What's your opinion on using Tapatalk?

[Kaynil]

I used to have Tapatalk in my forum. My memory is not great so while I can't remember exactly all the aggravations I know I became disenchanted with Tapatalk as a user and as a forum owner, so when we switched our forum software I didn't even consider Tapatalk.

Recently, one of my staff members asked me to bring the application back, and I feel uneasy because I am outdated. I don't know if the stuff that made them unreliable is something that has been fixed and now they have better practices and reputation nor I can recall clearly what were the security risks and other issues the company has raised.

So I thought it could be a good idea to ask what was the reputation Tapatalk has today.

• If you think Tapatalk is not worth it, I'd love to hear the details, even if it is past grievances, since I'd like to have a solid response to my staff for reasons not to install it.
• If you think Tapatalk is worth it, I want to hear too what has happened that has turned their reputation and is now considered a good option.

And this might be pushing it a bit to the skirt of the topic, but if there are better alternatives to Tapatalk you would recommend I would be really happy to hear them out. Thank you guys, for your help.

 

[iMage]

Isnt tapatalk just like a chat script or something? Why not use a Shoutbox right on your forum and give permissions to only certain usergroups instead? Would maintain people remaining on your website instead of a 3rd party. Never used Tapatalk myself though

 

[Azareal]

Isnt tapatalk just like a chat script or something? Why not use a Shoutbox right on your forum and give permissions to only certain usergroups instead? Would maintain people remaining on your website instead of a 3rd party. Never used Tapatalk myself though

It's a mobile app, if I recall. And I'm not sure it's a particularly good one either as you register on Tapatalk rather than on the forum.

 

[Katrina]

Christianity Haven uses Tapatalk. I don't know much about the security risks but I would say 1/3 of our active posters use Tapatalk. For a while last summer we were getting a lot of sign ups through it too because we were number one listed in Christian forums.

I don't use Tapatalk myself because I don't use my phone to log in. I'm home most days so I just use my laptop. I do know that Tapatalk can't see some of the things we have for our site. Those users don't really mind though because they're there for the conversations.

 

[simonweb]

I don't know, but by using Tapatalk (or similar services) your site will become reliant on something developed and maintained by third-party developers which you have no control over.

And Tapatalk seems like a privacy nightmare in a GDPR world: https://guardianapp.com/ios-app-location-report-sep2018.html

"The GuardianApp team has discovered that a growing number of iOS apps have been used to covertly collect precise location histories from tens of millions of mobile devices, using packaged code provided by data monetization firms. In many cases, the packaged tracking code may run at all times, constantly sending user GPS coordinates and other information.

In order to gain initial access to precise data from the mobile device’s GPS sensors, the apps usually present a plausible justification relevant to the app in the Location Services permission dialog, often with little or no mention of the fact that location data will be shared with third-party entities for purposes unrelated to app operation.

20. Tapatalk (com.quoord.Tapatalk)

Tapatalk is an app for iOS used as a mobile interface for many popular message boards such as AnandTech Forums, HowardForums.com, IGN Boards, iMore, MacRumors, and others. This app contains location tracking code from AreaMetrics and SafeGraph. The location tracking code is present as of the latest app version (7.2.8, released June 14, 2018).

This app previously contained location tracking by Cuebiq in version 7.1.6 (released February 13, 2018) although the code appears to have been removed in subsequent versions.

The justification pop up presented to users when requesting access to Location Services uses the following text: “Tapatalk uses your location to recommend relevant sites, content and more. See our privacy policy.”"

 

[Eussbig]

Tapatalk is just crap and not worth the effort whatsoever.

 

[Katrina]

Tapatalk is just crap and not worth the effort whatsoever.

What don't you like about it?

 

[Eussbig]

Tapatalk is just crap and not worth the effort whatsoever.

What don't you like about it?

Format.

 

[Katrina]

Tapatalk is just crap and not worth the effort whatsoever.

What don't you like about it?

Same! I prefer being on my laptop and seeing the full site at a glance.

 

[Eussbig]

Tapatalk is just crap and not worth the effort whatsoever.

What don't you like about it?

Same! I prefer being on my laptop and seeing the full site at a glance.

You replied to yourself.

 

[Katrina]

Tapatalk is just crap and not worth the effort whatsoever.

What don't you like about it?

Same! I prefer being on my laptop and seeing the full site at a glance.

You replied to yourself.

Yeah, that happens when other people are around in the house disrupting my train of thought. I mean to reply to what you said about Format.