While you're waiting on a kbin app, you should know the mobile site is entirely functional as a mobile app. Just make a shortcut for your home screen

Apps are always nice, but lots of mobile websites, including the kbin one, are entirely functional as an app. In your browser you can just make a shortcut to them, and they'll appear on your home screen and act as an app.

In technical terms these are Progressive Web Apps, but it means you don't need to wait for someone to write an app (or kbin to have a good API for doing so) to use it like an app on your phone.

In Firefox it looks like this. Open the website, in the menu hit Install, drag the icon to your desktop. When you click on it it'll open the site like it's a standalone app.

Chrome is exactly the same, but the menu button is "Install App" instead.

Screenshot of kbin on Firefox, with the Install button. Then the kbin icon on the home screen. Then kbin opened from the shortcut
EmptyRadar,

Yep, used the Chrome "Install App" feature from day 1 and it's been my primary means of accessing KBin. Shoutout to whoever did the mobile CSS, it's not bad at all especially this early on.

Usernameblankface,
@Usernameblankface@kbin.social avatar

I've had this set up for a while. It's alright.

Some comments run off the right side of the screen, is there a setting that fixes this?

Jasontheguitarist,

The PWA made with Firefox does that for me, but making it with chrome doesn't.

JumpyGame,
@JumpyGame@kbin.social avatar

I tried a few different browser and Samsung Internet seems to work the best.

Usernameblankface,
@Usernameblankface@kbin.social avatar

I had the same issues with chrome. The only fix I've found is landscape mode

Rashnet,
@Rashnet@kbin.social avatar

Mine was doing that and I realized my font size setting in Android setting was set one size bigger than the middle mark. I moved it one tick to the left and it all fits now.

phazed09,
@phazed09@kbin.social avatar

It's fine, but not great. It works in a pinch, but it doesn't feel nearly as smooth/integrated as a native app.

Doosethemoose,

For me, my problem with it is that many times I click into s post and when I hit back, it scrolls to the bottom so I lose my place when using infinite scroll. Not sure if there is a fix for that

nostalgicgamerz,

Can’t pull up to refresh though

WeDoTheWeirdStuff,

It has a lot of display quirks though. Hopefully it improves

Rubric,

I’ve found the webpage-based nature of this site does work really well, but only really on Safari on iOS. Other browsers for iOS seem a bit buggy.

m3enzo,
@m3enzo@kbin.social avatar

With a few scripts, got my Kbin to looks like this: https://streamable.com/6tknlu

Although have to use it in browser.

FoxyWaffles42,

@JoeCoT
One thing to note, is that it completely ignores your phones rotation settings for android anyways. I have auto-rotate disabled globally on my Pixel, but it still rotates.

phazed09,
@phazed09@kbin.social avatar

It's fine, but not great. It works in a pinch, but it doesn't feel nearly as smooth/integrated as a native app.

quaddo,

It seems I'm the only one who seems to get logged out from one visit to the next...?

Even if I don't close my mobile browser/tab; if I've not been active on it for some hours (haven't yet worked out what the cutoff is), I find I have to login again.

Happens on both Firefox and Brave for Android.

Dickinson,

Happens to me too - I click the 'remember me' option but it never does. Hopefully a mobile app will be better.

sparemonkey,
@sparemonkey@kbin.social avatar

It happens to me, as well, on Safari for iPhone, even with the "remember" check box selected. Oddly enough, I have an account on a different Kbin server, and it keeps me logged in.

ZeroZeroOne,
@ZeroZeroOne@kbin.social avatar

I've been use the PWA for a while now and its fine. The only thing I really miss is is pull to refresh, but I found you can just use the hamburger menu at the top to refresh

rasterweb,
@rasterweb@kbin.social avatar

I've done this in Firefox on iOS but sadly the browser's back and forward arrows are not available and... I miss them!

somas,
@somas@kbin.social avatar

@rasterweb

@JoeCoT

The PWA works with mobile Safari and the swipe back/forward motion takes you back and forth. Try that with Firefox

24oulia,

ah yes, a accessible mobile website, not like some other platform...

rebul,

I'm using it with Brave, very pleased.

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