Forum Runner mobile app software now supported

**Scott Tichenor** · Jun-20-2012, 10:00am

The Mandolin Cafe forum is now configured so that it can be accessed using Forum Runner software for Android, iPhone, or iPad/iPod Touch. Blackberry and Windows Mobile will be supported in the future.

Forum Runner is popular for mobile devices because it provides true app style access to web forums, and of course is accessed via an app (redundant). Many of you already access the forum with our web mobile version which connects through an interface designed for a web browser. That will continue to be available of course as long as you're accessing through a mobile web browser. Forum Runner is a true app that provides fast connection speeds and is designed exclusively for mobile devices.

You can purchase Forum Runner software through your device for $1.99. Sorry, I don't get a cut of that. Wish I did. There's apparently a free read-only version which means you can't log in so lose a lot of features.

The software is customizable so you can set it to send you push notifications in case a thread you're subscribed to receives a reply or you receive a private message form another member. Of course you can read and reply to items and apparently can upload images from your device. Haven't tested that. I won't go into all of the individual custom options but those are something you should explore if you purchase the app. I really like features of push notifications for eBay for example which tells me when auctions are ending or if I've been outbid on an item.

Below a screen shot of my iPhone with the Cafe set as a favorite. To access, I simply select the forum and I'm in after launching the app.

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Web access is increasingly turning to mobile devices. That's just a fact. As new and younger users coming up join into the forum world this kind of access will receive increased use. If you're a desktop jockey and will stay that way the rest of your life, you've already read too much. If you're interested and want to take a spin it might be worth the price.

**Scott Tichenor** · Jun-20-2012, 10:08am

Uploaded/posted from my iPhone. That's Austin Clark's dad who I see every Saturday at the local Farmer's Market.

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**Scott Tichenor** · Jun-20-2012, 10:14am

Full list of features here.

Summary below, although doesn't support all for Android:

Browse your favorite forums in an easy-to-use interface with multiple notification types (Private message, subscription, etc)
Fully customizable home screen with favorite forums
FREE push notification support! Get private message and subscribed thread updates from your favorite forums in the background!
Poll updates (Messages/Subscriptions) from favorites on home screen
View graphical poll results and vote on forum polls
Basic moderation support for forum moderators and admins
Image attachment thumbnail and full size viewing from threads
View a thread page's image attachments in one convenient browser
Save thread images to your iPhone/iPod Touch library
Fully searchable forums
View embedded links without leaving the app, including YouTube videos
Supports portrait AND landscape mode in app
Full posting options (quote posts, start new reply)
Attach unlimited photos from your library (or take photo from camera and upload to forum)
Full support for private messages and private message folders
Full support for thread subscriptions - track your favorite threads!

**Marty Henrickson** · Jun-20-2012, 2:02pm

Interesting. I'm wondering which features will not be supprted for Android.

Probably 75% of my viewing and posting on the Cafe in the last two years has been from my Android phone, and I've generally had no problems posting threads, replying to threads, or even uploading pics. The only problem I've really had is the inability to scroll within a pulldown menu (for example, the "Quick Navigation" buttons under the last post on each page). I tried the mobile version for about 5 minutes when it first launched, but went back to the full site because I am so accustomed to viewing the site that way.

**Marty Henrickson** · Jun-20-2012, 2:10pm

Just went to the link. Here are the features NOT supported for Android:

1) Fully customizable home screen with favorite forums

2) Poll updates (messages / subcriptions) from favorites on home screen

3) View graphical poll results and vote on forum polls.

None of these are deal-killers for me, personally. Mandolin Cafe is my favorite forum, and about the only one I regularly view on mobile, so I don't really need to organize my favorite forums on a home screen. Also, polls are no big deal to me, and fairly rare on the Cafe, anyway.

One question I have: does anyone know if viewing the Cafe via this app would use less of my data allotment? I am currently on an unlimited data plan, but that may be changing very soon.