Archive for the ‘Functionality’ Category
Friday, August 6th, 2010
As a developer it’s important to know what exactly what happened when the application crashed. On Android Crash Reports were introduced with Android 2.2, but a lot of devices are still on Android 2.1 or below and will probably never get an update.
So what about these devices? A user can only tell you what he was doing where the crash happened, which is important. But a lot of errors are not reproducible, because they happened on a different device or under special circumstances. If the user has installed aLogcat he could send his log file, but a lot of users have not installed this application. Another problem is that some users just see that the application crashes, uninstall it and give it a bad rating.
We’ve solved this problem by using acra – a library, which sends crash reports to a specified Google Doc. Acra works with all versions of Android and sends more detailed device information than the standard Android 2.2 solution. Also you can show a notification, a toast or just send the report automatically when the application crashes. The integration is very easy – just follow the introductions on their Wiki Page. We have integrated this feature in Rummble for Android 1.2 – released later today!
Posted in Functionality, Rummble Announcements, Rummble Developer Blog, Rummble for Android | No Comments »
Monday, August 2nd, 2010
To follow on from a recent post that explains how to publish your rummbles and check-ins to Twitter, it’s also worth sharing that Rummble has been rocking Twitter API OAuth for a couple of months now.
So what does that mean for Rummble users? OAuth is more secure and you won’t have to tell us your new password if you change it on Twitter.
Photo credit: Some rights reserved by paulswansen
How does OAuth work?
Think of it like a car valet parking service for web services, where for each Twitter user OAuth keeps a record of which apps and permissions that are allowed and handover the keys after a securely signed handshake giving authorisation to go and park your car (i.e. authorising an app to connect). Connect your Twitter account here.
Why is OAuth better than just logging in using my username and password?
When you want to share something you like from a site in another site like Twitter, you click share, they ask you to enter your username and your password. When you do this, the site has the right to see your information. Just like giving your credit card and your password to the cashier. Is that really a safe way of sharing? The answer is no, that’s why we have introduced the OAuth API to Rummble.
You can now share the places you’ve liked or loathed even more safely than before!
Posted in Functionality, Random Stuff, Rummble Announcements, Tips on Rummble | No Comments »
Sunday, August 1st, 2010
There is an email we’ve seen recently prentending to come from Rummble, requesting you to open an attachment.
We will never send you an executable or ZIP attachment by email.
These are scam emails, which target you the consumer while claiming to come from a trusted community such as Rummble. Usually they get caught by your spam filter, but incase not, please delete it. Here is a spam email I received just yesterday, which prompted this post (the email below is NOT from Rummble):
The example above is SPAM, not a genuine email from us.
The key things to remember are:
- We will never send you a .ZIP, .COM, or .EXE attachment to open.
- All links will be back to http://www.rummble.com/ or a child page of that domain
We will only ever send you:
- Bi-weekly personalised community activity email with content from your trust network
- A monthly Rummble newsletter containing updates about functionality and featuring fun recommendations
- A password email reset if you request it (with a link which takes you back to http://www.rummble.com to rest your password)
- Notifications of messages, comments or a new friend connection, with a link back to the www.rummble.com/ domain
We’re all used to the viagra spam and invitations from your bank, credit card or paypal, to click a strange looking link and open up a website to donate your private details to a spammer, or to infect your computer with a strange .ZIP file attached. I guess one of the perils of being a popular site is spammers targeting our community in the same way as other popular brands.
Please double check any emails which may look like they’re from us and if in doubt, please contact us.
Thanks!
Posted in Rummble Announcements, Social Software, Tips on Rummble | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 14th, 2010
Rummble has almost completed the first phase of “Rummble for Local Business”.
We ran our first sticker tests in Amsterdam under the code name “Operation Quebec Romeo“. Now you can find Rummble stickers here in the UK – in some of London’s coolest venues.
Each sticker is unique and interactive. Using your phone, simply scan the barcode (aka QR Code) on the sticker to visit the Rummble listing for that venue. It’s lightening fast!
Not only does it make it easier than ever to share your location with friends, but you can also see who else has checked-in to that venue. How cool is that?
Don’t have a QR reader app on your phone? We recommend the following free apps:
You can also type the “rmb.ly” short url on the bottom right of the sticker directly into your mobile web browser.
So, next time you’re painting the town purple, keep a look out for Rummble stickers. 
Posted in Rummble for Android, Rummble for Mobile, Rummble for iPhone, Tips on Rummble | 3 Comments »
Friday, July 9th, 2010
Recently the Rummble team to took part in London’s biggest ever Facebook Developer Garage and Hackathon.
Andrew and Callum started from scratch and developed the concept, core functionality and pitch during the day on Sunday. Having won the evening pitch, judged by none other than Mark Zuckerberg to be a “simple solution to a problem which needs solving”; Alex joined the party at Dare Digital’s office to code through the night to prepare for live demos on Monday.
The idea, which spawned from a brainstorm with Alex’s non-technical sister, Sophie, is to allow Facebook users to ask for personalised recommendations for places from their trusted Facebook friends.
Pitched as the ”laziest way to get recommendations of places to go”, the lazy part is where Rummble’s tech ninjas got stuck in. After selecting a location, the app suggest friends that should be able to offer great place recommendations, based upon the information connected to their profile in Facebook.
We are truly excited to bring this simple gem of an idea to life to share with fellow Rummblers and Facebookers. So, we hear you ask, how does ‘Recommend a Place’ work?
Here’s how it works
- Tell us the city you want recommendations for
- We find which friends know the city
- You select who you want us to ask
- We post to their wall asking for recommendations
- You get a list of awesome places to go!
So head on over to http://apps.facebook.com/recommendaplace to ask your friends for great recommendations for this beautiful sunny weekend!
Posted in Awards, Events, Experiments, Functionality, News, Rummble Announcements | No Comments »
Monday, July 5th, 2010
When creating a new Rummble on the website or mobile site, you can now choose to publish it to Twitter where all your followers will be able to view the Rummble’s title, tags and rating, and they click through to the Rummble site to view more details if they wish.
It’s a great way to share your Rummbles and let your friends see where you are. All you have to do is link your Twitter account to Rummble by using this link :
http://www.rummble.com/private/displayexternalaccounts.do
Publishing Rummbles to Twitter
When you see this page, scroll down where you see Twitter and write your Twitter username inside the box. Click OK, it will automatically link you to the Twitter site. They will ask you to allow Rummble access, click allow and it will take you back to the Rummble site, all done and ready for you.
Publishing Rummbles to Twitter
Posted in News, Rummble Announcements, Tips on Rummble | 1 Comment »
Thursday, June 10th, 2010
Two bits of important news today:
- An upgrade to the Local Heroes interaction
- Important bug fix for foreign language Android phones
Heroes
In Rummble for Android (or from your phone browser at m.rummble.com ) you now receive instant feedback from Rummbling (i.e. creating a review or a check-in to a venue) to see instantly which medal you’re competing for and also if you’ve won it.
Don’t forget, becoming a Local Hero is not just the number of check-ins, it is based on a smart algorithm which works out how trusted you are by the Rummble community.
If the most people agree with your opinions about a subject in a certain area, we think it is right that you should be recognised for your superior knowledge and opinions for that area- you are, a Local Hero!
The Local Hero update includes:
- New medal overview page
- Local Heroes algorithm tweaked to include certain types of check-in in the calculation
- Instant re-calculation of medals for a direct feedback after Rummbling or check-in
- More medals for more subjects – now just waiting to be discovered!
Rummble for Android improvements
Improvements in the Rummble for Android app include the above, plus:
- Removed all loading dialogues in the Rummbling process – no more waiting while rating!
- Changed the layout of the check-in screen and integrated the medals feedback inline
- Update-check process so you never miss an update (you’ll be warned at up start if there is a new version)
- Non-English Android phones: Fixed a crash when you’re using a different language than English
Posted in Bugfixes, Functionality, Rummble for Android, Rummble for Mobile, Updates | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
Last week Facebook launched the Open Graph at F8 – a new way of connecting social networks of people with “objects” across the web. Much to our surprise, Facebook didn’t make any location announcements, so we thought it would be neat to add a pinch of mobile and location to something Facebook did announce: Live Streams.
From Amsterdam for The Next Web Conference, Rummble launched a new version of Rummble for Android that includes a Facebook Live Stream for each and every Rummble.
You can still “Rummble” to receive personalised Rummble ratings, you can check-in, see tweets for a venue and historical reviews; and now Facebook Live Streams add a new real-time twist enabling people in the same location to interact in real time, either just to chat or to comment on an event being held. Posts to the Live Steam will also show on your Wall, but aren’t treated as a status update.
“Rummble is all about ‘where do I go next?’ we’re like a personalised search engine for the physical world” says Andrew Scott, Rummble’s Founder, “…but places are not static, they evolve. They are real-time. We thought that in a busy bar, a big museum, or large party, being able to interact with others having the same experience would be great. The location platform of Rummble combined with the reach of Facebook Live Streams, does just that”.
Download Rummble for Android from the Android Marketplace. Rummble for iPhone will incorporate the new functionality next week, or you can visit m.rummble.com.
Posted in Experiments, Functionality, Rummble for Android | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010
Today we are pleased to announce that WiFi hotspot data is available free of charge for non-commercial use via the Rummble API, which has read and write capabilities. Simply register for an API key and drop us an email to request free access or discuss commercial use.
In December 2009, Rummble acquired its first company - Total Hotspots, The Global WiFi Directory, that helps you stay connected on the move, and contains over 250k public hotspots from a global network of service providers, community wireless projects and independent venue owners – one of the largest and most accurate sources of legitimate public WiFi hotspots. Total Hotspots for iPhone is now also available free of charge from the App Store (previously £2.99 / $4.99).
We are planning further WiFi integrations with the Rummble API and will be sharing ideas first with the Rummble API Google Group. We encourage passionate geo-developers to get involved and create incredible apps with our support.
Posted in Functionality, Rummble Announcements, Rummble Developer Blog | No Comments »
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
We’re excited to announce that Rummble now supports Twitter’s new Geotagging API, providing accessible location context to tweets from Rummble check-ins and reviews, compatible with new versions of popular twitter clients such as Tweetie, Tweetdeck and Seesmic Web, which launched support for the Twitter Geotagging API earlier this week.
The best part is – Rummble users can now geotag tweets not only with their current location (if they choose to share it) but also any venue around the world. That might be the place a person is socialising at or a Rummble review about any point of interest. Plus, this real-time geo-data is consumable by everyone on Twitter, regardless of whether users are signed up to Rummble or not.. take notice to the red pin icon on the ‘ahousley’ Tweet below, for a cool working example!
Until now, metadata in tweets only included information such as username and time – making it difficult for Twitter to become a location based service. Location information would be shared, for example, by including a link to a mapping service in the tweet. Twitter’s Geotagging API, now one-week old, enables developers using Twitter’s platform to attach latitude and longitude data to an individual ‘tweet’ which can then be used intelligently with other services. That might be a simple display of a map to show where the tweet came from, data analysis to show activity in an area or other mash-ups of information.
“Geo-location sits at the very heart of the Rummble service and Twitter’s Geotagging API is one of the most exciting developments on Twitter so far” said Andrew J Scott, Rummble. “Earlier this year we launched a Rummble experiment called Tremors, data-mining the twittersphere to match tweets to physical venues and analyse sentiment about the place so you can find out the latest ‘buzz’ in your neighborhood or what people are doing at the local pub or saying today about the COP15 in Copenhagen. The Geotagging API will make this even more accurate, which we’re really excited about.”
Posted in Functionality, Rummble Announcements | No Comments »
