beating them down like schoolyard bullies.

I, for one, would love to see what the mods have to say about this sort of behaviour on one of the earliest Android forums. I participate in other Android forums, along with automotive ones, and have never seen such short-sightedness.

[mmace]

Originally Posted by ghoonk

it's free

if it was free then I wouldn't complain, but it's not so your whole point is moot

if it was a time limited demo then fine, if it was called Beta then fine, if they said what updates were coming then fine, but it's not, it's a paid app and it does nothing more than the free mobile facebook site does

oh, and another point, the phone's been free here in the UK for around 6 months so even the 99 cent or 99p apps cost more than the phone

[ghoonk]

Then vote with your wallet. I tried a couple of paid apps, decided they didn't work for me, and got my refund. This isn't a situation where developers have an opportunity to screw us over

In the interests of supporting developers in coming up with useful apps for the Android platform, would it not be more constructive to contact the developer directly to offer feedback and suggestions rather than to simply condemn the app in a public forum?

I'm not affiliated with the developer in any way, but the more people who offer feedback and support in helping developers test and improve their apps, the better the chances of us having really cool apps. Bratag's SnapPhoto Pro, Craiglist Checker, DroidFTP and other such apps were not what they are today, if not for constructive suggestions and feedback offered by people who support the vision that is Android.

To help this thread forward, let's create 2 lists:

1. Things that don't work correctly in this app

2. Suggested features that the developer could add to the app

[mmace]

Originally Posted by ghoonk

...Bratag's SnapPhoto Pro...
...would it not be more constructive to contact the developer directly to offer feedback and suggestions rather than to simply condemn the app in a public forum?...

of your list this is the only one I use and it's free so anyone could download it and suggest features and help out the developer. With this facebook one you have 24 hours to try it and then you either have to get a refund or keep using it in it's current state not knowing if the next update is in a week or 2 years time and if it will be worth waiting for. Forums are called forums for a reason, we can openly express ourselves on them and let others know what we think, especially if they are about to buy something and don't know much about it.

Originally Posted by ghoonk

To help this thread forward, let's create 2 lists:

1. Things that don't work correctly in this app

2. Suggested features that the developer could add to the app

1) no links in anyone's status work, an example is it displays "http://" as "http:\/\/" and any other forward slashes have a backslash before them
I cannot see how many comments there are on peoples status's or what they are
I cannot see news feeds, just status updates
I cannot search for people
I cannot see anyone on my friends list who doesn't appear on the status update page
I cannot set "i like" to anything
I cannot see my inbox
there's no chat
I cannot see any groups or go on their discussions

that's just off the top of my head


2) see number 1

[ghoonk]

I'm not criticizing the need for open expression, but simply the choice for a mature adult to go into a public forum and start slamming a new app. I would, however, concede the argument that this app is not ready for prime time, and that the developer should reconsider listing it as a paid app until such a point that the app reaches a predefined level of maturity, which is why I have not chosen to pay for it yet

Your caution to other users however, is appreciated, because AFAIK, Android Market does not allow users to repurchase apps that they have claimed a refund from. That said, the developer is setting himself/herself up for long-term sales issues in pursuing this current plan of action by making this app a paid one before key features (at least by your definition and mine) are implemented.

Personally, I'm happy using http://m.facebook.com

[LazyGenius]

lol all this is, is a wrapper for m.facebook.com..........

[mobiledev]

As the main developer of this application, I have a few things to add.

The application was build using Facebook's Developer Platform - ie, a set of tools FB makes available to third-party developers to create the Facebook apps you all know and love. Unfortunately, FB doesn't allow developers to access users' Walls, Inboxes, and various other features due to privacy concerns. Consequently, we have to use the browser. There's simply no way around it. So it's not that we're too lazy to add these types of features, it's that Facebook doesn't let us.

Now FriendMobilizer is not just a wrapper. It does use m.facebook.com as mentioned above, because there's simply no way around it for third-party developers.

FriendMobilizer was created in response to a lack of FB client applications. We're all big Facebook fans here and we wanted to create something that all of us would actually use. I believe we did just that. FriendMobilizer keeps you updated on your friends w/o having to open our browser in a very clear, appealing, and easy to use manner. (Plus, it's faster than the mobile browser and uses less bandwidth). We also made it convenient and easy to upload photos directly from your camera and pictures folder to FB. I would think this is well-worth the 99 cent price tag.

We are planning on releasing new features down the road, as more feedback is collected. One feature that we're particularly excited about is being able to see your friends current FB information when they call you.