[Kira Phoenix]

As some of you guys know, I posted a proposal concerning the possibility of creating an app, for android, iOS and Kindle, to make it easier to take the Herald on the go. Some concerns were brought up, such as cost. Currently, the cost is about $99 to get annual access to Apple's Developer Membership for iOS Development. I have currently the Mac Developer side, and intend to purchase access to the iOS side next month so I can preview iOS 7. I would be willing to extend this access to UFP for the purposes of developing this magazine to be available on Newstand for iOS. For those wishing to sign the proposal, you may do so here.


http://ufplanets.com/fleetmanager/pr...?do=view&id=12

[Christopher Halsey]

That's a very generous offer Kira Phoenix

[Kira Phoenix]

My job as a member of this fleet is to serve the best I can for you all. I serve at the pleasure of my leaders, and I do happen to have the resources to make this happen. I put it up to the rest of you to take advantage of it

[Christopher Halsey]

That's the spirit! If anyone hasn't finished their UFPAC recommendations yet ^

[Hermanator]

I have signed the proposal, I would also like to thank Kira. If this gets implemented, which I think it will. It will benefit a great amount of people.

[Shakken]

I think this is a great idea. Signed. I work in the media, everything is going mobile. The more mobile access we can have, the better in my mind.

[Josh Broughm]

SIGNED.

Great idea, however, I'd like to know what this iOS kit is exactly, since some of us aren't savvy on the mac side of things.

[Silynn]

More ways to access the Herald, the better.

[Kira Phoenix]

SIGNED.

Great idea, however, I'd like to know what this iOS kit is exactly, since some of us aren't savvy on the mac side of things.

The iOS Kit is actually part of the iOS Development Center provided by Apple for only $99 a year. Purchasing this type of access gives you several things (this goes for the Mac Development Center as well). First and foremost, you get pre-release developer previews of the newest and greatest operating systems from Apple. This allows you to develop software before the actual OS comes out, and once released, you already have something ready for the new OS. It also allows you to see what new things Apple has packaged into the OS so you can take full advantage of all the features. Finally, you get the kits which allow you to incorporate those features and build for that specific OS. It's a bit much on the price, but you get quite a bit out of it as well. I'm currently on Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks right now as I write this, courtesy of my Mac Development Center access.

[Christopher Halsey]

5 days left to run and still need a few more signatures. Whether those that make the decision will feel it is within our means and worth while or not is one thing but I think it would be a real shame if 20 people don't think this is an idea worth exploring.

The more places we can get The Herald the greater the readership is likely to be which will in turn increase site traffic here which will hopefully result in more people joining us as well as more ad revenue. The more professional The Herald comes across the more likely we are to attract the interest of people with skills who might wish to contribute to The Herald themselves or wish to join in which case we might be looking at the officers of the future, certainly the more skilled people we have the better. It will also make it easier when The Herald staff are approaching people for interviews, would say Michael Okuda, if given the choice be more likely to give an interview to a clan news letter or a multi-format digital magazine?

Whether or not the proposal gets accepted is not up to us but I think it would be a great shame if we couldn't get 20 people to support it.

[Connor]

The only problem I foresee with this is the gap between Herald editions. It seems like the application would just be stagnant for months at a time once people have read the latest and greatest edition. I for one have a habit of just deleting any apps that I don't use for quite some time, and I could see this being a similar situation with the gap between editions. That said, and app simply for the Herald, to me, seems like it may be a little (for lack of a better word) pointless for the most part. It'd be better just seeing if it could be integrated into the news stand or something.

That's just what I think, and whilst I love that you're willing to do something like this for us, I can't help but think an app simply to view the Herald might be a little bit needless. I use the Newsstand for magazines and all that. Just my opinion though. Awesome of you to offer something like this.

[Christopher Halsey]

I see your point Connor but the proposal actually was for a news stand version and then I said if we wanted to publish on news stand why not look at publishing on Google Play magazines and Kindle at the same time.

Somewhere down the line the term of app does seem to have appeared within this proposal and yes there wouldn't really be much point in an app that you only look at every few months. I don't think a Herald app is actually being considered I think the terminology has just been confused somewhere along the way.

[Fisher]

I'd check the terms and conditions of using an ADC account for another organisation or product that is not your own first even if it includes showing another who isnt an ADC etc. Apple is very strict on this so don't get in trouble. If its a test to see if fesible then be fine but the UFP will still need its won account and this requires money, time etc.

[Christopher Halsey]

As I recall a year or so ago both myself and Mikester donated money to finance both an Android and iOS App. Now I know the Android app was released as I have it but the iOS one as far as I am aware never saw a release. The same account that would have been used for an iOS app could be used for a news stand edition of the Herald.

[Shakken]

I searched a few days ago for an iOS app and came up empty.