commons-app / apps-android-commons

The Wikimedia Commons Android app allows users to upload pictures from their Android phone/tablet to Wikimedia Commons

https://commons-app.github.io/

Apache License 2.0

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iOS version of the Commons app - market share #5828

Open OpenGreenStreet opened 2 months ago

OpenGreenStreet commented 2 months ago

What is the user problem or growth opportunity you want to see solved?

From my point of view, it would be good if there were an iOS version of the Commons app in the future, as one third of all smartphones (in Germany) are iOS smartphones.

How do you know that this problem exists today? Why is this important?

This means that around 30 percent of all potential users of the commons app have no chance of using it.

Who will benefit from it?

All users who own an iOS smartphone.

Anything else you would like to add?

https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/256790/umfrage/marktanteile-von-android-und-ios-am-smartphone-absatz-in-deutschland/

RitikaPahwa4444 commented 2 months ago

The app is now maintained by volunteers, so it might be hard to achieve. There used to be an active discussion about this when we used to receive grants: https://github.com/commons-app/apps-android-commons/issues/5060. We've seen that folks are interested in migrating the app to Jetpack Compose, so using Compose Multiplatform might be possible if we're able to gain enough support🙂

misaochan commented 2 months ago

Hi @OpenGreenStreet , we have always wanted to expand to iOS, however historically WMF Product has disagreed with it. That was a long time ago, however (around 3 years ago if I recall correctly), so it might be worth reopening the discussion again if folks are interested. If WMF does not wish to host the iOS app on their account, we can still self-publish (if a volunteer is willing to do the work), but user acquisition will be difficult without the Foundation account.

OpenGreenStreet commented 2 months ago

@misaochan , @RitikaPahwa4444 , Thank you for your feedback. I had already thought of something like that and I can also imagine how difficult it would be in terms of content and resources. I just wanted to raise the issue again.

I have no idea, but would there perhaps be a way to get funding from the Wikimedia Foundation or Wikimedia Deutschland for such a project?

misaochan commented 2 months ago

I have no idea, but would there perhaps be a way to get funding from the Wikimedia Foundation or Wikimedia Deutschland for such a project?

@OpenGreenStreet Previously, we were supported by WMF grants. I took a peek at those recently, and it seems like the General Support grant does not take software projects anymore. There was supposed to be a WMF Technology Fund for software projects, but it never got off the ground and is now considered "permanently placed on hold". To be fair, I haven't talked to the program officers involved to see if there is any way around this, but just based on the official documentation, it seems like WMF is out.

Re: WM Deutschland, that is an interesting suggestion. I don't think we have collaborated with WMD before, would you have any suggestions on how to start if we were to go about that? :)

Of course, all of this depends on the other maintainers' opinions as well.

OpenGreenStreet commented 2 months ago

@misaochan , Thanks, I'll see if I can find a contact person.

misaochan commented 2 months ago

@OpenGreenStreet Fantastic, thank you! :) If you'd like, please feel free to CC me in your email to them. Personally, I've always been keen on making an iOS app happen.

OpenGreenStreet commented 2 months ago

@misaochan , what I have been able to achieve so far is an interesting collection of links documenting past efforts in this matter:

OpenGreenStreet commented 2 months ago

@misaochan , hi, i have written to Wikimedia Deutschland and also put you on CC.

misaochan commented 2 months ago

@OpenGreenStreet Thank you very much for that. :) Interestingly, the 3rd link that you posted was my grant proposal in 2020 (which was declined and they asked me to resubmit another one with Android improvements instead). Looking forward to WMD's response.

OpenGreenStreet commented 2 months ago

@misaochan Thanks for your feedback and yes, let's wait and see what WMD replies. I would very much like there to be a solution.

OpenGreenStreet commented 1 month ago

By the way: the StreetComplete app, which I also like very much, is planning an iOS version:

https://github.com/streetcomplete/StreetComplete/issues/5421

misaochan commented 1 month ago

Update for anyone who is following: WMDE didn't get back to @OpenGreenStreet and I. However, considering that it's been 4 years, I think reopening the discussion with WMF is not a bad idea. So I reached out to a couple of my old contacts at WMF and we'll see what becomes of it.

nicolas-raoul commented 1 month ago

Deciders won't approve if we don't show them some clear quantified positive impact based on Wikimedia's strategic goals.

Would anyone be able to compute some statistics about the Android app, for the current year or past 12 months?

Proportion of pictures uploaded via the app.
Proportion of pictures in use, versus non-app pictures.
Same for geolocalized pictures.
Same for pictures with at least one depiction or non-technical category.
Same for geolocalized pictures in "global south".
Other statistics ideas welcome.

misaochan commented 1 month ago

Good idea! I would lean more towards doing a total sum rather than just for the last year, though.

Proportion of pictures uploaded via the app. Proportion of pictures in use, versus non-app pictures.

I can get numbers for this on the app's side, but not sure how to obtain the total Commons number to calculate the proportion.

Same for geolocalized pictures.

Just to clarify, do you mean uploads with coordinates?

Anyone's help with these stats would indeed be welcome. :)

OpenGreenStreet commented 1 month ago

Could it perhaps also be useful to look at the use of Commons images in the OSM project.

See:

OpenGreenStreet commented 3 weeks ago

Just an idea …

5924

misaochan commented 3 weeks ago

Just wanted to provide an update on this. I had a chat with the Director of Product recently about the app. In short, they are in the early stages of their discussion/strategy phase, and they haven't quite decided what direction they want to go with mobile Commons uploads in general. They don't seem to be against the creation of an iOS Commons app (which is an improvement over the previous status quo!), however, receiving funding from them doesn't seem to be in the books for the near future.

I'll provide further updates if I hear back from them again.

OpenGreenStreet commented 3 weeks ago

@misaochan Thanks for your effort.(See also #5924)