by falkor » Thu Jun 27, 2013 8:16 pm
Tapatalk although very popular is unfortunately not free to users, there is a small charge for each member. When active, it bypasses all our phpBB files and uses its own. Basically, it's a new application that happens to use our phpBB database.
Our phpBB files aren't being used by those accessing the board with the Tapatalk iPhone/Android app so it's beyond complete control of Admins or Moderators. If the displaying of information via Tapatalk went wrong Admins / Mods on here would be expected to "sort it out" when the code involved would be Tapatalk files not phpBB, I'm saying that that could be time consuming and quite possibly involve seeking support from Tapatalk, that would not appeal to me personally
Tapatalk would /could easily insert advertising in between posts, they could do whatever they wanted to and all we could do would be to sit back and "trust them" - in fact if this site did have advertising of our own, Tapatalk wouldn't reference it as it does not use the site's files, it puts it's own in place.
For all intents and purposes it would seem initially as if there was no difference, but beneath the surface our "control" would have been diluted, many forums are happy to run that way of course
At the end of the day Tapatalk is a commercial software looking to make money from either inserting advertising into the forums being displayed, or charging a small fee per user or both. [Currently the app is being offered for free as a promotion , no idea how long for though]
We don't have any advertising and last year we got 0 (ZERO)
subscriptions, (and so far this year 0 (ZERO) subscriptions) so allowing Tapatalk to move into these "fields" would seem a little rich.
Instead of Tapatalk many phpBB support personnel recommend
Artodia which we already have installed, this does not take a small fee per user and does not insert advertising at any stage.
DionDesigns wrote:poultrymatters wrote:When using Tapatalk, you can choose whether you want advertising or not.
That's not really true, and it's an example of the (IMO) sleazy tactics Tapatalk has used to promote their product. Third-party pixel beacons and tracking cookies can be (and usually are) served, and because you're running an app and not your mobile browser, they completely bypass your browser-based adware protection.
When you use the Tapatalk app, the phpBB server software is disabled. Nowhere is that mentioned in their advertising or documentation. Why? Because they can then foist off support to here, when in fact the actual phpBB software is not being used. Sleazy? Oh yeah. Tapatalk installs its own PHP-based software on your server, and that is why many phpBB features do not work in the Tapatalk app -- it's not phpBB! (One hopes that someday the folks here will install Tapatalk and take a long look at what it installs on the server side...and the contents of the files it installs.)
And finally, since Tapatalk disables your phpBB installation, any ads you have added in your templates will also be disabled. You will lose revenue if you install Tapatalk. Again, this is never mentioned. Sleazy? Oh yeah.
Use a mobile-optimized phpBB style/theme.
DionDesigns is a fellow Administrator on phpBB and as you can see above has strong views
I am of course still interested in your views. Please feel free to ask any other questions.
When you look at your mobile phone at this time and browse to PCSO.com what are the problems? please list the problems here
or on the original Artodia thread 
Tapatalk although very popular is unfortunately not free to users, there is a small charge for each member. When active, it bypasses all our phpBB files and uses its own. Basically, it's a new application that happens to use our phpBB database.
Our phpBB files aren't being used by those accessing the board with the Tapatalk iPhone/Android app so it's beyond complete control of Admins or Moderators. If the displaying of information via Tapatalk went wrong Admins / Mods on here would be expected to "sort it out" when the code involved would be Tapatalk files not phpBB, I'm saying that that could be time consuming and quite possibly involve seeking support from Tapatalk, that would not appeal to me personally
Tapatalk would /could easily insert advertising in between posts, they could do whatever they wanted to and all we could do would be to sit back and "trust them" - in fact if this site did have advertising of our own, Tapatalk wouldn't reference it as it does not use the site's files, it puts it's own in place.
For all intents and purposes it would seem initially as if there was no difference, but beneath the surface our "control" would have been diluted, many forums are happy to run that way of course
At the end of the day Tapatalk is a commercial software looking to make money from either inserting advertising into the forums being displayed, or charging a small fee per user or both. [Currently the app is being offered for free as a promotion , no idea how long for though]
We don't have any advertising and last year we got 0 (ZERO) [url=http://policecommunitysupportofficer.com/donate.php]subscriptions[/url], (and so far this year 0 (ZERO) subscriptions) so allowing Tapatalk to move into these "fields" would seem a little rich.
Instead of Tapatalk many phpBB support personnel recommend [url=http://policecommunitysupportofficer.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=17943&p=192413]Artodia[/url] which we already have installed, this does not take a small fee per user and does not insert advertising at any stage.
[quote="DionDesigns"][quote="poultrymatters"]When using Tapatalk, you can choose whether you want advertising or not.[/quote]
That's not really true, and it's an example of the (IMO) sleazy tactics Tapatalk has used to promote their product. Third-party pixel beacons and tracking cookies can be (and usually are) served, and because you're running an app and not your mobile browser, they completely bypass your browser-based adware protection.
When you use the Tapatalk app, the phpBB server software is disabled. Nowhere is that mentioned in their advertising or documentation. Why? Because they can then foist off support to here, when in fact the actual phpBB software is not being used. Sleazy? Oh yeah. Tapatalk installs its own PHP-based software on your server, and that is why many phpBB features do not work in the Tapatalk app -- it's not phpBB! (One hopes that someday the folks here will install Tapatalk and take a long look at what it installs on the server side...and the contents of the files it installs.)
And finally, since Tapatalk disables your phpBB installation, any ads you have added in your templates will also be disabled. You will lose revenue if you install Tapatalk. Again, this is never mentioned. Sleazy? Oh yeah.
Use a mobile-optimized phpBB style/theme.[/quote]
DionDesigns is a fellow Administrator on phpBB and as you can see above has strong views
I am of course still interested in your views. Please feel free to ask any other questions. [b]When you look at your mobile phone at this time and browse to PCSO.com what are the problems?[/b] please list the problems here [url=http://policecommunitysupportofficer.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=17943]or on the original Artodia thread[/url] :slww: