Bitcointalk as a Mobile App - Trick for iOS/iPhone

[shahzadafzal]

I have been using this trick for quite some time for different websites including bitcointalk and ChatGPT also, it kinda converts any website into a mobile app that sits on your home page like any other app. Technically speaking it's not like a native app but still it does pretty well. It works on iOS only since it uses Apple Shortcut Application to do so, which itself is a very powerful app if you are an Apple user. Anyway, let's start and give it a try.

Prerequisite  - Shortcuts App:
Before starting just make sure you have Shortcuts app installed.
If not you can search it on the App Store or just click below image



Step 1 - Image for app icon:
Download the image below and save it to photos, we will use it for our App Icon.
You can use any other image too but I like this one since it's kinda official logon for Bitcointalk.
https://talkimg.com/images/2023/09/06/mPhP2.png



Step 2 - Download Shortcut:
Download this shortcut from iCloud
https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/97dcbfe75e074ad19077f20304342d74
Above link should automatically open the Shortcuts app. If not then copy paste below link in Safari browser and then click Open in Shortcuts
Once open you will see below screen, click Add Shortcut

 

Step 3 - Run shortcut:
Once added you will see a new shortcut added on the Shortcuts app.
Click the this shortcut "Make app from URL and follow the prompts

a. Enter the app name preferably "Bitcointalk"
b. Enter the URL (this URL will be used as a homepage for our app)
    I like to set it Show new replies to your posts. as my home page but you can use any bitcointalk link
    https://bitcointalk.org/ or https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=unreadreplies
c. Select the image you saved in Step 2 for the App Icon,  Click Done
    It will open a safari browser and show a popup
d. Click allow to download configuration profile




Step 4 - Install profile:
Now go to iPhone Settings and on the home page you should see Profile Downloaded
(If not available on the home page then Settings -> General -> VPN & Device Management)
a. Click on Bitcointalk
b. Click Install



Congratulation just open the app Login for the first time and enjoy your Bitcointalk as a Mobile App

Pro and cons:
- You don't to need to enter URL every time to you open bitcointalk
- It's running in a full screen, no browser URL or extra buttons
- To Remove the app go to Settings -> General -> VPN & Device Management ->Bitcointalk  and click Remove Profile
- There's no hidden scripts or any thing, it's just running Bitcointalk as a fullscreen Media Clip in a Safari Browser
- No back/forward buttons? You don't need, just swap your screen left or right to move back or forward

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[UmerIdrees]

In Andriod, we can only create a shortcut of the website and it will appear on the phone screen. However, i never knew that in iPhone this can be done at a little bit advanced level. Anyways, in both cases, it would not be a perfect alternative for an app, other than that it has a desktop (phone screen) shortcut. A true app is generally more compatible to the phone and may have some additional features too.

- No back/forward buttons? You don't need, just swap your screen left or right to move back or forward

I really like this feature and wished I could try it out but for that i need to spend some dollars or bitcoins to buy an expensive iPhone  

[hugeblack]

Can you provide more screenshots? Those presented in the subject are blurry and none of them can be understood.
I think that the forum's only problem is zoom, so that if it is solved, the experience will be smoother for users, although I think that all current solutions will not provide much results.
Overall, thanks for your effort.

[Pmalek]

The biggest problems with posting on Bitcointalk from a mobile app is dealing with quotes and multiquotes. No mobile app can help me to select parts of someone's post, copy only that, delete the rest, quickly add code for hyperlinks, images, etc. The experience doesn't improve, but gets worse on the phone. Imagine trying to create a table on your phone. This is OK for general forum browsing and reading. Making the occasional post here and there, sure. But a phone is never going to become a substitute for a desktop device with a mouse.  

[shahzadafzal]

Can you provide more screenshots? Those presented in the subject are blurry and none of them can be understood.

Oops sorry but those blurs were intentional. Picture were big so I kept the unnecessary parts blur and put focus on the particular area in the image.

although I think that all current solutions will not provide much results.
Overall, thanks for your effort.

Actually this trick works perfectly if the website is designed to be responsive, that changes UX/UI based on the client. I have been using this trick with other apps like ChatGPT and multiple Facebook logins and it really feels like you are using a real app.

Having said that those who have multiple logins (Alts), will find the real power of this trick. Thank me later

[tranthidung]

It is more like a short cut to directly visit a website or a page and it is not a mobile app. Similarly to bookmark pages on browsers for desktop.

You shared a great tutorial to reduce unnecessary time to visit bitcointalk for members but I think the topic title is misleading. Rather than "Bitcointalk as a Mobile app - Trick for iOS/ iPhone", you can change it to "Bitcointalk shortcut for mobile on iOS/iPhone". It's just my 2 cents suggestion.

[virasog]

The biggest problems with posting on Bitcointalk from a mobile app is dealing with quotes and multiquotes. No mobile app can help me to select parts of someone's post, copy only that, delete the rest, quickly add code for hyperlinks, images, etc.  

There doesn't exist any official mobile app for bitcointalk yet and if any day, we have an official app, they will address this problem of muliti quoting over the mobile phone.
Currently we only have the option of using bitcointalk on the mobile browser or make a shortcut of it on the phone desktop as told by the OP. The experience from this function is very limited and therefore i only use phone browser for view-only purpose.

[cydrix]

I was expecting for an "app" but this is just a browser shortcut. I have been using this shortcut for a while now but on a lower software version 15.7(19h12). This saves me time when I open my device because I don't need to open safari and type the link but somehow annoys me cause everytime I open the shortcut it also open new tab.


This trick is available not just on IOS but also on Androids, just bookmark the link then add it to you home screen.

[Gladitorcomeback]

It works on iOS only since it uses Apple Shortcut Application to do so, which itself is a very powerful app if you are an Apple user.

Thanks For providing this 5 minute trick to make Apps from Website. I checked this in my Android Phone but it only available for Apple.
But don't worry I have find the website where you can easily make Android application from website with some basic tool like color,icon tools. It will take only 3-5 minute to create

Things Required:
1: Android Phones ( not checked on apple)
2: Gmail
3: Bitcointalk Logo ( Optional)
4: Disable Google Protect if on (because it will install the App outside from Playstore)

Now Let's Start:


1ST Step: Download the Logo given By Shahzad Afzal at the start:

https://i.imgur.com/0fPaJ29.png

2nd Step:
Now Goto Website in any browser but I will recommend Google Chrome. I checked in chrome and it worked fine for me
https://appsgeyser.com/create-website-app/

3rd Step:
Write Website Name in Blank Field like In below image I used " Bitcointalk.Org " and click on GET CONTENT.




Note: after clicking on Get content , Website will create Matching Template for your Website but you can choose by own also or you can forward without any template. Choose any Template. I did not change here anything and I kept it as default.



You can Change color and  App Layout



4th Step: Click On previous To watch out Look of App. If everything is Ok Click on Next



note: It will ask for Ads. Just select option " No monetization"

5th Step: Write Name of App and Select Custom Icon and Upload icon which we already downloaded and Then Click On Create:



6th Step: Now it will will ask for Sign up. Just sign up through Email and It will ask for Subscription but Don't worry it's free
Click On Yellow Color Arrow in the top bar



Congratulations your App has been Created. Now last step to Download App. Then click on link provided. You can share this link with any one to download and you will see how much time this App has been downloaded.



Final Look: Back and Other Menu Button working well

[libert19]

- No back/forward buttons? You don't need, just swap your screen left or right to move back or forward

I really like this feature and wished I could try it out but for that i need to spend some dollars or bitcoins to buy an expensive iPhone  

Not sure if I'm misunderstanding op, but that works on android browsers too (use add to homescreen option to have app kind of thing as op is pointing out - only difference is we can't change this 'app' icon yet).

As long you have visited the page prior, you can move back/forward similarly.

[Synchronice]

Don't get wrong with me but I don't understand what kind of relief can someone experience by following these steps and having a shortcut on the screen.
It's very easy, fast and efficient to open your web browser, just type b (for me) or bitc (for everyone) and open it. I have never really thought that this process could be annoying for someone.

https://jaybates19.github.io/bitcointalk/ <- This is the responsive version of bitcointalk with night mode feature. It's quite easy for admin to do some HTML/CSS manipulation, that includes for him to change tables with CSS grid and flexbox, change image version of gradients with CSS gradients and just some line of codes are enough along with dark color codes in CSS to have a night mode on this forum. I think that this could be a real deal.
By the way, the digital world is changing, user interface is evolving constantly and this forum that represents one of the most innovative thing of 21th century - cryptocurrencies, shouldn't have an user interface that was created decades ago.

[shahzadafzal]

Not sure if I'm misunderstanding op, but that works on android browsers too (use add to homescreen option to have app kind of thing as op is pointing out - only difference is we can't change this 'app' icon yet).

You are not wrong though but in this case your browser (window) is independent. It will have its own session and cookies and not affecting your existing browser logins. Also it runs on full screen and links will open in the same window.

For example when you merit Bitcointalk will open a new window but in this case you stay in the same app and you can simply swipe right to back to the post or topic you just merited.

Same goes to all the external links it will open like a popup and you just click done/close the popup and go back to your bitcointalk.

Yes it’s not a 100% mobile app. We all know this but I’m talking about my personal experience and I really like using this trick when I’m on mobile and gives a much better experience than a normal browser window.

As long you have visited the page prior, you can move back/forward similarly.

Well technically speaking in this case your backs/ forwards are unlimited and it will never go out of bitcointalk.

[Findingnemo]

The biggest problems with posting on Bitcointalk from a mobile app is dealing with quotes and multiquotes. No mobile app can help me to select parts of someone's post, copy only that, delete the rest, quickly add code for hyperlinks, images, etc. The experience doesn't improve, but gets worse on the phone. Imagine trying to create a table on your phone. This is OK for general forum browsing and reading. Making the occasional post here and there, sure. But a phone is never going to become a substitute for a desktop device with a mouse.  

That is a real pain and when you wanted to reply to a post but you are on your phone so can't be able to select and express what you actually wanted to express, I regretted many times while posting via phone for not selecting the actual content I want to reply and images too.

Screen size matters here because we can connect the Bluetooth keyboard and mouse on an android device with the help of gadgets still it will be difficult to select while comparing with the mouse on 15" or 22" laptop/desktop.

[UmerIdrees]

It is more like a short cut to directly visit a website or a page and it is not a mobile app. Similarly to bookmark pages on browsers for desktop.

A more effective way to do this is to use a free app generator like appsgeyser. Here you will just a URL of the website, in this case, bitcointalk.org, select and icon for the app and that's it. It will create an app for you that you can scan and download on your mobile.

Again remember, it's just a shortcut to the site and not a customized app.

https://appsgeyser.com/create-website-app/

[shahzadafzal]

A more effective way to do this is to use a free app generator like appsgeyser. Here you will just a URL of the website, in this case, bitcointalk.org, select and icon for the app and that's it. It will create an app for you that you can scan and download on your mobile.

Again remember, it's just a shortcut to the site and not a customized app.

https://appsgeyser.com/create-website-app/

appsgeyser will generate an APK and what's hidden inside that APK you will never know unless you decode and and inspect each APK you download from this site. So it's potentially very dangerous to run third party apps let alone apps outside of Google Play.

Anyway I will recommend don't use appsgeyser or at least don't login to your bitcointalk account from such apps (you can use it for viewing and reading as a Guest).

[NotATether]

The "make App from URL" shortcut is not visible for me, even though I got Apple Shortcuts. Could this be because I'm on iOS 12, or shortcuts have minimum iOS versions they work on?

Clicking the link just gives me a loading screen on the app.

[leonair]

The Bitcointalk forum is designed in a way that is very easy to browse.  So here I personally don't feel the need to use the mobile application. But since there is an opportunity to make your own application for btt, it will be a lot of fun to do it. But the screenshots you have shown will not create a full app, only the Bitcointalk link can be shortcut using a custom logo. Where if you visit  btt forum with a browser like google chrome via a mobile phone and make it ( add to home screen) it will work the same way but logo cannot be customized here. An example is given below as screenshot.

[AnonBitCoiner]

The "make App from URL" shortcut is not visible for me, even though I got Apple Shortcuts. Could this be because I'm on iOS 12, or shortcuts have minimum iOS versions they work on?

Clicking the link just gives me a loading screen on the app.

I think you have missed any step provided by OP. Have you checked to open app in safari browser? I didn't have a Apple so I have not checked and android APP working well here with me. Nothing changed in this app. Only thing is that it's opening page very fast and screen is according to phone display.

The Bitcointalk forum is designed in a way that is very easy to browse.  So here I personally don't feel the need to use the mobile application. But since there is an opportunity to make your own application for btt, it will be a lot of fun to do it. 

Yes I agree with you. No need if any Bitcointalk App because everything working well. Only thing we missed is Night mode. This feature has been added to latest browsers and we can use desired browser if we want night mode.

[shahzadafzal]

The "make App from URL" shortcut is not visible for me, even though I got Apple Shortcuts. Could this be because I'm on iOS 12, or shortcuts have minimum iOS versions they work on?

Clicking the link just gives me a loading screen on the app.

Can you please try this
https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/70b97fe93251412386b8eeb85c6f2904

If that doesn’t work please try this

https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/d18b423ea42d47fbb82a03d07156c747

Actually I deleted my shortcut from my mobile and it looks like the share link got expired too.

Please let me know which shortcut worked for you I will update in OP.

[NotATether]

The "make App from URL" shortcut is not visible for me, even though I got Apple Shortcuts. Could this be because I'm on iOS 12, or shortcuts have minimum iOS versions they work on?

Clicking the link just gives me a loading screen on the app.

Can you please try this
https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/70b97fe93251412386b8eeb85c6f2904

If that doesn’t work please try this

https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/d18b423ea42d47fbb82a03d07156c747

Actually I deleted my shortcut from my mobile and it looks like the share link got expired too.

Please let me know which shortcut worked for you I will update in OP.

Both links appear to show the "make app from URL" shortcut but I can't actually view anything from the app in both links because there's an infinite spinner. What iOS version are you using?