Feedback Not sure about keeping Tapatalk support here

Amin

Hall of Famer
Supporting Tapatalk is seeming more and more like a bad idea.

Tapatalk has had several security issues in the past and could compromise our site security. Their registration method provides an easy entry point for spammers. Their support is basically terrible. Their software often gives me server errors, and Google sends me warnings that Tapatalk is doing things that could compromise our search rankings for mobile.

I know that some members use Tapatalk and will hate to see it go. I used to use it also. But now that our site software provides a good alternative for mobile, I think Tapatalk support is probably not a good idea.

For those who aren't aware, it's easy to add a shortcut to our site from any mobile device: Tutorial: Add PhotographersLounge Shortcut to Your Phone / Tablet Homescreen
 
Browser access is not a good alternative for me on my device.
Generally when you float ideas in this way Amin it means you've already made up your mind.
If you drop tapatalk support, my use of the site will drop to almost zero.
 
Even though my mobile device has a big screen, I still use (an old version of) Tapatalk when out and about - 70+ percent of my usage on some days). It's light, logical, fast and easy and doesn't involve zooming to see and hit buttons. It also makes it very easy to find new forums that interest you from their easily navigated catalogue; it's the medium through which I found Serious Compacts in the first place.

However I stress that I am using an old version, which I have ring-fenced from further updates and (non-)"improvements". I dislike where they have taken the product and find their business model questionable at best. It doesn't surprise me that the technical underpinnings are flaky. I'd much prefer to go on using the version I have, but would (very) regretfully understand the logic to move.
 
I don't use it, so I'm not directly affected, but if we're gonna lose existing folks as a result, I hope it's fixable rather than just scrapping it...

-Ray

Tapatalk has access to our database. The sites are only as secure as Tapatalk is.

I know little to nothing about roofs, but I imagine that Tapatalk is like a bad roof where you can patch the leaks, but occasionally the floor will be wet, and you never know if there will be structural damage.

-Sent from my PC using Chrome
 
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There are probably a number of site members to whom Tapatalk support is important. I don't want to downplay that importance or make light of their situation. But if it's determined that site security is being heavily compromised, how important is that to all of us - including Tapatalk users? Are there alternatives to Tapatalk that can do the same job without browser access? It's a tough decision no matter how you cut it and there will be unhappy members regardless of the final decision. Do what you think is right, Amin.

EDIT: I just logged onto the site from my iPhone 4s and it seems to work quite well with mobile. But I can understand those who use Tapatalk for several different sites might like to keep it. And it's true that I launched Safari on the phone to get here. If one really wants to avoid that step, losing Tapatalk could be an issue.
 
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You could argue that there is not a lot of difference between this:
Screenshot_2015-03-19-15-48-56.png

And this:
Screenshot_2015-03-19-15-48-22.png

...but there is. Tapatalk is just easier to use on the smaller screen. I've just used Chrome on my phone to post this and has taken me the better part of ten minutes, primarily because the damn screen kept adapting and resizing as I went. Now, I wouldn't normally upload a photo from my phone anyway, but it underscores the point about UI.

No matter. The logical part of me knows that security trumps UI. I do fear it will make us less "competitive" though.
 
I wont use TapaTalk as the advice I received is that it's nothing but Spyware with every clicked link recorded.

There are so many good mobile browsers around now that can handle this site well but Chrome isn't good on a mobile device and I deleted my copy.
Currently with IOS the following work well..Puffin , Atomic Web , Mercury and Photon ... but Opera Mini and Chrome aren't so easy.
No experience with Android or Macintosh software.
 
I wont use TapaTalk as the advice I received is that it's nothing but Spyware with every clicked link recorded..

Hmm are you quite sure your sources are perfectly reliable?

You do realise that almost every link you click is "recorded" in some way whatever browser or online app you are using?

If you have google accounts, or facebook, or a zillion other things, your activities online are being tracked constantly.

Tapatalk should be the least of your worries, if that's the sort of thing that concerns you ...
 
Using Tapatalk is convenient as several forums I visit are available in the app. I know that I visit forums that are unavailable on Tapatalk less in mobile situations and so that would probably happen here too, although it may just mean I visit more often at home or when using a computer rather than a mobile device.

Balancing security concerns with convenience is not easy but if the security concerns are real and serious, then there seems to be little choice but to abandon the app. Perhaps if more forums leave Tapatalk, they would take the security issues ore seriously and we could return at some point.

The mobile version of the new software here does seem pretty good.
 
I've done a lot of research about Tapatalk security, and the bottom line is I think we can safely keep Tapatalk for now. But if anyone's forum is in the future confirmed to be compromised due to a Tapatalk vulnerability, I'll likely have to drop support.
 
For some reason that I couldn't identify yet, I have a really hard time accessing this site from a browser, so follow the forum normally on Tapatalk. Of course this is far from ideal, but most of the time is the only way I manage to enter.
 
For some reason that I couldn't identify yet, I have a really hard time accessing this site from a browser, so follow the forum normally on Tapatalk. Of course this is far from ideal, but most of the time is the only way I manage to enter.

Please try clearing your browser cache (different from cookies). It should help a lot. If you still can't access the site, PM me so I can help further.
 
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