Major Additions - Announcing Forum Runner - vBulletin Android/iPhone/iPad App

Introducing Forum Runner for the iPhone/iPad/Android vBulletin!

Forum Runner now supports ANDROID Devices!!!

Forum Runner now supports vBulletin 4.0/4.1 CMS!!

http://www.forumrunner.com

What is Forum Runner?

Forum Runner is a vBulletin mod that allows your users to browse your forum using a native Android/iPhone/iPad client. This means faster access for those users since it only downloads the actual forum information rather than all the extraneous images that slow down the mobile connection.

Forum Runner now supports the iPad natively! Download the Forum Runner app once and support both iPhone and iPad versions in one universal app!

iOS 4 multitasking on the iPhone is fully supported by Forum Runner.

Forum Runner is FREE for forum owners to install, and takes less than 5 minutes. The client for the iPhone/iPad/Android costs 1.99$ which is LESS THAN THE COMPETITORS, and has more features. Please see the list below for full information on Forum Runner's features.

Forum Runner inherits all the security built into vBulletin, so users running Forum Runner will only be able to see the same forums and threads as they could using a regular browser.

Forum Runner Feature List

• Native Android/iPad/iPhone support
• vBulletin 4.0 CMS support
• iOS 4 multitasking support
• Browse your favorite forums in an easy-to-use-interface with multiple notification types (private message, subscription, etc)
• Fully customizable home screen with your favorite forums
• FREE PUSH NOTIFICATION SUPPORT : Get private message and subscribed thread updates from your favorite forums in the background!
• Poll updates (private messages/subscriptions) from favorites on home screen - shows you a summary of which forums you have new messages or subscriptions on!
• Graphical display of polls - view results and vote on polls
• Moderation tools for your moderators/admins (close/open thread, stick/unstick thread, move thread, delete posts, etc)
• Image attachment thumbnail and full size viewing from threads
• View a thread's image attachments in one convenient screen (much like the native iPhone "Photo" app)
• Save thread images to your iPhone/iPod touch library
• Fully searchable forums!
• Multi-quote support
• View embedded links without leaving the app, including YouTube videos
• Supports portrait AND landscape mode
• Full posting options (quote posts, start new thread, etc)
• Attach unlimited photos from your library (or take a photo from the camera and attach it)
• Full support for private messages and private message folders
• Full support for thread subscriptions - track your favorite threads and be updated via push when they have new posts!

Forum Runner currently supports vBulletin 3.6.x, 3.7.x, 3.8.x and 4.0.x. We are adding support for other mobile phones as well as forum software.

There is a Free version available in the iTunes App Store and Google Market as well which allows your users to try out Forum Runner before making a decision to buy it. It has all the features of the full version except that it does not have the ability to post threads and a few other differences which are outlined on http://www.forumrunner.com.

Some screen shots of Forum Runner running on various devices:

iPhone: Home Screen with customizable icons and notifications:



Push notification updates while outside the app:



Image attachment browser from a thread:



Fully searchable forums:



Full forum browsing:





How do I get the Forum Runner vBulletin Add-On?

You can download the latest version from vBulletin.org below. However if you download this version, you still need to register your forum on our directory list so it shows up in the iPhone/Android client. Please note that if you download the addon from vBulletin.org, you will need to download the unique sitekey.php file from http://www.forumrunner.com after you register your forum.

To register your forum, simply head over to http://www.forumrunner.com/?p=register. Full instructions to register your forum in the Forum Runner database are there. Once you register your forum, you can download the sitekey there. Simply place this file in the "forumrunner" directory that is created when you unarchive the add-on.

Also, there is a support forum located at: http://www.forumrunner.com/forum Please post up your ideas or any issues you have with the App there.

How can I get the Forum Runner iPhone Client?
Either search "Forum Runner" in the App Store on your iPhone, or click one of the links below:

Get Forum Runner Full Version from App Store

How can I get the Forum Runner Android Client?

Either search "Forum Runner" in the Google Market on your Android device, or click one of the links below:

Get Forum Runner Full Version from Google Market

BE SURE TO DOWNLOAD THE RIGHT VERSION FOR YOUR FORUM!

This is the vBulletin 4.x thread. For other versions, look below.

Forum Runner for vBulletin 3.6.x
Forum Runner for vBulletin 3.7.x
Forum Runner for vBulletin 3.8.x

[ClemsonJeeper]

I forgot to post this up here, if you are using push notifications, you can now configure what push notifications you want to receive (private message, subscription) as well as configure what time during the day you want these notifications sent to you.

So if you don't want to be notified at 3AM that someone posted in a thread you are subscribed to, you can now specify which hours you want notifications sent to you!

You can do this by logging into the Push Notification manager at:

http://www.forumrunner.net/?p=push

and look at the bottom of the page. The settings are there.

[ClemsonJeeper]

1.3.3 has been released:

* Fix issues with "Cyb - Advanced Permissions Based on Post Count" add-on and posting new threads/replies/private messages
* Fix issue with thumbnail display when gd/gd2 is not installed, but imagemagick is
* Fix issue with forums with threads that haven't been updated in a while not showing up
* Fix issue with polling for updates from Home Page updating your last login time
* Add support for different configurable Google AdSense locations

[ClemsonJeeper]

iPhone App Version 1.1.4 has been submitted to Apple with the following changes:

* Add support for making subforums Favorite - to use, simply drill down to the subforum you wish to make a favorite, hit the "Action" button in the upper right corner, and choose "Add to Favorites"
* Added "Help" tab for online help - this will be updated as questions come in.
* Fix various UI Issues
* Add setting "Show Thread Preview" which will allow you to disable thread previews and display more threads per page
* Fix issue with people who declined push notifications just getting a black screen on launch

[Alfa1]

So if say 10.000 of my users get this iPhone app, you will earn $1.900.00
How much will you pay to my board? Can any % flow back to the site and be used to support the site?

[Adam H]

Originally Posted by Alfa1

So if say 10.000 of my users get this iPhone app, you will earn $1.900.00
How much will you pay to my board? Can any % flow back to the site and be used to support the site?

Or you could pay the $249 branding option per year which pays for the work that goes into the app. It gives your community better accessibility also so your community is benefiting from potentially more usage . I think that is payment enough

You can see their branding option here : http://www.forumrunner.net/?p=branding

[Alfa1]

Originally Posted by riverwire

Or you could pay the $249 branding option per year which pays for the work that goes into the app. It gives your community better accessibility also so your community is benefiting from potentially more usage . I think that is payment enough

You can see their branding option here : http://www.forumrunner.net/?p=branding

That's a fair option! Is there an option for forum owners to make money on a branded app?

Thanks.

[Adam H]

Originally Posted by Alfa1

That's a fair option! Is there an option for forum owners to make money on a branded app?

Thanks.

Im not sure to be honest , best to ask ClemsonJeeper, although that would be an extremely good way to compensate for the yearly costs involved.

[ClemsonJeeper]

Currently, we have Google AdSense support which is a way that forum owners can generate revenue through the app using existing measures.

The branded app is a way for forum owners who don't want their users to have to pay 1.99$ to access their forum (along with all the other Forum Runner forums) to be able to have a custom free app for their users dedicated to their forum.

If you want to charge for your dedicated app, that is your choice, and we can discuss some sort of revenue sharing if you like - you would be the first forum to want a dedicated app that charges their users.

Shoot me a private message if you want to discuss this further!

Thanks for showing an interest in Forum Runner!

[Lynk]

Clemson, I just installed the app support on my site. The $2 for the app seemed like a reasonable fee, so I didn't even bother with installing the freebie on my phone. Gotta say that you've got a great start!

I posted a couple of comments on your own support forums. Please bring Social Group support. Everything else seems to be covered.

BTW, how much is the push service?

[ClemsonJeeper]

Version 1.3.5 has been released:

* Fix a few more issues with Arabic forums
* Fix image thumbnail generation issues on forums without libgd/libgd2 installed