Ster Kinekor creates app; doesn't release it on Play Store

[rodga]

Had this on my lg for the last 2 months or so. Tried to use it on monday but it was not installed. So must have been the last update thst disabled it? Ive used it fine before. SK are really stupid!

 

[SykomantiS]

Thanks for the app- looks good so far.

I have to say, I'm sort-of impressed. The app completely rejects the Android design guidelines in favour of its own visual design that is similar to the SK website. But that's fine; not every app needs to look exactly, and it does look attractive.

I do have a few suggestions, in case anyone from Ster Kinekor is reading this thread:

1. Get rid of the legacy menu button on ICS devices. You already have an on-screen menu button, so you don't need this functionality. It's unnecessary and just screws up your app on devices like the HTC One series.

2. Don't hide notification bar. Just because I'm booking movie tickets doesn't mean I don't want to be alerted when emails or new messages come in. In general, I'm of the opinion that no apps should use the full screen mode unless they present "immersive" content, ie games, video players and e-readers. An app that you use to buy things does not fall into this category.

3. Give me somewhere to store my loyalty card numbers. Allow people to add multiple card numbers, and fill them in automatically when they book tickets. If your servers are secure enough, you could also just store their card numbers. That makes it more convenient for your customers, which make more likely that they will buy your movie tickets. Win-win.

Also, this. I wholeheartedly agree.

 

[CranialBlaze]

Had this on my lg for the last 2 months or so. Tried to use it on monday but it was not installed. So must have been the last update thst disabled it? Ive used it fine before. SK are really stupid!

That cant be possible, it was released exclusively to the samsung app store on the 26th June 2012. it has not existed for 2 months.

 

[CranialBlaze]

I have to say, I'm sort-of impressed. The app completely rejects the Android design guidelines in favour of its own visual design that is similar to the SK website. But that's fine; not every app needs to look exactly, and it does look attractive.

I do have a few suggestions, in case anyone from Ster Kinekor is reading this thread:

1. Get rid of the legacy menu button on ICS devices. You already have an on-screen menu button, so you don't need this functionality. It's unnecessary and just screws up your app on devices like the HTC One series.

2. Don't hide notification bar. Just because I'm booking movie tickets doesn't mean I don't want to be alerted when emails or new messages come in. In general, I'm of the opinion that no apps should use the full screen mode unless they present "immersive" content, ie games, video players and e-readers. An app that you use to buy things does not fall into this category.

3. Give me somewhere to store my loyalty card numbers. Allow people to add multiple card numbers, and fill them in automatically when they book tickets. If your servers are secure enough, you could also just store their card numbers. That makes it more convenient for your customers, which make more likely that they will buy your movie tickets. Win-win.

I would agree with all but parts of no 3. Loyalty cards yes, credit cards no. No matter how secure the servers are thats a bad risk, and besides it would be stored locally on the phone not on a server. Not so great if ur phone gets stolen.

 

[rodga]

That cant be possible, it was released exclusively to the samsung app store on the 26th June 2012. it has not existed for 2 months.

Ok it might not have been 2 months but definatley before the 26th
all I have now is this screenshot showing the app not available anymore

https://www.box.com/s/845cf7343013a3cd0e38

Im not sure if there is any other way to prove that I had this on my phone before the 26th
if there is, tell me how and ill do it...

 

[PsyWulf]

Ok it might not have been 2 months but definatley before the 26th
all I have now is this screenshot showing the app not available anymore

https://www.box.com/s/845cf7343013a3cd0e38

Im not sure if there is any other way to prove that I had this on my phone before the 26th
if there is, tell me how and ill do it...

The old app was basically a wrapper for the mobi site,this one is native

 

[rodga]

The old app was basically a wrapper for the mobi site,this one is native

ok i see
thanks for clearing that up

 

[rodga]

ok just downloaded from aptoid
much better than the old one I had

 

[Keeper]

Ster Kinekor? Aren't they the guys who run those places, kind of like a home theater but it's not at home? Where you pay lots of money to watch a movie that's out of focus in a big room full of noisy strangers and you can't pause the movie or relax under a blanket on the couch?

C'mon man, let's be real here...

"kind of like a home theater"?
Surely their 4K 3D Projectors are a little better than your 60" LCD...

pay lots of money?
R50 bucks for 1 to 2 or even 3 hours of entertainment ain't that bad... thats the price of what, a bottle of vodka?
besides, your home theater wasn't free either.

Out of focus?
You must be going to the wrong one - go to a real cinema.

Noisy strangers?
You know, I always see people post this when flaming the cinema, yet I never hear it for myself?

Can't pause the movie?
Who cares - have a wizz before the movie and mute your phone.... it's only one and a half hours of your life you know.

Can't sit on a couch under your blanky?
Wear something warm man. (and some cinema's have amazing couches btw)



Watching movies at home is great, I'm not arguing
but if you think watching something like the Avengers, Prometheus or SpiderMan in 2D and in front of your tv is better than 4K 3D Projectors on a massive screen with digital sound and seat shaking bass, you are doing something wrong.

 

[hellfire]

Here you go:

http://db.tt/dtenwDAJ

Thanks!

Seems to be quite an intuitive app (compared to their website, anyway)

 

[CranialBlaze]

C'mon man, let's be real here...

"kind of like a home theater"?
Surely their 4K 3D Projectors are a little better than your 60" LCD...

pay lots of money?
R50 bucks for 1 to 2 or even 3 hours of entertainment ain't that bad... thats the price of what, a bottle of vodka?
besides, your home theater wasn't free either.

Out of focus?
You must be going to the wrong one - go to a real cinema.

Noisy strangers?
You know, I always see people post this when flaming the cinema, yet I never hear it for myself?

Can't pause the movie?
Who cares - have a wizz before the movie and mute your phone.... it's only one and a half hours of your life you know.

Can't sit on a couch under your blanky?
Wear something warm man. (and some cinema's have amazing couches btw)



Watching movies at home is great, I'm not arguing
but if you think watching something like the Avengers, Prometheus or SpiderMan in 2D and in front of your tv is better than 4K 3D Projectors on a massive screen with digital sound and seat shaking bass, you are doing something wrong.

Totally agree, I have a very nice screen and sound system at home. It is however not only the R65 for the ticket, its another R50/60 for the snacks, but there are certain movies that simply are worth it.

I will not pay that for every movie, I would of been broke long ago if I did got to SK for every movie I wanted to see, but Spiderman for example, I have my seat booked for tonight and that is most certainly going to be a movie that better on the big screen.

 

[Vulk]

I would agree with all but parts of no 3. Loyalty cards yes, credit cards no. No matter how secure the servers are thats a bad risk, and besides it would be stored locally on the phone not on a server. Not so great if ur phone gets stolen.

Isn't the same thing true with Google Play though? I have my card number stored on Google Play/Wallet, but as far as I know it's not stored locally on the phone, so just because somebody steals my phone doesn't mean they'll get my card number.

Maybe SK could do it the same that Groupon does it: store the card number, but make you enter the last three digit security code on the back before you can make a purchase.

Oh, and there's something else that this app needs:

4. It should determine your location using Android's built-in location services, and only show you movies/cinemas that are in your area. Unlike desktop PCs, smartphones have a location feature, so use it! Don't make people go through menus of every cinema in the country to purchase a ticket. Otherwise, if they really don't want to use the system location feature, they could add in a shortcut to the cinemas that you list as your "favourites" your profile. For some reason they have this setting in their profiles, but they don't actually use it anywhere in their UI. It's weird.

 

[milomak]

hmmm. looks a pretty good app.

 

[Vulk]

The old app was basically a wrapper for the mobi site,this one is native

Are you sure about that?

Just judging from appearance alone, it looks like this app was written primarily in HTML5.

 

[CranialBlaze]

Are you sure about that?

Just judging from appearance alone, it looks like this app was written primarily in HTML5.

Nativr may not be the correct word choice but its still an actual app instead of a cheap imitation doing exactly what your browser does.

 

[ijacobs3]

I see it still isn't in play, bit it in the in Samsung app store

 

[CranialBlaze]

I see it still isn't in play, bit it in the in Samsung app store

Wont be in play till october, its been given to sammy for a 3 month exclusive.

 

[Vulk]

I used it this weekend to book a bunch of tickets. I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, being able to book movie tickets from my phone was super convenient. On the other hand, having to multitask back and forth between the app and Evernote to copy-and-paste all the loyalty card numbers was incredibly annoying. If there's one thing that SK seriously needs to fix about this app, this is it.

 

[werny]

Ster Kinekor? Aren't they the guys who run those places, kind of like a home theater but it's not at home? Where you pay lots of money to watch a movie that's out of focus in a big room full of noisy strangers and you can't pause the movie or relax under a blanket on the couch?

Lol, exactly how I feel.

 

[rodga]

http://www.sterkinekor.com/html/promo_apps/index.html?4#.T_qsHZEqeUI