[App] Notifications for NovelUpdates

Discussion in 'Tech Discussion' started by inv3rse, Jul 16, 2017.

  1. inv3rse

    inv3rse Well-Known Member

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    Hey there.

    Because I found myself repeatedly refreshing my reading list to check for new chapters I made an android app for that.

    Features
    • Update Notifications
    • List Management
    • Reading Progress Update
    • Internal Reader with style options (including dark mode), ad blocker, etc (Settings > Open releases in > Internal Browser)
    • Multiple Themes

    NOTICE (01.05.19):
    The app is currently not available in the play store due to a DMCA claim from Qidian. While I consider my options to proceed forward you can download the latest version from the small website I quickly made here: https://novelupdates.inverse.cc/

    After logging in it will subscribe to novels on your reading list via Firebase Cloud Messaging. An application on my server is regularly checking for new chapters and pushes out notifications. That means your phone is not using any battery or bandwidth to repeatedly check for updates.

    Feedback is appreciated.

    Version 1.12:
    The app is now using a client side CloudFlare workaround instead of a server side one.

    Version 1.11:
    Updated the cloudflare bypass and session handling logic.
    The app now targets Android 10. Added a self update functionality.
    The links to random chapters should no longer appear for logged in users as I filter random chapter links that are hidden via css on the website.

    Version 1.10:
    The internal browser now comes with a special reader mode. If it has not been changed before, the reader is now used by default. Can be configured under Settings.
    Updated the parser to work with the latest search and ranking website updates.

    Version 1.9.4:
    Updated the cloudflare bypass logic.

    Version 1.9.3:
    Added transitions between screens.
    Try to keep the viewport stable when updating with update time sorting.

    Version 1.9.2:
    Recover the in app browser scroll position on restart.
    Add in app browser pull to refresh action and options menu link to external browser.

    Version 1.9.1:
    Smart fallback to the last chapter if the progress chapter does not exist anymore on the website.

    Version 1.9:
    Added and experimental in app chapter browser. Can be enabled via:
    Settings > Open releases in > Internal Browser
    It does not represent the final product, but already offers some advantages over the current solution.
    The release sorting option is now persisted for each novel.
    Release dates are formatted according to the device locale.

    Version 1.7:
    Basic reading list management features to add/remove novels from lists.
    It is now possible to search for novels and see the monthly ranking.

    Version 1.6:

    Added support for multiple lists. They will appear in the drawer, where you can also disable notifications on a per list basis.

    Version 1.4:
    It has been some time since I created the first version and I still have a lot of things on my todo list. Nonetheless there have already been some features added that I want to share.

    With the addition of a detail page it is now possible to use the app as a reader and track chapter progress. Some customization options have been added and the default notification behavior should be less annoying. The reading list has gotten a new design and will show the count of unread chapters as a badge.

    The first synchronization however will take a bit longer as there is more information written to the local db.
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2020
  2. Aizael

    Aizael Well-Known Member

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    ios never gets any love :oops:
     
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  3. MangoGuy

    MangoGuy Rambling Mango

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    This looks good...kinda similar to the way rss feeds work but with nu. Thumbs up~~
     
  4. Mr.Bush

    Mr.Bush 《First President》《Time traveller》《Hidden Pervert 》

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    T
    Thanks we owe you one but does it show Favorites novel update separately like the website
     
  5. Mr.Bush

    Mr.Bush 《First President》《Time traveller》《Hidden Pervert 》

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    And someone pit this to the homepage
     
  6. camanjj

    camanjj Active Member

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    There is one on iOS: search for NovelLoop (I'm the developer)

    Also, I think we had the same idea for apps @inv3rse
     
  7. Nyamsus

    Nyamsus Life is full of shit and we live in it

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    NU is my browser homepage...
    Whenever I open my browser, NU is the first thing I see after google
     
  8. Mr.Bush

    Mr.Bush 《First President》《Time traveller》《Hidden Pervert 》

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    Just checked it out , i was good but would be Aweasom if it could directly lead you to the page , Team up with Tony for that
     
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  9. noisypixy

    noisypixy Sacatunn que pen, que summum que tun.

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    Nice.

    A little warning: This community has an abnormal hate for mobile apps.

    If you want to avoid whiners ("you're stealing my credentials!") I'd recommend you to add support for offline subscriptions (as in stored locally, without login) or something like subscribing to a user's public reading list.

    Again, good job.
     
  10. Vorpal

    Vorpal Well-Known Member

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    Okuri Ookami and Mudassir like this.
  11. inv3rse

    inv3rse Well-Known Member

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    I am not sure what exactly you mean by favorites. The app will create notifications for all novels on your reading list. There is no separation between them.
     
  12. Mr.Bush

    Mr.Bush 《First President》《Time traveller》《Hidden Pervert 》

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    Well this comment was made before checking out the app
     
  13. Comfortabull

    Comfortabull Well-Known Member

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    *puts on tinfoil hat*
    While I adore the concept, I dislike it for the simple fact that it is a third party asking for my login credentials. IMO you should work with NU directly to have them make an official version through NU itself, or as others have stated, have an offline version available or read from public reading lists. That is my only complaint, because the app itself looks like exactly what has been missing from NU for mobile notifications.

    Sorry some of us take security somewhat seriously.
     
  14. inv3rse

    inv3rse Well-Known Member

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    The subscription to a public reading list is a nice idea. I might just implement it.
    I know everyone can simply say it, but the app is currently not saving the users password after login. After the login session becomes invalid (around 30 days or whenever the server decides to) you have to login again.
     
  15. henrywolf123

    henrywolf123 『<(-.-<) kriby master』

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    thanks for that I just downloaded your app!
     
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  16. Duwei

    Duwei Well-Known Member

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    Just tried the app , great idea thanks also really like that it shows the pictures instead of just names cuz sometimes i honestly only remember the pictures
     
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  17. noisypixy

    noisypixy Sacatunn que pen, que summum que tun.

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    Sure~

    I remind you NovelUpdates is being served over HTTP instead of HTTPS. This is out of pure laziness, because setting up Let's Encrypt takes only 5-10 minutes and it's completely free.

    There's also the fact that NU doesn't provide an API of any sort, so that means NU itself is forcing app creators like @inv3rse to use your own credentials.

    Want better and more secure alternatives? Ask for a better base first.
     
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  18. Mudassir

    Mudassir Well-Known Member

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  19. Comfortabull

    Comfortabull Well-Known Member

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    Two wrongs don't make a right. I can at least see what the situation with NU is, but I don't know anything about this third party asking for my login details, do I?
     
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  20. Skoll028

    Skoll028 Member of DivineDaoLibrary

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    How's your security? It'd kind of suck to log into your app to have my info get hacked. What security measures are you using?