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Show HN: Hacker News Android Application

10 points by glebche 15y ago

I was frustrated with current native HN Android apps so I created my own. Very clean. No ads or 'Hire Me' messages. Here's what it does: * Homepage news * Newest * Best * Ask HN * Comments * Home screen Widget * Saving news items for later reading Download here: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.glebpopov.hackernews

dannyfl9 15y ago
What APIs do you use?
- glebche 15y ago
  Use my own: http://hndroidapi.appspot.com http://hndroidapi.appspot.com . I was considering using api.ihackernews.com , which looks really good, but I wasn't sure how stable and reliable the service is so I created my own on appengine
erikig 15y ago
Very nice, any chance we'll get an iPhone version?
- glebche 15y ago
  Thinking about it. I'd like to see where this app will go. As a true geek I use Android so I sort of built the app for myself since there's anything good out there to read HN natively on the phone
1880 15y ago
Hm. I get changing background colors when scrolling, maybe because the cache color hint is set to white? You should disable it if you use a non uniform background.
- glebche 15y ago
  What device are you using?
  - 1880 15y ago
    Motorola Defy, CM7. Edit: here is a nice explanation http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2009/01/why-is-my-list-black-android.html http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2009/01/why-is-my-lis...
  - joebadmo 15y ago
    I have a Droix X, CM7GB and see the same behavior.
    - codeslush 15y ago
      My Droid3 does the same thing - it is VERY minor, but noticeable.
codeslush 15y ago
I downloaded it. Nice. Some quick feedback: 1. It looks like you are querying out real-time to bring back the list of stories. Why the need to modify/delete SD card content? 2. The default action, when clicking on a news item, is to take you to the website of the article (or here, for ask). You have to long press to see the comments. I hate to say this, but I often read through the comments BEFORE going to the outside link for the story details (ask is the exception). Can you give a preference of what you want to be the default option when selecting a news item? 3. Nice touch - to put the icons of the website (e.g. blogger) next to the article title. Hard to see, but still decent. Anyway, nice job!
- codeslush 15y ago
  Also, if it is an "Ask" entry (or any non-external url entry), pull down the contents with the result set and just show it inline, or query out for the item and show inside your app, instead of launching hn in a separate browser.
  - glebche 15y ago
    Interesting. I can probably handle all HN content within the app itself
- glebche 15y ago
  Thanks. Good feedback. Re: store/delete SD card: I need storage for image caching and also for the Save feature. You can save stories and then read later. Definitely will add preferences- good idea
  - joebadmo 15y ago
    I agree with the GP that the long-press is annoying. But I I think it would be just as annoying the other way. Seems to me there's plenty of space for a button to go to the comments. Also, I understand there's not a lot of room on a phone screen, but no indication for comment nesting at all? Minor nitpicks. Overall, looks great!
azal 15y ago
Great App, just tried it on my HTC Evo. 1 thing I noticed is that if its a new post, there is text 'discuss' or 'x comments' following the submitter, which when clicked taked u to the actual site posted and not the comments. *to get to comments, depress the post for 2 seconds

10 points by glebche 15y ago

dannyfl9 15y ago

What APIs do you use?

glebche 15y ago
Use my own: http://hndroidapi.appspot.com http://hndroidapi.appspot.com . I was considering using api.ihackernews.com , which looks really good, but I wasn't sure how stable and reliable the service is so I created my own on appengine

erikig 15y ago

Very nice, any chance we'll get an iPhone version?

glebche 15y ago
Thinking about it. I'd like to see where this app will go. As a true geek I use Android so I sort of built the app for myself since there's anything good out there to read HN natively on the phone

1880 15y ago

Hm. I get changing background colors when scrolling, maybe because the cache color hint is set to white? You should disable it if you use a non uniform background.

glebche 15y ago
What device are you using?
- 1880 15y ago
  Motorola Defy, CM7. Edit: here is a nice explanation http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2009/01/why-is-my-list-black-android.html http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2009/01/why-is-my-lis...
- joebadmo 15y ago
  I have a Droix X, CM7GB and see the same behavior.
  - codeslush 15y ago
    My Droid3 does the same thing - it is VERY minor, but noticeable.

codeslush 15y ago

I downloaded it. Nice. Some quick feedback: 1. It looks like you are querying out real-time to bring back the list of stories. Why the need to modify/delete SD card content? 2. The default action, when clicking on a news item, is to take you to the website of the article (or here, for ask). You have to long press to see the comments. I hate to say this, but I often read through the comments BEFORE going to the outside link for the story details (ask is the exception). Can you give a preference of what you want to be the default option when selecting a news item? 3. Nice touch - to put the icons of the website (e.g. blogger) next to the article title. Hard to see, but still decent. Anyway, nice job!

codeslush 15y ago
Also, if it is an "Ask" entry (or any non-external url entry), pull down the contents with the result set and just show it inline, or query out for the item and show inside your app, instead of launching hn in a separate browser.
- glebche 15y ago
  Interesting. I can probably handle all HN content within the app itself
glebche 15y ago
Thanks. Good feedback. Re: store/delete SD card: I need storage for image caching and also for the Save feature. You can save stories and then read later. Definitely will add preferences- good idea
- joebadmo 15y ago
  I agree with the GP that the long-press is annoying. But I I think it would be just as annoying the other way. Seems to me there's plenty of space for a button to go to the comments. Also, I understand there's not a lot of room on a phone screen, but no indication for comment nesting at all? Minor nitpicks. Overall, looks great!

azal 15y ago

Great App, just tried it on my HTC Evo. 1 thing I noticed is that if its a new post, there is text 'discuss' or 'x comments' following the submitter, which when clicked taked u to the actual site posted and not the comments. *to get to comments, depress the post for 2 seconds