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Show HN: Automatically convert a website to Android and iOS

gonative.io

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Re: Show HN: Automatically convert a website to Android and iOS

#71

Post by kennyledet »

kennyledet wrote: post #69
Osiris wrote: post #3

Does it make an actual native app or just a wrapper around a web view? I have a couple of (Android) apps that I use that are clearly just a wrapper and it's really annoying. 1) The back button always exits the app instead of going back a screen as would be expected. 2) Switching to another app and coming back causes the app to reload rather than staying on the screen it was on when I switched out.

Nice work, but there is a huge problem and I really hope you fix it ASAP or else I'm SOL for updating the app I just released with this. Apparently the version numbers are not being increased for each successive build, and you really need to do this. Why? Because I can't even update my app by editing the source code, changing the version number (which is already kinda annoying to have to do) and uploading the new apk…

Update: I just went ahead and modified the source. I had to refactor the package name and import R.java manually. Really a bug to have to do, but thanks anyways for the cool service!

Here's the new link, should show up in a bit: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kennyledet...

Re: Show HN: Automatically convert a website to Android and iOS

#72

Post by JimDabell »

nacs wrote: post #53
JimDabell wrote: post #47

Apple have a rule against making apps that "are simply websites bundled as apps". You should probably mention that somewhere on the website to avoid having a bunch of people pay for a developer account only to get their generated application rejected by Apple.

There are tons of web-view based apps in the App stores. Phonegap bases their entire business on a similar concept.

Declan has the right idea.

Phonegap isn't about merely packaging a website as an application. It's about using front-end web technologies to build applications. There's no rule against that, even if it's possible to use it to break other rules.

What there is a rule against is simply packaging a website up as an application. That's what this service does.

While you may get away with it, there's a strong chance you won't. It's only fair to warn people before they spend money.

Re: Show HN: Automatically convert a website to Android and iOS

#74

Post by weiyin »

deanpeterson wrote: post #73

I tried installing the apk on my Android 2.3.4 phone but I just get the error: "Parse error There is a problem parsing the package." I do have my settings to allow applications from unknown sources so that is not the problem.

The android error is not very descriptive; it's failing because we require at least version 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) for the integrated action bar and Holo themes. I'll add a description to the website.

Can you give android studio a try? We moved away from eclipse and never looked back.

Re: Show HN: Automatically convert a website to Android and iOS

#75

Post by deanpeterson »

weiyin wrote: post #74
deanpeterson wrote: post #73

I tried installing the apk on my Android 2.3.4 phone but I just get the error: "Parse error There is a problem parsing the package." I do have my settings to allow applications from unknown sources so that is not the problem.

The android error is not very descriptive; it's failing because we require at least version 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) for the integrated action bar and Holo themes. I'll add a description to the website. Can you give android studio a try? We moved away from eclipse and never looked back.

I was able to get past the eclipse error but like you said. I don't have 4.0 or higher so I can't try it out on a device until I find a compatible phone. I am motivated to use this because it seems to make my grids work on mobile. I use Sitepen's Dgrid that is supposed to work for mobile but when I add a little extra css or bootstrap they stop working on mobile devices. The demo on your site seems to make them work again (at least on the emulator inside the link I am given).

Re: Show HN: Automatically convert a website to Android and iOS

#76

Post by weiyin »

kennyledet wrote: post #69
Osiris wrote: post #3

Does it make an actual native app or just a wrapper around a web view? I have a couple of (Android) apps that I use that are clearly just a wrapper and it's really annoying. 1) The back button always exits the app instead of going back a screen as would be expected. 2) Switching to another app and coming back causes the app to reload rather than staying on the screen it was on when I switched out.

Nice work, but there is a huge problem and I really hope you fix it ASAP or else I'm SOL for updating the app I just released with this. Apparently the version numbers are not being increased for each successive build, and you really need to do this. Why? Because I can't even update my app by editing the source code, changing the version number (which is already kinda annoying to have to do) and uploading the new apk…

Thanks for the feedback, and I'm glad to see you published an app! Automatically incrementing the version number is something we are going to do. Emailing hello@gonative.io is the best way to reach us.

Re: Show HN: Automatically convert a website to Android and iOS

#77

Post by weiyin »

Touche wrote: post #8
weiyin wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Our mac mini build server is working through the queue. Takes about 30 seconds to build each app.

I meant your site is down, at least in Firefox. Looks like a certificate problem. http://imgur.com/k5AEzvD.png

We cleaned up our OCSP stapling config. Can you try again?

Re: Show HN: Automatically convert a website to Android and iOS

#78

Post by weiyin »

kennyledet wrote: post #69
Osiris wrote: post #3

Does it make an actual native app or just a wrapper around a web view? I have a couple of (Android) apps that I use that are clearly just a wrapper and it's really annoying. 1) The back button always exits the app instead of going back a screen as would be expected. 2) Switching to another app and coming back causes the app to reload rather than staying on the screen it was on when I switched out.

Nice work, but there is a huge problem and I really hope you fix it ASAP or else I'm SOL for updating the app I just released with this. Apparently the version numbers are not being increased for each successive build, and you really need to do this. Why? Because I can't even update my app by editing the source code, changing the version number (which is already kinda annoying to have to do) and uploading the new apk…

Fixed, the Android manifest versionCode now increments with each build.

We do not include the signing key in the source code download, but you can email us to get it.

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