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I am the creator of the iPhone Reddit app (Alien Blue, not iReddit). AMA (self.IAmA)

submitted ago* by alienblue

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Hi Reddit! Many of you have likely never heard about Alien Blue, as it has lived privately in the /r/iphone subreddit. From the feedback and support of redditors in that subreddit, the application has evolved immensely since launch.

I thought that an AMA would be the perfect place to bring awareness to Alien Blue to the rest of Reddit.

I would love to answer any questions you may have about me, the Alien Blue app, developing for the iPhone/iPad, or about the experience of developing for Redditors.

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[–]lobster280zx 31 points32 points ago

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I'm responding to you using Alien Blue from an iphone4 and I love your program. I've been using it about a month now and absolutely love it. I use it in night mode all of the time, I find it visually pleasant. Thank you for your time and commitment, you made one helluvan app.

[–]alienblue[S] 13 points14 points ago

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It's an absolute pleasure. I've got the retina display updates coming very shortly, so I hope your eyes don't go too blurry in the meantime.

[–]InsightfulLemon 2 points3 points ago

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It's really clear, the text, ui and images scale very well.

I have had it freeze on start up though. shrug just reinstalled and I'm back.

[–]alienblue[S] 8 points9 points ago*

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I have had it freeze on start up though

I am just trying to recreate this bug in the simulator, and I'll see if I can patch it. I don't have an iPhone 4 yet, so if anyone else notices this and has access to their crash logs, please be sure to send them through to me at support@alienblue.org. I would really appreciate it!

** Edit **: If this happens to anyone else, you can find your crash logs under any of the following (depending on your OS):

  • Mac OS: /Library/Logs/CrashReporter/MobileDevice/
  • XP: C:\Documents and Settings\Application Data\Apple computer\Logs\CrashReporter\
  • Vista: C:\Users\AppData\Roaming\Apple computer\Logs\CrashReporter\MobileDevice\

I guarantee that it's one line of code... it always is.

** Update : It looks to be a **connection timeout issue on iPhone 4 when testing your connection to Reddit. You can double-check by disabling WIFI (and using 3G) to see if it still crashes. It seems to happen only to iPhone 4, so I'll see if I can work out why it's pooping itself rather than giving you a "Could not connect to Reddit" message.

[–]bgog 6 points7 points ago

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Crashes at startup for me everytime on the iphone 4. I sent you an email and a screenshot. Hope that helps.. Let me know how to send a crashlog and I'd be happy to.

[–]alienblue[S] 2 points3 points ago

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Thanks for that. I just got your email!

[–]InsightfulLemon 3 points4 points ago

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If it happens again I'll try to email the logs over :)

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points ago

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This doesn't help you but I haven't had it crash once on my iPhone 4, so I'm guessing it's not a huge deal ATM.

[–]davel_jonez 0 points1 point ago

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I tried turning off wifi and it now works, whereas with wifi it crashed every time on my iPhone 4.

[–]SquareWheel 0 points1 point ago

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Is this different than the network startup bug I reported a few days ago? It sounds similar but I was testing on an iPod 1st gen.

[–]half_brick 0 points1 point ago

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It crashes on startup for me too. From the stack trace it looks like the same issue. I've emailed you the crash report.

[–]istara 1 point2 points ago

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Here's an upvote from me, via AlienBlue.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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I've got the retina display updates coming very shortly...

Looking forward to this!

[–]pobody 17 points18 points ago

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I was not aware of this app until I saw this post. I downloaded it to check it out, and I'm very impressed with the interface. You had me at the comment collapse.

I'll play with it a bit more but at this point I expect to shell out for the Pro version.

[–]desperatechaos 15 points16 points ago

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I bought the pro version, and I don't even really care for the extra features it gives. I just want to support someone who is so responsive and open to user critiques.

[–]tekiran 9 points10 points ago

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same here. i just bought the pro version this morning, not to use the extra features, but because the app itself is worth it.

[–]InsightfulLemon 0 points1 point ago

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Ditto!

[–]SingleDad23 11 points12 points ago

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I just wanted to say I really enjoy your app. I've used it most of the day today to post replies to my IAMA and it's worked flawlessly. I also have iReddit installed but I prefer this.

[–]alienblue[S] 9 points10 points ago

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That's awesome man. I've been following your IAMA since early this morning. I also have a daughter (she just turned one), and found it incredible to read your story. Your daughter is lucky to have a brave father like you.

[–]wombtotombillwhinge 8 points9 points ago

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Hey I downloaded your app today after reading this AMA. Just wanted to say I've already deleted ireddit as I find your app to be super functional, and it's use intuitive. Also, the way you appear to be listening to feedback is mighty impressive. Those of us who aren't so techno-savvy need more devs like you!

[–]alienblue[S] 4 points5 points ago

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Those of us who aren't so techno-savvy need more devs like you!

No sweat! I'm absolutely delighted with how well Alien Blue has been received today. Corresponding with all of you is a joy.

[–]covercash 6 points7 points ago

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I'd love the 'pull page down to manually refresh' option like Twitter for iPhone (formerly Tweetie) has

[–]alienblue[S] 8 points9 points ago

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It's on the TO-DO. I've been coveting that feature for quite some time. The design and implementation of the Twitter app is ridiculously good, those developers really know how to set the bar.

[–]covercash 3 points4 points ago

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It's one dude... @atebits on Twitter.

[–]alienblue[S] 9 points10 points ago

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That is one talented mofo.

[–]whychromosome 4 points5 points ago

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Fuck, I've had my 2G for two years and I've been using iReddit. Now that I'm about to switch to Android, I find this incredible iPhone app?

[–]dolladollabill 2 points3 points ago

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I'm about to do the same. checking it out on my 2g, but getting android. I suggest so awesome programmer ports it.

[–]iconoclaus 2 points3 points ago

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I won't lie - this app is one of the best things about the iPhone.

Android users: what are the best reddit clients you've seen?

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points ago

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Reddit Is Fun

[–]PhanTom74 6 points7 points ago

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Thank you

[–]alienblue[S] 4 points5 points ago

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My pleasure. A huge amount of credit goes to the /r/iphone subreddit. It's probably the most encouraging environment for an iPhone developer to be in, and I couldn't describe the level of support and feedback they gave me.

[–]TheBlahrg 11 points12 points ago

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What's the difference between ireddit and your app? Why is your app better?

[–]alienblue[S] 23 points24 points ago*

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The predominant difference between Alien Blue and iReddit is that Alien Blue is an active project. Alien Blue is quite feature rich, but if I had to condense the features that make the app preferable to iReddit, it would be:

  • Inline image viewing in comments
  • Add / Create Posts (and Self Threads)
  • One-Tap Imgur Integration when posting (and when commenting)
  • Ability to edit your comments
  • Night-Mode and Low Contrast options
  • Hide All posts (syncs with Reddit.com in the background)
  • ...Full list here

That said, iReddit has a very strong fan base due to its exceptional use of minimalism. I am now working on an option to allow an iReddit like skin to make the leap easier for iRedditors.

[–]kovu159 6 points7 points ago

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My number one reason for the switch is that it saves your state when switching apps. iReddit always drove me crazy when I would switch to SMS to reply to a message, switch back, and have the app reset. I hoped when iOS4 came out there would be an update, but iReddit seems abandoned. Thanks for making a great alternative that is, I think, a lot better.

[–]alienblue[S] 4 points5 points ago

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when I would switch to SMS to reply to a message, switch back, and have the app reset.

Alien Blue will also auto-save your comments/posts while you type, so if you get a phone call or anything unforeseen happens while writing a lengthy comment (like a crash or if Reddit goes down), it will keep a safe copy for you.

There's nothing worse than losing pages of information, and I'm not arrogant enough to think that Alien Blue will never crash.

Thanks for making a great alternative that is, I think, a lot better.

I'm so happy to hear that. I hope you continue to enjoy it!

[–]bgog 3 points4 points ago

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Nice feature set.. can't wait to try it. Do you have plans for an ipad version? BTW I'd happily pay a couple bucks for a good reddit app on both the phone and ipad.

[–]alienblue[S] 0 points1 point ago

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Alien Blue HD is about a week from it's early beta. It looks quite rough at the moment, but I'm hoping to polish things up before it's official release. It will allow you to control your contrast, so if your iPad is as bright as mine at night, it should make it much more comfortable to read Reddit in the evening.

[–]itgoesthere 2 points3 points ago

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As you're developing for both the iPhone and the iPad, maybe you can answer this question:

Is there any justification for the inflated prices of iPad apps, or do they just figure that people buying an iPad will be willing to pony up more cash? Specifically for apps that are literally just high-resolution versions of their iPhone counterparts (Angry Birds HD costs $4.99 as opposed to $.99, PvZ HD cots $9.99 as opposed to $2.99, and neither offers any significant difference aside from high-resolution art). Does it really take that much more time to program and make art for an iPad version of an iPhone app?

[–]alienblue[S] 5 points6 points ago

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Does it really take that much more time to program and make art for an iPad version of an iPhone app?

It actually takes ages, depending on how different you want the iPhone and iPad version to be. For example, Alien Blue HD is almost a complete re-write from the iPhone version with only a few things in common.

The reason developers charge more the iPad version is not so much due to the additional work alone, but the additional work vs # of potential customers. A developer can afford to charge $1-$2 for the iPhone version, because they may get thousands of purchases a week (which covers their development costs).

Even for apps that are seemingly unchanged, everything needs to be tested again, and re-worked to handle the differences in the screen. Advertising and support also need to be factored in as well, with two different platforms to target (and bugs that are specific to the iPad).

With the same pricing structure, there would be only a fraction of sales on the iPad store because there are far fewer people with iPads. It wouldn't be worth their effort to get a limited number of sales at $1. To make up for this, the price is set higher. Once the iPad becomes ubiquitous, the App Store prices will drop as overheads can be covered by the scale of users.

The App Store is a very strange place. Expectation of pricing is so different to anything I've experienced. When purchasing from the App Store, I try to remind myself that the same app on the desktop (or console) would probably cost about 3-4 times the amount.

[–]pacman404 0 points1 point ago

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great question, i was wondering the same thing. is it actually harder to create? (thus justifying the increased price) or is it just inflating prices because people will pay it?

[–]bgog 1 point2 points ago

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Let me know if you need a beta tester for the ipad! Happy to help.. I'm a software engineer so I know what a good bug report looks like :)

[–]alienblue[S] 1 point2 points ago

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That would be great. You can shoot through your device ID to me at support@alienblue.org

I can then code-sign it once the early beta is ready! You should also send through your iPhone device ID. If I can patch the problem you're having at launch, you could then start using it without having to wait for the next update.

[–]bgog 1 point2 points ago

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Sent

[–]bgog 0 points1 point ago

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Nice!!!

[–]the_mad_scientist 8 points9 points ago

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If I may?

Alien Blue makes it possible to actually use Reddit on an iPhone. It's fantastic and feature packed. I'm sure iReddit was a lot of hard work for someone, but Alien Blue is better by LEAPS AND BOUNDS.

[–]CinnabarSweets 2 points3 points ago

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Totally agree. I wasn't aware of this app before. I suffered through clunky interface and improperly working features with iReddit. This is SO much better. Please don't make it too much like the other app. This interface is awesome!!!! I'll upgrade in support of your efforts.

[–]the_mad_scientist 2 points3 points ago

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I bought the Pro version simply to say "thanks for a job well done". And that is what it is.

iReddit is decent and I don't want to bash it, but I've deleted it as I could never go back.

[–]xeddicus 0 points1 point ago

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I can fix my spelling mistakes with Alien Blue, and it actually succeeds in finding comment threads from my Inbox. Big improvement!

[–]slap_bet 4 points5 points ago

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I just wanted to say that after reading this thread, I went out and upgraded to pro. Have 2 dollars! You've earned it!

[–]hypnoguy1 6 points7 points ago

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Just downloaded the free app. Dude, holy awesome. Why am I only finding out about this now? great work.

[–]BorderlineAmazing 5 points6 points ago

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Other than your wife and maybe a coworker or two, does anyone IRL know that you made this app? Even better, have you ever heard someone discuss the app without knowing that you developed it?

[–]alienblue[S] 14 points15 points ago

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It's funny actually. I overheard two guys on a train talking about it, and I couldn't believe it... It was like being famous and anonymous at the same time. Many of my friends in real life have no idea that I've built Alien Blue (and don't even know that the app exists). They will likely discover it from this AMA and then email me a link to the app. This would be much more fun than actually telling them.

[–]isaystupidstuff 5 points6 points ago

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Bought it at work today and love it. I have used iReddit for a long time now, wish I knew about this earlier.

[–]mocean64 3 points4 points ago

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Major props, love the app.

[–]InsightfulLemon 5 points6 points ago

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AlienBlue was the first reddit app I found for the iPhone, and only one i've needed.

[–]omdoks 4 points5 points ago

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blah.... it sounds like you are gonna stick around for awhile.

guess i'll go pro.

[–]ratbastid 4 points5 points ago

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As an iPhone developer full time for the last three months, I'm always curious on a professional level when I use apps.

What third party frameworks do you use? I assume you use Stig Brautaset's JSON framework? Do you use (the staggeringly brilliant) ASIHTTPRequest library? I just discovered the userInfo property of the ASIHTTPRequest object--saved me a BUNCH of trouble when I've got more than one type of request happening in a single UIViewController.

[–]alienblue[S] 3 points4 points ago

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I wanted the app to be as light and speedy as possible, so I didn't use any frameworks for the user interface (like Three20). It's a bit more work, but lets you stay very close to the hardware.

The two frameworks that I used were Brautaset's JSON, and MKStoreKit (for the in-app upgrade). I haven't looked at ASIHTTPRequest before, and I'm going to check it out! Connection management can get nasty real quick.

I've tried to limit my use of third-party libraries for another reason: they may be tapping into private APIs without my knowledge. It would be a nightmare to implement core features around a particular framework, only to find that you have to rip the whole thing apart if it gets rejected.

[–]half_brick 2 points3 points ago

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Staying away from Three20 was a wise decision. I had to use it recently for its image gallery. It builds with loads of warnings and if you want to customise it you have to dig through multiple Three20 projects to find what you want and then put some ugly hacks in.

Not a fan.

[–]ratbastid 0 points1 point ago

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Agreed, I don't care for Three20. Once I figured out how to roll my own image thumbnail grid, I was way happier.

ASIHTTPRequest, though, is freaking magic. And lots of store apps use it, I think it's fine.

[–]half_brick 0 points1 point ago

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Yeah, ASIHTTPRequest is totally fine for appstore.

Three20 is technically OK too, unless you accidentally leave the debug flag on and it includes the private APIs it uses for debugging in your app store build. Which is exactly what I did yesterday... rage.

[–]zingbat 2 points3 points ago

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Thank you. I never heard of this App. So far I had been using the iReddit app for the past year. Its Ok, but it has some issues.

Now that I found your app, I'm a happy user. Thanks again!

[–]doublementh 2 points3 points ago

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Why is your app millions of times better than the official one? I absolutely love it. Can't wait for the retina display updates.

marry me?

[–]robotthink 2 points3 points ago

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Where did you learn Objective C and iPhone app development? I'd be curious if there are resources you would recommend.

[–]alienblue[S] 1 point2 points ago

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I personally find it easiest to learn by example. The best resource I can recommend is Apple's sample code section.

Not only can you learn by example, but you will learn the recommended way of developing for the iPhone. I gained huge performance benefits by following the patterns that Apple uses in their code.

[–]dillona 0 points1 point ago

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I learned from the Stanford classes. You can download them for free from iTunes U.

[–]Divergence 2 points3 points ago

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Sir you are my hero

[–]conceptualworm 2 points3 points ago

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Is alien blue your first app? If so what was it like learning how to develop for the iphone.

[–]alienblue[S] 1 point2 points ago*

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It was my first app for the iPhone platform, although I have been developing software for a very long time. Learning things along the way, I re-wrote entire sections of the application over and over again to see how I can improve the performance of Alien Blue (especially on older gen devices).

If so what was it like learning how to develop for the iphone.

I loved it. The biggest hurdles for me were the psychological "Am I going to get rejected from the App Store?" issues. The SDK is second to none. The performance optimisation tools that Apple packs are phenomenal.

[–]conceptualworm 0 points1 point ago

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So what is next? Any plans for new apps or will you be focusing on alienblue?

[–]alienblue[S] 0 points1 point ago

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At this stage, I'm just focussing on Alien Blue. The iPad version is coming along, and I may even try to port it to Android.

I think that Alien Blue would also be great for a site like Hacker News, but I want to make sure that the app stays true to its Reddit core first.

[–]bojacked 2 points3 points ago

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I've got a bunch of guys i work with that are waiting for alien blue on the droid

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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Android would be awesome. reddit is fun is a good app, but a more intuitive way to look at reddit would be nice.

[–]J-mak 4 points5 points ago

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You should consider adding the little animated reddit alien to your app, it's the only reason I still use iReddit.

[–]alienblue[S] 15 points16 points ago

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The reddit alien is a trademark of Conde Nast, and I am still waiting on the admins for their permission to use it. I think they've had higher priority things to work on, but I might shoot them another email just incase.

[–]rich4rd 3 points4 points ago

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good luck man

[–]BonziBuddy 2 points3 points ago

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Just use an animated purple monkey.

[–]chriscrowder 1 point2 points ago

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Hi-res icon and menu for iPhone 4 users?

[–]alienblue[S] 1 point2 points ago

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All ready to go! Looks much better in the simulator. I just need to complete a few more patches before the next update goes through.

[–]chriscrowder 0 points1 point ago

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Sweet! :D

[–]just_lurkin_here 1 point2 points ago

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oh my god this is effin awesome! i've been suffering with the crappy ireddit app lately, I was trying to swith to the reddit web app but it lacked some features, but this is great!

I'm trying this for a couple of days, and I'm definitely upgrading to Pro if it pleases me.

[–]sirreally 1 point2 points ago

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Replying from your app which I just downloaded. It's incredible - thanks and congratulations!

[–]Xentreos 1 point2 points ago

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Just bought the pro because you impressed me by being very responsive to everyone's suggestions :). I have had one or two crashes in the past, I'd be happy to email you the log.

The tilt-scrolling is quite nice actually, I like it. My only complaint I can think of is that if you're reading and scrolling through with it, the screen can turn off. I'm not sure if it's possible to have the scrolling reset the screen dimming timer or not, but if it is that would be great.

[–]alienblue[S] 2 points3 points ago

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My only complaint I can think of is that if you're reading and scrolling through with it, the screen can turn off.

Ah! Good catch! I'll see if I can keep the screen from dimming while you're not touching the screen.

you impressed me by being very responsive to everyone's suggestions

Thank you. Alien Blue would still be an ugly duckling if not for all the feedback and suggestions. It's extraordinary how much it has improved over the last month.

[–]herropoobear 1 point2 points ago

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hooray, it rocks!!

[–]AwkwardQuestionGuy 1 point2 points ago

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So... Are you going to make a Reddit app for the Palm Pre?

[–]alienblue[S] 0 points1 point ago

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I hadn't considered the Palm Pre before. After the iPad port, I am thinking of developing for the droid. I'll have to check out some of the developer tools available for the Pre (I've heard amazing things about the device). I don't actually own one, so it could be tricky.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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Love this app. What is your background as far as programming goes, and how did you get into iPhone dev? Sorry if this has been asked already, about to peruse this thread right now.

[–]alienblue[S] 2 points3 points ago

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I started developing in Basic at around the age of 9-10 when my parents bought me a C64. I really fell in love with programming the first time I picked up the C64 manual, and there was a code sample to create a ball that bounced from the edges of the screen.

I started making little games and distributing to friends on cassettes. I was then exposed to various languages once I upgraded to a PC, and Pascal became my new friend.

During my study (and post graduation), I developed almost exclusively in C and C++ (predominantly for games and applications that required high performance, parallel processing and low memory consumption).

Commercially, I worked as a J2EE (spring/struts/hibernate etc.) consultant for three years before becoming an independent contractor. I had been dabbling in Objective-C ever since I bought my first Mac. I then developed a series of automation apps (to make my work easier for repetitive tasks).

I fell in love Objective-C, knowing that I can always drop down to low level C for all the hardware stuff.

After purchasing an iPhone, I used the dev-team's toolchain to create unofficial apps and SBSettings plugins (nothing exciting, just to have a play). As a long time Redditor, I really wanted to get involved in improving iReddit (and asked on several threads for the possibility of open sourcing it). I thought that it may just be easier to roll up my own, incorporating all of the things that people wanted out of iReddit.

And now... here we are...

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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Sweet! So you are pretty familiar with this stuff? I've wanted to get into iPhone programming since I've had one, just never had the time to sit down and do it. The Stanford courses seem to be a great starting point, and apple docs after that. I wish life/work/etc could just pause for a few months so I could learn this stuff

[–]alienblue[S] 0 points1 point ago

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I wish life/work/etc could just pause for a few months so I could learn this stuff

I know what you mean. It's a tough passion to follow because it does demand a lot out of your day (and social life to a certain extent). It's so worth it though, it really satisfies that part of our nature that wants to learn everything. No matter how much you know about software development, there is always something new.

[–]hudsonshell 1 point2 points ago

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I just saw it yesterday on my buddy's phone and it looks really really great. I love the "night mode". I wish i could change it to look like that on my laptop. So yeah, well done!

[–]infinite 1 point2 points ago

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Any tips for someone who has done some android coding but wants to dive into ipad/iphone development? I know c/c++ well, and in 29 minutes I should have OS X installed on my laptop.

[–]alienblue[S] 2 points3 points ago

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If you know C/C++, you'll feel right at home. The syntax is a little different, but you already know one of the most complicated and powerful languages (and Objective-C is a walk in the park in comparison).

The first stop would be Apple's sample code section. You can download a completed project and play with compiling it and running it in the simulator before diving into the code to see how it all fits together.

Although it's not crucial, I found that having an understanding of memory allocation and pointers (from a C/C++ background) will give you a lot more performance benefits.

Believe it or not, the hardest thing for me was to get my head around all of the certificate stuff to get things to run on the iPhone itself. If you can get one of Apple's code samples to run on your iPhone, that's a huge accomplishment, and will give you a good foundation to build and test your app.

[–]infinite 1 point2 points ago

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Sounds good.

I don't have an iphone/ipad currently, how necessary is it in practice to have one vs using the simulator? In my case I'm looking at possibly creating an advertising library for other devs to use.

[–]alienblue[S] 2 points3 points ago

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The simulator is really good, and you can emulate a lot of the features of the real phone (like dragging, pinching etc). One caveat, the device itself handles memory allocation differently to the simulator (which means that a release that works 100% in the simulator may shit itself/seg fault on the device). For that reason alone, it's a good idea to at least pair up with someone that can test it for you on a real device.

[–]infinite 1 point2 points ago

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yikes, thanks.

[–]HenkPoley 0 points1 point ago

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Just get a 1st or 2nd gen. iPod Touch with iPhone OS 3.1.3, if your app runs there (less free RAM, slower CPU) it will work anywhere else.

For iOS4 testing I'd recommend 3rd gen. iPod Touch or iPhone 3GS/4. Though apparently -so I've heard- you can install pretty much any OS version supported on the device with your developer certificate in place.

[–]ditoa 1 point2 points ago

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I installed Alien Blue the other day after reading another post. Before then I had used iReddit and was happy but Alien Blue has a nicer overall user experience IMHO. I bought it after one day :)

[–]Catatafish 1 point2 points ago

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Thank you for making Alien Blue!

[–]roger_sterling 1 point2 points ago

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TIL there's another reddit app called Alien Blue it's awesome. Great work.

[–]ibah 1 point2 points ago

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technically the Alien is white... soo

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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First off I have to say I love AlienBlue and the updates you did blew my mind! I use it everyday and it has been a pleasure doing so. I don't really have any complaints but I do have a feature request if I may.

When entering in a subreddit name, would it be possible to have a list of previous entries created for quick retrieval? This would be a tremendous help as I don't keep most of the reddits I visit in my home screen list.

Also, is it possible to save an image from the app or do we have to open them up in safari every time?

[–]alienblue[S] 5 points6 points ago

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When entering in a subreddit name, would it be possible to have a list of previous entries created for quick retrieval? This would be a tremendous help as I don't keep most of the reddits I visit in my home screen list.

I can keep a store of your Subreddits + Subreddits that you've already submitted to. This would allow you to just pick from a list.

I don't keep most of the reddits I visit in my home screen list.

Wink wink.

Also, is it possible to save an image from the app or do we have to open them up in safari every time?

In 1.0.4 (the one you're probably running), you can tap an inline image (from the comments view) and a new icon will appear on the top left hand corner of the image to allow you to "Save to Photo Library". If you see a post linked to an image, you can tap the "Comments" and load the image inline, and this will allow you to save it. It's clunky I know, but the next update makes this a whole lot easier.

In 1.0.5 (in progress), you will be able to do this directly from the browser view. I had to split the implementation over two separate updates so as not to delay updates too much.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points ago

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You rock ;) wink wink!

[–]punkdigerati 1 point2 points ago

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I just tried it out because of this post. And I don't think I will use it again. My grievances are as follows:

  1. No way to tell which links I had visited, no color change or mark

  2. No way to be sure I had clicked a link, no animation or color change when I had pressed on any button or link. Made it difficult to tell if I had hit the right thing with my fat fingers

Other than that it's a gorgeous app, it's clean looking, fast and has features that I wish were in iReddit. But I can't use it to browse reddit effectively, at least for me. Really need the interactive feedback on a touch screen device

[–]alienblue[S] 2 points3 points ago*

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No way to tell which links I had visited, no color change or mark

This one is already on track for the next update.

No way to be sure I had clicked a link, no animation or color change when I had pressed on any button or link. Made it difficult to tell if I had hit the right thing with my fat fingers

I'll see if I can recreate this. I agree, instant feedback is crucial for these devices.

Alien Blue is still in its infancy (under 2 months since launch), and I do hope you stick around for these updates.

[–]punkdigerati 3 points4 points ago

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I'll definitely keep it on my phone and try it again with each update. You're doing great work!

[–]InsightfulLemon 1 point2 points ago

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How do you view your Karma by the way? :)

[–]alienblue[S] 2 points3 points ago

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You can't as yet view your total Karma. For your comment Karma, you can jump to "Messages" -> "Comments" and it will list all of your recent comments along with their points. This is how I measure my worth to society.

Edit: To get a quick view of Karma from your Posts, you can jump to the Subreddit selection screen, and choose "Submitted". It will show you only your submitted Posts along with the points.

[–]smpx 1 point2 points ago

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Is there any kind of competition or animosity between you and the iReddit folks? There was a call for arms with iReddit a few days ago asking for people to pitch in, do you predict that there might be tension down the road?

How have the new multi-tasking options affected your work?

Did you have to develop a new version for iPhone 4 (resolution difference)?

[–]alienblue[S] 2 points3 points ago

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Is there any kind of competition or animosity between you and the iReddit folks?

Not at all. A minor frustration is that I don't have access to the admins (as the application isn't officially backed by Reddit). This is also causing delays in licensing the "Reddit Alien" so that he can be used within the application.

iReddit a few days ago asking for people to pitch in, do you predict that there might be tension down the road?

Alien Blue is a passion of mine, and I don't really think about "competition" at all. I would be developing it regardless. I think that the presence of at least two apps is great for the community.

In another comment, I wrote that I actually want users to have a choice (and to choose Alien Blue) rather than be forced to use it because there are no alternatives. It's a far better climate for me, and for Redditors.

How have the new multi-tasking options affected your work?

This is a little embarrassing. I developed background "orange envelope" notifications for the new iOS4, only to find that this falls outside the GPS, VOIP and Audio categories for multitasking. So I'm now prototyping push notifications, and just need to check with the admins to make sure it can scale properly.

Did you have to develop a new version for iPhone 4 (resolution difference)?

This is a breeze. All you have to do to support the new display is create a higher resolution version of your graphics, and add "@2x.png" on the end. That's it! I was already working with vector images, so this was much easier than I had initially predicted.

[–]smpx 1 point2 points ago

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Thanks for both the answers and the app-- it's one of my favorite apps at the moment, and is an absolute pleasure to use.

[–]kazamm 1 point2 points ago

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How much money did you make out of the pro version? How many hours did you put into it? Is this your main source of income?

[–]alienblue[S] 7 points8 points ago

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To date, the application has brought in about $450 (after Apple's commission and taxes). There are 7000 active users, with around 500 Redditors using the PRO version.

How many hours did you put into it?

More than I can count. I develop Alien Blue for about 7-10 hours a day on top of my existing contracts. This is why I drink copious amounts of coffee. My daughter usually keeps me company while I'm developing, so the time flies.

Is this your main source of income?

I'm a contract software developer, so the bulk of my family's income currently comes through that. If things pick up with Alien Blue (and Alien Blue HD), that would be amazing. I would love to do this all week long.

[–]hoowahman 5 points6 points ago

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Dang you only brought in $450? I hope this helps get word out for you as this app is one of the best I've used on the phone. Very well though out. On another note there are many imgur.com images that don't come up for me? A bug?

[–]alienblue[S] 3 points4 points ago

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Dang you only brought in $450?

I'm actually quite happy with that. When you consider that most people can use the app to close to full potential without paying a cent, it shows that people still want to contribute.

As a developer, there is nothing better than getting messages like: "I didn't need any of the Pro features, but I wanted to upgrade to show my appreciation." That's awesome, and I really can't get enough of hearing that.

many imgur.com images that don't come up for me? A bug?

It's a bug that occurs usually when linked to albums or imgur URLs with different extensions. By default Alien Blue will use resized images from Imgur (so that it's fast and light on your monthly data caps). From time-to-time it gets confused by different imgur URLs. It's on my list though, and I am working on making it a little more clever when handling links to albums.

If it happens too frequently, you can untick "Deeplink Imgur Images" under the "Advanced" section of settings. Refreshing the posts will leave the URLs alone. This is a good work around until I can push the fix through.

[–]zjm7891 0 points1 point ago

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Well since you like hearing it. I also don't use any of the pro features but wanted to upgrade to show my appreciation.

[–]SuperficialJerk 1 point2 points ago

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I've been meaning to get in touch with you. I have used your app before...works very well, except for one thing: what I don't like about it is that if there is an external link it doesn't show that it's going to imgur.com or cnn.com, etc....like reddit does.

So its a bit of a toss up when I click on a link...not sure where it'll take me.

Can you please add that functionality?

[–]alienblue[S] 4 points5 points ago*

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If you swipe the post in the Posts list, it will reveal the full URL of the destination to you (and give you quick ways to hide/save/vote). I'm still working on a bug that causes issues with very quick swipes, but a slow swipe should reveal this information to you.

*EDIT: * Here's a screenshot of what it looks like once you've swiped the post. You can see the URL where the author/subreddit used to be.

[–]DoTheDew 1 point2 points ago

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If you swipe the post in the Posts list, it will reveal the full URL of the destination to you

Honestly, I'd really prefer that it just always be visible like it is on iReddit. I don't even know why that info is so important to me when I'm scrolling through posts, but it is. Having to do a double swipe in order to get that info is enough of an inconvenience that I just don't even bother to do it. I know I'm picky, but I think most users would agree that it'd be better this way.

[–]alienblue[S] 1 point2 points ago

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I can do that. Do you think it would make the Posts look cluttered?

[–]DoTheDew 0 points1 point ago

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I don't think it would make posts look too cluttered. The way ireddit does it seems to work nicely.

[–]barelythere 0 points1 point ago

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Why not make it optional and please everyone.

[–]alienblue[S] 0 points1 point ago

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Exactly what I had in mind. :)

[–]SuperficialJerk 1 point2 points ago

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Thanks! I guess I didn't spend enough time playing around with the app.

[–]iconoclaus 0 points1 point ago

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Yeah, we already knew that, superficial jerk.

Of course, I just learned that feature myself. Also, that you can swipe inline images to make them show .. well, inline. D'oh!

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago*

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How much is the pro version? it says I cant make posts without the pro version =/ what does it cost? I am poor, so I need to know

Can you just make an ad supported version of the pro free?

[–]alienblue[S] 3 points4 points ago

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The upgrade is $2 USD (but may differ slightly based on your country/currency). Take this with a grain of salt, but I think you'll really like it.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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Alright I just downloaded it and will check it out, I like the dark theme already.

[–]Will7357 4 points5 points ago

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This is a wonderful app! I use it on my phone everyday. It's nice to "meet you". Glad to see wonderful devs make a solid app!

[–]InsightfulLemon 0 points1 point ago

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Just wondering how AlienBlue HD is coming along and if it will get the Pro upgrade from normal AlienBlue? :)

[–]alienblue[S] 1 point2 points ago

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I've been working on it day and night! :) It's coming along nicely, but it won't let you leave comments just yet. This is what I'm working on today.

At this stage, I'm planning on releasing Alien Blue HD as a standalone iPad application. Initially, it was going to be a universal binary, but over time it's grown into a beast all of its own. It is now a full-on iPad app, and not just a port. I can't wait for you guys to see it.

[–]InsightfulLemon 0 points1 point ago

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Just refreshed the app store and saw an update!

Woo

[–]InsightfulLemon 0 points1 point ago

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Thanks again for the prompt reply, looking forward to the updated iPhone icons/graphics and search the most.

[–]alienblue[S] 0 points1 point ago

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You'll probably like this then:

http://www.reddit.com/r/iphone/comments/cuujz/alien_blue_105_is_now_available_search_retina/

:)

[–]InsightfulLemon 0 points1 point ago

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Sweet, my spidey sense must have been tingling.

[–][deleted] ago

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[deleted]

[–]alienblue[S] 1 point2 points ago

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My favourite recipe is uber simple. It's called an Alien Blue Omelette. Chop a capsicum and a tomato and start frying them up. Add four eggs and sprinkle some paprica. While it's cooking, browse Alien Blue.

[–]chriscrowder 0 points1 point ago

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Tastes better if you buy the app!

[–]fliptonic 0 points1 point ago

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Have you ever thought about making a blackberry app?

[–]bluesmojo 0 points1 point ago

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How does Alien Blue get its information from Reddit? Is there an API that you call? If you wanted to create an iPhone app for, say, 4Chan or the SomethingAwful forums, would that be possible? I've always wondered who those websites don't have an iPhone app, as they're a pain in the ass to navigate from a phone.

[–]alienblue[S] 0 points1 point ago

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The Reddit admins have built an amazing API under the hood, and it allows Alien Blue to interact perfectly with the site.

Unfortunately 4Chan and SomethingAwful do not appear to have public APIs, which means that the only way to create an app that would work this way is to scrape the content from HTML and pretend to be a web browser when submitting comments. It is certainly possible to do this, but even tiny changes in their site layout would break functionality.

[–]Edalgo 0 points1 point ago

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Awesome job with Alien Blue. This is what a reddit app would function like if Apple made a reddit app. My only complaint is that you have to pay for the upgrade in order post topics. Not that big a deal, but I don't like the idea of paying to use reddit. However it is only $1.99, but I wonder if you could possibly throw in some ads on the free version to allow those who haven't upgraded to post topics. Maybe three levels (free, w/ ads, upgrade without ads). Anyways great job man.

[–]alienblue[S] 0 points1 point ago

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My only complaint is that you have to pay for the upgrade in order post topics.

I hope you don't mind, I copied and pasted this from an earlier post when asked this question:

This feature was insanity to implement. Everything from the handling of captcha to the way errors are returned from Reddit. Honestly, after tackling it over the course of three days, I understand why they left it out of iReddit.

The Reddit API is different to what is available on the website, and without having access to the admins, it is difficult to get data that I need out of Reddit. As an independent (with an unofficial Reddit app), I don't have access to the admins in the same way as iReddit or Mobile Reddit. I'm making it look easy... but that feature was quite difficult behind the curtains.

With all of the things that can go wrong (like people losing long posts, getting a phone call while entering a post, or needing to submit at a later time etc.), I decided to introduce auto-save mechanisms and made it a PRO feature.

Regarding ads, I would really prefer to avoid introducing them as they would take away from the experience of using the app. For example, many people use Alien Blue for its low contrast options and night colours when reading at night, and this would not work well with ads.

[–]Edalgo 0 points1 point ago

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Fair enough, in that case it's even more impressive what you've been able to do with this app. Keep up the good work and I'll most like be upgrading soon.

[–]wowbobwow 0 points1 point ago

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I just had to join the ranks of folks who've been using iReddit for months, noticed this thread, downloaded Alien Blue, and have now dumped iReddit. Awesome job!

[–]duke420 0 points1 point ago

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Alien blue is amazing i use it all the time. best reddit app out there.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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I was initially not a fan and posted some of the things I considered flaws along with many others in your first or second post about it. When I saw how serious you were taking the suggestions and tried it again, my word, so great to actually be listened to.

I've been using it ever since.

As this is an AMA, I have one further question/suggestion. When I'm browsing around and then read a post, when I go back to the main list, it always takes me back to the top and I have to scroll my way back down to find where I was. Any chance you could consider having it save where you were?

[–]alienblue[S] 0 points1 point ago

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When I'm browsing around and then read a post, when I go back to the main list, it always takes me back to the top and I have to scroll my way back down to find where I was. Any chance you could consider having it save where you were?

It definitely shouldn't be doing that. It's retaining position on my device, so I'm going to try to recreate why that is happening.

When I saw how serious you were taking the suggestions and tried it again, my word, so great to actually be listened to.

I'm really glad you stuck around. You guys were like a think-tank, and helped make this thing better with each update.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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Hmm strange. I just re-checked and it's definitely not saving position for me. I'm on 3GS with iOS4 if that helps.

[–]madmosche 0 points1 point ago

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I am using Alien Blue on an iPhone on Edge network (crappy area, no 3G) and it is still fast! I love your app! Thank you so much for putting in the time to develop this great app. I recommend it over the other reddit app or the reddit mobile site.

[–]adelz7 0 points1 point ago

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Thank You Very Much Good Sir

[–]mispelt 0 points1 point ago

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I'm posting from Alien Blue right now! Just came to say thanks for the app!

[–]ehsteve23 0 points1 point ago

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I just want to say that it's a great app, i paid for the pro version. I love the multiple account handling, subreddit switcher, pretty much everything.
I haven't tried iReddit to compare, but AB is good enough that i don't have to.

Oh right... question, what is your favourite colour?

[–]alienblue[S] 0 points1 point ago

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Oh right... question, what is your favourite colour?

I'm going to have to go with blue. :)

[–]MyDoppelganger 0 points1 point ago

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I just downloaded Alien Blue and from now on, it will be my primary reddit app. It's a very sexy looking app, indeed.

[–][deleted] ago

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[deleted]

[–]alienblue[S] 1 point2 points ago

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There's no huge advantage to running Alien Blue over Mobile Reddit. The primary difference is that Alien Blue is a native application and can better utilise some of the iPhone's capabilities (like having a one-tap Camera > Imgur > Reddit integration), is faster as it sits close to the hardware and it should be more responsive to your touch.

Reddit was designed to work in any web browser, whereas Alien Blue was developed and optimised to run specifically on your device.

[–]iconoclaus 0 points1 point ago

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I like the pro feature that lets you switch reddit accounts quickly. Also, imgur/instapaper integration.

[–]angrybearD 0 points1 point ago

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Please please please make an android app that is better than reddit is fun.

[–]fourletterword 0 points1 point ago

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I've just played around with it a bit, and it seems really good.

I don't think I understand it entirely yet, a small help would be good (I know, no one likes writing help files...).

Also, how do you log out of reddit once you've entered your account? I couldn't find how to do this.

Otherwise, give it a search function for the current page and it's perfect.

[–]alienblue[S] 1 point2 points ago

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Also, how do you log out of reddit once you've entered your account? I couldn't find how to do this.

There's really no way intuitive way to do this within the app, and in fact I had never thought of it. You could swipe to remove it, but you would have re-add the account once you want to log back in. I've added an item in my TODO so that this will be far easier.

I don't think I understand it entirely yet, a small help would be good

I was thinking about this too. Would you guys prefer a video (like a screencast) or just a simple file with pictures?

give it a search function for the current page and it's perfect.

Search is on its way, and it will also allow you to search through posts. It is built on top of Google's search engine as I found it to be a lot faster than Reddit's native search feature.

[–]rokstar66 0 points1 point ago*

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Search is on its way

Can you share it with the regular Reddit guys ;-). But seriously, I've been using alienblue on my iPhone 4 and love it. I've never used iReddit, so I can't compare.

edit: I've had a few instances when my subreddits didn't appear. Is that a problem with alienble or Reddit?

[–]alienblue[S] 0 points1 point ago*

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I've had a few instances when my subreddits didn't appear. Is that a problem with alienble or Reddit?

Your connection may have timed out. If Alien Blue doesn't receive your list of subscribed subreddits from Reddit, it will show you the default subreddits (like /r/technology etc).

Edit: If it does this in the future, you can tap the "Refresh" button right next to the "Subscribed Subreddits" heading. It will reload them for you (and maintain your preferred order).

(Re: Search) Can you share it with the regular Reddit guys ;-)

Unfortunately, the Reddit admins do not have the same luxury with search as an independent developer. Keep in mind that if they were to utilise Google search results, they would be up for exorbitant licensing fees (possibly high enough to cause serious cash flow issues).

[–]rokstar66 1 point2 points ago

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This is the best response I've had from a "free" product ever. I'll look into upgrading to pro, even if it's just for the service.

[–]fourletterword 0 points1 point ago

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Wow, thanks!

I personally prefer a file help to video, because I find it far easier to navigate (when I go to the help, I'm already looking for the solution to a certain problem). A video would be more like a tutorial than a help.

Also, since I have you here, how do I cancel writing a response? How do I do multiline formatting (I like paragraphs a lot)?

[–]alienblue[S] 1 point2 points ago

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Also, since I have you here, how do I cancel writing a response?

You can tap the little "" button next to the text field, and tap "Cancel Comment".

How do I do multiline formatting (I like paragraphs a lot)?

As you type, the text field will begin to expand and you can use the "Return key" as much as you like. It is initially thin, so that you can easily see the comment you are respond to.

[–]fourletterword 0 points1 point ago

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Excellent!

Thank you for the instant help. I can't do more than give you an upboat and congratulate you on your fine work (I already bought the full version). Thanks again.

[–]alienblue[S] 1 point2 points ago

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Thanks for upgrading fourletterword. If you run into any trouble, be sure to send me a quick PM or an email. In the meantime, I will be putting together some easy to read help information. There are parts of Alien Blue that are far from intuitive at this stage, and I think this would be valuable to a lot of people.

[–]funk_king 0 points1 point ago

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Very well done. Excellent job. What kind of event queueing did you use for upvoting, comments, etc. I love how at no point does the network data block the GUi.

[–]alienblue[S] 1 point2 points ago

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Thanks for your kind words. I used asynchronous requests for things like voting and saving. The hide-all feature uses a queue in the background that fires every 2 seconds so that the Reddit server doesn't get flooded. I used a really basic array to manage all of the connections (and their data). I use callbacks for pretty much everything so that the application is not waiting (blocking) on anything.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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possible for any other color schemes other than stock and dark?

[–]alienblue[S] 2 points3 points ago

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The future updates will allow downloadable / user generated skins. As long as Apple don't have a problem with UI changing after the application has been approved.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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The only problem I've had with that app is that the times on comments usually just say 0 mins ago, and that drives me nuts. Otherwise, great app. Thanks.

[–]alienblue[S] 1 point2 points ago*

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That has been patched in the 1.0.4 update (along with a tonne of other improvements). It should already be waiting for you in the "Updates" section of your App Store app.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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Awesome, thanks a lot.

[–]florinandrei 0 points1 point ago

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Do I absolutely have to own an Apple computer to try my hand at writing iPhone apps? If yes, what's the best way to get one (eBay?) and how much would it cost? (assuming it's not a piece of junk worthless for learning iPhone development and it will not be used for anything else)

If no, what are the alternatives? OS X in VirtualBox on Linux?

What's a standard minimal dev environment (software)? Does it cost anything?

[–]alienblue[S] 4 points5 points ago

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Do I absolutely have to own an Apple computer to try my hand at writing iPhone apps?

If you have the right hardware, you could give the OSX86 Project a go. It will let you run OSX natively on your PC hardware.

If you're game and have a jailbroken iPhone, you can also try to compile the iPhone toolchain or use Saurik's toolchain (in which you compile and execute directly on the phone via SSH). It is a lot more effort than compiling and building through a mac, but it is possible!

OS X in VirtualBox on Linux?

I've not tried this, but I can't imagine why it wouldn't work.

how much would it cost? (assuming it's not a piece of junk worthless for learning iPhone development and it will not be used for anything else)

You can pick up a low-end Mac mini, and this should be far less than the cost of their laptops or desktops.

What's a standard minimal dev environment (software)? Does it cost anything?

The only cost is the annual developer fee to Apple. It's $99 USD, and lets you distribute to the App Store. This also gives you access to all of the latest developer tools (including the performance optimisation stuff that I love).

[–]bojacked 0 points1 point ago

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I've downloaded your app and I love it.. Thank you for your hard work. I have been interested in designing apps but I have heard nightmares of people who put hundreds of hours in an app only to have the app store deny it... or worse approve it for a short period then yank it for no reason.

Have you had any issues like this?

[–]alienblue[S] 3 points4 points ago

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Have you had any issues like this?

I'm really glad someone brought up this topic. At first, I thought it was going to be a nightmare. In fact, the first submission was rejected (due to the use of the word "beta" when describing one of the features).

I hated it at first. However, my tune changed over a short time. When the number of users reached 3,000, it wasn't too bad having someone give the application a quick look before updates were pushed through. I would much rather an approver pick up a Crash-On-Launch than you guys.

As the 4 and 5 star reviews came rolling in, the review process became shorter and shorter. I have a strong feeling that customer reviews have an impact on the speed and result of their approval. Social proof goes a long way.

iReddit seemingly suffered quite a few rejections. This wasn't the case for me. I even had to push an urgent update through (for iOS4), and they approved it within an hour or so of my email. My attitude toward the App Store review process has markedly changed. Though I think that I've been really lucky in this regard.

[–]Nidorino 0 points1 point ago

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First of all, thank you very much for making this wonderful app. I'm a pro-user.

I do have some suggestions for future releases:

  • It would be awesome if alienblue stored the subreddit pictures so they didn't have to reload every time.

  • When you're looking at the frontpage, it'd be nice to have the subreddit name and submitter in a slightly different color.

For example, first thing on the page:

Your life is empty (5 hours)

[477] funny by dontvote

It'd be nice if "funny" was one color, and the next submission, say, something from r/pics, "pics" in a different color. That way I could scroll down the page and everything from the same subreddit is easily picked out.

[–]alienblue[S] 3 points4 points ago

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It would be awesome if alienblue stored the subreddit pictures so they didn't have to reload every time. When you're looking at the frontpage, it'd be nice to have the subreddit name and submitter in a slightly different color.

Both added to the TO-DO.

It'd be nice if "funny" was one color, and the next submission, say, something from r/pics, "pics" in a different color. That way I could scroll down the page and everything from the same subreddit is easily picked out.

My only concern with this would be that it could very quickly turn into a jumble of colours if you have numerous subscriptions. There is a drive to simplify Alien Blue's interface so that it has a more minimalist approach. I can mock it up and see how it looks though, it wouldn't hurt.

[–]strawcat 0 points1 point ago

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Just wanted to say, keep up the good work. Your app is awesome and it makes browsing reddit on my phone a breeze. Thanks!

[–]i_was_like_um 0 points1 point ago

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I really like the app and use it all the time. Thanks! Is it possible to add a screen lock so the screen doesn't flip around all the time when you're not sitting up and still? I like to browse reddit from my hammock.

[–]alienblue[S] 5 points6 points ago

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There is an option in the settings called "Allow rotation". If you remove the tick next to it, it should be hammock friendly. For extra fun, you can enable tilt-scroll. That should make it at interesting afternoon.

[–]i_was_like_um 1 point2 points ago

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I'm giddy with anticipation! Thanks.

[–]InsightfulLemon 0 points1 point ago

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iOS4 has that built in. :)

[–]SaladFork 0 points1 point ago

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When will we see an iPad version? :D

[–]alienblue[S] 1 point2 points ago

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I am now one week away from the beta. It's coming along, but the interface is still a bit rough. It has all of the features of the iPhone version, and it's a joy to use on the big screen. I am a little biased though.

[–]covercash 1 point2 points ago

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Is this going to be a Universal app or separate app? Awesome job btw, I just upgraded to pro!

[–]alienblue[S] 1 point2 points ago

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Initially I was going to make this a Universal app. However, I found that attempting to combine both code bases into one was getting pretty messy. At this stage, it's a completely separate application, with it's own design and feature set.

This may be a good thing though, as I want Alien Blue HD to be so much more than just a port from the iPhone version.

[–]AwesoMeme -3 points-2 points ago

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Do you have any idea how much I hate "free" apps that have "In App Purchases?"

Nice program but I'm so sick of that unclever marketing ploy.

[–]alienblue[S] 14 points15 points ago*

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The application was initially intended to be 100% free, with an option to accept donations. However Apple does not allow developers to ask for or accept donations through the App Store. I thought this would be a good compromise.

This also allows Alien Blue to hold onto your settings (and Imgur deletion links), which isn't possible if Alien Blue had two separate apps (free/pro) without storing your private information on a server.

In-app upgrades also allow me to work off a single code base, which means that rather than submitting two applications for approval, I can submit the one and get updates through to you quicker.

[–]mizled 7 points8 points ago

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Could you not put a Paypal Donate link on your site? I bought the Pro version and would gladly donate again to support this app. I'm sure others feel the same way.

[–]AwesoMeme 7 points8 points ago

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I appreciate the explanation from a developer's point of view. That's good for me to know.

I hope you can understand from a user's point of view that this is often a misused and abused tool.

[–]alienblue[S] 7 points8 points ago*

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I hope you can understand from a user's point of view that this is often a misused and abused tool.

I can. There is a lot of shovelware and fly-by-night developers on the App Store. I don't think anyone would hold it against you for being cautious.

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