[App] Kickstarter Browser

[XanderApps]

I'm gonna try something different here. I'm in need of YOUR help.

I need your feedback on my latest Windows 8 app: Kickstarter Browser. The thing is, I just got it release just to have a initial release but I need feedback on it. It's easy to feel satisfied with your app because you are familiar with it. I do have a general idea where I want to go with the app (adding twitter share, add favorites) but as far as GUI I'm not really sure. So any critic is welcome to just post here, perhaps even screenshots if there is anything specific you want to point out. If you have good things to say you can also review it windows 8 store. (Please do not post reviews/low stars saying it's bad, remember this is just my first release and I will improve it over the coming months using your feedback and then you can give a proper review ) If you give me feedback which I'll use to improve the app I will, if you want, add you to a thank you list in the App description.


As far as adding, login/pledging from the apps etc. there are no official Kickstarter API and the API I'm using is Very restricted.


Anyway, please give me feedback and I will be very thankful.

 

[XanderApps]

Update!

I've made an update for this app. Though I have not received a single piece of feedback.


This time I bring the ability to see videos in the app and to search through descriptions of projects to find specific words (This is something the normal kickstarter.com website cannot do). I also updated to GUI to look much better and fixed bugs, you can find the app update here:





Please download, try it and give me some feedback.


Thanks.

 

[XanderApps]

Well, you could say I really buckled up last night and started my code, because here is the halloween update!


I focused on customization and user experience this time. The change log follows:


-Changes in version 1.2.0-
Big GUI update
Multitask support added (view video while using other apps)
Added tool tips
Added FAQ to project description
Significantly improved search times when searching through descriptions (by 20 percent)
Search now list projects as they are found (not when search is done)
Added settings for spotlight
- It's now possible to add/remove and enable/disable individual spotlight categories (found under settings)
Added the possibility to to favorite projects
Added favorite page (accessed by swiping down from top or right click the top of the screen)
Removed crash bug when no internet connection


Anyway I hope you all will download it and try it (and tell me what you think). I will be taking a one week break from coding Kickstarter Browser to recharge my batteries and get inspired to do some more work.

 

[davehc]

I did have a brief look. I suggest the problem here is that, if a facility already exists and a developer wishes to put something similar on the market, then, in all aspects, it must show something innovative or, at least, improved to be successful on the market. With respect, your app doesn't, for me anyway, offer any of this.

I am sure you will continue to work with it and, who knows, one way make your way into the market.

Again with respect to your efforts. It is the problem with half of the store Apps that I have tried. Many, in fact, seem to have been modified from the original desktop variety - a pointless exercise. A good 10% of those I tried did not even work correctly, which puts a downer on the so-called "quality" of store apps, which Microsoft originally made great claims about.
At least your effort,congrats, works 100%.

 

[XanderApps]

I did have a brief look. I suggest the problem here is that, if a facility already exists and a developer wishes to put something similar on the market, then, in all aspects, it must show something innovative or, at least, improved to be successful on the market. With respect, your app doesn't, for me anyway, offer any of this.

I am sure you will continue to work with it and, who knows, one way make your way into the market.

Again with respect to your efforts. It is the problem with half of the store Apps that I have tried. Many, in fact, seem to have been modified from the original desktop variety - a pointless exercise. A good 10% of those I tried did not even work correctly, which puts a downer on the so-called "quality" of store apps, which Microsoft originally made great claims about.
At least your effort,congrats, works 100%.

My motivation for making this app is that the search feature on kickstarter.com is really, really bad. So there is where I want to put most of my effort. One thing it lacks in the ability to search through project descriptions which I find annoying. Many times I'm looking for game project which will be released for specific platform and the project usually do not specify this in the project name or "short description" (which the normal search only look through).

I have implemented this function to my app and it works really well. But it also includes things like hide ended projects etc. But you are correct in some regards, the user have no need to use my app if they are not looking for improved search or find it interesting. I will however in future releases focus more on the ease of finding projects interesting for the user. I thank you for your effort, though, could you tell me something specific you would like to see in the app? (If you don't find it totally useless for your needs)

 

[davehc]

I have uninstalled it for the moment. I'll pop it up again and hopefully get back to you.
But browsers are very personal, in use. My preferences might not be suitable for all. I cannot, for example, get along with chrome. I prefer to see a classic top bar menu etc. Your browser, very basically, falls into the same category. It lacks facilities and options. But that's me.

 

[XanderApps]

Ah, but I'm not sure you get the point of the app if you do think the point of it is to be a "browser" in the sense of being a web browser. The name might be a little vague but the app is suppose to help you browse/search for Kickstarter project. What you make it to sound like is that you expect more of a web browser experience. There is a good reason why I put the "Open in default web browser"-button in the app. If you do try it again perhaps you can use it from another perspective. (And this gives me an idea of a setting which let you always open the web site in the default browser )

I also like to thank you for giving me feedback and being totally honest with you opinion. I like to have a discussion about the app rather than someone just saying it's good or bad. Thanks!

 

[MrShowdown]

Good app overall, the performance is good, although i have found some UI bugs (?) like this:

Note the Advanced Search text is being overlapped by the mid-pane (I don't know it's intended or not, it's on a 1366x768 11.6" screen", my suggestion is either make it smaller or divide the text into 2 lines.

 

[XanderApps]

Good app overall, the performance is good, although i have found some UI bugs (?) like this:
View attachment 30539
Note the Advanced Search text is being overlapped by the mid-pane (I don't know it's intended or not, it's on a 1366x768 11.6" screen", my suggestion is either make it smaller or divide the text into 2 lines.

Yeah, I know that, I've just overlooked it lately since it does not affect any of the apps features. I will try to optimize the app for different resolutions/screen sizes in the next release. I will probably make it a bit smaller AND divide it into two lines. Thank you for your feedback. If there is something else wrong or you have suggestion for a feature - Please feel free to post it here!

 

[MrShowdown]

Good app overall, the performance is good, although i have found some UI bugs (?) like this:
View attachment 30539
Note the Advanced Search text is being overlapped by the mid-pane (I don't know it's intended or not, it's on a 1366x768 11.6" screen", my suggestion is either make it smaller or divide the text into 2 lines.

Yeah, I know that, I've just overlooked it lately since it does not affect any of the apps features. I will try to optimize the app for different resolutions/screen sizes in the next release. I will probably make it a bit smaller AND divide it into two lines. Thank you for your feedback. If there is something else wrong or you have suggestion for a feature - Please feel free to post it here!

It's pretty much a small bug though, yeah i agree that it doesn't affect app feature but it was pretty much necessary for new users though.
Still a great app dude, keep developing!

 

[XanderApps]

Update!

I hate how it feels like I'm spamming/bumping my own thread but I just want to keep you guys updated and hopefully get more feedback from you guys!


So I've just got the post-Halloween update certified. Change log:


Revamped start screen
Added playback controls (Play, stop, mute, video time bar)
Added video full screen playback
Added sorting projects in search
Added backgrounds
Added browsing categories in search screen/start screen
Squashed bugs


So this is the first update based on feedback from users and feedback I've asked for from various forums. One point of feedback was really important. The user felt that when you first start the app you are welcomed with a screen with a huge gap in the middle. So I made the middle part dedicated for browsing through categories and all the searching should be done through the search screen. Another user told me that the app doesn't bring anything new to the table in terms of searching and finding, so I added more search options. The third big feedback I got was that the app was boring, colorless and not nice to look at, so I reworked the layouts and made it possible for the user to change background color/add background image. The last feedback I did take into consideration for this update was that the search screen was a bit confusing and that the video playback lacked features, so I rearranged the search screen a bit and added video playback features (it now has play, stop, mute, full screen and a timeline)
So you see, I use the feedback I get to make the app better, please keep it coming and I will possibly implement it.

Thanks

 

[XweAponX]

This looks interesting, I have several kickstartr projects I follow.

 

[XanderApps]

This looks interesting, I have several kickstartr projects I follow.

I am glad to inform you that the next update will implement the ability to pin project to start menu screen and they will be updated once every hour to give you the latest stats.

 

[MrShowdown]

This looks interesting, I have several kickstartr projects I follow.

I am glad to inform you that the next update will implement the ability to pin project to start menu screen and they will be updated once every hour to give you the latest stats.

Niceee! But maybe it's better to give users the ability to choose how frequent the project live tiles updates, every hour is maybe too frequent.

 

[XanderApps]

This looks interesting, I have several kickstartr projects I follow.

I am glad to inform you that the next update will implement the ability to pin project to start menu screen and they will be updated once every hour to give you the latest stats.

Niceee! But maybe it's better to give users the ability to choose how frequent the project live tiles updates, every hour is maybe too frequent.

Good point, I will keep that in mind!

 

[XanderApps]

MrShowDown, I'm sorry to tell you this but I chose not to give the user the ability to change update rate in this update.

Without further ado, here is the release for version 1.2.5 (the livetile update):


[Changelist]
Added more backgrounds
Added ability to create live tiles of projects
Added all subcategories to browsing
Refined browsing
Fixed bugs
Added Help/FAQ to top appbar
Moved settings to top appbar

 

[XanderApps]

Latest

This is the last update this year. Well, it's a few updates since I last posted but I thought I might as well post now


-Changes in version 1.2.7-
Revamped most pages for a more unified look
Fixed FAQ/Description load bug due to changes of kickstarter.com
Removed "find atleast xx projects" slider


-Changes in version 1.2.6-
Separated browse and search, added browse screen
Made search faster
Fixed bug where background color wouldn't load
Many minor bug fixes and clean up code