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Community Feedback: how can the site improve?

Joined
Feb 23, 2019
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The FitnessGram Pacer Test is a multi stage...
What would an app offer that the current website does not? I've considered an app but figured it wasn't worth it.
I’m constantly on iOS (I don’t own an actual computer, just an iPad) , and sometimes I feel that the website is too clunky. It works pretty well and looks pretty good, but here are a few problems:
1. Split screen. When I try to split screen, say, with FiveTimer, speedsolving is still readable, but it only takes up half of the screen that is already split! Very weird. Probs has something to do with the margins, and this could probably easily be fixed. Not a huge issue
2. Some weird interface stuff. I think sometimes you have to click twice on links to get anywhere, but it really isn’t a big problem
3. Speedsolving.com/competitions. Now here comes the pet peeve! OK, so I love the weekly competition. I go there multiple times a week, etc, love the concept. But the way the timers start is unbelievably inconsistent. Often, I’ll go to say, the 3x3 competition page, and I’ll scramble my cube and try to start the timer. But when I let go, and start solving, the timer hasn’t started. And yes, I did firmly place my finger on the place where the timer start/stop is and then let go. Other times, I’ll put my finger there, and it starts perfectly. I’ve found a way to get around this, but it’s really annoying and I haven’t found an actually good way to remedy this.

Problem 1 and 2 are just minor annoyances. But with number three, I think that an app should be made just for the weekly competition that integrates with the online part. Of course, the online competition would still be available, but I think it would add for a lot of versatility in not only fixing the problem I was talking about but letting people do the weekly comps wherever as long as they have internet, because all they need is their phone/iPad

Just a thought.
 
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Joined
Feb 23, 2019
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The FitnessGram Pacer Test is a multi stage...
With regard to the timer start, I know some people have real trouble with the timer delay. Perhaps you would prefer it with the "Disable Timer Start Delay" setting in the settings tab?
The delay isn’t really an issue. It’s the inconsistency. Sometimes, I press the timer start area, the light turns green after a second or two, and I start solving. Other times, I press the same location, and something is clearly happening because when I let go, it stays green and doesn’t start. I assume this has something to do with the interface being kind of wonky when transported to iOS. Not entirely sure, but that would be my guess. I think an app could remedy those problems easily and overall maybe look better? (Not a problem for me, but it may be for others.) I think any app should integrate with the website. Please tell me if my idea doesn’t make sense or is not feasible, but I just wanted to put it out there.
 
Joined
Jun 2, 2017
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At home. Where you should be.
I’m constantly on iOS (I don’t own an actual computer, just an iPad) , and sometimes I feel that the website is too clunky. It works pretty well and looks pretty good, but here are a few problems:
1. Split screen. When I try to split screen, say, with FiveTimer, speedsolving is still readable, but it only takes up half of the screen that is already split! Very weird. Probs has something to do with the margins, and this could probably easily be fixed. Not a huge issue
2. Some weird interface stuff. I think sometimes you have to click twice on links to get anywhere, but it really isn’t a big problem

Just a thought.
For the most part, that is iOS' fault, not Speedsolving's. On iPad, Apple loads the mobile versions of websites, not the regular desktop ones.

And for point two, that is so people don't accidently click links while scrolling the page
 
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Joined
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The FitnessGram Pacer Test is a multi stage...
For the most part, that is iOS' fault, not Speedsolving's. On iPad, Apple loads the mobile versions of websites, not the regular desktop ones.

And for point two, that is so people don't accidently click links while scrolling the page
That’s fair. I;m not really worried about number two, it’s #3 that gets on my nerves sometimes. Again, not a really big issue, and I use stackmat mainly now, but for those of us who don’t have a stackmat, it can be somewhat of a problem. I don’t think the entire forum should be converted to an app form, just the weekly competitions.
 

Mike Hughey

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I do understand the justification. I might play around with some iOS devices and see if I can determine anything I might be doing wrong for the mobile versions of the weekly competition website.

An app would certainly be possible, and it might be nice. But creating an app does seem like an awful lot of extra work just to make it a bit cleaner. If there's no other way to make it reliable, it might be justified, but it might be nice to see first if it can be made more reliable as a website before resorting to the significant extra work of making an app.
 
Joined
Feb 23, 2019
Messages
649
Location
The FitnessGram Pacer Test is a multi stage...
I do understand the justification. I might play around with some iOS devices and see if I can determine anything I might be doing wrong for the mobile versions of the weekly competition website.

An app would certainly be possible, and it might be nice. But creating an app does seem like an awful lot of extra work just to make it a bit cleaner. If there's no other way to make it reliable, it might be justified, but it might be nice to see first if it can be made more reliable as a website before resorting to the significant extra work of making an app.
That’s a very fair point, and I do agree, it doesn’t make sense to make an application if there’s an easier fix.
 

SenorJuan

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Sep 26, 2014
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The circular avatar 'window' just doesn't work. Many avatars are designed/chosen for the original square image format.
I don't know how the 'window' works, but if you are able to custom modify it to any arbitrary shape, one that might work is a 3x3 cube profile. That is: a square, but rounded corners, and two indents along each edge. Just a thought.
 
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If it's simple to add I'd want it too :)
lets spam pjk's post with reactions for him to see how this is a need

 

kubesolver

Premium Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2019
Messages
425
I would love to have a perma-link to most recent message in a conversation. Something like
Code:
https://www.speedsolving.com/conversations/me-and-you/last
or
Code:
https://www.speedsolving.com/conversations/me-and-you/first-unread
 

pjk

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I would love to have a perma-link to most recent message in a conversation. Something like
Code:
https://www.speedsolving.com/conversations/me-and-you/last
or
Code:
https://www.speedsolving.com/conversations/me-and-you/first-unread
When clicking on an unread conversation, it naturally jumps to the latest conversion, such as:

Why would the structure you sent server better than what is above?

The circular avatar 'window' just doesn't work. Many avatars are designed/chosen for the original square image format.
I don't know how the 'window' works, but if you are able to custom modify it to any arbitrary shape, one that might work is a 3x3 cube profile. That is: a square, but rounded corners, and two indents along each edge. Just a thought.
Can you elaborate more on how it doesn't work?

That’s a very fair point, and I do agree, it doesn’t make sense to make an application if there’s an easier fix.
You can use Tapatalk app for the forum. For competitions, for now, it is browser based and seems to work well.
 

pjk

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I second wanting those reactions.
If it's simple to add I'd want it too :)
lets spam pjk's post with reactions for him to see how this is a need

I added both of those reactions now. Let me know if that will suffice.
 
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