plants db iphone app?

[oliver77]

hi guys,

I've been a frequent visitor of this forum, mostly lurker and i learnt a great deal from here.

i was thinking about making a pt plants db app for iphone.
do u think it would be okay? i have a friend who says he can make one and publish it for me (free app)

what do u guys think?

[AMcCaleb]

Awesome idea

[drewsuf82]

that would be pretty awesome esp if somehow it linked to the information here.

I know when I'm out and about and looking at new plants the first thing I do is pull out my iphone and start trying to go through the plant database here to see if it would be a good fit

[mistergreen]

An app would be fairly easy to make. It's the db that's hard. You'd need an extensive db like tpt's.

[oliver77]

Hi, sorry didn't notice you guys replied to my thread..

mistergreen, so do i have the permission to get all the data from
the "Plant Profiles" section and put it in an app and publish it?

of course, credits goes to PT.net... and whatever you guys wanna put
in the "credits" section can be input too (links, names, etc).

[mistergreen]

Originally Posted by oliver77

mistergreen, so do i have the permission to get all the data from
the "Plant Profiles" section and put it in an app and publish it?
.

Probably not. I don't see it happening. You'll have to collect your own data and pictures. Make sure to use your own photos or someone will complain and your app will be gone from the App Store fast.

[oliver77]

Ah... ok thank you for your reply.

make sense. i guess i just make one for my own use lol

[Firemedic269]

I think this would be awesome! probably a ton of work. Heck even if you charge $0.99. who cares, it would be way worth it.

[oliver77]

yeah it'd be awesome... problem is copyright of the plants photos...

i was planning to make it available for free (no monetizing). but there is no way
everyone who own the plant photos would allow it. hence it is not possible for me to do it without spending money.

[Firemedic269]

Take photos at your lfs with their permission. Ask people on this forum to donate/release their personal photos to you. You could send them a photo release form via email. Electronically sign it and return it.

[nerdariostomp]

It'd be cool if the owners of the forum could export the data and make their own app. It'd be a semi easy way to make some extra cash and I know I'd pay even 3 to 5 bucks for a plant database that was updated and maintained. The hardest part would be trying to link an app to the existing content so that the process was simple and didn't involve extra work. I'd imagine that would involve some level of change in terms of how the data is entered currently but I don't do web design anymore or know anything about apps

[Big-Ken]

Have you tried contacting the site admin or owner, I find it hard to believe that they would turn down someone wanting to make an app for free and give PT the credit as long as they could use the db

[oliver77]

Originally Posted by Big-Ken

Have you tried contacting the site admin or owner, I find it hard to believe that they would turn down someone wanting to make an app for free and give PT the credit as long as they could use the db

Hi there. Yup, it's gonna be totally free to download and use (but not sure there will be an ad or not)

I think the problem lies in the users' posted photos found here. The photos here are owned by each individual forum members, IMO, and not PT.net.

I am now thinking to make the app WITHOUT PHOTOS, just plant name/types, and then users can opt to contribute by sending photos to me via email etc. And i update the app as I get many photos.

Would that be a better idea?

[mistergreen]

You can have a feature in the app where people can take photos with their phone or iPad and upload it straight to the server for that plant. Let the users do the work.

[pweifan]

Originally Posted by mistergreen

You can have a feature in the app where people can take photos with their phone or iPad and upload it straight to the server for that plant. Let the users do the work.

That's really smart! You'd still need to have someone behave as a moderator though and confirm that the plant pics are accurate. And then we'd be back to monetizing the app unless you could find volunteers.