So, I decided to make an application on facebook for restaurants/apartments/other things near campus... check it out here:

http://apps.facebook.com/mycampus/

I haven't really done a big marketing blitz, and wanted to find out what you guys thought about it first, so take a look if you dont mind, and tell me if you like it or not, and what changes you would make.

Also, if anyone is interested in getting involved, let me know.

9/25/2007 2:55:13 PM

not a very good start

Quote :

"Errors while loading page from application There are still a few kinks Facebook and the makers of Campus are trying to iron out. We appreciate your patience as we try to fix these issues. Your problem has been logged - if it persists, please come back in a few days. Thanks!"

Instead of the link you sent, I went to the Campus App page and then added the app from there. Then got the error after the "Add Campus to your Facebook account?" page

what's the difference between the link you pasted here and this one
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2353494271

[Edited on September 25, 2007 at 5:11 PM. Reason : .]

[Edited on September 25, 2007 at 5:11 PM. Reason : .]

9/25/2007 5:09:47 PM

http://www.campusblender.com/message_section.aspx?section=1602

You may want to post here too, since it will cover alot more colleges, especially in NC, than tdub. And you could still get the same style feedback you're looking for from tww.

9/25/2007 5:12:06 PM

looks like a very good start, if not quite as polished as most other facebook apps i've tried.

suggestions
1) make the default map bigger (taller) or resizable - http://apps.facebook.com/mycampus/fb.php
2) add categories to the restaurants (and apts) or ways to filter them
3) add some HTML formatting to the Google Map pop-ups. I hate those plain text in the word balloons
4) add more info to the popup balloons. not too much, but at least the star-ratings and a link to the item's page
5) on each item's page, add a small map showing just that item (even though there is a link to google maps)

9/25/2007 5:17:18 PM

^ great suggestions ... some of them have crossed my mind, and some are in the queue for development.

I am thinking that I will activate all the universities in my DB first (~300) and then start separating restaurant types.

A good search tool would also be really helpful, for apartments, like you mentioned. Ill have to work on that.

Keep the suggestions coming...

9/25/2007 5:21:11 PM

this sounds like a great app, be great for sorting out places to eat around campus and in places you're visiting (near other colleges i guess)

9/25/2007 5:25:43 PM

OK, login issues should be fixed now. I hit a php redirect bug that facebook hasnt fixed yet.


Keep the comments coming!!

9/25/2007 6:56:22 PM

Grocery Store != Restaurant

they should not be cluttering up the Restaurant view. You could create several views, in addition to filters/categories for each view.

Views:
Restaurants
Grocery Stores
Bars/Pubs/Clubs
Gas Stations?
Apartments

of course, if you start adding too many of these, you're just recreating Google Maps Local Search..... but at least 3-4 main ones would be OK.

9/25/2007 7:16:48 PM

always schemin rob

how do you use our personal information? i never use the facebook apps because of the requirement to allow them to use your personal information...

9/25/2007 7:19:13 PM

haha ... nice paul...

Its actually against the terms to save personal information. I basically store your facebook ID in the database, and thats it.

Yeah, I have yet to sort out the grocery stores, and I think I am going to add some flagging/category options for users so that as they see a listing in the wrong place, they can move it manually.

9/25/2007 7:29:41 PM

Bump ...

So I made a few of the changes that were suggested. Added maps to the individual listing pages and made the map a little bit bigger on the main page.

Also, I added different categories, to the restaurants section.

Take a look and let me know what you all think!!

10/19/2007 9:02:58 AM