Phone Sections: Sub-forums vs Prefixes vs Nothing

[Frisco]

We need All Things Root if we need any of them. That is more than a "sub" forum/lable etc, root queries and discussion are a sub-culture in the culture of the Android community.

 

[Roze]

My suggestion is to keep is simple.... something like:

[Question/Help]
[Tip!]
[Accessory]
[App]
[General Discussion]


ATR - NONE (for the time being)

No [App] prefix. Anything that's related to apps and the app not being specific to the phone should be moved to the Application forum. If it's related to the phone, usually it's a support type question. I'm against the app prefix for earlier arguments on why we do not have application subforums. They take away form the AndroidForum community and strengthen the cliques in the phone forum community.

 

[SUroot]

For the root subforum, we could use the same set of prefixes.. or soemthing else, perhaps:

General
ROMs
Overclocking

I'd maybe consider going with:

General
Help
ROMS and Kernels
How to

I feel overclocking in itself is a small thing pertaining to kernels. But then again, people may not know that. Not sure it is a big enough subject to warrant a prefix though.

Any thoughts?

 

[Kelmar]

I think How To could also use a place in the main section as I personally think of a tip as a suggestion instead of a directional tutorial (think sideloading apps).

@ Roze - There are a lot of times, that I see, when apps are discussed directly with how they perform (or don't) on a given phone. I'm thinking for those situations.

 

[SUroot]

The thing with the cliques argument I do not particularly feel is relevant. I understand that it is a clique scenario but its not as if its a "well our clique is better than your clique" issue.

Many people stay within their phone forums. If these people receive advice from members they regularly receive advice from (whom they trust to act upon advice from) pertaining to a sepcific app on their specific device, I dont see the harm.

Surely then that enhances their device specific experience of the forum and only makes it a better place?

 

[bluenova]

I'd maybe consider going with:

General
Help
ROMS and Kernels
How to

I feel overclocking in itself is a small thing pertaining to kernels. But then again, people may not know that. Not sure it is a big enough subject to warrant a prefix though.

Any thoughts?

+1 for root forums

 

[Frisco]

I'd like to put something out here that's been on my mind for a long time.

What I've always wished I could do is to copy, not move, but copy the OP and then the solution post(s) into Tips and Tricks, renaming the resulting short thread as need be. Basically culling the question and info, gathering it up and placing it in T&T.

The original thread with all of the posts would remain where ever it happens to be (Support, most often of course).

I'd love to be able to go into those device forums on the hunt for true discovered solutions and work with them in that manner, being mindful of repeated ones, that is, watching for (searching out) redundancies so that we don't end up with a lot of repetition in T&T.

The new titles could be very "to the point," with "[RESOLVED]" or whatever in that title.

All of this in addition, of course, to the posted tips by folks knowing they have something to share.

What do you think, folks? Am I out of my pajamas or what?

 

[reinbeau]

[Apps] causing cliques? I don't see that over on XDA at all. These tags are used with great success over there. There are apps specific to the Captivate, to the I9000 series, to the HTC line - it isn't a cliquey thing, it's device specific.

 

[Roze]

@ Roze - There are a lot of times, that I see, when apps are discussed directly with how they perform (or don't) on a given phone. I'm thinking for those situations.

The thing with the cliques argument I do not particularly feel is relevant. I understand that it is a clique scenario but its not as if its a "well our clique is better than your clique" issue.

Many people stay within their phone forums. If these people receive advice from members they regularly receive advice from (whom they trust to act upon advice from) pertaining to a specific app on their specific device, I don’t see the harm.

Surely then that enhances their device specific experience of the forum and only makes it a better place?

[Apps] causing cliques? I don't see that over on XDA at all. These tags are used with great success over there. There are apps specific to the Captivate, to the I9000 series, to the HTC line - it isn't a cliquey thing, it's device specific.

I don't think you guys/gal understand me. My argument against the [App] label is the same argument as to why AF did not made an Application subforums for all of the phones. The whole point of Android Forums is to act as a community with members moving around from area to area for their needs. It should NOT simply be sub-communities, where the members just stay in their phone forum and never leave. THAT is what I think is a clique.

If you have an issue with your phone, you post in the phone forum. If you want to talk about Android News, you post in the Android Lounge forum. If you want to post an interesting tidbit that's not Android related, we have the lounge for that. If the thread is about AT&T, O2, TMobile or Verizon it should be posted in the carrier forum. AND if you are inquiring about an application, like 'does Pandroa work on the Inspire HD?' or 'how is Tasker on the Droid X?' that should be asked in the Application Forum. Although it seems like the question pertains to the phone, which most of the apps are written for Android in general. Most cases, more than one type of phones will see the same issue. That is maybe you're seeing an issue on Pandora on your Inspire, well some people that have a Galaxy S or Nexus One might also have the same issue but they haven't noticed it. If that thread stays in the Inspire forum and eventually people start posting this issue in every single phone forum. 'Is anyone having issue running Pandora on their Desire (or SGS or N1 etc etc). So in the end we have dozens of these related threads in every single phone forum. Best example is when LauncherPro releases a new update, every phone forum post issues they have with it. Well, these issues weren't just for their phone and were merged with similar threads and moved to the Android Application Forum.

Now if your phone forum does EVERYTHING you need, why even BOTHER posting in the Android Lounge forum, why even BOTHER posting in the Android Application forum or the Android Theme forum. Members are already attached to their phone forum. Very few go out and post in the correct forum already. Most members start exploring when their threads are moved to the proper forum. Do this and I bet you my horse's gold teeth that they won't even bother now.

I’ve met some of the most awesome members because I left the comfort of my Nexus One forum when I first joined. I would go and read other forums. I met Frisco and OTD in the Eris forum and wished I had an Eris and realized the Eris is a cool phone even if it’s consider ‘cheap’ when compared to the Droid in 2009. I met Eyebeam in the Android theme forum. Coolest guy ever that takes his time to create any kind of wallpaper you request. I learnt how Android work from Alostpacket, with his insightful Android security thread. I always got a laugh from witty/confrontational IOWA in the Lounge forum. All these people, I would never have met had I simply stayed in the Nexus One forum.

What separate US from forums like XDA? We are a (bigger) community where members with Droid X, Desire, SGS, N1 ALL talk to one another. THIS is what makes AndroidForums, different and special. These meetings happen OUTSIDE of the phone forum. When I'm on the XDA, each phone forum was a micro community that is INDEPENDENT of the others. This is what I mean by clique. There's no place for members from different phone forums to talk to one another. And if there is, there's really no need. I mean you have EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING in your phone forum. I never felt the need to explore the other areas of XDA. The Nexus One has a development subforum, a theme subforum, apps subforum and the general forum. I basically have everything I'll ever need.

I don't want AndroidForums to become something like XDA in that aspect.

/end rant.

 

[Frisco]

Way to go on your "rant," Roze.

Doesn't seem ranty to me, a great explanation of this place and your experiences!

 

[Kelmar]

@ Roze (not quoting that long rant)

Don't, I get me wrong, I understand your point and agree. I feel there ARE times when discussing apps in a given section is acceptable. Example, the "Mobile AP app in Froyo" thread in the Epic section or the "How to load Angry Birds" thread in the Eris section are both examples of threads about apps that belong in the phone section.

Threads such as "Angry Birds level discussion" obviously don't belong.

Apps that are preloaded or the discussion of how a certain app runs on phone xxxxx belong in phone sections, IMO.

 

[SUroot]

I understand the need for community and that is precisley what the lounge is for and yes, android apps are built on the general android base but phones have different UI's and apps act differently on different phones.

I believe that if I have a particular problem with a particular app on my handset that I know others are not having, I would get a more tailored response in my own subforum. I dont want 20 "I dont know its fine on my Optimus" responses. I am going to get more relevant responses, quicker.

I appreciate the benefits of community, but at what point does this outweigh the need for a quick and relevant response from someone with my device? We already have communal areas for general larking around. Why should we expect all device users to feel they have to be part of the community when all they want is a quick bit of specific advice?

To explain to someone "sorry, moved your post to the app forum so you can get to know other members" when this could be detrimental to the support they receive is not really in with the spirit of things is it?

All it takes is one user of the app with the same phone to say they do not have the problem and you rule out the handset straight away and realise its probably your configuration issue. In which case again, thats something you need your device's sub forum for. Statistically, there are going to be more members with my device reading my thread in the phone forum than in the app forum. The reason people hang out in their phone forums is because thats the best place for people to get advice on their phones.

At least give them the choice to post their apps query in their device forum and allow a prefix for it.

Edit> aswell as apps acting differently on different phones, they also act differently on different custom roms on the same phone, so I also move to suggest apps prefix is also in the root forum.

 

[Frisco]

It appears that people first join for Android info in general, as borne out by a poll in the Lounge from a while back, with very few joining because they have an issue with their device, or wanting to be in a community.

It's a small sample, but I think it could have swung in the direction of "community" in the Lounge of all places here; it didn't.

http://androidforums.com/lounge/151557-why-did-you-first-come-forum-site.html

But, as Roze describes, and as we read the posts that came along in that thread, that reason for first being here leads to other reasons for returning on a regular basis.

 

[SUroot]

Yes I dare say if you ask in communal areas and device areas it will end up half and half.

I'm just advocating choice. I don't especially come here for community although there is a microcosm of it in my device forum.

I just come to answer questions to help people really and have a laugh along the way but ive no interest in any other area except here where we get to have our say

 

[Frisco]

I just come to answer questions to help people really and have a laugh along the way but ive no interest in any other area except here where we get to have our say

And that wit from Ye Olde Country is much appreciated here in the Colonies, my friend.

 

[Phases]

The shorter the better I would think. Just thinking out loud here to keep the conversation going. Soon as I get these determined will apply to all forums that don't have subforums yet, and all future.

Main:
- General
- Help
- Tip
- Tutorial
- Accessory

ATR:
- General
- Help
- Tip
- Tutorial
- ROM

 

[Frisco]

Main:
- General
- Help Needed
- Post a Tip
- Post a Tutorial
- Accessory

ATR:
- General
- Help Needed
- Post a Tip
- Post a Tutorial
- ROM

A solid distinction between things needed and things offered would be so nice, Phases.

Please? We'd be moving and/or re-labeling much fewer posts.

 

[woop]

The shorter the better I would think. Just thinking out loud here to keep the conversation going. Soon as I get these determined will apply to all forums that don't have subforums yet, and all future.

Main:
- General
- Help
- Tip
- Tutorial
- Accessory

ATR:
- General
- Help
- Tip
- Tutorial
- ROM

I like this better because, since they are just prefixes, they should be kept short and simple. Now hurry up and implement something, Phases

 

[Phases]

Live in the HTC Thunderbolt section, will roll out to all other sections without subs in the coming couple days.

Btw they display differently when viewing the list of threads, from when you pick it on thread creation. Click New Thread to see.

Rob thinks we should hold off on ATR and debate later on that. I guess I'm not sure how I feel, how busy are they in general compared to regular forums?

Options are.. none, the same as regular forums, same plus ROM (as quoted above), etc - and making them a requirement or optional.

 

[woop]

Awesome. Two suggestions though. The placement of the [____]. What do you think about possible moving that to infront of the thread? It seems awkward where it is right now, and I think it'd make for easy sorting if the prefixes were lined up, so a person can scroll down, quickly see whats what. With the [____] being on top, it takes more time to try and find it since its meshed in with all the text (especially since it isn't bolded or a different color, so it blends right in). Second suggestion is a bit similar to what Frisco had in mind but implemented differently. Is there a way to add a disclaimer text (really small font) underneath the drop-down menu where that small tiny open area is? And when a member clicks on an option, it'll give them an explanation on when they should choose that particular one? So if they choose "Support and Troubleshoot," underneath it, it would explain to pick this if you need help solving an issue. Not really a big concern as opposed to the first, just throwing it out there.

And I don't think the ATR forums need prefixes - atleast not now for the time being. All the ATR forums have been doing fine without them and I don't think they get THAT busy where things get out of hand.

 

[Kelmar]

+1

They don't seem to appear on the AF app though FWIW.

 

[Frisco]

The addition of Tutorials to Tips and Tricks on the same tag conveys more of what I was hoping for: the distinction between offering something and coming in for help/support, thanks Phases.

This is very cool.. we're rolling now...

 

[Steven58]

Live in the HTC Thunderbolt section, will roll out to all other sections without subs in the coming couple days.

Btw they display differently when viewing the list of threads, from when you pick it on thread creation. Click New Thread to see.

Rob thinks we should hold off on ATR and debate later on that. I guess I'm not sure how I feel, how busy are they in general compared to regular forums?

Options are.. none, the same as regular forums, same plus ROM (as quoted above), etc - and making them a requirement or optional.

Bravo. Love it.

 

[Phases]

1. Not working in the Phan App is a problem. People can not post from the App with it like this. Thanks for the heads up, I can't believe we overlooked that.

2. So, the [Prefix] is preferred on the left, instead of the top? Opinions please.

 

[Frisco]

2. So, the [Prefix] is preferred on the left, instead of the top? Opinions please.

Yes, like the Classifieds.