BPL will be releasing an iPhone app in the coming weeks, most likely in April.

We're interested in exploring new ways to distribute BPL content, including our normal content published on the website, and perhaps new forms of content customized for mobile platforms.

The app will be a fairly simple article reader that will give users access to the last 6 weeks or so of content published at BPL. It will also include tabs to access video content and the most popular items in the BPL store.

For people new to BPL it will also provide some basic info on BPL and BPL membership, along with the latest info on the Wilderness Trekking School.

We are keen to explore the mobile medium and expect to add capability to this app and possibly other apps as we get feedback from users. Your comments and feedback are welcome, as usual. Here's a sneak peek.

Edited by don on 02/28/2010 14:00:43 MST.

This is very cool! I'll download it as soon as it's available on the store! I hope you'll also include the forums, so we can argu.....er....discuss while on the go!

Good stuf - my iPhone arrives in 2 weeks....

Doug -

Forum capability is definitely on the list of capabilities for the road ahead, though it will not be in Version 1.0.

Don

Sounds good Don, thanks for the reply! I can still access the forums through Safari on the iPhone, so will continue to do that.

Can I assume you're also building in iPad compatibility as well?

Take care,

Doug

We are planning to add iPad compatibility but again, not in V1.0. Our goal is to get something out there for people to use, then add capability based on feedback.

This has been in the works for some time and most of the work was done well before the iPad SDK was released. Now that we have access to the iPad SDK, our goal will be to release a "universal" app as soon as we can. With that capability, a single app will adjust itself to work on the iPhone or iPad platforms.

Of course, the iPhone version will run on the iPad - but won't be optimized to take full advantage of the larger display. We've run the current app on the iPad simulator and it runs just fine.

Edited by don on 02/28/2010 14:15:34 MST.

Are there any plans to make a mobile friendly version of the website that would be accessible via Blackberry, iPhone, other smart phones?

As a Blackberry user as well as one that does occasional development for fun, it would be great to see this capability for other devices as well.

Jeff -

We have spent some time on a mobile version of the site, though it is not quite ready for release yet.

We recognize the trade-offs in focusing on the iPhone right now. A mobile site is more universal. But native apps are much more responsive and capable, and offer a better user experience in my opinion.

Don

Don,

Thanks for the information.

I completely agree with you that a native app is much more responsible and capable and offers a better user experience.

I am just jealous of those that have the options of those native applications.

Thanks again,

Jeff

Great news. It will be interesting, as a designer, to see the differences in the regular and iPhone websites.

We are planning to add iPad compatibility but again, not in V1.0. Our goal is to get something out there for people to use, then add capability based on feedback

I'm glad you are thinking about this, but may I caution you to think now about implementing the compatibility, rather than as an afterthought? Doing it now will mostly likely avoid any headaches that might come up later in the design and interface.

Also, I think that offering a version of the main website designed through CSS to be more usable on tiny screens is not that difficult to implement. The main problem is size and navigation, but the pages still follow the succession of webpage hierarchy. Wouldn't it be fairer to all members if they all had access to the main site via their mobile devices? I use the iPhone, but not everyone here does.

Edited by butuki on 02/28/2010 15:50:41 MST.

I'll give it a shot.

Re iPad compatibility.

I agree with Miguel that this needs to be carefully considered. The iPhone and iPad are quite different interfaces, even though they share many of the same characteristics. Anyone thinking of writing apps for the iPad still can't even use an iPad - only a simulator which runs on a desktop, and therefore has no true touch capabilities.

Good universal apps will share some aspects of a look and feel on both platforms, but will be much more than just "big" and "small" versions of the same app. So the BPL app has been designed to rapidly accommodate different screen sizes. But I want to get my hands on an iPad before we decide exactly how we'll adapt to its unique features.

Please don't rush with this just to get it out there. Remember this sites overhaul!? Will be cool though.

Any idea on the cost of the app?

The app will most likely be $2.99.

We may experiment with different prices - we'll see.

Hmmmm. Will I be able to read the articles that usually require a subscription to BPL if I buy the app? If not, what added value, other than being able to use my iPhone, is the app offering? If yes, then why would I want to subscribe if I can get the same thing from a $2.99 app?

Personally, I'd see the app as a way to expand, for lack of a better term, BPL market penetration. You're unlikely to do that if you charge for it, as BPL isn't some 'name' that people think they just have to have. The app is a gateway to more subscribers, that kind of thing. Charging for it limits that potential. IMHO.

EDIT: Just re-read your initial post. I get the last six weeks of articles if I buy the app. Still don't see enough of an added value to actually pay for it, and still think that charging for it limits its appeal to expanding the BPL universe.

Edited by idester on 03/02/2010 10:51:20 MST.

I get on BPL all the time on my phone. I don't even have an iPhone.

Is there something different on an App?

EDIT: I post from my phone a lot. Am I missing something about apps?

Edited by WoodenWizard on 03/02/2010 11:16:45 MST.

An app would have the content formatted for the device, instead of formatted for a normal computer screen. I'm on BPL on my phone, and post, as well, but there's much more scrolling in doing so that should be greatly reduced with an app.

The scrolling... Argh! That IS the bain of the site on my phone. You think that they'd have a way to hold something and scroll. Probably do, but not on mine:(

I have to agree with Doug. We want to bring in new people... potential future customers. A free app might be enough to draw them in. The only people who I see actually buying your app are those who are already members. What's better? A few $2.99 customers, or a few $24.99 customers?

I would pay the $2.99, since I'm already a member. I doubt I would have without previous knowledge of the sites existence.