6 ms·

Show HN: Places iOS App – Find beautiful destinations around the world

40 points by hobonumber1 12y ago

hobonumber1 12y ago
This is the first iOS app that I've ever made, so I'm pretty proud of it! Would love to hear what you guys think about it.
- gdilla 12y ago
  Looks very pretty! Where do you get the images and content from? How are you monetizing?
  - hobonumber1 12y ago
    Images and content are retrieved algorithmically from various places (Flickr, Wikipedia, etc.). Planning to monetize later by letting people purchase specific categories (like "romantic getaways"). Right now, all categories are free.
    - spacefight 12y ago
      Well done. I'm using the Flickr API myself for photo annotations - be careful to honor the licensing of those images. Quite a few are copyrighted, e.g. those in the Josha Tree section. Linking back is not enough, explicit permission is requried. Example: https://www.flickr.com/photos/circleyq/8676353185/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/circleyq/8676353185/
      - hobonumber1 12y ago
        You're right. I'm only using Creative Commons photos, and I include attribution inside the detail pages.
        spacefight 12y ago
        To be precise: The example was taken out of your app, I followed the link and pasted it above, so not only CC is in use.
- shanev 12y ago
  The first iOS app I ever made was also named Places. Except it was a Yelp client, before I knew there would be an official Yelp app.
executive 12y ago
I got stuck on a weird screen that said No definition found with no buttons to get back to the app. Interface is nice but app feels too sales-y and light on content.
- hobonumber1 12y ago
  Weird. I've never encountered that issue (and I've done a lot of beta testing). Could you explain how you got to that page? Sorry to hear that the app was too sales-y :( What gave off that impression?
- doodilin 12y ago
  I agree that it feels light in content -- while the list of destinations is extensive, each description only scratches the surface. Then what?
k-mcgrady 12y ago
Really nice design. Playing around with it now and want to offer some minor feedback: 1. Onboarding screens seem unnecessary. I've already read the description and decided to download the app. Unless you're teaching me something I don't need to be sold again. 2. The images in the tables seem slow to load for me. Are these being fetched from a server and if so would you not be able to keep the images for at least the first screen local? Also you need to implement some sort of cache as when I scroll and the cell is reused and I scroll back it has to reload the image (slowly, I'm guessing from the server). 3. When I click through to a category (e.g. South America) your table has an activity indicator and loading text plus there is a HUD with activity indicator. Only seems to happen when going form top level to next level. Doesn't happen on the third level. Overall really nicely designed app with some good information. I'll be keeping it installed. Do you plan on making money from it?
- hobonumber1 12y ago
  Thanks so much for the feedback. This is why I love HN <3 To reply to your thoughts: 1) Good point. I'll consider removing it for the next release, but from my beta testing, some users felt that an onboarding flow would be nicer. I figured making it short and sweet wouldn't hurt. 2) The images are fetched from the server, because the entire app is very API-driven. You're right though - I could architect it so that the images for the initial page are stored locally and I could use some special category-key to fetch the right image. 3) Yeah, I realized that pretty late when Apple had already approved the app. Fix coming in v1.0.1! Thanks so much for giving it a try. I do plan on monetizing it later. I replied below on how I plan to do that, but the most important thing for me is to make a quality product that people like using. That's what I'm tracking right now.
  - rgbrgb 12y ago
    I recommend this project for image caching: https://github.com/rs/SDWebImage https://github.com/rs/SDWebImage It creates a cache keyed on the URL and deals with processing the image off of the main thread.
  - cloudwalking 12y ago
archagon 12y ago
Nice icon!
- hobonumber1 12y ago
  Thanks! Photoshop. :)
mathieutd 12y ago
Very nice app! Have you thought of allowing users to comment on destinations?
- hobonumber1 12y ago
  I have thought about it, but allowing for that would require some type of user authentication system which would increase friction when it came to onboarding. If I decide to go with user authentications, then I think adding comments is a no-brainer.
  - k-mcgrady 12y ago
    Only require authentication when the user wants to make a comment. You could also use Facebook/Twitter login systems built into the device so the user presses login, selects their account from an action sheet, and they're in. No username/password friction.
    - hobonumber1 12y ago
      Good thinking. Sounds like v1.1.0.
rounak 12y ago
Good stuff. Explore the use of custom navigation controller transitions. Tapping on a cell can expand into the new view rather than the default slide in animation.
- hobonumber1 12y ago
  That would look a lot slicker. I will explore that, thanks!
CGamesPlay 12y ago
I like the app a lot. I couldn't figure out how to "like" a place, though.
sev 12y ago
Very pretty app! Good work. - how do you like a place? I couldn't figure it out. - what UI element is the sort drop down?
- hobonumber1 12y ago
  To like a place, you can click on the heart. The dropdown is from REMenu (https://www.cocoacontrols.com/controls/remenu https://www.cocoacontrols.com/controls/remenu)
coldcode 12y ago
I wanted to build something like this when I was at Travelocity but it never happened. I really wanted to do a calendar view, where you got a pretty location spread each day plus the ability to book a trip there if you wanted (of course). Or to allow you a little virtual vacation every day. Getting photos was hard however due to licensing issues and of course sending photographers is expensive. Booking trips is a great way to monetize but then you start competing with Tripadvisor.
mandeepj 12y ago
Your app is not coming in results when I performed a search at app store
- hobonumber1 12y ago
  I think it's because Apple's search index hasn't been updated yet. Hope that happens soon.
- aspHax0 12y ago
  Try now, it should work.
Quasimoto3000 12y ago
Nice work, very slick! 1. I couldn't figure out how to like a place 2. I was sort of expecting a bit more information when I clicked on a place. I mean this particularly with respect to the attractions section. I was hoping for more information on the attractions, like the ability click on it and learn more.
- hobonumber1 12y ago
  Yeah, the ability to click on attractions and view more information about them is coming in a later version of the app. That's something that I want too.
niles 12y ago
Also check out Hitlist for a similar offering, recently featured in new and noteworthy: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hitlist-cheap-flights-travel/id900109792?mt=8 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hitlist-cheap-flights-travel...

40 points by hobonumber1 12y ago

This is the first iOS app that I've ever made, so I'm pretty proud of it! Would love to hear what you guys think about it.

gdilla 12y ago
Looks very pretty! Where do you get the images and content from? How are you monetizing?
- hobonumber1 12y ago
  Images and content are retrieved algorithmically from various places (Flickr, Wikipedia, etc.). Planning to monetize later by letting people purchase specific categories (like "romantic getaways"). Right now, all categories are free.
  - spacefight 12y ago
    Well done. I'm using the Flickr API myself for photo annotations - be careful to honor the licensing of those images. Quite a few are copyrighted, e.g. those in the Josha Tree section. Linking back is not enough, explicit permission is requried. Example: https://www.flickr.com/photos/circleyq/8676353185/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/circleyq/8676353185/
    - hobonumber1 12y ago
      You're right. I'm only using Creative Commons photos, and I include attribution inside the detail pages.
      - spacefight 12y ago
        To be precise: The example was taken out of your app, I followed the link and pasted it above, so not only CC is in use.
shanev 12y ago
The first iOS app I ever made was also named Places. Except it was a Yelp client, before I knew there would be an official Yelp app.

executive 12y ago

I got stuck on a weird screen that said No definition found with no buttons to get back to the app. Interface is nice but app feels too sales-y and light on content.

hobonumber1 12y ago
Weird. I've never encountered that issue (and I've done a lot of beta testing). Could you explain how you got to that page? Sorry to hear that the app was too sales-y :( What gave off that impression?
doodilin 12y ago
I agree that it feels light in content -- while the list of destinations is extensive, each description only scratches the surface. Then what?

k-mcgrady 12y ago

Really nice design. Playing around with it now and want to offer some minor feedback: 1. Onboarding screens seem unnecessary. I've already read the description and decided to download the app. Unless you're teaching me something I don't need to be sold again. 2. The images in the tables seem slow to load for me. Are these being fetched from a server and if so would you not be able to keep the images for at least the first screen local? Also you need to implement some sort of cache as when I scroll and the cell is reused and I scroll back it has to reload the image (slowly, I'm guessing from the server). 3. When I click through to a category (e.g. South America) your table has an activity indicator and loading text plus there is a HUD with activity indicator. Only seems to happen when going form top level to next level. Doesn't happen on the third level. Overall really nicely designed app with some good information. I'll be keeping it installed. Do you plan on making money from it?

hobonumber1 12y ago
Thanks so much for the feedback. This is why I love HN <3 To reply to your thoughts: 1) Good point. I'll consider removing it for the next release, but from my beta testing, some users felt that an onboarding flow would be nicer. I figured making it short and sweet wouldn't hurt. 2) The images are fetched from the server, because the entire app is very API-driven. You're right though - I could architect it so that the images for the initial page are stored locally and I could use some special category-key to fetch the right image. 3) Yeah, I realized that pretty late when Apple had already approved the app. Fix coming in v1.0.1! Thanks so much for giving it a try. I do plan on monetizing it later. I replied below on how I plan to do that, but the most important thing for me is to make a quality product that people like using. That's what I'm tracking right now.
- rgbrgb 12y ago
  I recommend this project for image caching: https://github.com/rs/SDWebImage https://github.com/rs/SDWebImage It creates a cache keyed on the URL and deals with processing the image off of the main thread.
- cloudwalking 12y ago

archagon 12y ago

Nice icon!

hobonumber1 12y ago
Thanks! Photoshop. :)

mathieutd 12y ago

Very nice app! Have you thought of allowing users to comment on destinations?

hobonumber1 12y ago
I have thought about it, but allowing for that would require some type of user authentication system which would increase friction when it came to onboarding. If I decide to go with user authentications, then I think adding comments is a no-brainer.
- k-mcgrady 12y ago
  Only require authentication when the user wants to make a comment. You could also use Facebook/Twitter login systems built into the device so the user presses login, selects their account from an action sheet, and they're in. No username/password friction.
  - hobonumber1 12y ago
    Good thinking. Sounds like v1.1.0.

rounak 12y ago

Good stuff. Explore the use of custom navigation controller transitions. Tapping on a cell can expand into the new view rather than the default slide in animation.

hobonumber1 12y ago
That would look a lot slicker. I will explore that, thanks!

CGamesPlay 12y ago

I like the app a lot. I couldn't figure out how to "like" a place, though.

sev 12y ago

Very pretty app! Good work. - how do you like a place? I couldn't figure it out. - what UI element is the sort drop down?

hobonumber1 12y ago
To like a place, you can click on the heart. The dropdown is from REMenu (https://www.cocoacontrols.com/controls/remenu https://www.cocoacontrols.com/controls/remenu)

coldcode 12y ago

I wanted to build something like this when I was at Travelocity but it never happened. I really wanted to do a calendar view, where you got a pretty location spread each day plus the ability to book a trip there if you wanted (of course). Or to allow you a little virtual vacation every day. Getting photos was hard however due to licensing issues and of course sending photographers is expensive. Booking trips is a great way to monetize but then you start competing with Tripadvisor.

mandeepj 12y ago

Your app is not coming in results when I performed a search at app store

hobonumber1 12y ago
I think it's because Apple's search index hasn't been updated yet. Hope that happens soon.
aspHax0 12y ago
Try now, it should work.

Quasimoto3000 12y ago

Nice work, very slick! 1. I couldn't figure out how to like a place 2. I was sort of expecting a bit more information when I clicked on a place. I mean this particularly with respect to the attractions section. I was hoping for more information on the attractions, like the ability click on it and learn more.

hobonumber1 12y ago
Yeah, the ability to click on attractions and view more information about them is coming in a later version of the app. That's something that I want too.

niles 12y ago

Also check out Hitlist for a similar offering, recently featured in new and noteworthy: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hitlist-cheap-flights-travel/id900109792?mt=8 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hitlist-cheap-flights-travel...