For iOS users looking for an app, there is a quick and easy solution

I apologize if this has already been covered, but I’ve seen a lot of people talking about a need for a kbin app. While I agree that a native app would be nice to have eventually, I figured that quite a few people probably aren’t aware of how web apps work. I don’t use Android, so I have no idea if there is an equivalent way to do this on Android phones.

If you are looking at kbin in Safari, simply click the share button (looks like a square with an arrow pointing up) and scroll down to the option “Add to Home Screen.” Click this, set the name to whatever you want, and voila.

You should have a kbin “app” on your Home Screen that opens in its own, closable window separate from Safari.

You can also do this with Lemmy if you miss the functions that Mlem is lacking. I’m using web apps for both, kbin and Lemmy, myself.

The major downside of a web app is that it isn’t as fast as a native app could be. However, a major upside of web apps is that they don’t have nearly as many permissions and hidden functionality as native apps. So, for example, you could replace the native Facebook app with the web app if you’re concerned about data on your phone.

lobster,

Thank you! I'm trying to get my feet wet here, having something resembling an app will be great.

TechProfessor,

I’m using the PWA but getting repeatedly logged out. Am I missing something?

0933,

Same

HeartyBeast,
HeartyBeast avatar

I think the anti-spam cloudflare stuff may be screwing around with some stuff.

baronvonj,
baronvonj avatar

It just seems hypocritical to leave Reddit over the forcing users to their 1st party app by pricing out 3rd party app developers, and go to a platform that has no mobile apps.

Geometric7792,

What's the hyprocracy there? Do you mean ironic?

sab,
sab avatar

It's not hypocritical at all. The backlash against Reddit is not primarily about convenience, it's about principles.

Third parties are free to develop apps for the fediverse, and they will always have the right to do so. It might be slightly ironic that there are no apps yet, but not at all hypocritical. :)

SpacemanSpiff,
SpacemanSpiff avatar

You’re forgetting the part about how most people won’t use the official Reddit app or the website because of the obnoxious amount of ads shoved down your throat, and poor site layout. Old Reddit doesn’t work well with mobile.

CatBookCat,
CatBookCat avatar

i hate the "he gets us" ads and i do not want to pay for reddit premium. also, i was really pissed off by how reddit doesn't care about mods or accessibility

BlackCoffee,
BlackCoffee avatar

It is not the third party apps themselves but the user experience they provided.

I used RIF and every single component looks like it has been made with me the user in mind. Not for profits or ads or anything else for a quick cashgrab.

The official Reddit experience (app and new website) is exactly the opposite. It has been developed with monetization purposes first and foremost and the user experience somewhere on the 10th place.

The fact that Reddit is so hell bent on forcing people on using the official experience is something I just don't agree with. I refuse to engage in a platform where they actively try to bend me over and see me as a quick way to make money.

VE3VVS,
VE3VVS avatar

deleted_by_author

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  • BlackCoffee,
    BlackCoffee avatar

    The fact that you know how Kbin works but literally miss the mark this hard and haven't read the backstory in regards of the 3rd party applications is blowing my mind.

    No one has been getting a free ride as you say.

    3rd party apps for mobile phones were there before there was an official reddit app. For some reason Reddit themselves didn't prioritize a mobile application so 3rd party application developers picked up the slack and developed them.

    Reddit didn't invest in them or paid them or did anything else. They only provided the API.

    At 1 point Reddit bought out an 3rd party application and transformed it in the abomination that it is now.

    The 3rd part applications have had a huge part in the rise of Reddits popularity and were providing engagement to the platform when Reddit didn't feel the need to supply it's users with an mobile application.

    If you don't want to abandon reddit, no problem.

    If you feel this is al overblown, that is your right to think.

    But this nonsense about Reddit providing a free ride for 3rd party applications as if they have been built of Reddits official app is BS.

    There is so much info you can read on Reddit regarding this topic but I guess you choose to be uninformed.

    HeartyBeast,
    HeartyBeast avatar

    Except, of course - as something build on a federated platform all the data is available for anyone who wants to build an app - no questions asked.

    mike1237,

    Kbin is open source unlike reddit so its only a matter of time…

    baronvonj, (edited )
    baronvonj avatar

    Not complaining about the downvotes, I get why people would disagree with me based on context. But I'm curious about how the reputation points are working. The comment has a net score of -26, is my only post/comment with negative points, and my reputation score is -29. But I have another comment in another thread with a net score of +78 and another comment with a net score of +2, and all other comments with no votes either way. So it doesn't seem to be simple addition. Anybody have a tl;dr on how it's calculated?

    edit: found the answer, tl;dr currently broken.

    awsamation,
    awsamation avatar

    There's a difference between having no 3rd party apps because nobody has made one yet, and having no 3rd party apps because they're literally being prevented from being made (unless the devs want to pay reddit for the privilege of using the API).

    Reddit is actively working to kill their 3rd party apps. Kbin just hasn't really had 3rd party apps developed yet.

    mike1237,

    Hit the nail on the head!

    !deleted107246,

    deleted_by_author

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  • michael,
    michael avatar

    For me, yeah, it’s more about Reddit/spez’s behavior. While I was frustrated about losing 3rd party apps, I would’ve likely continued to use Reddit in some capacity. But then Reddit/spez went absolutely crazy and I decided I was completely done with it. I don’t want to be part of a platform run like that by that kind of person.

    doofdilla,

    Thanks for the tip, totally forgot about that option.

    bit,
    bit avatar

    This is a great tip! I do wish kbin would be compatible with mlem, but the web app is better than no app!

    Ohio,
    Ohio avatar

    Interesting, I wonder if this will become the new home for people who use the reddit platform or it will just fracture the audience, eitherway, I'm here for the ride!

    wally,

    Lemmy seems to have more instances and their onboarding and UI is arguably a bit better, especially searching for communities that arent on your instance.

    That said, I find the politics there pretty disagreeable and frankly kinda offputting.

    Midnitte,
    Midnitte avatar

    Can always follow the subs from there anywhere, anyway

    sab,
    sab avatar

    Both are fine really.

    I wouldn't use any of the Lemmy instances owned by the developers, but you can criticize the Chinese Communist Party all you want on Lemmy instances not owned by the developers. And it's open source, so if they try to make it worse it will be forked.

    Kbin is way too early in development for the kind of attention it's currently receiving. That it is holding up as well as it does is impressive, but it's more than just a little rough around the edges. The delevoper is super impressive, but it's currently one man: I wouldn't blame him at all if he got sick of it and abandoned the project a month from now. At which point it would, of course, need a new maintainer.

    wally,

    Agree. Partly why I’m on both platforms.

    michael,
    michael avatar

    Yeah, I’ve got 3 accounts on various Fediverse platforms and I love the fact that they can all communicate with each other. So I’m not worried about missing anything.

    henny,

    Im hoping as we amasse more users the native apps start to amasse as well. I haven't been able to click with the mobile web version just yet.

    sab,
    sab avatar

    If the experience here will be anything like Mastodon, there is going to be a lot of apps very soon. :)

    I would be surprised if there weren't at least a couple disgruntled third party Reddit app developers currently looking into developing kbin and/or Lemmy apps.

    fiofiofio,
    fiofiofio avatar

    How do you use kbin with mlem? I wasn't able to get it to log in

    michael,
    michael avatar

    I was using Mlem with Lemmy, I’ve not tried it with kbin myself.

    fiofiofio,
    fiofiofio avatar

    Yeah I realized I misread that part of the post - I get it now.

    aroom,
    aroom avatar

    you can't log into kbin with Mlem. it has to be coded. Lemmy and Kbin are more like Mastodon and Calckey, it's not the same app.

    okbin,
    okbin avatar

    if i'm not mistaken, the website for kbin mentions that there is an iOS app in beta... but there doesn't seem to be a way to download it via TestFlight

    mfzachary,
    mfzachary avatar

    The only issue I have with a web app of KBin so far has been that it’s impossible to see if my command went through and is working or not.

    Just had this happen… typed a comment in then pressed the Add Comment button. Nothing. Wait a few seconds, press it again. Nothing. Can’t find a way to refresh in the web app. Close, re-open. Log back in. Comment not posted.

    Over time I know the kinks will be worked out, just pointing out an issue I’ve had.

    Traumkaempfer,

    What I’m missing in the web app is the back button. Swiping doesn’t work either or I’m too stupid for it.

    But I started using web apps recently, too, when I was missing a full app (for bookwyrm for example).

    zzmthesurand,
    zzmthesurand avatar

    Swiping works but you have to swipe from the very left edge of the screen.

    StaticBoredom,
    StaticBoredom avatar

    Great tip. I’ve long felt that apps shouldn’t be the future because most of them are merely data harvesters masquerading as tools that provide value to users.

    I could be wrong, but I heard that Apple was also finally going to allow other browsers to create web apps. It’s a start.

    My goal for a few years has been to reduce the numbers of apps on my phone down to the bare minimum required to do what I want to do. I think of apps basically as a browser that can only visit one website, and that doesn’t sound like a “killer app,” but a killer of options.

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