JRG

I, and I suspect many others, like to play set games using an invisible table. Sometimes we want to allow certain people to kibitz. At the moment, the only way I know of handling this, is to set up the table and when I know someone wants to watch (either they have phoned me, it's pre-arranged or they have asked one of the people playing at the table who is not invisible to ask me), I temporarily make the table visible while that person joins. Unfortunately, this leaves a window of opportunity for other players to join the table (requiring permission opens up another problem... an avalanche of requests that overwhelms my ability to deal with them). What would be really nice, is to have 2 or 3 (or maybe 4 to 6?) slots that can be used to enter players' names. This would be visible when setting up a table, much like the player positions are. In a similar way, the players could be invited to join to kibitz. That way the table could be set up in advance to allow certain players to watch. Presumably, clicking on the "Table" button would allow adding or removing a kibitzer, just like a player.

Using Firefox (under Linux), the chat entry area is too tall (easily seen in the screenshot as the top of the area should align with the "Chat" and "Options" buttons. This often makes it impossible to see the last comment until it scrolls up after a subsequent comment. This has been a problem for a LONG time. http://goold.org/BBO-chat-problem.png I'll check later to see if it is a problem with the Chrome browser. OK. Just checked. Chromium browser under Linux (Linux Mint) doesn't appear to have the problem.

I came to theForums for the first time in years, specifically to look for this topic (or similar). When I use the Android app on my smart phone, the ads use up valuable screen real estate (but I can live with that, like theoriginal poster). What I cannot stand is the constant, distracting flashing and animations. They are particularly irritating when displayed in vivid colors,which appears to be most of the time. Additionally, with the introduction of ads to the Android app, chat appears to be broken -- I've been unable to chat for the past few days. I usually do not usethe Android appas I much prefer the browser version of BBO, but we are on holiday and I have no other choice. Oh, workarounds (registering for paid tournaments) may be alright, but the workaround is as bad as the original problem. I personally feel a 1-year paid subscription is a far superior option. ...John

For the first time ever, I have been unable to connect and login to BBO. When I surf to http://www.bridgebase.com/client/client.php all I get is the vertical advertising bar down the left-hand side of the window — the rest is plain white. Firefox browser under Linux Mint. Both are the most up to date releases and have all fixes applied. The hardware, probably irrelevant, is an Apple MacBook Pro (and older one). Update: It worked still on Windows 7, so I tried re-booting. That solved the problem. It looks like it had something to do with a recent Firefox update (Linux supporting software) as Firefox went through its "Checking plugins..." spiel when it was launched. For whatever it is worth, just quitting and re-launching Firefox did not work; it took a reboot. PROBLEM RESOLVED

I use the app on an iPad and have now had sufficient experience using it to be able to comment more intelligently (I hope!). I prefer to use the web browser version on a large screen, but the mobile app is sometimes more convenient. Both the mobile and browser versions need an implementation of the Chatroom. As mentioned in the Chat with Fred, this was a great feature of the old Windows program. Great for chatting to partner about bridge related topics. On the iPad, there appears to be a lot of space wasted with decoration. The faux-wood stuff. etc. I'm not an UI expert, but couldn't what little screen real estate there is, be used more effectively? As suggested by at least one other: Logging out is a pain. It would be nice to have a one-click method of doing this (or a choice on a drop-down menu) It would also be nice to have a "quit this app" rather than just send it into the background (but that applies to all iPad apps :angry: ) The method of checking scores when watching a team game (including Vugraph) seems tedious. I especially dislike the present deal being off-screen (I watched some of the Vanderbilt on my computer and some on my iPad).

I agree with what you have said. These issues apply to the iOS as well as Android.

I agree with what you have said. These issues apply to the iOS as well as Android.

The iPad app does not handle multi-tasking/threading/backgrounding or whatever it is. Except on very rare occasions, the connection is lost and one needs to login again and navigate back to where one was (e.g. watching a Vugraph match, team game, etc.). Examples: Due to "inactivity", the iPad locks the screen One switches to another app (e.g. browser to look up a URL or view a site mentioned in a chat message) One goes to start another app (e.g. music player) Cheers, John

That is an iPad setting, not something the BBO app can change. It can be turned on/off, or the time-out changed, in the iPad "Settings" app (under "Auto-Lock").

There are a couple of issues with the nomenclature and use of the Profile. One's Profile has a section called "Other". It allows one to say something about oneself (this is, after all, in a "Profile"). Very soon after BBO launched and started to gain in popularity, people started using this area to list conventions/systems they played. As the number of BBO members sky-rocketed, this was completely understandable for people who were happy playing with random/unknown partners. This usage now appears to be the norm. However, it is unsatisfactory: There really does need to be an area for members to make a few comments about themselves (e.g. "I dislike slow play" or "I do not like playing bridge with anonymous people"). Similarly, there is a real need to be able to indicate which bidding system/conventions a member uses. Surely a dedicated area for that purpose makes a lot of sense. As well, many people have said the "Other" area is rather restrictive when listing conventions, etc. (i.e. too few characters can be typed in). I would suggest making it a bit larger, but not much. It's purpose would be to provide a general idea of what a person plays, not a detailed description (use a Convention Card for that purpose).

I missed this thread (I thought it was to do with a BBO feature, not general comments on the Mobile app) and created a new thread by mistake. http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/57961-wish-list-ipad-app/

In portrait mode, it would be nice to be able to change the chat pane (right sidebar) to show Who is Online, My Scores, much the way the web version allows different things to display in the sidebar. Because chat is so important, it would require a fast and easy way to toggle back to chat. Be able to login as "invisible" as in other BBO. I know the Anonymous logins are there, but they are not the same. Actually, I personally have no desire to play against an anonymous player. More of the BBO Options: Toggle showing when friends logon, chat options. Options that a person would normally set once and forget about should be set through the iPad (iOS) "Settings", though not using this option if the code base is shared between iOS and Android is understandable. General (i.e. all BBO): By the way, I would love a way to block chat messages that do not come from a person at the table (player or kibitzer). I dislike getting random invitations to play in games with people I do not know. General (i.e. all BBO): When one sets up a table with "reserved" seats and the player in one of those seats leaves, that seat should NOT be available for anyone to click on. It should still show up as reserved (obviously with an option for the host to turn off the reserve). It is incredibly annoying to be winding up a set game and be finishing a conversation with 1 or 2 of the players and have a barrage of requests to sit. General (i.e. all BBO): Make it so that if a person clicks on a seat, he is shown the table description and needs to click a "Confirm" button BEFORE the request is processed. This should be bypassed for a person clicking on a seat reserved for him. There could also be an option for the table host to turn this behaviour on/off. There may be other exceptions as well (e.g. when a player is automatically moved in a tournament). NOTE: This is different from, but similar to, the above.

There were discussions of the problem in the past. I think the more experienced BBO members are generally aware of it. I learnt about it quickly as I have a slow dial-up connection and there is sometimes a delay after the auction is over before the trump suit is moved to the left. I consciously wait for that to happen before I lead.

I just thought of a great way to chew up CPU cycles! It would be nice to be able to filter who is allowed to sit at a table one hosts. For example, allow anyone who is marked as a Friend or for whom a seat is Reserved (which would be my favourite combination). People not allowed to sit would receive a message such as "Table settings don't allow you to play". The filtering could be more general than my example -- perhaps similar to the View filters for a club: Filter on language, country, level, champion.

I just tried it without any problem. I assume you have the Vul set in the editor window.