MNHQ: Our new mobile apps are out now!

[AmeliaPMumsnet]

Hi all,

The new version of our mobile app is now available on Android and will be available on iOS over the next couple of days. All users will be logged out when the update happens and will need to log in again to access the new app. You can continue to use the current app if your device doesn’t automatically update (some do), but we’ll be stopping support for this version at the end of the month, so we’d recommend downloading the new version from the App store.

We know this has been a long time coming for some, and we really appreciate your patience. Thank you to everyone who has been part of the beta testing group, your input has been invaluable. This is very much a first release that won’t include everything we want to include just yet. But we’re going to be making ongoing improvements, and we’ll continue listening to your feedback to shape future updates.

What’s new?
Here’s what you can look forward to in the new app:

• Nested quoting – You can now quote a post that already contains a quote—just like on the website—making it easier to keep up with discussions.
• AIBU? polls – You can now vote on AIBU? polls and even create your own.
• Thanks – Show your appreciation for helpful posts by thanking other users. You’ll also be able to see when someone thanks you!
• Edit your posts – You can now edit your posts from the app without heading to the website.
• See all posts by the OP – Android users can now filter posts to only see replies from the original poster, making it easier to follow their updates in a thread.
• Follow topics – Curate your own personalised feed by following your favourite topics, so you can easily find the discussions that matter most to you.
• More images – You can now upload more images in a single post than before, making it easier to share moments and information.
• GIFs – Sometimes words aren’t enough—now you can post GIFs to react, express yourself, or just add some fun to conversations!

What’s coming next?
We know there’s still work to do. Some features you’ve asked for aren’t in this first version, but that doesn’t mean we’re ignoring them. Here’s what we’re already working on for future updates:

• Links via emails – Email links will currently open in your browser to start with but we are investigating forcing them to open in the app.
• Dark mode – A long-requested feature! We’re working on bringing dark mode to the app for a more comfortable viewing experience, especially at night.
• More reactions – Right now, you can thank posts, but we’re planning to introduce more reaction options so they match what’s available on the website.
• Better push notifications – We’re making push notifications more useful and adding different types of alerts, so it’s easier to stay updated on the things you care about most.
• Notifications centre – We’ll be introducing a dedicated notifications hub in the app, making it easier to catch up on all your notifications in one place.
• PMs – We know many of you have asked for PMs to be included in the app. This is on our radar, but it will take some time to get right. We’ll keep you updated on our plans!

Let us know what you think - your input really helps to fix any initial glitches and help us keep improving. And thanks again for sticking with us - we can’t wait for you to try the new app! 💜

I don’t like the “flip” function, it’s clunky and doesn’t work as well with the “filter by OP” and the bookmark functions.

otherwise the changes seem minimal (I’m a low needs user).

Love the new look and being able to vote on aibu

Also not a fan, although I accept I'm old and grumpy and don't like change.

I agree with others - I much prefer swiping (a standard UI on smartphones) for things like bookmarks. As well as it being harder to tap on the tiny three dots, I'm left handed - I can't tap the three dots without having to switch hands and then use my less accurate right hand for the dots - this is very irritating as bookmarking is my preferred way of keeping track of threads (and incidentally, the approach often recommended in site stuff when people complain about changes to the site/app),

I find the bold text on the list of threads annoyingly in-your-face - there's no need to emphasise every single thread title like that.

I also like to switch between active, threads I'm watching/ion and specific topics - these used to stay at the last post viewed so I could switch between posts but now they revert to the content - can we please preserve the state?

I could probably learn to live with all these inconveniences if I had to. But there's one thing that is going to drive me to insane - the faux cheery exclamation mark at the end of a thread 'That's all for now!'. This is not Looney Tunes. Vipers don't do cheery exclamation marks unless they're passive aggressive. Please, please, please reconsider the exclamation mark before I stab someone...

@AmeliaPMumsnetif it is now set, and you had a test group. Why were basic things like flip thread and jumping screen across bottom removed. Also the flip OP posts.

people who tested are on here and this all seems to be new.

Using the new IOS app now. It’s sooo much better!!

I’m loving it thankyou, it does everything I need now!

I don’t like that I can’t report an obvious spam thread without opening it.

could have written this

100% this, i dont mimd the funtions, but the look is jist super annoying, it hurts my eyes

Like other users, I find the new flip -leaving the OP at the top - really annoying. Also there’s now way too much spacing between paragraphs - looks worse than before. On old app, I really liked the swipe right on a post then quickly select to see all the OP posts. New method seems more clunky but maybe I just need to get used to being precise with hitting the three dots and then the (again very spaced out) menu.

The flip thing is driving me nuts. It somehow seems to remain on newest first for new threads you’re opening but other times not. You’re left quite confused unless you automatically check which way you’re reading it

I much preferred watched topics being easily found at the bottom rather than top left menu

Totally agree with all of this. For some reason it’s much harder to read/ follow the conversation of the thread. I think the way it used to be laid out was very easy on the eye.

if we could just have the new skills with the old look it would be perfect

I’ve just flipped this thread, saw the OP, and scrolled tight to the beginning even though I knew I’d just flipped it. 🤯 It’s driving me insane that it’s there at the end.

I’ve been using it a few days now and it’s certainly helped cut down on my Mumsnet addiction! I’m on IOS, ipad. The flipping is tedious, so I don’t bother checking in on long running threads that I’d usually take a look at if there was something new. And the hide thread feature is terrible. You have to be so precise to hit the ‘hide’,as well as reaching across to the other side of the ipad (I’m right handed, but I’ve seen PP is left-handed and it doesn’t suit her either).

That is my main bugbear, I’m not really bothered by the rest of it, but I like the option of being able to watch a thread and go back to where I last read a post without having to bookmark it, or even just being able to turn the thread from oldest to newest without having to click twice rather than just once. The old app was much better for that. Also, I didn’t ask to update to the new app, it just suddenly happened on my iphone.

Yep, the flipping is driving me crazy. Why is it asking which I want to show first (oldest or newest). I just want to flip it (and also not see the OP).

Yes, that’s what I meant to say but you are much more succinct than I am, thank you!

Getting used to it. 1)The flipping and also 2)op repeat is crap. 3) Plus my massive text on i phone hasn't been resolved. Hoping it's resolved in time.

Hello, I like the new app, so thank you. Am least tech savvy person on the planet, so can someone tell me how to do italics or bold?

Same!

You should see some icons below where you type in. Click the Aa one and then you get a choice of styles which should be applied to what you type next. Selecting a word gives me a context menu with standard tools including format so try that too.

I think the writing was framed within clear boxes. And the font and text size just worked better. You could read more and more easily whilst scrolling the thread

TO BE POSITIVE - being able to respond, vote and edit are massive helps.

but I’m not bothering to come and check threads as much at all. Which is good for the addiction. Not so much the conversation

I too am finding it just generally harder to read, just unpleasant, which is a shame. Too bright, font is different, looks totally different.

@ErrolTheDragon thank you

I’m another one who doesn’t like the OP being quoted at the end as well as beginning when I flip. How many times do I need to read the OP?
Also I have lost the ability to copy and paste part of a post I want to quote. Often don’t want to quote a whole lengthy post just to pick up on one bit. Is there a way still to do this?