How can we improve our mobile app notifications?

Good morning, everybody.

Our Mobile team at Faithlife is starting to investigate ways to improve notifications on iOS and Android. I know many of you use our iOS and Android apps, and I'd love to get any specific feedback you have on how we can make notifications better.

We'd be so grateful if you could help answer these questions:

What kind of notifications would you like to receive? Examples could include prayer reminders, reading plan reminders, or notifications about new features within the app.
How can we improve the current notification experience?
Do you have any apps where you love the notification experience? Which apps? What sets the experience apart?

Of course, you'll be able to decide which notifications that you'd like to receive when we do ship improvements.

Thanks!

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Virgil Buttram

Good morning, everybody.

Our Mobile team at Faithlife is starting to investigate ways to improve notifications on iOS and Android. I know many of you use our iOS and Android apps, and I'd love to get any specific feedback you have on how we can make notifications better.

We'd be so grateful if you could help answer these questions:

What kind of notifications would you like to receive? Examples could include prayer reminders, reading plan reminders, or notifications about new features within the app.

How can we improve the current notification experience?

Do you have any apps where you love the notification experience? Which apps? What sets the experience apart?

Of course, you'll be able to decide which notifications that you'd like to receive when we do ship improvements.

Thanks!

"What is new about this update?" is always a relevant question. Make the answer obviously available. Pursuant to that:

1. Notifications of new features, definitely.

2. Changelog on updates. Even if it is just a link to the changelog here, though a local copy on the mobile device would be better.

DMB

Well, Daniel, I'm truly mist-ified.

- Why in the general forum, vs the mobiles forums?

- Update contents already show in the app's update area

- Are you looking for a problem for your solution?

- What happened to Kevin sending everyone to UserVoice?

I have maybe 150 apps and not a single one has notifications turned on. Only badges.

The only notification I would be interested in would be a "verse of the day".

Bruce Dunning

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/863196#Comment_863196

More and more I'm opting out of notifications for all of my apps but it would be nice to have the option to opt in to only new features and major changes. I just find when I chose notifications for most apps that I'm inundated with them.

PetahChristian

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/863208#Comment_863208

More and more I'm opting out of notifications for all of my apps but it would be nice to have the option to opt in to only new features and major changes. I just find when I chose notifications for most apps that I'm inundated with them.

Ditto. I get enough notifications during the day from a few apps that are important enough to enable. Most notifications tend to be disruptive; I don't need more interruptions to unnecessarily look at my phone.

For an app like Logos, I'd rather find out about something when I open the app, rather than during the day while I'm working on other things.

Liam

A toggle option in settings for each type of notification would be great! Prayer and reading plan notifications would be most welcome! Also, integration of a memorization feature with notifications would be excellent!

It might not be your department, but I would love to be able to customize many more of the features of the app (in particular the visual layout of the text, i.e. Color, line spacing, margins). An app like Marvin does this extremely well, so well, that I export most of my Logos reading to Marvin. I want Logos to be my #1 app, I would rather use it; it's just so inferior to Marvin or Kindle that I use them instead.

Kevin Byford (Faithlife)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/863225#Comment_863225

Also, integration of a memorization feature

There is an existing suggestion for this here; please vote.

Matthew

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/863230#Comment_863230

I would like to offer suggestions about improving mobile app notifications, but I don't really view this as a problem that needs solved. I am happy with the app letting me know if downloads succeeded or failed, but beyond that I would just repeat what others have said. Most of us have too many notifications as it is and tend to turn them off whenever possible. All I would ask is that if a significant number of notifications are added, please let them be disabled by default so we opt-in rather than opting out.

Bruce Roth

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/863262#Comment_863262

As a rule I don't use notifications; maybe in only a couple of apps. I don't like to have things pushed to me. Maybe it is me, but I check for things probably more so than others, so I don't see a huge need to have items pushed to me. It is more of a bother.

Sean

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/863262#Comment_863262

I would like to offer suggestions about improving mobile app notifications, but I don't really view this as a problem that needs solved. I am happy with the app letting me know if downloads succeeded or failed, but beyond that I would just repeat what others have said. Most of us have too many notifications as it is and tend to turn them off whenever possible. All I would ask is that if a significant number of notifications are added, please let them be disabled by default so we opt-in rather than opting out.

Exactly this.

Jan Krohn

I'd enjoy a notification like "new books ready for download". Sometimes resources don't become available on mobile apps instantly, and it would be good just to know once they arrive. That'd spare me from checking multiple times.

Fr Devin Roza

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/863262#Comment_863262

I don't really view this as a problem that needs solved

[Y]

There are so many basic core features in the app that could use serious improvements that I was a bit disappointed to read notifications is seen as a priority.

Matthew

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/863299#Comment_863299

There is an existing suggestion for this here; please vote.

Kevin, thank you (and Faithlife) for giving users a voice in the development of the software. Many developers do not do this, and you certainly are not obligated to do so, either. I understand that this is still not a democracy and Faithlife has its own needs that have to be met in the interest of the company (and in turn the users). Perhaps this is one of those times, and perhaps Faithlife has something really awesome up their sleeve. That said, if this is not one of those times, please consider what users have voted for and reconsider your prioritization of resources. I just searched the mobile apps User Voice page for "notification" and got two results.

1. "Use notifications to help remind user of devotions or readings they have going on through the app. Have it set up so the user can have the app send notifications to the locked screen." This currently has 9 votes and a response with the status of "started" from July 15, 2015. https://logosmobile.uservoice.com/forums/190765-logos-mobile-apps/suggestions/7169485-reading-plan

2. "Push notifications for community notes on iOS." This suggestion was made August 4, 2015 and currently only has one vote. https://logosmobile.uservoice.com/forums/190765-logos-mobile-apps/suggestions/9165760-push-notifications-for-community-notes-on-ios

By way of contrast, the idea of "simple offline guides and lookups" currently has 521 votes. https://logosmobile.uservoice.com/forums/190765-logos-mobile-apps/suggestions/3613782-simple-offline-guides-and-lookups

EDIT: Thank you for the consideration, and thank you for Faithlife's continued commitment to developing these apps at no direct cost of users.

Mark Barnes

I don't want notifications of new features. That's what release notes are for — or if the feature is important, a message can be shown when you open the app.

Personally, I would like the Reading Plan reminders to be more intelligent. Rather than just having a generic "Don't forget your reading" at a fixed time, I would like the notifications to be tied to a particular Reading Plan, to do three things:

Only notify me on days when I'm supposed to be reading from that plan.
Remind me what the reading is for that day, and whether I'm on schedule.
Allow me to be notified about different reading plans at different times of the day.

James McAdams

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/863309#Comment_863309

I don't want notifications of new features. That's what release notes are for — or if the feature is important, a message can be shown when you open the app.

Personally, I would like the Reading Plan reminders to be more intelligent. Rather than just having a generic "Don't forget your reading" at a fixed time, I would like the notifications to be tied to a particular Reading Plan, to do three things:

Only notify me on days when I'm supposed to be reading from that plan.

Remind me what the reading is for that day, and whether I'm on schedule.

Allow me to be notified about different reading plans at different times of the day.

Amen to those three. The other thing I'd want is to make it possible to open the relevant reading from the notification.

Beyond that, I think it would be nice to set reminders for each prayer-list. I doubt I'd have them turned on while I have reading plans on the go but it'd be nice to know it's there as an option, and if my routines change I probably would use it.

While I'd never have it turned on, I think adding a verse of the day would be popular.

Beyond those, I can't think of any that I'd want that wouldn't be better suited to settings for behaviour on opening the app or menu choices - update notes in help/at startup.

But as everyone else has said, notifications are a low priority compared to the more urgent long-standing requests.

Allen Browne

Of course, you'll be able to decide which notifications that you'd like to receive

Whew. So glad to see that line at the bottom. I don't want notifications from my apps.

Don Awalt

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/863322#Comment_863322

It sounds to me like more people with mobile devices would prefer FL supporting personal books on mobile than adding notifications. I would vote for that, I don't have any interest in notifications - it's not that kind of app for me. I realize we have been told that would never be implemented though.

I only use notifications on news-type apps and text messages. There is nothing that timely in the FL apps that I need a notification for.

Justin Gatlin

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/863274#Comment_863274

I'd enjoy a notification like "new books ready for download". Sometimes resources don't become available on mobile apps instantly, and it would be good just to know once they arrive. That'd spare me from checking multiple times.

Do you really want to know every time a book you own becomes available on Mobile? That seems like a nightmare.

New feature notifications are something I would not be interested in, but I assume the thinking is that they would remind people they have the app.

Reading plan and prayer request notifications are the only two kinds which really seem to make sense with what the app is for.

Kevin Byford (Faithlife)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/863299#Comment_863299

There are so many basic core features in the app that could use serious improvements that I was a bit disappointed to read notifications is seen as a priority.

Please create a new post explaining which features you believe need serious improvements and how we should improve them.

Daniel Di Bartolo

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/863309#Comment_863309

I don't want notifications of new features. That's what release notes are for — or if the feature is important, a message can be shown when you open the app.

Personally, I would like the Reading Plan reminders to be more intelligent. Rather than just having a generic "Don't forget your reading" at a fixed time, I would like the notifications to be tied to a particular Reading Plan, to do three things:

Only notify me on days when I'm supposed to be reading from that plan.

Remind me what the reading is for that day, and whether I'm on schedule.

Allow me to be notified about different reading plans at different times of the day.

Hey Mark, thanks for your specific feedback. More intelligent reading plan notifications are at the top of our list when it comes to notification improvements.

Kevin Byford (Faithlife)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/863307#Comment_863307

There is an existing suggestion for this here; please vote.

Kevin, thank you (and Faithlife) for giving users a voice in the development of the software. Many developers do not do this, and you certainly are not obligated to do so, either. I understand that this is still not a democracy and Faithlife has its own needs that have to be met in the interest of the company (and in turn the users). Perhaps this is one of those times, and perhaps Faithlife has something really awesome up their sleeve. That said, if this is not one of those times, please consider what users have voted for and reconsider your prioritization of resources. I just searched the mobile apps User Voice page for "notification" and got two results.

1. "Use notifications to help remind user of devotions or readings they have going on through the app. Have it set up so the user can have the app send notifications to the locked screen." This currently has 9 votes and a response with the status of "started" from July 15, 2015. https://logosmobile.uservoice.com/forums/190765-logos-mobile-apps/suggestions/7169485-reading-plan

2. "Push notifications for community notes on iOS." This suggestion was made August 4, 2015 and currently only has one vote. https://logosmobile.uservoice.com/forums/190765-logos-mobile-apps/suggestions/9165760-push-notifications-for-community-notes-on-ios

By way of contrast, the idea of "simple offline guides and lookups" currently has 521 votes. https://logosmobile.uservoice.com/forums/190765-logos-mobile-apps/suggestions/3613782-simple-offline-guides-and-lookups

EDIT: Thank you for the consideration, and thank you for Faithlife's continued commitment to developing these apps at no direct cost of users.

Thanks for the reply.

However, this thread is about notifications and not UserVoice suggestions. I don't set the priorities for which features get added and when. Some features might take a day or two to code, but others might require a fundamental rewrite that takes months. It all boils down to cost vs. benefit. If we spend an entire year's mobile budget on a feature that only a few dozen people would find useful, that doesn't make business sense.

Kevin Byford (Faithlife)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/863339#Comment_863339

It sounds to me like more people with mobile devices would prefer FL supporting personal books on mobile than adding notifications. I would vote for that, I don't have any interest in notifications - it's not that kind of app for me. I realize we have been told that would never be implemented though.

Please try to keep this thread on topic. Syncing of personal books to mobile is not planned.

Don Awalt

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/863385#Comment_863385

It sounds to me like more people with mobile devices would prefer FL supporting personal books on mobile than adding notifications. I would vote for that, I don't have any interest in notifications - it's not that kind of app for me. I realize we have been told that would never be implemented though.

Please try to keep this thread on topic. Syncing of personal books to mobile is not planned.

Sorry - my feedback -

What kind of notifications would you like to receive? NONE
Do you have any apps where you love the notification experience? Which apps? What sets the experience apart? theScore, Weather, CNN, Fox News, my credit card apps - what sets them apart is that it they provide timely notifications that are rather important for me to know right away. I don't view any of the FL mobile apps in this way, I think it would be a waste of resource to implement this.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/863385#Comment_863385

Kevin ... your credibility is shot. Yesterday I had to take Noet out of memory and restart ... highlighting stopped working. I'm not even interested in downloading resources Logos shipped this week ... the mobile app is just too headachy trying to find a recently purchased resource.

Bob requested we keep the complaints on the forum. I regard your replies here as agreement to begin eval'ing the app on iTunes, complete with its failings. This is getting silly.

And again, no reply needed.

Kevin Byford (Faithlife)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/863454#Comment_863454

Kevin ... your credibility is shot. Yesterday I had to take Noet out of memory and restart ... highlighting stopped working. I'm not even interested in downloading resources Logos shipped this week ... the mobile app is just too headachy trying to find a recently purchased resource.

Bob requested we keep the complaints on the forum. I regard your replies here as agreement to begin eval'ing the app on iTunes, complete with its failings. This is getting silly.

And again, no reply needed.

Thanks Denise,

Please create a separate post for each issue.

Marc Brule

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/863350#Comment_863350

I agree. Reading plans would help, especially for morning and evening reading.

Prayer notifications would be especially helpful when there is a crisis to be tracked and busyness distracts from the need to pray.

My two cents.

Dr. Ken

Ok one thing I'd like to see is the ability to copy and paste from within footbotes.

Secondly, I find it difficult in Android to make proper selections. The whole experience still needs vast improvement. I find it very difficult to grab text. Also if the text goes beyond the limits of the screen, there is no way to continue to grab additional text without losing what has already been selected.

Thirdly, synchronization is terrible. If I stop in a place in a selected resource, often when I return, the resource opens to a preceding place I read many days bacc repeatedly. I'm forever forced to each time find my current position manually.

Dr. Ken

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/978395#Comment_978395

Also, the ability to be able to add a clipping directly from footnote!

Dave Hooton

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/863381#Comment_863381

There are so many basic core features in the app that could use serious improvements that I was a bit disappointed to read notifications is seen as a priority.

Please create a new post explaining which features you believe need serious improvements and how we should improve them.

There are many suggestions/bugs in the Mobile Apps forums (inc. Beta) since v.6 was released. Search is top of my list.

Notifications is not on my list.

BillS

What kind of notifications would you like to receive? Examples could include prayer reminders, reading plan reminders, or notifications about new features within the app.

How can we improve the current notification experience?

Do you have any apps where you love the notification experience? Which apps? What sets the experience apart?

What kind? None. Email is the only mobile notification I permit. I restrict the ability of all other apps to notify at all.
If you implement notifications, make sure we can choose which ones we want (for me, that means opt out).
I don't love the notification experience at all. I don't like being this "wired" or "connected." But I do need some notifications.

That said, IMO on my mobile devices performance is the biggest issue. I did create a separate thread. It hasn't been acknowledged.
https://community.logos.com/forums/t/168624.aspx