I had an idea today on a way that we could gain a little extra revenue. What if Derian or some other programing savvy person designed a mobile app for Belegarth.com and the boards. then charge 1-5 dollars for the app. it could even include a mobile version of the new realm database that Derian is cooking up. this money could help fund the insurance policy and other expenses.

i posted this here as i felt this to be the best place for it. if anyone wants to put this up in war council GD for better discussion be my guest.

It could be an alright idea, though I don't think it would be worth the effort required.

Regardless, I'm no programmer, so this wouldn't be a task I'd be able to tackle.

As someone who's been messing with the idea of making a BoW app (I always find myself without it when I need it), I can say it's definitely a huge time sync if you want to make it good enough to be worth the price tag. Also, you have to decide what platform you want to be using, unless you get multiple developers involved to build in parallel. What I plan to work on eventually, is first a mobile-friendly version of the BoW to get the design correct, and then adapting it on my own for Android and with my friend's help for iDevices. Even just that one piece is going to be a huge project to fit in amongst all my other day-to-day work, and probably won't happen until summer.

That said, I'm very much pro the idea. Just be aware that volunteer work is often slow and/or sloppy, especially where programming is concerned...

I am a Web Designer / Web Application Programmer I've been dealing with the android platform alot lately creating web interface tools for clients. I fully agree with the BOW idea I spend most my time heralding as is I think as a personal Project I will attempt a BOW and form interface program for android if it ends up being any good I would be more then happy to share the app with any BMCS member who wants to use it. So lets see what I can do.

At some point I'm going to set something up to keep better track of the BoW changes that allows for easy updating/format modification. I'm thinking XML or something. If/when I get this going, I could easily provide a way to access the raw XML which should be pretty trivial for anyone wanting to develop any kind of app to parse.

My web enabled phone will pull up both this site and the bel.com site. Just out of curiousity, what the point of an app for something i can bring up anyway? (I am web dumb btw, so this is a serious question)

because not many people ger cell service let alone data service in all place at many event sites. with the app you would not have to open a web page. it would be right there already on your phone.

And the app would update to the latest version of the BoW while you do have internet/data service, so that it's there when you don't.

Well that would be cool then.

Not to mention all you'd have to do is load an app and not wait to load a website. Easier for drunk arguments.

with technology the way it is mobility is an important factor for example your at practice and some body asks you if you saw the form post but so and so and something or other with the smart phone market growing more every day the idea for the app would be to read and write the forms on you phone with out the constant scrolling and zooming as well as say theirs a pm your really waiting for have it set to show up as it comes in similar to a txt message the app it self it more of and accessibly idea as well as and info tool another example your explaining to a new person at practice how to build something there not really getting it you wish you had a pic or something bam bel wiki access right there on your phone in an easy to read format book of of war all your basic tools to explain your self.

I like the xml idea currently I'm trying to find a good starting point for mobile php viewing and editing pretty much trying to create a mobile engine for phpbb full support most developers have gone to the azure cloud because of Facebook Ive found a few developers with a similar idea to mine and requested source code that I am current reviewing for particularity to the goal I had in mind.

I'm starting with the android platform if I produce a viable app I will look in to recoding for blackberry and Iphone support

since we have someone toying with this idea can it be move to war counsel general discussion so that we can have a better conversation on this issue. like how to make this gain revenue, officialism, and copyright info.

as I said I'm not doing this for any sort of profit I'm donating my time to the sport for all the good years I've had here belegarth its self can put a price tag if they like and I'm happy to maintain it but all I'm trying to do is give back in ways other then spending all my event time heralding. I would build these kinda things for free maintain web sites what ever I'm qualified to do all I ask is no jack * with no idea about my job in an empty suit telling me what to do cuz that makes it work.

also the ad revenue in the free version would be more than enough to make this app worth it. know how many times i accidentally click on an add in an app.

that's one I can agree with you on I click that ad 3 out of 5 times when I'm generally using an ad supported app. think of most the people you know in this sport were not the richest people I am kinda against putting a price tag on it for that reason alone I would like it to be available to any belegarth member that wants to use it.