BeerAdvocate app: Sneak Peek & FAQ

Discussion in 'Announcements' started by Todd, Dec 19, 2012.

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  1. Todd BA Founder

    Location:
    Massachusetts
    If you follow @BeerAdvocate on Twitter, you may have read that we're currently working on a BeerAdvocate app. It's true. In fact, here's a sneak peek of the app from today's staff meeting.

    [IMG][IMG]
    (left: quickly "Had, Want or Got" a beer; right: Extreme Beer Fest app)

    We've been getting hit with questions from today's tweets, so here's a quick FAQ.

    Q: Who's developing it?

    It's being developed in-house.

    Q: Will it be released for Android, Blackberry, iOS, Windows 8, etc?

    Yes. We're developing Web apps, allowing us to create a single application that'll work across all major mobile platforms.

    Q: Do you plan on releasing native apps?

    Not at this time.

    Q: Are you creating just an Extreme Beer Fest app?

    No. We're creating the foundation for all future apps. The first release will be an app for Extreme Beer Fest, which will help us test some core functionality that'll be used in all future app releases.

    Q: Will the app be free?

    Yes.

    Q: What will the app do?

    Initially, our goal is to provide users an easy way to find, rate/review, track and share the beers and places they experience (all of which already exists on the full website) on their mobile devices. We plan on offering much more as the app develops.

    Q: When will it be released?

    The fest portion of the app will be released before Extreme Beer Fest (Feb 8 & 9, 2013). We'll keep everyone posted on future releases/updates.

    Q: Can I beta test for you?

    We're currently not accepting beta testers.

    Q: What happened to Kickstarter?

    We've opted to show people that we're serious about releasing BA apps before we ask for their monetary support. We'll consider revisiting Kickstarter in Q1 2013.

    Q: Do you have an API?

    We're creating an API for the site redesign (used for the app too), but currently it's private. We'll be exploring a public API down the road.

    Note: This is all currently in development. Features and presentation subject to change; and things will change.

    We're also painfully aware of the demand for an app, which is why we felt it was high time to let everyone know that we've been listening, we've invested and we're on the path to making it finally happen.

    Much more to follow ...

    Cheers for your continued support and patience!
    Todd, Dec 19, 2012
    #1
    YouSkeete, Hindsight, porcelli426 and 55 others like this.

  2. madtrixter787 Member

    Location:
    Virginia
    Can't wait!

    ISO: BA App FT: BT, CBS, BCBS Rare
    madtrixter787, Dec 19, 2012
    #2
    AlaskanYoung, jglowe77, Eriktheipaman and 2 others like this.

  3. Kopfschuss Member

    Location:
    Oregon
    Great work! I look forward to seeing this develop.
    Kopfschuss, Dec 19, 2012
    #3
    Lantern and kangarooAdam59 like this.

  4. MichPaul Member

    Location:
    Michigan
    This sounds great, can't wait! I know I may be the only one that still uses a Blackberry, so I hope that doesn't get forgotten... :)
    MichPaul, Dec 19, 2012
    #4

  5. Preluderl Member

    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    As a noob to craft beer this should be awesome. When I'm in a store looking for something to buy I always look on here to read reviews. This would make it much easier and more convenient.
    Preluderl, Dec 19, 2012
    #5
    JHendu likes this.

  6. buddha5050 Member

    AWESOME!
    buddha5050, Dec 19, 2012
    #6

  7. AutumnBeerLove Member

    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Is this real life?
    AutumnBeerLove, Dec 19, 2012
    #7
    darkcaat, AlaskanYoung, quirkzoo and 5 others like this.

  8. HopsintheSack Member

    Location:
    California
    This will be even better then the beer battery meter!
    HopsintheSack, Dec 19, 2012
    #8

  9. Bond111 Member

    Location:
    Minnesota
    This is great news!! Hope it goes smooth & we can all use it soon.
    Bond111, Dec 19, 2012
    #9

  10. mmikey8 Member

    Location:
    California
    GREAT! I'll be looking at my phone all the time now. This could be trouble....
    mmikey8, Dec 19, 2012
    #10
    RobertColianni likes this.

  11. HopsMatt Member

    Location:
    Kentucky
    Already on the forum 12 hours a day on my phone. This is going to make life so much easier!
    HopsMatt, Dec 19, 2012
    #11
    blguillen and mcrago like this.

  12. Mike BA Developer

    Location:
    New Hampshire
    The apps will work on Blackberry devices that have OS 6 or later. Cheers!
    Mike, Dec 19, 2012
    #12
    mellowmark and Todd like this.

  13. cjacobsen Member

    Location:
    Illinois
    *starts slow clap*
    cjacobsen, Dec 19, 2012
    #13
    darkcaat, VncentLIFE and mellowmark like this.

  14. MichPaul Member

    Location:
    Michigan
    Very cool! (searching phone for OS#...)
    MichPaul, Dec 19, 2012
    #14

  15. tectactoe Member

    Location:
    Michigan
    Hah! So waiting in line for hours to sit on Santa Claus's lap at the mall was NOT a waste of time!!
    tectactoe, Dec 19, 2012
    #15
    JHendu, RelentlessLefty, woosterbill and 4 others like this.

  16. ubenumber2 Member

    Location:
    Arkansas
    Awsome , a buddy at work was just saying he wished there was a BA app so he could check beers fast he didnt know about , would be nice to be able to scan a bar code and get the rating
    ubenumber2, Dec 19, 2012
    #16
    JHendu, VyperStryke, Justin_Neff and 7 others like this.

  17. BK1017 Member

    Location:
    Texas
    That's a damn good idea.
    BK1017, Dec 19, 2012
    #17
    jglowe77, hoppusmaxximus and TheNoodleIncident like this.

  18. Retsinis Member

    Location:
    California
    Great news! My reviewing has slowed as of late, and transferring from paper to the site, became a bit of a choir, and I just couldn't get into other beer apps, but am pretty active on FB & the Yelp mobile app, so this will be something I would use quite a lot. Thanks bro's.
    Retsinis, Dec 19, 2012
    #18

  19. CA_Infidel2o9 Member

    Can't wait!!

    Was ISO yesterday and found an "unofficial" version and passed.
    CA_Infidel2o9, Dec 19, 2012
    #19

  20. benjaminahudson Member

    Location:
    North Carolina
    So long as I can shoot the shit in the forums, a la a mobile experience, you have my download! Not to mention the GREAT help it will be to have your hads/wants/gots list in a mobile layout when frequenting the bottle shop or bar or tasting.
    benjaminahudson, Dec 19, 2012
    #20
    davey101 likes this.

  21. Paul68 Member

    Location:
    New Jersey
    I think you should charge for it. I'm sure it will need updating and someone to maintain it. Why not put that money to good use.

    I would rather pay for it and have the best damn beer app on the market than have one thats not.
    Paul68, Dec 19, 2012
    #21
    AxesandAnchors, TimoP, rrraphael and 10 others like this.

  22. tugg407 Member

    Location:
    Florida
    Can't wait!
    The scan barcode for rating is a great idea. You would have to do a collab with a scanner app.
    tugg407, Dec 20, 2012
    #22
    hoppusmaxximus and digita7693 like this.

  23. skunkpuddle Member

    Location:
    California
    Ever thought about upgrading?
    skunkpuddle, Dec 20, 2012
    #23

  24. MichPaul Member

    Location:
    Michigan
    Being the cheapest man alive, it's a work phone... :p The only phone I have ever bought was a pay-as-you-go. Ha ha! I would love to have a better phone, but better beer is more of a priority...
    MichPaul, Dec 20, 2012
    #24
    beertunes and Bugs318 like this.

  25. TheNoodleIncident Member

    Location:
    New York
    On a few occasions I've thought about what I would like to see in a BA app, but the ability to scan a beer to locate a review never occurred to me. That would be FANTASTIC. Not knowing a damn thing about how these apps are developed, I have no idea if that's feasible. But damn that would be cool.

    The biggest reason I want a BA app is because it takes too long to search for reviews when I'm standing in the store with some unknown bottle in my hand.
    TheNoodleIncident, Dec 20, 2012
    #25
    hoppusmaxximus likes this.

  26. bribo Member

    Location:
    New York
    Scanning the barcode would be an invaluable addition to the BA app. Would LOVE that.
    bribo, Dec 20, 2012
    #26
    chinchill, rsdaugherty and hoppusmaxximus like this.

  27. GraniteSkunk Member

    Location:
    Illinois
    That option is already out there.
    GraniteSkunk, Dec 21, 2012
    #27
    RyanMM likes this.

  28. BeerThursdays Member

    Location:
    Delaware
    Not sure you can charge for a web app.
    BeerThursdays, Dec 21, 2012
    #28

  29. TheNoodleIncident Member

    Location:
    New York
    ?
    TheNoodleIncident, Dec 21, 2012
    #29

  30. PatriotsRule Member

    Location:
    Massachusetts
    very awesome!!! You guys rock! In combination with Happy Hour Finder, brews crushing will be a breeeeeze!
    PatriotsRule, Dec 21, 2012
    #30

  31. jRocco2021 Member

    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Hooray beer!.........advocate app
    jRocco2021, Dec 21, 2012
    #31

  32. 451beer Member

    Location:
    Ohio
    Awesome! Love beer advocate !
    451beer, Dec 21, 2012
    #32

  33. Todd BA Founder

    Location:
    Massachusetts
    True, but not for BeerAdvocate. It won't be in the initial release, but scanning is on our list of features.
    Todd, Dec 21, 2012
    #33
    JHendu, AxesandAnchors, gpawned and 3 others like this.

  34. Todd BA Founder

    Location:
    Massachusetts
    You can, but we don't want to.
    Todd, Dec 21, 2012
    #34
    gpawned, BeerThursdays and TheNoodleIncident like this.

  35. Flounder57 Member

    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Apps make things convenient and easier. This should help people out quite a bit. Can't wait to see how it holds up on my windows phone.
    Flounder57, Dec 22, 2012
    #35
    SatlyMalty likes this.

  36. Zach136 Member

    Location:
    Georgia
    I'm happy this will be coming out. I'm constantly researching/ticking/posting via my phone, while I wouldn't call it difficult, this will make it much easier.

    The scan by bar code thing is cool, but would require the app to be "native" (downloaded from the App Store/Google Play) as opposed to a "web app".

    I think "web app" is a great call.The ONLY advantage to a native app is use of the phone's hardware features, like the camera and GPS. It would be nice to have the camera feature, but really it would only be a marginal improvement for the huge extra cost associated with developing and maintaining, and most people on BB and Windows would probably get left out of the loop for a while on the native app route.

    The GPS locating is also pretty overrated IMO, considering if you go to whatever Map application you have you can search "bear near my location" and it will bring it all up, and more often than not actually show BeerAdvocate reviews or links to the BeerAdvocate place page.
    Zach136, Dec 22, 2012
    #36
    Keith_R likes this.

  37. Mscarpen Member

    Location:
    Tennessee
    This may very well be the trigger for the next wave in craft beer mainstreaming.
    Mscarpen, Dec 22, 2012
    #37

  38. Cenosillicaphobe Member

    Location:
    Maine
    Can't wait for the app...so many possibilities.
    Cenosillicaphobe, Dec 22, 2012
    #38

  39. jaz58 Member

    Location:
    Ontario (Canada)
    Happy Holidays to all BA fans. Thanks Todd for the good news. I look forward to the February 8-9.

    Cheers
    jaz58, Dec 23, 2012
    #39

  40. robinhoover Member

    Location:
    Vermont
    Congratulations on, IMHO, a very smart decision:

    For a community as large and active as this, this really was the only way to go!

    (Actually it's not, but I'm not going to bust your chops over this hybrid approach (the beeradvocate.com vs. m.beeradvocate.com discussion) as it does provide you with some flexibility for mobile-specific features!)

    Looking forward to your progress, but especially any discussion on a public-facing API. A no-brainer for extending your brand and auto-magically creating some great network effects with minimal effort (don't tell your coding team I said that :) ).

    Happy Holidays!
    robinhoover, Dec 24, 2012
    #40
    Zach136 likes this.
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