DESCRIBE INTERACTIVE MEDIA PRODUCTS
Game: Clash Royal
What is the purpose of the product?
Clash Royal is a free to play, mobile, strategy game developed and published by SuperCell. The game combines elements from collectable card game tower defence game, and multiplayer online battle arena.
The purpose of the game is to collect cards to get a better army and battle them. You can get cards form buying them from the store with in-game money or real money. You can also trade with friends and clan mates. The main way to get cards is to win them in the arena. When you win a battle you are given a chest which takes time to open and cards are inside.
The arena is the main focus of the game. It is where you battle your own cards agains random players and friends.
Clash Royal is a free to play, mobile, strategy game developed and published by SuperCell. The game combines elements from collectable card game tower defence game, and multiplayer online battle arena.
The purpose of the game is to collect cards to get a better army and battle them. You can get cards form buying them from the store with in-game money or real money. You can also trade with friends and clan mates. The main way to get cards is to win them in the arena. When you win a battle you are given a chest which takes time to open and cards are inside.
The arena is the main focus of the game. It is where you battle your own cards agains random players and friends.
Platforms this product is available on and your preference?
Clash Royal is only available on IOS and Android devices and it isn't possible to play it on a laptop or any form of computer. The developers are trying to get this app onto computer devices but at the moment it isn't available. My preference would be used on an IOS device, this is because the IOS devices have a nicer appearance to me, and the screen makes the cartoon graphics look really appealing. Also I believe that the app is better optimised for IOS devices. This is because I have played the game on both operating systems and runs at a higher frame rate and lags less. I also feel like this won't be very effective on a computer device, simply because the game is designed to be portable and on a specific screen resolution. Although it will run better on a computer it wont be as effective. |
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What is the design components and layout and your experience of it?
There are many aspects of design components and layout used within the Clash Royal App. Design Components: The design uses many different buttons, fonts, animations and interactive features. The buttons all have small but effective animations when pressed, for example when you press the chest button the chest begins to open. They also are highlighted when it notifies you about its feature. There are also Badge Notifications for things like the chat room (the notification has numbers within it to tell you how many new notifications there are). The fonts are the same throughout the app, so this means that the fonts were created for the app. There are many animations throughout the app (example - in the shop section there is a goblin swinging a pocket watch). Other interactive features include text chat, this is used in a chat room. Another interactive feature is linking the app to websites, this is done in a few ways. For example, when an update comes out, they post a link to a YouTube video describing the update. Layout: There is a simple layout used within this app. It uses a basic menu at the bottom of the screen. This is so it is similar to other apps and the user can use the app with minimal learning. When you use the different pages, you can either use the menu at the bottom or slide between them. This makes it easier for the user as they can chose which is easier for them. The deck/card page is right next to the battle page, this is done as it makes it quicker for the user to alter the deck quickly before they do a battle. |
What are the interactive features of the product and what’s your experience of them like?
There were many different interactive features which were well executed and give a great experience. Some of the forms of interaction used are buttons, text and links. The buttons were very satisfying because most of them had their own little animations to go with the buttons. These defer from highlighting to images moving. Also, once the button was pressed, there is pleasurable transition between pressing and going to the feature. There is a chat room within the app, this is to communicate between your clan and request battles and cards. This is to live real players, you can use text, emoji's or press buttons within this section to request a clan battle (a friendly battle between you and a member of the clan), or you can request for cards to add to your collection. The links can take you to other apps which you have installed or your default browser. For example, if the app has an update, there will be a video on the 'Clash Royal' YouTube channel which sums up the update. The link will take you directly to the YouTube app amusing that you have it installed. If you don't then it will take you to your default browser where you can watch the video. |
Are there any Benefits of the interactive product?
There are a few different benefits to this app. The first benefit is that it provides you with quick entertainment, you can use this app anywhere (as long as you have internet). But, this game can ever be played for five minuets or it can be played all day long. Another benefit is that its a game which you can play with your friends. The game connects through your Facebook account and you are able to play with anyone. Also, you and your friends can create a clan and challenge each other and play 2 v 2 with each other. Another benefit is that it is free to play. You do not need any money to play the game and there aren't any adverts within the app, this gives a great user experience and makes the app better. However, you can also spend your own money on cards, and chests to give you a slight advantage, but this isn't necessary. |
The limitations of the interactive product?
There are a few limitations to the app, for example you cannot play against your friends unless you connect your Clash Royal account to your Facebook account. This is a limitation because not everyone has a FaceBook account, and also you would need a strong internet connection or it will be slow and laggy when playing with friends. Also you have to have an internet connection to play the game, this is because Clash Royal is a server based game. This means that all information is backed up to a server and not the users device. This is helpful because it means the app will take up less storage and you can also access your own personal data on different devices. But, it does mean that you can only play the game if you use Mobile Data, or use a WI-FI connection. Your internet connection needs to be strong or it is really difficult to play. If your connection is slow the game stops working for you but your opponent can still play. Which means the automatically win because you wont be able to defend. |
The effectiveness of the interactive product? The interactive product is extremely effective, this is because the app has many different interactive features and benefits of the app. The app is effective because it provides a form of escapism to the user, this is because it uses an imaginary universe and features which can't replicated within real life. Also, this app allows them to do this free of charge, because to have a form of escapism you would typically go to the cinema or pay for a game. It also allows the user to play with friends and show off their stats through a leader board system. It also provides links to other apps which enhance the Clash Royal universe across a multi-platform experience. |
Are there any legal and ethical issues of the interactive product?
Their is a potential for legal or ethical issues, this is because there is a text chat section which links your account with the rest of the world. Also there is a paying feature which uses personal information. This could develop into a legal issue as if someone else can access it then it goes against the personal information act. However, the app has been tested and regulated by PEGI (Pan European Game Information) and this means that there aren't any legal or ethical issues within this app. This is because all text form users that contain rude or explicit/derogatory words get blurred out. There aren't any pictures that aren't hand drawn by Super Cell themselves so copyright wont be an issue. They have also gone through PEGI so it is regulated as well. |
Clash Royal App:
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Social Networking: Instagram
What is the purpose of the product? Instagram is a mobile photo-sharing application which allows the user to upload and share images/videos either publicly or privately on their service. The user is free to upload any type of image or video file for the world to see as long as it follows the terms and conditions and the community guidelines. Within the app you can edit and alter the images/videos to make them look however you want. You can also see what other people have posted by looking in your feed, which shows all of your followers posts. You can also share the images/videos to other forms of social media platforms and embed them onto websites. |
Platforms this product is available on and your preference? Instagram is available to use on multiple platforms, however there are some limitations for some of these platforms. The app was launched in 2010 as a mobile app and it was exclusive for IOS devices (Apple). In 2012 the Android version was released. These are now the main platforms which people use the Instagram app, but now the app is available on the Windows store for PC's and Web Browsers. However, the computer based platforms are not able to upload images or use the Instagram stories feature. |
What is the design components and layout and your experience of it?
Instagram is very easy to use as the layout is very simple. For example the home page only contains post and nothing else. There isn't a clutter of advertising and stuff which will distract you from the posts. Your account also follows this theme as you can only see your posts and your followers. My experience of this is that it is very easy to use the layout is very simplistic. The buttons are simple and there is little animation which will distract you form what it is you are meant to be doing. The colours used for Instagram are very simplistic, the colours are white, light blue and a hint of black. The font is basic and easy to read. |
What are the interactive features of the product and what’s your experience of them like? There are many interactive features within Instagram, for example you can share photos and videos, so this means you can edit and then caption whatever you want and completely personalise it. My experience of this is very good as it lets you what every you want and whenever you want, so your followers can know what you are up to. Another interactive feature would be the search section which shows you what is trending right now and also suggested posts because of what you are already following. You can also comment and like people posts and interact with other people who like the posts. The experience is very fluent and satisfying as it will find the thins which you are searching for. |
Are there any Benefits of the interactive product?
There are a few different benefits to to Instagram App. The first benefit is that it provides you with quick internment, you can use this app where ever you want to (providing that you have internet connection). However, the app is slightly addicting as many people find that they spend hours going through the search feature. Another benefit to the app is that it can be used to connect with friends. You can follow all of your friends and see what they have posted. They can also see what you have posted, and you are able to share your photos through other social media platforms to enhance your experience. The app is also good for business. For example, a business can create profile about their business and then people can share it if they are interested. Also, people can get sponsorships to post pictures of themselves using a companies product within one of their posts. |
The limitations of the interactive product? There are a few limitations to Instagram, for example you are not able to use the app unless you have a internet connection. This is because the app is server based and not hosted locally, this means that the images aren't stored locally on the users device but in an Instagram server room. However, this makes the app better as the app isn't constantly downloading photos and taking up loads of device storage. Another limitation is that there is a limitation to how long a video is which can be uploaded. This will automaticaly cut these are the fact that you can't share a video which is longer than one minute. Also, you can not post pictures over a certain resolution. This is probably so the servers don't overload. |
The effectiveness of the interactive product?
The Instagram app is very effective as an interactive product, this is because it has many different interactive features and benefits to the app. The app is effective because it allows the user to communicate to a wide audience in a few buttons. Also, this app is free of charge, which means you can post as many Photos and Videos as you want without any form of limitation. This app is also effective because it is one of the most widely used social media platforms and has gain a huge popularity. Celebrities, businesses and personal users all interact with each other on this platform and this makes it one of the best interactive product there is. The app allows the user to connect with friends and strangers, and inform people about your life and what you are doing. The interactive features such as the camera and the buttons are really effective because they are integrated into the app and are tried and test to ensure that they work. You can also share images and videos on other apps and websites which overall improves this multi-platform application. |
Are there any legal and ethical issues of the interactive product? There are a few potential legal and ethical issues with this interactive product. The first issue is anyone can upload anything onto the site, it is hard to monitor every single post so sometimes people abuse this and upload content which isn't allowed. So, Instagram rely on other users to report accounts and posts to prevent issues like this from happening. Another legal and ethical issue which could arise is in the comment sections. These are view-able by the entire world of Instagram, and can also be used by them. So anyone has the ability to write anything that they want in a comment section of a post, this could lead to many issues such as discrimination. Instagram allows users to report and block comments made on posts as well as having a censorship to these comments. This means when you post a message, the software detects certain words which aren't allowed on the platform and prevents you from posting that message. |
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Marketing: Supreme
What is the purpose of the product?
"Supreme is a skateboarding shop and clothing brand established in New York City in April 1994." They created an as a way to sell their products online, saving their customers from having to visit their shops. Twice a year they have a season drop where they release new clothes every week untill the end of the season. These seasons are SS (Spring/Summer) and FW (Fall/Winter) and these have the year on the end of it (example - SS17 - Spring/Summer 2017). As all of the release are very limited, there is a creation of Hype which meaning their clothes sell out quickly. This is why they created the app so people have a more fair opportunity to get the clothes they want.
"Supreme is a skateboarding shop and clothing brand established in New York City in April 1994." They created an as a way to sell their products online, saving their customers from having to visit their shops. Twice a year they have a season drop where they release new clothes every week untill the end of the season. These seasons are SS (Spring/Summer) and FW (Fall/Winter) and these have the year on the end of it (example - SS17 - Spring/Summer 2017). As all of the release are very limited, there is a creation of Hype which meaning their clothes sell out quickly. This is why they created the app so people have a more fair opportunity to get the clothes they want.
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Platforms this product is available on and your preference? The Supreme app is only available on IOS devices and as an online website. These are iPhones, iPods and Ipads, this is because this platform as it is good for the user because it is simple and easy to use. It also has a large user base so many people can download the app. Apple stated in 2015 that apple had sold over 700 million iPhones, which means the app can be used by a wide audience. I personally prefer the website as it isn't just the supreme shop.They have different features which aren't included on the app. These are videos, news and links to their social media. It is also laid out better and easier to use on the website. |
What is the design components and layout and your experience of it?
There are many aspects of design components and layout used within the Supreme App. Design Components: The design uses many different buttons, fonts, and interactive features. The buttons all have small but effective animations when pressed, for example when you press the new' button the text of the button goes red. The fonts are the same throughout the app, so this means that the fonts were created for the app. There aren't many animations throughout the app, but one animation would be the loading screen. The Supreme logo slowly fades in then out as the app launches. Other interactive features include links to their office website or their social media pages. Layout: There is a simple layout used within this app. It uses a basic menu at the home page and a back button on the top. This is so it is similar to other apps and the user can use the app with minimal learning. When you use the different pages, you can use the back button on the top right to go back to the homepage. This makes it easier for the user as they can clearly navigate the app. |
What are the interactive features of the product and what’s your experience of them like? There were many different interactive features in the Supreme which were well executed and give a great experience. Some of the forms of interaction used are buttons, text and links. The buttons were very satisfying because most of them had their own little animations to go with the buttons. The text went red as it was pressed, confirming to the user that it has been pressed. Also, once the button was pressed, there is pleasurable transition between pressing and going to the feature. The links can take you to the supreme website or their social media site. For example, if you want more news on the latest Supreme drop, there is a link which takes you to the website describing what is being released. Also, if you have Instagram or FaceBook installed on the device and you press on of the links, it will take you directly to their page on that social media app. |
Are there any Benefits of the interactive product? There are a few different benefits to the Supreme app. The first benefit is that it provides you with quick access to the Supreme store, this be done anywhere as you can use this app anywhere as long as you have internet connection. Another benefit is that there are limited amounts of shops, so some people wont be able to get to them, so this allows them a chance to buy the products. Also, Supreme can now sell more product as they now have a wider audience to sell it to. Another benefit is that you can stay up to date with all of Supreme's latest news, and social media posts. This is becasue there is a direct link to these places within the app to ensure that you are the first to know something new about the latest clothing or the company as a whole. |
The limitations of the interactive product? There are a few limitations to the Supreme app , for example you are not able to use the app unless you have a internet connection. This is because the app is server based and not hosted locally, this means that the images aren't stored locally on the users device but in an Supreme server room. However, this makes the app better as the app isn't constantly downloading photos and taking up loads of device storage. Another limitation is that you don't get all of the features which are available on the actual website, these include About, Store Locations and Random. This therefore makes the app less useful compared to the website. |
The effectiveness of the interactive product?
I think supreme is very effective as an interactive product, this is because it has a wide user base and it is easy to use. The Supreme app is very effective as an interactive product, this is because it has many different interactive features and benefits to the app. The app is effective because it allows the user to access the supreme store without visiting the actual shop. Also, this app is free of charge, which means you can use it all you want without any form of limitation. This app is also effective because it is most widely used and it has gain a huge popularity. |
Are there any legal and ethical issues of the interactive product?
One legal issue that can occur on the supreme app is that people use personal information to buy their products. If someone were to be able to access this information then there would be an issue because they are accessing private information and this brakes a legal issue. Another issue is that people could commit fraud on there, because it uses Card information, anyone can use a card without having to know any passwords. So they could spend other people's money. To fix this, Supreme can report any purchase on request. This will show informaiton used along with the card (such as Address and Name). |
COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE USE OF DIFFERENT PLATFORMS AND FORMATS FOR DELIVERING INTERACTIVE MEDIA PRODUCTS
Game: Fallout Shelter
How does the design components and layouts differ on the other platforms?
Mobile Version:
The mobile version of Fallout shelter is the original version of the game. The game was first released on mobile and has a very simple layout. There isn't a launcher for this version of the game, so it goes straight to the menu. Here you can select your game mode and save file and then load into the game. The actual game has the same layout as the PC version except that this version is touch screen and only uses the screen to control the application. Also, on the mobile version, you get notifications on your phone which updates you on what is happening and deal available in the game. |
PC Version:
The PC version of this game is slightly different to the mobile version. The game was ported to PC a few months after the initial mobile release. Because this game is a port from the mobile version, many of the aspects are the exact same. However, one key difference between the mobile and PC version is that the PC version has a launcher for the game. This means that you can get notifications and updates for the game right on your desktop. Also, you can be told the latest news about the game and also see and download other games which Bethesda has made. |
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How does the interactive features differ on the other platforms
On both the Mobile and PC version, the interactive features are almost exactly the same just different ways to interact with them. On the mobile version of the game, everything is interacted with via the touchscreen built into the mobile device. However, on the PC version, the application is interacted with via mouse and keyboard. There are a few differences in actual interaction, the pc version has a launcher, which contains interactive features such as links to their website and social media accounts. There is also a text which describes what the system requirements are for the game on the PC version. The interactive features built into the game are the same throughout both versions. There is a menu which allows you to select your game mode, and game save file. You can also change the games setting in the setting section. When you are actually playing the game, there are three main interactive features, these are take a screen shot, look at the statistics of your gameplay and build mode for the game.
The benefits of the interactive product on these platforms?
Mobile Version:
There are many benefits of having this game on a mobile platform. The key benefit is that the platform is portable, this means that you can take it anywhere. Also, as the game is an application on the mobile device, you are able to get notifications for the game and updates on the game instantly to your portable device. |
PC Version:
The main benefit on having the game on a PC instead of your mobile device is that the game will run better. This is because most computers are significantly more powerful than mobile devices. As it will run better, it will also look better then mobile devices as well. Also, the downloads for updates will be quicker as most internet connection is faster on PC devices. |
The limitations of the interactive product on these platforms?
Both of these platforms have their limitations, the limitations are different depending on the platform .Some disadvantages of using this game on a mobile device is that sometimes the game can be slow and a bit laggy. This is because most portable devices like phones and tablets don't have very powerful graphics and processors, so therefore the game doesn't run as well as possible. The limitations of having the game on a PC system is that the user won't really be able to play the game in many places, this is because the game isn't portable on these devices. And users also have to use a mouse and keyboard to play the game, which could be more difficult compared to the mobile version as this has touch screen and is more accessible for a wide range of users.
Both of these platforms have their limitations, the limitations are different depending on the platform .Some disadvantages of using this game on a mobile device is that sometimes the game can be slow and a bit laggy. This is because most portable devices like phones and tablets don't have very powerful graphics and processors, so therefore the game doesn't run as well as possible. The limitations of having the game on a PC system is that the user won't really be able to play the game in many places, this is because the game isn't portable on these devices. And users also have to use a mouse and keyboard to play the game, which could be more difficult compared to the mobile version as this has touch screen and is more accessible for a wide range of users.
The effectiveness of the interactive product on these platforms?
Both the application and the PC version of this game are very good and easy to navigate, so the user can enjoy their time playing the game on all the different platforms available. The interactive features built into this game are very effective as they are seamlessly integrated into the game and they are designed to look as good as possible. It is easy to navigate and everything is logical. The difference between the platforms is easy to understand and anyone can quickly pick this game um and play it.
Both the application and the PC version of this game are very good and easy to navigate, so the user can enjoy their time playing the game on all the different platforms available. The interactive features built into this game are very effective as they are seamlessly integrated into the game and they are designed to look as good as possible. It is easy to navigate and everything is logical. The difference between the platforms is easy to understand and anyone can quickly pick this game um and play it.
Social Networking: Facebook
How does the design components and layouts differ on the other platforms?
Mobile Version:
The mobile version of Facebook is very similar to the web version. The key difference is that the display is much smaller. Another difference is that the app version has another app (facebook Messenger) integrated into it, this is so the user can quickly switch between the different app seamlessly. Another difference is that the Facebook stories are available on the app version which means you can get quick updates from friends and see what others are doing. |
Web Version:
The web version of Facebook is very similar to the app version. The main difference is again the display, as the web version is much bigger, so you can do multiple tasks at once. The other difference is that you can message people directly on the facebook browser, instead of having to download another app then switch between them. The web version also doesn't have the 'facebook stories' which the app does. Meaning you won't get the instant update. |
How does the interactive features differ on the other platforms?
On both of the mobile and PC version, the interactive features are mostly the same throughout these different platforms. On the mobile version of Facebook, everything is interacted with via the built in touch screen on the users device. However, the Web version uses the computers keyboard and mouse system to interact with the game. There are a few different interactive features on Facebook when you compare the two version together, for example, the stories and live-streaming feature is only available on the mobile version of facebook. This is because the cameras from the users device are directly intergraded into the app and have instant access to these interactive features. The web version is able to use the messaging feature directly on the Facebook browser, whereas the application version forces the user to download another app and switch between the apps to communicate with other users.
On both of the mobile and PC version, the interactive features are mostly the same throughout these different platforms. On the mobile version of Facebook, everything is interacted with via the built in touch screen on the users device. However, the Web version uses the computers keyboard and mouse system to interact with the game. There are a few different interactive features on Facebook when you compare the two version together, for example, the stories and live-streaming feature is only available on the mobile version of facebook. This is because the cameras from the users device are directly intergraded into the app and have instant access to these interactive features. The web version is able to use the messaging feature directly on the Facebook browser, whereas the application version forces the user to download another app and switch between the apps to communicate with other users.
The benefits of the interactive product on these platforms?
There are many different benefits of using Facebook on these two different interactive platforms. The key benefit for using facebook on an application is that it quick and easy to use, this is because its on a portable device and you can quickly access all of the different features. Another benefit is that you can also get notifications and information from the application straight to your device. Another benefit is that the camera on the portable device you are using is directly integrated into the application, this means that users are able to upload content instantly, whether that be through facebook stories or as a post/message to someone.
The key benefits of using the Web version of Facebook is that the messaging feature is directly integrated into the web browser, which means that you don't have to switch between applications to talk directly with someone. This means that messaging is more simple and quicker to do. Another benefit of using the web browser is that you have a wider display and you can see more content at once, which means using the site is faster and a lot more understandable of the users to use instead of going through menus to find specific items.
There are many different benefits of using Facebook on these two different interactive platforms. The key benefit for using facebook on an application is that it quick and easy to use, this is because its on a portable device and you can quickly access all of the different features. Another benefit is that you can also get notifications and information from the application straight to your device. Another benefit is that the camera on the portable device you are using is directly integrated into the application, this means that users are able to upload content instantly, whether that be through facebook stories or as a post/message to someone.
The key benefits of using the Web version of Facebook is that the messaging feature is directly integrated into the web browser, which means that you don't have to switch between applications to talk directly with someone. This means that messaging is more simple and quicker to do. Another benefit of using the web browser is that you have a wider display and you can see more content at once, which means using the site is faster and a lot more understandable of the users to use instead of going through menus to find specific items.
The limitations of the interactive product on these platforms?
There are a few limitations of using the different platforms to access Facebook. There are some main features which don't exist on one platform but most of the features which are different are very minor.
The limitations of using Facebook on the application version is that you have to switch between two different applications to access the two main parts of facebook; the messaging and the facebook feed. If you wish to directly message someone on facebook via the app, you have to leave the Facebook app and then open the facebook messaging app, which can take really long. Another limitation is that the device you are using can be quite small compared to a Web version for this product, this therefore means that you can't see as much as you typically would on the web version and things are stored in menus which mean that the app is longer to navigate.
The limitations of using Facebook as the web version are that you don't get the stories/livestream feature. This is because the device doesn't have an integrated camera which can be accessed by the web browser. This means that if you are using the web version, you are likely to miss what people have said or posted as you are unable to view it. Another limitation is that you won't get notifications straight to your device, which means you will not be able to instant information as you would a mobile device.
There are a few limitations of using the different platforms to access Facebook. There are some main features which don't exist on one platform but most of the features which are different are very minor.
The limitations of using Facebook on the application version is that you have to switch between two different applications to access the two main parts of facebook; the messaging and the facebook feed. If you wish to directly message someone on facebook via the app, you have to leave the Facebook app and then open the facebook messaging app, which can take really long. Another limitation is that the device you are using can be quite small compared to a Web version for this product, this therefore means that you can't see as much as you typically would on the web version and things are stored in menus which mean that the app is longer to navigate.
The limitations of using Facebook as the web version are that you don't get the stories/livestream feature. This is because the device doesn't have an integrated camera which can be accessed by the web browser. This means that if you are using the web version, you are likely to miss what people have said or posted as you are unable to view it. Another limitation is that you won't get notifications straight to your device, which means you will not be able to instant information as you would a mobile device.
The effectiveness of the interactive product on these platforms?
Facebook is effective on both of these two platforms, both for different reasons. The Facebook app is really effective as an application as it successfully integrates the camera and simplicity of mobile devices. It uses notifications and menu systems to help navigate the app with ease and make everything as simple as possible for the user. You are also able to quickly upload or browse content from anywhere. And as for the web version, you are able to quickly browse the site and see content
Facebook is effective on both of these two platforms, both for different reasons. The Facebook app is really effective as an application as it successfully integrates the camera and simplicity of mobile devices. It uses notifications and menu systems to help navigate the app with ease and make everything as simple as possible for the user. You are also able to quickly upload or browse content from anywhere. And as for the web version, you are able to quickly browse the site and see content
Marketing: Gumtree
How does the design components and layouts differ on the other platforms?
Mobile Version:
The mobile version of Gumtree is very similar to the web version. The key difference is that the display is much smaller. Another difference is that the app version has the contact feature intergrated into the devide, this is so the user can quickly switch between gumtree and their texts before they buy an item. Another difference is that the Gumtree is portable on the app version which means you can get quick updates from sellers and see what others are listing as soon as they are listed on the app. |
Web Version:
The web version of Gumtree is very similar to the app version. The main difference is again the display, as the web version is much bigger, so you can do multiple tasks at once. The other difference is that you can't message people from the web version, you have to have a separate device which allows the user to text or call. This means that contacting the sellers whilst using the web version can be quite difficult. The web version also doesn't have the portability of the mobile versions. |
How does the interactive features differ on the other platforms?
There are a few differences with interactive features in comparison of the two platforms (Web and Mobile App). Many of the features are the same throughout the apps, however, there are different interactive elements to the platforms will set them apart. One difference on the mobile version in comparison to the web version would be when you are looking at a post. This is because there are interactive buttons underneath the post on the mobile version (to allow you to contact the seller), whereas on the web version you have to go to the contact section (to the left of the post) and then reveal the contact information to gain access to contact the seller. You are only able to contact the seller through Call/SMS via a mobile. This means that the mobile version of the app directly integrates the devices phone and you are able to instantly switch between applications to contact the seller. Whereas on the web version, you have to see the contact information and then manually input the details into your phone to contact them.
There are a few differences with interactive features in comparison of the two platforms (Web and Mobile App). Many of the features are the same throughout the apps, however, there are different interactive elements to the platforms will set them apart. One difference on the mobile version in comparison to the web version would be when you are looking at a post. This is because there are interactive buttons underneath the post on the mobile version (to allow you to contact the seller), whereas on the web version you have to go to the contact section (to the left of the post) and then reveal the contact information to gain access to contact the seller. You are only able to contact the seller through Call/SMS via a mobile. This means that the mobile version of the app directly integrates the devices phone and you are able to instantly switch between applications to contact the seller. Whereas on the web version, you have to see the contact information and then manually input the details into your phone to contact them.
The benefits of the interactive product on these platforms?
There are a few different benefits for using gumtree on these different platforms. The mobile version of the application is further developed and more optimised for Gumtree, this is because the mobile version has the communication feature built straight into the mobile version. With the mobile version, you are able to quickly switch between posts and all the features of the application. This means that all the features are quicker to access and buying from the app is generally quicker. The format / layout of the app is also better designed as the mobile version is the main way to use this program.
There are also a few benefits of using gumtree on the web version, the web version has a bigger display, this is because this will be used on a personal computer or laptop, which will have a bigger screen then a mobile / portable device. This means the users are able to see the items they wish to purchase and also see more information at the same point in time in comparison to the mobile version. As you can see above, the web version allows the users to see the item and the information all in one display whereas the mobile version only allows the users to see the item and the title of what they are looking at. Another benefit to using the web version would be that this version could be potentially faster then the mobile version. This will be down to web connection and the speed of the device itself. Typically, a laptop / computer will run faster and have a more stable connection in comparison to a small and WI-FI enabled portable device.
There are a few different benefits for using gumtree on these different platforms. The mobile version of the application is further developed and more optimised for Gumtree, this is because the mobile version has the communication feature built straight into the mobile version. With the mobile version, you are able to quickly switch between posts and all the features of the application. This means that all the features are quicker to access and buying from the app is generally quicker. The format / layout of the app is also better designed as the mobile version is the main way to use this program.
There are also a few benefits of using gumtree on the web version, the web version has a bigger display, this is because this will be used on a personal computer or laptop, which will have a bigger screen then a mobile / portable device. This means the users are able to see the items they wish to purchase and also see more information at the same point in time in comparison to the mobile version. As you can see above, the web version allows the users to see the item and the information all in one display whereas the mobile version only allows the users to see the item and the title of what they are looking at. Another benefit to using the web version would be that this version could be potentially faster then the mobile version. This will be down to web connection and the speed of the device itself. Typically, a laptop / computer will run faster and have a more stable connection in comparison to a small and WI-FI enabled portable device.
The limitations of the interactive product on these platforms?
The key limitation of using the mobile version is the display you are using to operate the application. As this will be quite small, this will mean that the user won't be able to see a large amount of things at one point in time, and it will force the users to move around the application more to see more things such as descriptions and contact information. Another limitation would be the fact that portable devices often require a Wi-Fi connection to run this application, this is because the app is run via a server which hosts all of the listings. This means that the mobile version will require the user to have a stable internet connection to run this application at acceptable speeds. Usually if the user has left the home or are away from a stable Wi-Fi connection, they will have to use their mobile data to connect to these servers which costs the users money (something they may not wish to do). So this leaves them to either spend their money and connect to the application via their mobile data, or to just not use the application until they have a Wi-Fi connection.
The key limitation if using the web version of Gumtree would be that the contact with the seller is not integrated into this version. This means that the user needs to have a mobile devices as well as the web version if they wish to contact the seller before they purchase the item. This could be annoying for the users as they will be having to switch between two devices anytime they want to contact the seller. Another limitation is that the device they are using wouldn't be portable so they will not be able to take the application with them unless they had the mobile version as well.
The effectiveness of the interactive product on these platforms?
gumtree is effective on both of these two platforms, both for different reasons. The Gumtree app is really effective as an application as it successfully integrates the messaging feature and it allows the users to quickly purchase items. It also uses notifications and menu systems to help navigate the app with ease and make everything as simple as possible for the user. You are also able to quickly upload or browse content from anywhere. And as for the web version, you are able to quickly browse the site and see content
gumtree is effective on both of these two platforms, both for different reasons. The Gumtree app is really effective as an application as it successfully integrates the messaging feature and it allows the users to quickly purchase items. It also uses notifications and menu systems to help navigate the app with ease and make everything as simple as possible for the user. You are also able to quickly upload or browse content from anywhere. And as for the web version, you are able to quickly browse the site and see content
Further App Analysis - Classwork
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