BBO Mobile App Version 3.50 Comments Thread

[barmar]

Is there a 1-click option to log off in android app? I have an app-killer app and task manager in jellybean is ok, but still takes several clicks. Within the bbo app it takes about the same number of clicks from sat at table: Back-Yes-Back-Back-LogOff. May have missed a Back.

You asked the same thing a few days ago. There was no answer because there isn't one. The only screen with a logoff button is the main screen; that button becomes "Back" everywhere else.

 

There's only so much screen real estate on a cellphone. If we wanted to provide easy access to Logout from all screens, I think it would have to be in the triangle pop-up menu, so it would be a 2-click option.

[1eyedjack]

You asked the same thing a few days ago. There was no answer because there isn't one. The only screen with a logoff button is the main screen; that button becomes "Back" everywhere else.

 

There's only so much screen real estate on a cellphone. If we wanted to provide easy access to Logout from all screens, I think it would have to be in the triangle pop-up menu, so it would be a 2-click option.

 

I assume you refer to q1 of my post of 09 feb. There are similarities but they differ. The earlier q bemoaned that log off did not kill the app. The later q bemoaned the absence of either option anywhere but on the main home page.

 

Sorry I was forgetting those playing on cellphones. I am on tablet with 10 inches of screen real estate. Wonder if it is possible for the software to detect the diff and customise accordingly

 

Incidentally, regarding killing the app, I agree that it makes sense not to have that option anywhere other than on the login screen to which you are taken back after logging off. But that login screen has only 4 buttons on it at present. Plenty of room for a close app button. Even for those on phones.

[1eyedjack]

I think there are a couple of improvements to the way that private chat to a player behaves.

 

1) If private chat is disabled because recipient is in a tourney, i would like an option to send the message to mailbox.

 

2) Failing that I would prefer it if a message popped up to say that private chat is disabled at the instant of opening the compose message window rather than at present when hitting send after having wasted time composing the message.

 

Combining both of the above, ideally I would tap on the name, message pops saying private chat disabled, and same message has 2 buttons: cancel or post to mailbox. Select the latter and compose message window appears. Then hitting send posts to mailbox. Exceptionally if private chat becomes enabled by the time you hit send then live chat would override mailbox selection. Cancel button would be auto-selected by server after a timeout period.

 

I have a feeling that this suggestion may be relevant to the flash version also.

[1eyedjack]

I expect this has already been thought of and discarded as too hard to implement, but I would prefer it if the chat that scrolls off the top of the window could be retrieved by dragging it back into view - at least the chat that took place during the current login session.

[barmar]

The chat window scrolls normally, you should be able to drag old chat into view.

[1eyedjack]

The chat window scrolls normally, you should be able to drag old chat into view.

Thanks. Have re-checked and this does not work on my tablet. No chat scroll.

[fred]

Thanks. Have re-checked and this does not work on my tablet. No chat scroll.

I had to disable chat scrolling for Android devices because it was causing problems that I could not figure out how to fix. It is enabled for iPad and iPhone.

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

[1eyedjack]

At present, at least on my machine (Galaxy Note 10.1, Jellybean), the "open tables" button is disabled when that was the last button pressed, ie while list of open tables is the current view. It would make refreshing the screen a one-click process, without using up any screen real estate, if that button were to remain an active clickable button permanently.

 

Colour-coding the buttons may require careful thought. You would want to retain a distinction between open tables and full tables buttons so that you knew which option you are currently viewing. One option would be to leave the colours unchanged. That might confuse because users might not appreciate that the greyed button is still active and clickable. But it might be the least of evils.

[alanrick]

Hi Fred,I love ♥ the iPad version. Even though I don't trust my fingers and touch for a tournament it's great for practicing.

What I miss most is the ability to review past games I've played (in web through "my BBO".) It's strange this isn't available because the complex part (reviewing my results or their results) is available if they've just been played (eg practicing anonymously.)

The other thing I miss is being able to start a practice table (bidding with a partner) after I've logged in.Alan.

[fred]

Hi Fred,I love ♥ the iPad version. Even though I don't trust my fingers and touch for a tournament it's great for practicing.

What I miss most is the ability to review past games I've played (in web through "my BBO".) It's strange this isn't available because the complex part (reviewing my results or their results) is available if they've just been played (eg practicing anonymously.)

The other thing I miss is being able to start a practice table (bidding with a partner) after I've logged in.Alan.

The next version will allow you to review recent hands that you played, recent tournament results, and what happened at other tables in your recent tournaments.

 

Not clear when we will make it possible to host bidding tables, but I am sure it will happen eventually.

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

[alanrick]

Wonderful Fred,

That's exactly the order of preference that I had. Reviewing your hands after a tournament or friendly from the comfort of a sofa would be just perfect.

Alan

[1eyedjack]

If I click to join a table, and the server returns the message "error, could not join the table", typically because someone else got there before me, it would be helpful if the server used that ping as prompt to refresh the list of open tables, OK, I get that unlike Windows version we cannot have an instant autorefresh whenever the listing changes and we need to page the server manually for an update. All that I suggest is that the attempt to join could act as such a request (if joining the table is rejected for whatever reason). I don't think that this request replaces my earlier request for a general one-click refresh button, incidentally. but is separate and in addition. However if the screen real estate does not permit a general refresh button, at least the implementation of this request would not change the display options in any way.

[1eyedjack]

It could just be me, but I cannot find any way to view my own profile (let alone edit it) while I am sitting at a table. I can see how to do it immediately after logging in.

 

Quite often I sit down and partner agrees to play my profile, but I just can't remember all that it says. OK, I know that the profile field is not really intended for system notes, but let's get real.

 

Perhaps I should just get a better memory, if only to remember to remind myself of my profile before sitting.

 

There is I think an opportunity for clicking on the compass point N, S, E or W to have a different effect to that of clicking on the name of the person seated. That would not take up any more screen space.

[1eyedjack]

At present the football-shaped ball in the top left corner of a table screen, which displays the vul and board number, is used purely for display purposes. It strikes me that there is an opportunity for it to be used as a clickable button without using up any screen space.

 

You might use it for something where there is a particular advantage for having a one-click process rather than to pop-up a menu (we already have a popup menu and can just add to that if no. of clicks is not a priority).

 

I have a couple of ideas in mind (there are probably better alternatives):

 

You could use it to click on the ball to prompt to leave your seat. OK, you can already do this by clicking on your own name at the seat. BUT with my suggestion implemented that would free up clicking on your own name for alternative use such as to display (and edit) your profile, thereby making clicking on your own name behave similar to clicking on other players' names, which I feel is more intuitive and logical.

 

You could use it to click on the ball to request an undo. Yes, we have an undo request already in the drop down menu. But that is a 2-click process, and I personally feel that an undo request should be a one-click process. There is a degree of urgency in getting the request across so as to minimise the potential damage caused by next hand(s) bidding or playing. That urgency is served by facilitating an immediate request which in turn argues for a one-click process. If you click on it to request an undo a subsequent click would cancel the undo request (in case you clicked on it by accident).

 

The obvious (and I think only) downside to making this a clickable button (however defined) is that to someone new to the software it may be unclear that it is a clickable button. I have to say that the first time I saw it I naturally assumed that clicking on it would have some desired effect; I just did not know what effect. Turns out to be no effect. It is I think an inevitable consequence of trying to design something to fit onto a phone-sized screen that you do not have the luxury of labelling all the buttons and the user just has to get used to it. That is an observation I have discovered about Android generally having now used it for a few weeks in a variety of apps.

 

In any case, it is not like there is no precedent for making unlabelled screen space clickable even in the BBO mobile app. We can already click on the final contract to get the auction, or the score to date to get the last trick revealed, and it is only by actually clicking on these areas that the user ever becomes aware of the potential.

[JRG]

At present the football-shaped ball in the top left corner of a table screen, which displays the vul and board number, is used purely for display purposes. It strikes me that there is an opportunity for it to be used as a clickable button without using up any screen space.

[...]

 

It is I think an inevitable consequence of trying to design something to fit onto a phone-sized screen that you do not have the luxury of labelling all the buttons and the user just has to get used to it. That is an observation I have discovered about Android generally having now used it for a few weeks in a variety of apps.

 

In any case, it is not like there is no precedent for making unlabelled screen space clickable even in the BBO mobile app. We can already click on the final contract to get the auction, or the score to date to get the last trick revealed, and it is only by actually clicking on these areas that the user ever becomes aware of the potential.

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

[JRG]

At present the football-shaped ball in the top left corner of a table screen, which displays the vul and board number, is used purely for display purposes. It strikes me that there is an opportunity for it to be used as a clickable button without using up any screen space.

[...]

 

It is I think an inevitable consequence of trying to design something to fit onto a phone-sized screen that you do not have the luxury of labelling all the buttons and the user just has to get used to it. That is an observation I have discovered about Android generally having now used it for a few weeks in a variety of apps.

 

In any case, it is not like there is no precedent for making unlabelled screen space clickable even in the BBO mobile app. We can already click on the final contract to get the auction, or the score to date to get the last trick revealed, and it is only by actually clicking on these areas that the user ever becomes aware of the potential.

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

[JRG]

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).
  

[FM75]

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 the above.

Also, I am probably reiterating here, but on an iPad, the native "powerdown" options need to be shut-off.

 

Horribly irritating, for example, to keep having the iPad shutdown while kibbing Vanderbilt- This falls into the "are you kidding me" category. I have to keep touching my screen??!!

[fred]

I agree with the above.

Also, I am probably reiterating here, but on an iPad, the native "powerdown" options need to be shut-off.

 

Horribly irritating, for example, to keep having the iPad shutdown while kibbing Vanderbilt- This falls into the "are you kidding me" category. I have to keep touching my screen??!!

There is no way for the app to prevent this from happening, but your iPad has a setting that can stop this or slow it down.

 

Good news is that, in the next version, inactivity will not result in a disconnection from BBO until roughly 10 minutes has elapsed. This was not possible until the most recent release of the development software that was used to create the app. Perhaps a future version of that software will allow me to address the issue you describe but for now I can't do anything about that (sorry).

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

[Antrax]

I'm not sure how it does it, but there's an app on my iPad ("Logic Games") that has a setting that disables the powerdown - when it's set, the iPad screen stays on until you exit the app.

[fred]

I'm not sure how it does it, but there's an app on my iPad ("Logic Games") that has a setting that disables the powerdown - when it's set, the iPad screen stays on until you exit the app.

I will take another look at the documentation. Last time I checked (a few months ago) there was no solution. Maybe something has changed. If so then I will try to get this to work in the next version.

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

[1eyedjack]

I see that ver 3.60 is out. Is there a summary of changes somewhere?

[barmar]

The announcement should be posted in a couple of days when the iOS version is approved by Apple.

[fred]

Version 3.60 is now available. You can read more about it here:

 

Click to read more about version 3.60

 

I am closing this topic. I will create a new one when you can post feedback pertaining to version 3.60.

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com